We Interview The Raveonettes at Clockenflap 2014
PUBLISHED December 4th, 2014 04:00 pm | UPDATED January 19th, 2016 03:19 pm
With a record-breaking turnout of 45, 000 attendees, Clockenflap Festival returned for the seventh year last weekend to West Kowloon Cultural District Promenade. Hong Kong’s premier outdoor music and arts gathering saw more than 100 artists performing across seven stages, a film tent, art installations, a handmade craft market, and even a cabaret side show.
The first night kicked off with lively performances by international acts like Mogwai and CHVRCHES from the UK, and The Raveonettes from Denmark. Saturday drew the biggest turnout of the weekend – more than 20,000 attendees rocked out to fan favourites such as Brit acts Travis and Rudimental, as well as US entertainers Kool & The Gang and Ozomatli. Headliners The Flaming Lips and Tenacious D, both from the US, closed the festival with a bang on Sunday.
Despite the massive turnout, we have to say that Clockenflap was so well-organised that it never felt crowded and queues were never really an issue. Refreshingly, thediverse crowd of expats, locals, and tourists of all ages seemed less concerned with photographing or recording bands’ performances than at many other festivals we’ve been to. Selfie-sticks were also few and far between.
On top of a wide range of reasonably priced food and drink options, amazing views of the Hong Kong skyline across the harbour didn’t hurt either. Overall, Clockenflap delivered another smooth festival experience, something more and more events are struggling to do.
We Chat with The Raveonettes
Made up of Sune Rose Wagner and Sharin Foo, The Raveonettes have been playing together for more than 10 years. Having released seven studio albums – the most recent, Pe’ahi, was launched July this year – their music is mainly close vocal harmonies combined with wicked electric guitars. They have a large band of loyal followers, as evidenced by the crowd at their set at Clockenflap.
The Danish duo was kind enough to sit down for a chat with City Nomads before the opening night of Clockenflap; it was the last stop on an Asian tour that say them performing in Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Taipei.
Hey guys, how has the vibe been on this tour, playing in Asia as compared to US & Europe? Also, do you have an all-time favourite city to play in?
Sharin: There are certain songs we’re not used to getting a big response to, but the crowd goes wild over them here…We’ve had a great time, the fans are very sweet and dedicated.’
Sune: ‘I really like playing in London…There’s a certain vibe there – a certain history, a certain everything. That’s always a show I really look forward to.’
What are your thoughts on living in Los Angeles compared to living in New York? Do you miss New York?
Sune: I was in New York for 11 years and I’ve only spent 2 years in L.A now. It was quite an adjustment for sure. I miss my friends in New York, and I don’t have as many friends in Los Angeles so I miss that part. But I’m really dedicated to working right now and L.A is a very inspiring. It’s a great place to work, which is really what I want because no one calls you, it’s perfect. There aren’t a lot of distractions.
If they made a movie about The Raveonettes, who would you want to play you?
Sune: Sean Penn
Sharin: Monica Vitti
If you weren’t playing music or working in the music industry, what would you be doing?
Sune: Can we pick anything? Or does it have to be something we think we could really do?
Anything – it doesn’t have to be realistic. What would you want to do?
Sharin: A brain scientist. I think that would be really interesting.
Sune: Another Picasso. Why not?
You guys are quite active on social media – how are you balancing it feeling like a chore and you actually enjoying it?
Sune: I think it depends, if you’re traveling sometimes it can be easy, but sometimes when you are home for an extended period of time it can be a bit hard.
Sharin: I’m very private and I don’t like to share everything…I think it’s important to have experiences without putting them out there for the world to see. But it’s also nice to be able to have a great, direct dialog with people who appreciate your music.
