Twin Peaks reflect on their growth as a band, reveal some secrets and consider alternative future plans.

Chicago’s finest, Twin Peaks, are once again ready to hit up London with their slamming live-set and reckless tunes. We sat down for a chat before their (ridiculously early) gig at Hackney’s Moth Club.

It’s barely afternoon when we enter the Moth Club’s greenroom where Twin Peaks are currently lounging, frisking up on complimentary booze before their set. When asked why they are playing so early the band collectively had no idea.

Singer and guitarist Clay Frankel explain. “It wasn’t our idea. Some fucking idiot told us to do it and we did it.”

The Chicago outfit released their third studio album, Down In Heaven, last May, landing them spots on several end of the year lists, and according to the guys it might even be “the greatest rock album of 2017”.

“It came out last year, but it was a little bit ahead of its time,” Clay says, backed up by chuckling from his fellow band mates. “It’s a little country, a little rock, you know.”

Reflecting on the growth from their previous releases it’s hard to pinpoint any exacts. Bassist Jack Dolan bluntly suggests: “We just tried to make better songs.”

It’s just intuition.

We bring shit to the band and if it sticks it sticks.

One interesting aspect of Twin Peaks band structure is their collective effort. There is no obvious frontman, and the vocal effort seems to be spread out across all five of them. I asked whether the song writing was equally as democratic.

“The four of us write the songs, then Connor (drummer) writes rap and shit on the side”, Jack informs.

How does the democratic decisions of what songs will make it or not work when you all write them?

“It’s just intuition. We bring shit to the band and if it sticks it sticks,” Caiden Lake James aka Big Tuna says. Clay elaborates that: “For the second record we just used everything we recorded. And for this one we recorded everything, then pretty much used everything, but cut some off the record and released that later.”

According to Jack, they try to make more sense with their writing now. “When we were younger we wrote about whatever worked, and you can’t get away with that forever,” he admits.

“Yeah, there’s a song on the first record that I wrote, and I have no idea what it’s about. Like, no idea. It’s kind of about banging somebody but, I don’t even know,” Clay contributes, whereas Caiden honestly says he hasn’t “developed at all”.

Though they possess a naturally chill vibe, these boys don’t shy away from work.

“Haha, that’s the job!” They reply, when I ask about their excessive amount of touring.

“At first that’s all we wanted to do. And it’s still like that. You don’t make any money sitting on your ass so.”

However, when it comes to tour stories the lads are surprisingly blank.

“We’ve been touring for five years or so. We could tell you one from this tour, anybody?” Clay says, glaring hopefully around.

“I don’t remember anything”, Jack replies whilst cracking open another beer, seeming slightly defeated by touring life.

Since Twin Peaks started out, releasing their debut single in 2013, the band has put out three impressive albums. Their raw and catchy tunes and anarchist live shows have seen them gain an extensive following, very much fuelled by enormous amounts of gigging. With all this to look back on, Twin Peaks are still cautious of crowning a moment.

“We’re still waiting”, Colin Croom, (keys, guitar and vocals) exclaims to the general amusement of the room.  “Yeah I don’t wanna cash that cheque quite yet,” Clay agrees.

Though Caiden admits that, “being here is pretty crazy, like, shit – I never thought I’d leave America. So, it’s cool to be out here.”

Politics are on all agendas these days and even if Twin Peaks’ social media flourish with loaded statements from time to time, a boozy morning is not the time for that discussion.

“We have a fascist dictator now,” Clay says. “We don’t have to talk about that. I’d really not like to.”

Moving on then. It can be hard to escape each other on tour, so I’m wondering whether Twin Peaks ever grow tired of one another. The honest answer: “Yeah.”

“We have this van now, where you have to sit facing each other the whole time you drive. And let me tell you, it’s not pleasant. In the US, we have a van where everyone faces this way, so you can lay down, you can do whatever. This van it’s just like.” To example the unpleasant experience, Clay turns, staring directly into Caiden’s face. “I don’t even wanna look at him right now”, Caiden chuckles.

Though most of Twin Peaks’ secrets are “well hidden”, Caiden admitted that they are “slowly working on a book about American travel”. “You can’t tell anyone that.” Luckily, I’m only writing.

“Also, I like the movie Pride and Prejudice; I think it’s a good movie,” Clay ponders.

“I’ve never seen it,” Jack answers.

“Shit, you haven’t seen it? Mr. Darcy, he’s fucking handsome.” Clay laughs as he hints to Kasia to drop him another beer.

Sharing their name with cult classic Twin Peaks, the band have little in common with the gloomy and mysterious universe of David Lynch. Frankly, they’re pretty fed up with the association.

“When I joined the band I thought it was about tits. I didn’t know what Twin Peaks was”, Clay admits. “There’s a Hooters type of restaurant in America that is also called Twin Peaks”.

Do you have any future plans?

“Making a better record and playing better shows,” Jack replies.

Clay says he wants to “learn a language. That’s my goal.”

What langua­ge?

“Spanish probably. Sounds pretty and a lot of people speak it in America.”

Reflecting on the meaning of music, the obvious response is: “Music saved my life.” A cascade of laughing promptly follows this statement. Pure cliché.

After a moment of reflection, Clay answers, “If it weren’t for music I don’t know what I’d be doing.” Whilst Jack is more questioning to the definition of music: “It depends what kind of music though. Music could just be noise, you know.”

“I think is just capturing an emotion in indefinite amounts of things, that’s why there’s much different music and genres and sounds. And they all capture some sort of emotion.”

If it weren’t for music I don’t know what I’d be doing.

Twin Peaks have for long listed Rolling Stones as one of their biggest influences, so confronting them about the sexist matters in the lyrics feels necessary. “I think that songs can be like movies, they can be about something horrible, but it doesn’t mean it’s a confession,” Clay says, looking dead serious for a moment.

Caiden elaborates that: “What if we just didn’t acknowledge any of the bad things going on in this world, and we just pretended it didn’t exist. You have to acknowledge those things,” he reflects, and it might be just as much their own work he talks about as their influences.

As time flies, I ask if they have any final words:

“Don’t get drunk before noon,” Jack states, taking another huge sip of his beer.

With this ironic gesture, we round up.

Photos: Kasia Osowiecka