For a band as unpredictable as Foxygen, it’s no surprise their 2017 album Hang was mapped out years in advance. In fact, Jonathan Rado and Sam France admit they conceptualized their grand orchestral record as far back as 2010. “We’re hyper-conceptual,” Rado says. “It’s our biggest strength and our biggest weakness.”
In a new interview with Kyle Meredith With..., the duo opens up about their ambitious plans, missed collaborations, and why ragtime piano came easier than you’d think.
Originally envisioned as an album with no rock instruments—just pure orchestra—their plans evolved over time. “When we thought of it, it would be more like only orchestra, no rock band, like really Disney,” Rado explains. But as the concept matured, the band brought in a broader palette, blending old Hollywood grandeur with unexpected sounds like Broadway flair and even Dixieland jazz.
Of course, with Foxygen’s love for 60s and 70s music, you’d expect them to rope in legends like Van Dyke Parks. And they tried. “We reached out to him,” Rado says, “but it didn’t work out.” Instead, they collaborated with Trey Pollard and Matthew E. White, who brought their own lush, cinematic touch to the arrangements.
One of the more surprising elements on Hang is the ragtime piano on “Avalon,” but for Rado, it was second nature. “I’ve always sort of played piano like that, in that kind of ragtime-y way,” he says. “I don’t know why. I’ve always loved Vienna that sounded like that.”
While the album features more collaborations than any of their previous records, France insists they were careful to keep the project focused. “We just have to only use people that we completely trust,” he says.
And as for the future, Foxygen isn’t done experimenting. Their next project promises to be even more avant-garde. “It’s the most experimental record I’ve ever worked on,” Rado teases. For a band that’s already pushed every boundary imaginable, that’s saying something.
Listen to the interview above and then check out "Follow the Leader" below!
