5 Questions with Dengue Fever

Today marks the beginning of La Fête de Marquette here in Madison; three days of world music sure to turn you on to something you haven’t heard or seen before. One act I consider to be a can’t miss is Dengue Fever, who will take the state tomorrow at 7:15. I got in touch with drummer Paul Smith, who was kind enough to participate in our continuing 5 Questions with Muzzle of Bees feature.

Could you lend some information on the recording process of Venus On Earth? Where and how was it recorded, and were there any lessons learned towards future recording sessions?

We did most basics at our friends studio Phase Four (Jim Putnam’s place). We recorded to analog tape for the first time and really enjoyed it. We used our own studio, The Shoebox, for a lot of overdubs and mixing. I think the most important lesson on this session was learning to leave some space. Not that we will always do that but it really made a difference on this album.

I also want to commend you on having one of the most capturing album covers I’ve seen in some time. How did the album cover of Venus On Earth come about?

It started with the idea of Zac and Nimol on an old Pouch moped and went from there. Senon did the design with Zac looking over his shoulder. It was an attempt at something that would feel classic.

The internet has dramatically altered the way artists can reach an audience. With things like blogs/MySpace/etc, what are your thoughts on the power of the internet in terms of helping (or hurting) your music?

It has created a million different niche markets. People get to search out what they are into through all of these portals. It has a sense of adventure really, because you can sit down and go in search of almost anything and come across interesting things along the way. Bands now can get an audience without the old model of expensive marketing. There are draw backs but what’s the point since that page has already been turned?

Who are you currently listening to? We’re always looking to uncover new favorite artists, are there any band(s)/record(s) that you could recommend to our readers?

I have been listening to the Trojan Dub box set that came out recently. 50 tracks from the 70’s to the 80’s. Good stuff. There is also an album of good stuff from Nigeria called Nigeria 70-Lagos Jump.

You’ve played your share of clubs and festivals including an upcoming spot at Madison’s La Fete de Marquette. In terms of preference do you prefer indoor or outdoor venues and do you tailor your set list to the type of audience your playing to, perhaps a lot of first timers in a festival setting?

Indoor and outdoor have different vibes. It’s a bit like apples and oranges. If you are outside it’s probably a festival with people spread around more which can mean less concentrated energy coming back from the audience. In a club or theatre it’s more confined and seems to funnel the crowds energy right to the stage. There is always exceptions but it’s great to do both. Playing in the sun with great scenic backdrops is always a nice change of pace. Our set list is made up right before we go on so it can reflect the crowd’s energy. If it’s mellow we may start with something mellow and work our way up. If everyone is rarin’ to go then we start out with a rocker!

Myspace: Dengue Fever
MP3: Dengue Fever – “Sober Drive”

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