Chatting With The Chainsmokers
Start writing a post
Entertainment

Chatting With The Chainsmokers

And, no, I'm not talking about those two #ratchet, chainsmoking aunts from "The Simpsons."

9
Chatting With The Chainsmokers
Tunes4Loons

*AUTHOR'S NOTE*: This article was originally posted in March through my personal blog, Tunes4Loons. A couple statements in the introduction and some questions have been edited in order to bring this article up-to-date with recent events.

Starting this interview off by throwing out an overwhelming "THANK YOU" to The Chainsmokers. They just came off an epic VMAs performance and are about to embark on yet another international tour, and yet they pulled themselves away long enough to answer a couple questions from me, the Bernadette Peters* of the indie music blogosphere. Whereas I can't even pull myself away from binge-watching Damages long enough to text my mom back (sorry Mom, I am alive, but Glenn Close is the only post-menopausal leading lady I can have in my life at the moment.) We caught up with Alex and Drew about their EP, "Bouquet," how they handle being on the road, and the dedication of their fans, which sounds like it could be giving "Locks of Love" a serious run for their money:

*my (unfortunately) spot-on celebrity doppelgänger


Tell me about "Bouquet." How long was a period it written over? What is your favorite track off of it and, in addition, what is your favorite track to play live?

The Chainsmokers: Well "Bouquet" as an EP wasn’t really conceived until about 5 weeks before it came out. We just felt like it would be a cool idea to bundle our 5 releases together with our final release of 2015, "New York City." It might bring more attention back to our other tracks and help "Roses." That EP, though, was conceived between January of 2015 until about September of 2015, and, c'mon, our favorite is a no-brainer: "Roses!"


Can you write/create music on the road or is it too demanding?

The Chainsmokers: We are lucky in the fact we can do that and it doesn’t bother us. We can conceive ideas and really close out tracks for the most part, before needing to get in a studio and work on the mix. It allows us to keep our busy touring schedule, but, we also think we pull a lot of our inspiration from the road.


How is creating a remix different from writing an original song? What is your creative process like in general?

The Chainsmokers: Well a remix isn’t always an original idea, we are building on a song that already has some feeling. It's also not ours, so while we certainly work super hard on them, we don’t hold onto them too tightly. And that’s also what makes them so fun to do. Our original songs, especially now, are written, produced, and in some cases, even sung [by us]. Creativity for us, though, is fleeting. It comes and goes, and you never know when. We have learned you cannot force it, so we have just tried to figure out ways to capitalize on it when it does come.


What has been your favorite collaboration so far? And what is your dream collaboration?

The Chainsmokers: They have all been great. "Roses" was probably the most exciting looking back on it just because of how we all came up with the track and how natural it was. But she is amazing, and honestly so are Waterbed, Tritonal, Tiesto, and Great Good Fine Ok!


What were you listening to when you recorded Bouquet? And what are you listening to right now?

The Chainsmokers: Haha, sh*t, we have no idea, our musical tastes change every 2 weeks. If we had to guess probably Grouplove, Taylor Swift just had dropped, and maybe some Drake. At the moment we are on a major Bon Iver kick!


Musical influences and inspirations?

The Chainsmokers: Well we sorta touched on it above but our tastes change quite frequently! Growing up at different points we passionately went through all the genres from metal to rap and we feel like we have a very eclectic taste as a result, which has benefitted us a lot, we think, in our productions. That said, some of our biggest influences are Daft Punk, Dave Matthews Band, Death Cab for Cutie, Cut Copy, David Guetta, and so on.


Weirdest fan/show experience?

The Chainsmokers: A fan once shaved her head in the front row and then threw her hair at us.

(sidenote: That is f**king EPIC. Homegirl who did this, you are batsh*t, ergo, you are kinda my idol. Insert infinite praise-hand and girl-getting-her-hair-cut emojis here.)


If you were trapped on a desert island with another musical artist, who would it be?

The Chainsmokers: Dave Matthews or Rachel Platten.


How much do you value social media as an artist? Do you like how big of a role it now plays in the industry or do you find it more of a hindrance to deal with?

The Chainsmokers: To each their own. There are definitely times when we feel burnt out on social media or frustrated by it, but at the end of the day, it's our choice to use it a little or a lot. There are many successful artists who barely use it and then there are those who use it as a huge tool. Most importantly we feel like it's great because it allows our fans to really get to know us, and develop a more real and intimate relationship. That’s why we enjoy it and while we are still getting better, we think it has benefitted us greatly!


If you live a Patrick-Star-lifestyle (aka you've been living under a rock for the past couple years), check out "Bouquet" here. AND, if you haven't already, buy a ticket to The Chainsmokers' latest international tour! Speaking from personal experience, their show is definitely worth your attendance!

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
the beatles
Wikipedia Commons

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

Keep Reading...Show less
Being Invisible The Best Super Power

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned.

46841
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

120347
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments