Witnessing the power and influence that music can have over audiences, and its ability to transcend language and culture, is what keeps Cut Copy frontman Dan Whitford inspired.
At the time of writing, Whitford is tussling with jetlag after the synth-pop/ new-wave veterans have just touched down for a series of headline shows in their home country after a whirlwind world tour, which included one of their biggest gigs. “We played probably our biggest-ever show in New Mexico, in a football stadium,” Whitford says, referring to the band’s showing at the huge Vive Latino festival at Foro Sol stadium, which drew crowds of more than 50,000 and such names as Arcade Fire and Nine Inch Nails. “It was an amazing feeling.”
Since Cut Copy’s inception some 13 years ago as a solo home-recording project of Whitford’s, it feels like the band has never stopped touring. It’s a lifestyle that can drive many to insanity or extreme boredom, but Whitford couldn’t be happier with it. “Sure, sitting on tour buses isn’t ideal but it’s the crowds that make it all worthwhile,” Whitford says.
“It’s just so inspiring to look out and see how someone is connecting to your music. It really keeps me inspired, especially to see how non-English-speaking crowds really connect with the songs.”
It’s that universal appeal that has seen Cut Copy transcend Australia’s mid-to-late-Noughties dance scene, which saw many imitators come and go. Cut Copy have always hovered above that crowd, in the category of the thinking person’s electronica category, a fact evident in their latest album, ‘Free Your Mind’, which channels popular music’s two gleefully hedonistic Summers of Love: the sweet psychedelia of San Francisco in 1967 and the acid-house raves of late-’80s Britain. “They were such important times in history for the role of music in the world,” Whitford says.
“The album is essentially a tribute to those times, when dance music ruled. It’s just a really simple message of letting go of your troubles and letting music wash over you.”
It’s an earnest sentiment echoed in one of Whitford’s favourite tracks from the album, single ‘Let Me Show You Love’, a commanding dancefloor/ festival-moshpit anthem. “It’s definitely one of the songs I’m especially proud of. It has a really trance-like, hypnotic ring to it,” he says.
In addition to enthralling tens of thousands of Mexican revellers, Whitford cites Manchester and New York as two recent favourite destinations. “We’ve actually just come straight from Manchester and it was great to get the tick of approval from the Mancunians,” Whitford says. “New York can be notoriously hard to win over but we’ve actually always had really good crowds there.”
Since the early tours in support of Bright Like Neon Love, Cut Copy have shared stages with some of the biggest names in the game, which renders it difficult to pick a favourite when it comes to special band bonds. “There’s just so many,” Whitford says. “Touring with Daft Punk [on their 2007 ‘Nevereverland’ tour] was pretty amazing. We still catch up with the guys from Franz Ferdinand and TV On The Radio whenever we can. We played with them on some of our first tours and really formed a lifetime bond with those guys.
“We played with Phoenix a few years back and it was great hanging out with them, too.”
As for maintaining camaraderie on those long tours, Whitford says the guys all get on fine. “It helped that we started off as friends with shared interests and have just developed from there. We try not to let egos rule — if anyone seems to be getting a bit that way we’ll just chop ’em down a peg, in the Australian tradition.”
Cut Copy Tour Dates
Thu May 8 - Metro Theatre (Sydney)Fri May 9 - 170 Russell (Melbourne)
Sat May 10 - Eatons Hill Hotel (Brisbane)
