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Interview: Andy Burrows of Razorlight
Topics: Razorlight, Rockit News, Bakersfield, Andy Burrows, Bakotopia, los angeles, uk, music, Bakotunes
Posted by matt Fri May 11, 2007 16:19:03 PDT
Viewed 1103 times
0 responses 0 comments Razorlight drummer Andy Burrows is no stranger to media, but not because he is starved for attention.

"I guess we take turns," says Burrows of the interviews that have inundated his band over the past few years. "I do end up doing quite a lot, but I'm quite happy with it."

The bushy-haired bloke from Winchester, U.K., actually enjoys speaking with reporters.

He should. Looking back at the streak of success the British / Swedish quartet has recently experienced, the band has proven to be quite the lucky lot, as evidenced by the reaction to its latest batch of shows.

"We just played in San Francisco last night, and it was absolutely brilliant," says Burrows. "We did a Boston show, Chicago, Indianapolis. Generally, it's been an overwhelming response."

In L.A. to promote its self-titled sophomore CD, the band looks forward to trekking across Yankee shores when it can, even if that means getting injured on the job.

"Ow, ow, ow, open the fucking door!" yells Burrows after getting his hand caught in a door two minutes into the interview. After an abrupt silence, he politely returns from the understandably painful mishap.

"Sorry, mate," he apologizes.

After nearly losing his fingers, Burrows immediately picks up where he left off like a pro.

"New York is a favorite of ours, and L.A." continues Burrows. "It's always nice to come over and bask in the sunshine."

Beyond the comfortable weather, a Stateside tour is also a humbling reminder of the "small fish / big pond" adage, a reality Burrows and his bandmates respect and embrace after being thrust into arenas and football stadiums across Europe while opening for the likes of U2, The Who and Queen.

"It keeps us on our toes, coming over and playing smaller venues than we're used to," he adds. "Personally, I really like that we get to do that."

Displaying a humble demeanor, Burrows' good fortune is also magnified by the fact that he scored his latest gig the day after original drummer, Christian Smith Pancorvo, unexpectedly left the band upon completion of the 2004 studio debut. Soon after the release of Up All Night, the band's live popularity soared.

"It was pretty special," he says. "Kind of dream-like, ya know? Jumping around in bands for six to seven years, [the change] was very welcome."

Like Oasis before them, gossip column gab fests between Razorlight frontman Johnny Borrell and seemingly everyone else are amusing, but par for the course if you are the latest gang of pin-up model rockers with no shortage of confidence on and off stage.

"To be quite honest with you, I find it quite amusing most of the time," says Burrows. "It might be a passing comment that totally snowballs into something that never was. That kind of banter's been going on in rock and roll history for decades."Fortunately for Razorlight, talent is in the band's corner. Nowadays, unless your last name is Gallagher, you might as well count your blessings until someone shoots your star down, even if you haven't had a hit in years.

Razorlight, the CD, does have moments of pop music genius filled with Motown inspired beats and blue-eyed soul. With songs like the 2006 hit single "In The Morning," "Who Needs Love" (a vague reflection of Bruce Springsteen's "Hungry Heart") and "Before I Fall To Pieces," it has been argued that the band is the U.K.'s answer to The Strokes, even though two members-- Björn Ågren (guitar) and Carl Dalemo (bass)-- are from the land of ABBA.So which influences make up the Razorlight sound?

"The Police, The Clash, Talking Heads. Obviously, The Beatles. Songwriting-wise, they're a huge influence," answers Burrows. "Carl and Bjorn have got some serious punk influence. Michael Jackson, a bit of Prince. All the stuff that's classic."

When continuing the battle for credibility in an industry prepared to eat its young, it is always good to have a veteran on your side, especially Bono, who, to no surprise, regards "America," as "an amazing song that should be on the radio everywhere."

Lyrically speaking, "America," isn't as obvious as one might think after an endorsement from a Human Rights Ambassador, but its uncertainty may keep you thinking after the song ends.

"It's not got like one message that we're trying to convey," Burrows explains. "I mean, for me, it's just a beautiful song, and it can be interpreted whatever way."

Extensively touring throughout the rest of the year in Europe, the band hopes to make it back to the U.S. for another visit sometime before year's end. And while success can be measured many different ways, Burrows prefers performing as payment for his hard work.

"We always enjoy it, and at the same time, we love the idea of getting up there and giving it our all."

WWW.RAZORLIGHT.COM

Originally printed in The Rockit News, Los Angeles, CA, May 2007

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