Quick-fire Questions: 10 minutes with Pom Poko
Fun is a terribly under-appreciated word, a dirty little adjective that has effectively been outlawed from the oeuvre of art-rock. But thankfully, it is a core aim of Pom Poko, who offer a blitzkrieg of energy live as they modulate through a whirlwind of riffs. The same can be said for their captivating records. The invigorating Norwegian band have found a way to translate the freedom of jazz, a world they once studied, into a melodic adventure that the audience can share.
Formed in 2017, it says a lot about the band that they are both a gritty DIY outfit, remaining doggedly so even after all the acclaim that has come their way and yet, they self-proclaim that their name is indeed lifted from a cuddly anime movie, from 1994. This gripping collision of poppy lightness and bruising punk is showcased perfectly on tracks like ‘Danger Baby’, a piece of organised chaos as much of a marvel as the baffling road systems of Saigon.
They navigate their hectic world with West African folk, Gentle Giant, pop, noise rock, punk, strange papier-mâché creations, political subversions and, of course, fun, with a great and seamless gracefulness that only comes from a band who truly know what they’re about. And above all, Pom Poko are about having a good time. They embrace the bounty of music communities the world over and gift them with their own blended joy.
They are set to take this strange show on the road, heading to the UK this April for a string of shows, and new music is in the offing, too. However, before we break bread with them extensively, we caught a quick ten minutes with them and flung a few ice-breaking questions their way. Enjoy.
Quick-fire Questions with Pom Poko:
1. What song would you want played at your funeral?
“Probably ‘Don’t Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder)’ by The Beach Boys.”
2. What was your favourite album of 2023?
“Most of the albums that I revisited a lot this year aren’t from 2023, but my favourite one that came out last year was Caroline Polachek’s Desire I Want To Turn Into You.”
3. Where is the best pub in the world?
“Probably in the shopping mall right by my apartment. One of the cheapest beers in Oslo and Second World War documentaries or horse racing on the TVs.”
4. What is the weirdest gig you have ever played so far?
“One of the first gigs we did in the UK was in a loft where they had been storing/preparing chilis for the entire day, so we all felt really sick and weird for some time, and frankly a bit worried, until someone told us about the chilies…”
5. What is the best live show you have ever been to?
“Probably both times I’ve seen Deerhoof play in Oslo.”
6. Can you recommend us an album we may never have heard?
“Mauritanie: La guitare des Sables by Moudou Ould Mattalla contains some of the craziest guitar playing I’ve ever heard. I found it some years ago during a period of intense obsession with music from Mauritania, and it never stops amazing me what this guy can do with the same electric guitar that we all sit around noodling with.”
7. Do you believe in ghosts?
“Not at all.”
8. Dual Question: What is your favourite soup and comfort movie?
“I’m generally not a soup person. But if I have to eat soup, it’d be some proper spicy Thai soup, tom kha gai or something like that.
“Comfort movie-wise, I don’t generally turn to movie repetition for comfort because I don’t like watching the same movie twice, but one movie that breaks that rule is Ocean’s 11. Makes me feel cool and criminal in a positive way!”
9. If you had to get a lyric tattoo, what would it say?
“‘A carrot is as close as a rabbit gets to a diamond’, the title of an instrumental Captain Beefheart song.”
10. What was the last book you read, and would you recommend it?
“Los enamoramientos (The Infatuations) by Spanish author Javier Marías. One of the only Spanish authors I’ve read quite a lot of books from, definitely one of my favourites. Would definitely recommend!”
12. What song features the greatest vocal performance of all time?
“Hard to pick a definitive one, but Take 6 and Stevie Wonder’s version of ‘Oh Thou That Tellest Good Tidings to Zion’ features some insane vocal ad-libs by Stevie Wonder that deserve a place high up there.”
13. What is your favourite Pom Poko song so far?
“It’s probably the opening track from our newly finished 3rd album. I can’t remember what the actual title is gonna be, but the working title is ‘Blues Lawyer’.”
14. Who the fuck is Mark E Smith?
“I had to Google this. So, I guess I don’t deserve to answer that question. We love Marc Riley, though, so I guess I should have done my homework better and I’m very sad to disappoint him by not recognising the name of his bandmate.”
15. Are The Beatles overrated?
“NO!”
You can check out Pom Poko’s UK tour dates here.
