The Experiment with Art vs. Science

Art vs. Science are just over a month away from releasing their debut album. Having gone from Triple J Unearthed winners in 2008, to becoming one of Australia’s leading live acts and clocking in at number two on Triple J’s Hottest 100 list for 2009, you’d think that there’d be inflated egos roaming around clad in skinny jeans, right? Wrong. I caught up with AvS’ Dan Mac who doesn’t ponder much on their success for it would be “mind-boggling”, to chat about the upcoming release of The Experiment, live dates and why making a record is like painting the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

We’ve already been given a taste of what’s to come on the album, with the release of Magic Fountain and most recently, Finally See Our Way, can fans expect any surprises or twists on the record? “Yeah, I think so. I mean most of the songs we’ve released as singles have been…bangers I suppose,” Dan comments. “Parlez-Vous Francais? and Magic Fountain were hard-hitting. But all the tracks on the album are danceable." Without giving too much away, he gives me a brief overview of what to expect on The Experiment. “It’s got the hard-hitting dance tracks and things like that but there are also some quirky moments and a couple of other weird ones as well.”

Speaking of quirky, Art vs. Science are known as much for their inventive film clips as well as their music – where do the ideas for mime-Westerns and fountain of youth-raves come from? “The guy who directed them (Alex Roberts) generally comes up with the initial concepts but I take a pretty strong interest,” Dan remarks before adding, “We could do the traditional band clips where we’re playing and stuff, but people can see us live.” He makes a good point because an Art vs. Science gig in itself is an experience of its own.

After an almost completely sold out national tour last year, as well as a successful festival run, Dan Mac and his band mates, drummer Dan Williams and fellow keys-man Jim Finn have found themselves on this year’s Future Music Festival line-up, as well as the MSFest in Tasmania, later in February.

Dan admits that there are a few acts he’s looking forward to catching on the Future run. “The Chemical Brothers mainly, because obviously, we’re supporting them on their sideshows and they’re an awesome group. I’ve been a massive fan of theirs since I was about 12 so it’s going to be really cool to meet the guys and play some shows with them.” And what the local artists on the bill? “The Presets. They and the Midnight Juggernauts pretty much gave us the inspiration to start Art vs. Science so it’ll be cool seeing them again.”

No Ke$ha, then? “We’ll be interested to see what she’s like,” Dan laughs. “But she’ll probably be surrounded by a ring of ten massive bodyguards.”

On MSFest, an annual date which not only hosts some pretty major acts but also raises awareness and funds for sufferers of Multiple Sclerosis. Dan explains that it didn’t take much for the band to become involved – having made contacts with the organisers previously, it was just a matter of them being asked and Art vs. Science being “more than happy to help out a good cause”.

February is shaping up to be quite a busy month for Art vs. Science with a quick jaunt over to the UK and Japan for a club tour, then back home for TheExperiment, due for release on the 25th, and of course, MSFest. What else does 2011 hold for the boys?

Only just a run of Australian festival dates in March before heading to the U.S to charm the Americans at SXSW. No biggie. “Hopefully it can may be lead to a deal in the U.S or something and we can release there. It’s a pretty big market,” Dan Mac comments.

But 2011’s not just about touring and massive shows for AvS. According to Dan, the band will most likely resume writing new songs and recording. “It takes so long, you think it’s only going to be a few months and then you’re finished recording, but it’s pretty much been just on a year since the first things were recorded. That’s in between different sessions – I mean we’ve done two or three major blocks of a few weeks each but still, the process takes a while.”

As I reach the end of the interview, Dan offers another way of looking at the production process. “It’s like painting the Harbour Bridge,” he muses. “Once you finish one side of it, you have to start painting the other side.”

During the course of our chat, I got the impression that once The Experiment finds its way into the eardrums of many an AvS fan next month, things are going to get hectic for the band. But Dan Mac seems unaffected by the anticipation and pressure building around it. “We just try to keep on doing what we’ve always done, keep writing new songs and trying to play them well live.”

The fans play a major part too. “We wouldn’t be able to tour for so long and put that amount of energy into shows if the crowd weren’t as hyped up. You really feed off that and it makes you want to perform really well.”

Sounds like a winning formula in motion already.

ART VS. SCIENCE TOUR DATES

Friday, 4 March - The Riverstage, Brisbane (supporting Chemical Brothers)
Saturday, 5 March - Future Music Festival 2010, Brisbane
Wednesday, 9 March - Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne (supporting Chemical Brothers)
Thursday, 10 March - Sydney Entertainment Centre, Sydney (supporting Chemical Brothers)
Saturday, 12 March - Future Music Festival 2011, Sydney
Sunday, 13 March - Future Music Festival 2011, Melbourne
Monday, 14 March - Future Music Festival 2011, Adelaide

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