Elton John interviewed Whitney, talked Frank Ocean, drugs and smiling on stage

Whitney have been one of the breakout bands of 2016, making music with an earnestness that is utterly refreshing amid all the pouting and posturing of modern indie.

You can read my list of things listening to Whitney sounds like here, but don’t just take my word for it, take Sir Elton John’s.

The veteran interviewed co-frontman Julien Ehrlich for the New York Times this week, having become enamoured of the band after hearing their single ‘No Woman’.

Ehrlich was initially a little starstruck with his new found fan, but the pair eventually settled into a nice casual conversation. Read the full thing here, and a couple of choice exchanges below:

Ehrlich: We try to smile on stage, because not a lot of 2016 indie bands necessarily go for that vibe. A lot of people try to be goth or something. They’re too cool. I think that’s something that you do so well, it’s just whatever feeling that you’re experiencing at the time. I feel like you like express it on stage and we aren’t really afraid to do that as well.

John: I’m not one of those artists that really feels a lot of pain on stage. I find joy. That’s what I get about you. That’s why I was attracted to your band, plus the fact that I think Max is absolutely gorgeous — but please don’t tell him that.

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Ehrlich: Have you gotten into “Blonde,” the new Frank Ocean record?

John: Yeah, I like that a lot, too. Is that your favorite record of the year?

Ehrlich: It definitely is at this point. It will always induce tears.

John: Isn’t that great, when something can do that to you? I love sad music. When I was doing a lot of drugs, I would hate what I was doing. I would be on my own doing coke and just hating myself. Then I’d be listening to Kate Bush and it would make me cry. Peter Gabriel would make me cry. I knew that one day I would get well, but if I hadn’t had the music with me during that period I would probably not be here. I would listen to Nico — she was the most depressing person to listen to with the most wonderful voice. I would listen to her and I’d think, “I’ll get well one day, I’ll get well one day.” That’s what music does to you.