Racoon: Interview with Bart van der Weid

by Renee Clark
Static Noise
http://www.staticnoise.net

If you’re like me and are always looking for a great new band to check out you’d also be pleased to come across a band like Racoon like I did. This Holland based band’s album Another Day just dropped in the US last week and is an album that shouldn’t be one to get lost among the masses.  Another Day shines and is simply one of the best new albums I’ve heard this year.  With the upbeat melodies and meaningful lyrics it keeps you listening from beginning to end.  Racoon is kicking off their time in America by touring in support  ofThe Lemonheads.  For more information on what cities they will be in please check out their website: http://www.racoon.nl or their myspace page:
http://www.myspace.com/abandcalledracoon

Lead vocalist Bart van der Weide also did an interview with Static Noise and discussed their upcoming tour along with his influences and their new record. 

SN: What made you decide to become a musician?  Was there any defining moment when you just knew that’s what you had to try and do?
Bart van der Weide: I was 15 years old, and had been singing all of my life, during the dishes, with my family, the music really loud, and me and my sisters even louder. I’ve known it ever since i can remember.



SN: What was your first instrument and how did you get it?
Bart: It was a tambourine, but the first expensive one was a harmonica. My grand dad knew how to play pretty good. And after seeing’once upon a time in the west’ I just had to learn how too. (best film ever made by the way)


SN: How did you learn how to play it?
Bart: Walking the dog

SN: What made you guys decide to come to the states with your record?
Bart: We didn’t. Red eye label and our management did.
It was never realistic for me, but now since it seems to be, we’ll do or best to make it work. Afterall it’s the nr 1 pop country, atleast according to me.


SN: What cities are you most excited to see/perform in on your upcoming tour in the states?
Bart: New York City, Washington DC, Chicago, Philladelphia (G-love  
country), our three days trip through the Rocky mountains, Actually  
the whole trip.


SN: What are some of the things you are planning on doing to make your  
time in America a success?
Bart: Promote our songs best way possibble


SN: What musicians have influenced your style of writing/performing?
Bart: Then you’ll be talking about 60 years of pop music.
Randy Newman, Sly Stone, Urge Overkill, Willy Mason(bit young, but  
maybe in the future) Chet Baker, earlier Ben fold’s five, Beatles, Susanne Vega, Leonard Cohen, Peter Gabriel, Pearl Jam, Alice in chains, Mother Love Bone, Tool, Faith no more, Helmet, Screaming Trees, Quicksand, Bad religion, Deus, Fiona Apple, Motorpsycho, Crowded House, earlier Counting Crows, Black Crowes, Bill Withers, Blind Melon, Cash, Everly Brothers, Karate, Lotion, earlier Bad religion, earlier Indigo girls. Earlier Tracy Chapman And on and on, excuse me for leaving out hundreds of good musicians and their music


SN: When did you decide to make music a career instead of just a hobby and what made you want to do it?
Bart: I found out some time ago it’s something i’m pretty good at, and love with all my heart. In the early years I thought it was the most important thing in my life. Now that I have 2 children I know it’s not. Just a close second.


SN: Did you always want to be a musician?  What did you want to be when you were 5 for example?
Bart: Wanted to be a Baker, is that the correct word for someone who like  
to bake sweet cookies and cakes and pies and stuff?


SN: What was the hardest track to write or lay down on Another Day?
Bart: I think that differs for all of us. Mine was Hanging with the clowns, because i had a completely different version in mind, based on just vocals and acoustic guitar, with layback bass and drums.


SN: What is your favorite song to perform and why?
Bart: Changes every day, mostly; Laugh about it, and lose another day. Also, Hardcore Tapes, from our 2nd album Here we go Stereo.

SN: What can fans expect from your upcoming 4th album?
Bart:A lot if you ask me really good acoustic based pop songs, all with  bass and drums.


SN: Will you be playing any of those songs on your tour here or are you  just going to be doing songs from Another Day?
Bart: Just another day, well maybe..

SN: What do you think sets you apart from all of the other up and coming bands?
Bart: For us, less is more. And we’ll always be sober about it. What ever happens.


SN: Is there anything you know now about the music business that you wished you would have known when your first started out?  (Any lessons learned the hard way).
Bart: Do what YOU want to do, don’t get dragged in to the fast world of really hip people who claim to be your best friends. Don’t brag  (that’s a golden oldie from grandpa) Respect yourself and others, and laugh a lot (so are these)


SN: You have been compared to a lot of bands what do you think is the weirdest you have been compared to?
Bart: UFO


SN: Where do you see yourself or where do you hope to be 5 years from now?
Bart: Uhm, sky is the limit, but still living in my little town, where people act completely normal and where me, my wife and, by that time 4 children live a peaceful and happy life, meanwhile playing my ass off where ever.


SN: Is there anything you would like to add or say to your fans?
Bart: Thanks, thanks, thanks, and thanks again for all you’ve done for us already. We won’t let you down and continue writing and recording and playing our music as long as we can still breathe.

Grtngs Brt, singer Racoon