Latitude 2013: Five minutes with... Dark Dark Dark

Their name might make them sound like a band of teen goths, but Dark Dark Dark's beautiful, dramatic folk music couldn't be more different. And, just for you, they're playing at Latitude's i Arena this year. We caught up with them for some very important questions.

Which latitude are you on right now?

29.955822,-90.02173, the lower ninth ward of New Orleans, LA 

Sum up what you do for us in one sentence for anyone who might not know…

Hi, we're Dark Dark Dark, we play beautiful, intense and intimate chamber rock with our singer, Nona Marie Invie.   

What’s the best thing about performing live?

Doing energy work with the audience, working with them (or against them) for an hour. 

Do you have any pre-show rituals?

Aside from some warm-ups, we occasionally try to do laundry at the venue, which never works, and eat dinner too fast before playing. I mean, on a professional level, we warm up, go for walks, try not to eat the candy bars in the dressing room, do yogic breathing exercises, the usual.

What’s your best festival story for us? The stranger the better!

The end of our experience on Australia's Harvest Festival was dramatic. Our final show, in Brisbane, was amidst a severe thunder and lightning storm on the main stage.  e were warned during the first songs that they may call it off, and then suddenly, after playing a couple singles, and during "Daydreaming," they approached the stage to shut it down. 

We didn't listen and kept playing, the sky was green and sick with lightning and hail, and the audience wouldn't budge. We played the song perfectly and a guy grabbed the mic and said "Everyone to the emergency shelter!" Everyone boo-ed and scoffed, until a thunder/lightning struck that was deafening, right above us. The field was clear in minutes, and we got to watch the rest of the storm from the stage, with people from Beck and Mike Patton and Sigur Ros.  The green of the grass was so beautiful under the sodium lights and lightning flashes.

Tell us a something you’ve never told an interviewer before…

Our band name doesn't actually mean anything.

What’s your signature cooking dish?

Bibimbop-style rice bowls.

What book/film/record etc. changed your life and why?

Tom Spanbauer's In The City of Shy Hunters, Salvador Plascencia's People of Paper, Marquez' 100 Years of Solitude, Jeanette Winterson

Knock knock, who's there?

Me!
Me who?
That's right!
What's right?
Meehoo!
That's what I want to know!
What's what you want to know?
Me who?
Yes, exactly!
Exactly what?
Yes, I have an Exactlywatt on a chain!
Exactly what on a chain?
Yes!
Yes what?
No, Exactlywatt!
That's what I want to know!
I told you - Exactlywatt!
Exactly what?
Yes!
Yes what?
Yes, it's with me!
What's with you?
Exactlywatt - that's what's with me.
Me who?
Yes!
Go away!

And lastly, summarise Latitude in three words

Fuck King Awesome