Though it's been more than 15 years since their most commercially successful album - 1993's Last Splash, which spawned the lo-fi anthem "Cannonball" and an excellent video directed by Spike Jonze and Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon - the Breeders seem as modern as ever when chatting about DIY culture. Guitarist Kelley Deal is currently using her website to sell handmade scarves and her new knitting book, Bags That Rock, while bandleader Kim Deal (also of the Pixies) is the founder of All Wave, a recording philosophy that eschews auto-tune and other digital shortcuts in the studio.
I spoke recently with Kim about the band's new EP, Fate to Fatal, their fascination with roller derby and the weird and wonderful Wisconsin accent.
Tell me a bit about the origins of Fate to Fatal.
We started writing last summer. Then we went on tour and the new songs got better and better, so when we got to London we booked studio time. We thought we were going to make a 45 with two songs on it - I really like the old-time ones with an A side and a B side - but then we decided to put it out ourselves as a little EP. We thought it would be fun to do the manufacturing part of it, too, in addition to making the music. It's something we've always wanted to do.
I'm excited that you guys did a roller derby-themed video for the EP's title song. How did that idea come about?
Kelley came up with the idea. We have a friend in St. Louis (Joanie Rollmoan) who's part of the Arch Rival Roller Girls, so Kelley gave her a call, and we went out there with our bass player's camera and taped the team skating around. Some of them are just so freaky-weird, total characters, so we knew it would have this strange but really appealing look that goes with the song.
If you were a rollergirl, would you be a blocker (defense) or a jammer (offense)?
I'd like to think of myself as a jammer, but I'd probably end up being a blocker. I'd think everyone was watching me and wouldn't want to be impolite.
What are you looking forward to for this tour?
As far as Madison goes, I'm looking forward to hearing you guys talk. I have a friend who's from Madison, and I can't get over it: It's the cutest thing ever.