OLLO - Musical Pairs

Feature, By andygisby, 2nd February, 2007

Described as Sydney’s own ‘fun boy two’ OLLO is a musical duo with a style and sensibility rarely seen in a double act pack. Alex Crowfoot & Lars Chresta are a couple in life as well as sound. Far from belting out a home made rendition of I Want You Babe, the boys from OLLO don’t cash in on the personal side of their partnership, but rather use it as the basis for creating their distinctly unique sound.

Their 2002 debut Sleeper, was a remarkable fusion of pristine beats and critically acclaimed electronics. Over the last few years, remixing, touring live and DJ’ing, have seen OLLO musically map their way toward their second album The If If. With fans ranging from Linda Evangelista to The Dissociatives, OLLO have crafted a sound which throws pop, dance and chill into the blender to produce a trans-musical pulp, which both ignites and soothes.

After having toured the U.S, Europe and Australasia extensively the boys are back on local turf. I caught up with Alex – one half of OLLO, who is not only a musical genius, but also freakishly funny.

How and where did you first meet one another?
We met, believe it or not, at the Newtown Hotel. Neither of us went to gay bars very often so it was a pretty unlikely meeting. It was a Thursday night. Thankfully now you get some of the best music in Sydney there on Thursdays with Johnny, Gemma and Ben but back then the music was excruciating so we bonded over that. Ten years later here we are.

Did you immediately realize you had similar musical sensibilities, or do you come from different places musically?
It’s a mixture of the two really. We found out pretty soon that we cross over in lots of areas, and both have diverse tastes, but there are artists he likes that I find unlistenable, and vice versa. Pretty much from day one Lars made me a series of mix tapes full of amazing music that I’d never heard, and I’ve introduced him to a heap of artists, which are now some of his favourites.

What was your first big break?
I’m not sure we’ve had what you’d call a big break. We have had lots of little breaks though. Whenever anyone says “yes” or offers us an opportunity is a break, and they’re all important. I suppose the nearest thing to what you might call “big” would be supporting Matthew Herbert at Sydney Festival and our TV spot last year, doing the music for the Inside Film Awards on SBS.

Do you feel that you had to have some success abroad before you were appreciated in Australia? Or did it work in reverse?
We seem to do everything backwards anyway. The new album is getting an international release soon but we toured overseas three times without having a record released outside Australia. We put together the two European tours ourselves from sending out CDs to venues and with help from friends, and even though the venues didn’t know us from Adam, we got paid more than we ever had in Australia and they all asked us back. We’ve certainly never had that here, but I think we’re definitely appreciated.

Dish out the scoop on the Kens at Kensington gig. Its very early Bette Midler in a sense.
Ah. Yes. Well. Having not been to a sauna before we were a bit daunted. We didn’t feel comfortable with the prospect of just towels so we wore shorts and singlets. It seems odd looking back, but we were too nervous to think it through properly and ended up feeling really out of place and looking like big dags. Definitely overdressed. But then Lars got really into the DJ set and didn’t want to stop.

How would you best describe your sound? Who, if anyone, have you been compared to?
Sometimes we sound like a solitary walk through softly dripping rain in a remote forest. And then we can also sound like a sweaty fuck. The music is a mix of subconscious influences; we never set out to sound like anything. So far we’ve been compared to Herbert, Fourtet, Prefuse 73, Caribou, The Triffids, The Flaming Lips, David Sylvian, Jarvis Cocker, David Bowie, Zero 7, Lemonjelly, Tunng, Air, and Basement Jaxx.

Tell us a little about what drives you to make music?
I have no idea; it’s just something I have always done. I know I want to give to other people what music gives to me. If my music can makes someone’s spine tingle or butt shake or heart lift or it can just give them something to connect with, that’s what it’s about.

Who are your influences?
Probably one or more of the following: Buffalo Daughter, The Stooges, Herbert, Curtis Mayfield, Neu, Can, Caetano Veloso, Slam, John Coltrane, Hot Chip, Kate and Anna McGarrigle, The Cramps, The Smiths, Kraftwerk and several others.

What’s your take on reality television made pop stars and the commercial music scene in this country?
I know the names Anthony Callea and Shannon Noll, and that an Irish guy just won. I know from a recent cab ride that a couple of them have just covered Don’t Give Up so badly they should be prosecuted. Lots of people love it and I’m glad for them, but it’s a part of our culture that I feel quite disconnected from, ultimately. With all the amazing flavours in the world, why would anyone bother eating a Chicken McNugget? I’m not saying I’m better, or that what I like is better; I just don’t understand the appeal.

What direction would you like to see OLLO take in the future?
I’d like us to become more of a full band live, I think, and become a really cracking live act. I want it to be song-based, but with room for instrumentals, too and for experimentation and really create something special visually too.

We’d also like to release a range of merchandising. I’ve been working on some ideas, what do you think? OLLO SprayFace – sprays on a latex replica of Paris Hilton’s smile, so you too can look spookily identical in every photo ever taken of you. OLLO Big Brother participant dolls – that spout drivel and whine when you bash their heads with a hilariously shaped zucchini (included). OK maybe not. But if we can somehow do what we do and also speed change towards a more equitable and sustainable society, thus single-handedly saving the world from global warming and intolerant, selfish, short-sighted, manipulative liars like J**n H****d, I’d be moderately pleased.

OLLO – THE IF IF is out now through Groovescooter Records, or check out www.ollo.net.au

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