- Thu, 2012-07-12 19:25
Listening to the third album by sunkissed electronic duo Pnau, Elton John boldly declared it to be the best record he'd heard for ten years. He signed them up, joined them in the studio to offer tips on the creation of their fourth album, then handed over a bulk of his back-catalogue for them to re-work and deliver to a brand new audience, just in time for the summer club scene to kick off around the globe.
Though their history includes side project Empire of The Sun and material penned for world-renowned acrobats Cirque du Soleil, Pnau have made no secret of the honour and responsibility they felt when Elton emptied a chunk of his pop legacy into their mits.
We sent some questions across to Pnau to find out more about working with Elton and their plans for the future (yup, a new Empire of The Sun record is on the way)...
"I Like Music because ...it makes sense to me" Pnau
ILM: Elton John called your self-titled album the greatest he'd heard in ten years. How did it feel to be so admired by someone of his stature, and how has it been to be taken under his wing?
Pnau: This event in my life has changed every other event since, my life has become more connected to music's energy than I ever thought possible. The subsequent mentorship is real and tangible, making me one of the luckiest people, which I never thought I'd be. Sir Elton's kind and giving nature coupled with his knowledge and calming prescence...he has made me a better artist.
ILM: How do you go about remixing someone as iconic and treasured as Elton John? Do you approach the source material with reverence, or do you have to put that to one side?
Pnau: Initially there was too much trepidation, then little by little we found very small pieces of a wondrous puzzle and began putting them together, it was a slow, meditative process.
ILM: Would you ever consider repeating the process, either with another selection of Elton John songs, or with another artist of a similar nature?
Pnau: We are! Just starting on the next installment, there will be three more volumes to this collection, a real body of work.
ILM: Has your newly acquired intimacy with a clutch of classic Elton John tracks affected the way you think about and write your own music?
Pnau: Yes, I've been able to witness first hand the DNA of an artist, to look under the hood as it were, there is so much you can learn from this....
ILM: If you could hand your own music to one artist to be reintepreted and reimagined, who would you pick?
Pnau: Can I wait 30 more years so I've a better chance of actually having enough material to make this a worthwhile project?
ILM: Are you planning on touring Good Morning To The Night, and if so, is there any chance of getting Elton up on stage with you at any point?
Pnau: We just played a show with Elton in Ibiza , it was so fun! The crowd were elated, we were, needless to say, beyond words ..
ILM: Looking further forward, what's next for Pnau? Have you had any thoughts about what you'd like to do next musically?
Pnau: Doing a number of productions at present. The delicate question of Pnau is yet to be discussed , there will always be music and lights...
ILM: Every career is made up of a series of landmark moments; what's the next big ambition that you would like to realise?
Pnau: Empire of The Sun album 2, a soundtrack. These are both happening. Beyond that, a broadway show, writing a novella, travelling back to mexico. Making films.
ILM: Is there anything else we've missed that you'd like to tell us about?
Pnau: There is the new album I've just made with my brother "who is one half of Tonite Only", Craig Nicholls from "The Vines" and Nick Launay who needs no introduction...........
