Radiohead’s Ed O’Brien Talks ABBA, Prince, and More with Dave Okumu of the Invisible: Listen

London label Ninja Tune hosts a regular podcast, during which artists on their roster are interviewed. The latest episode features an hourlong interview between Radiohead member Ed O’Brien and Dave Okumu, whose band the Invisible released their new album Patience earlier this month. Interspersed between song selections are conversations about musical life, genre stratification, ABBA, Prince, and more. (O’Brien and Okumu are longtime friends.) Listen to part one of the interview here (or download it from iTunes) and read some highlights below; the next segment arrives next week. 

O’Brien on what he listened to growing up:

For me, one of the things—when I grew up—the taste police were out in force. And it was really limiting. So, the ’80s it was like, what tribe are you in? What gang are you in? So I was in the post-punk, Smiths, you know, indie… you know, and I didn’t listen to Led Zeppelin. Happy Mondays and Stone Roses changed it all, because suddenly dance music, but in Oxfordshire we didn’t listen to R&B, really, and unfortunately it was one of the negative aspects of our childhood growing up.

On discovering ABBA through his daughter:

I can be totally honest, one of my daughter’s favorite films is “Mamma Mia.” Obviously ABBA in the ’70s was huge, but I never owned an ABBA record. And in the ’80s? ABBA? I mean, oh my god. And unfortunately that shadow is cast upon, and it alters your judgment and you can be very judgmental about this music. Watched Mamma Mia at Christmas, finally, all together, and I was like, “These songs are amazing! Oh my god!” I got spine tingles, even with Pierce Brosnan singing…

Okumu also spoke about the first records he ever bought, and Prince’s impact on his taste:

Prince kind of saved my life in the same way that music saved my life. I don’t know… The first record I bought was Sign “O” the Times. I did a double whammy—Sign “O” the Times and De La Soul’s 3 Feet High and Rising. Those were my first two purchases… I was having a pretty shit time, a lot of change and confusion. Music saved me and Prince was a huge part of that. If I had to pinpoint what defined the good stuff, what I’m looking for generally in “expression” of any form—whether it’s now, having a conversation with you, watching a film, or music, or reading, or whatever, engaging with other human beings—I want to feel, I guess, a sense of… It’s that thing when you feel someone’s being themselves and it gives you license to be yourself.

Listen to the full interview here or on iTunes.

Revisit “Decoding the Politics in Radiohead’s ‘Burn the Witch’ Video” on the Pitch.  

And watch the music video for ”Burn the Witch” as well: 

 

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