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After doling out the sweet and jangly to LA crowds for the past few years, The French Semester are going abroad. The local foursome are toting their 60's-influenced, shoegaze-pop to the fancy Europeans in support of the new release, Good Friends Only I Can See.
LA.com asks Riaz and Charles some hard hitting questions via email. Dear The French Semester --
LA.com - So far you are leading at the polls for 'Band of the Month' at Deli LA. If you win, who would you like to thank?
LA.com - On your video "Arrowheadings," some of the YouTube comments claim that the keyboardist (Bryan) is their Spanish teacher. Any truth to those rumors? And, if so, do you ever get students at your shows?
LA.com - I love the part in "Remembering Right Now" that goes "...we'll make babies with each other." Outside of songwriting, have you had much success with that as a line?
LA.com - The band is getting ready to tour Europe in support of the new album Good Friends Only I Can See. How excited are you?! Traveling with all your gear seems like it might be a drag. What tour-specific, foreign phrases are you practicing?LA.com asks Riaz and Charles some hard hitting questions via email. Dear The French Semester --
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LA.com - So far you are leading at the polls for 'Band of the Month' at Deli LA. If you win, who would you like to thank?
R: Good question. Of course the people who voted. Even though it doesn't take much time, it does take some civic mindedness and hands - both qualities we admire in people. We'd like to believe our friends make up one large community so this poll feeds right into the utopian fantasy. We should probably also salute the guys and gals over at The Deli Magazine for thinking of us in the first place. They run a good operation.
LA.com - On your video "Arrowheadings," some of the YouTube comments claim that the keyboardist (Bryan) is their Spanish teacher. Any truth to those rumors? And, if so, do you ever get students at your shows?
R: You've done the homework. The rumors are true. But, as far as I know there have never been any students of Mr. Sullivan at The French Semester shows. Mainly because the venues are largely 18+. We do get a lot of their foot traffic on the MySpace and Facebooks and it's most welcome. They're really smart kids and listen closely to the songs - maybe for test answers. The rest of us are involved in schools in some form or another too so learning is just a big part of our ethos. We've been known to play for school children under certain unique circumstances too and have a blast doing it. The songs can operate on different levels so we're lucky that way.
LA.com - I love the part in "Remembering Right Now" that goes "...we'll make babies with each other." Outside of songwriting, have you had much success with that as a line?
R: Yes! Although we don't recommend it for beginners. According to the manual, its really best used in a relationship of sorts and in private. I wanted to connect emotion with physiology because I think that's where a lot of people run into problems and we forget that we're just animals. And there's no shame in that. I realized at some point that the baby-making impulse is a very wise one. It's the same instinct that pulls us toward people who are healthy, intelligent, or beautiful - but these should be defined on our terms. And it connects current action with another time. Clearly an old fashioned logic, but one we have no problem reviving. Then again, Earth is getting crowded so maybe we should've been more specific. . .
C: I just try to play the songs with style and grace. No sex before marriage.
C: I just try to play the songs with style and grace. No sex before marriage.
R: We're pretty ecstatic. Although we're a young group, its been a long time coming. I lived over there for quite a while, and we all have ties there in one form or another. The songs themselves, as we've said, are based on a global experience - one that's at times enlightened but at other times terribly schizophrenic and uncomfortable. Like being here in body but somewhere else in mind. Or forever jet-lagged. But that's just part of life for a lot of folks these days. . . .
Anywhoo, for us the Europe trip is more fieldwork on what we've been talking about these last two years. Of course, its also a great performance opportunity because the audiences there are just different. More active in their listening and certainly less self-conscious at live shows. Maybe still worried about fascism. . .
The gear thing is a good point. Imagine a puzzle the size of an automobile and you're close. Luckily we have help on this stuff but it should be pretty interesting. On a related note, I will be teaching the guys to say "desolé" in France a lot and I'm sure Gil (bass) will be teaching us the German equivalent.
C: This will be my 4th trip to Europe but my first time performing. I was there a year and a half ago and I told myself, "The Next time I'm coming here, it's going to be with drums." At the time I had absolutely no idea where I was going as far as being in a band - and then I hooked up with these guys. But yeah, I can't waitto sit in the squares of Spain and France and enjoy a nice espresso and have a smoke with my band mates.
Anywhoo, for us the Europe trip is more fieldwork on what we've been talking about these last two years. Of course, its also a great performance opportunity because the audiences there are just different. More active in their listening and certainly less self-conscious at live shows. Maybe still worried about fascism. . .
The gear thing is a good point. Imagine a puzzle the size of an automobile and you're close. Luckily we have help on this stuff but it should be pretty interesting. On a related note, I will be teaching the guys to say "desolé" in France a lot and I'm sure Gil (bass) will be teaching us the German equivalent.
C: This will be my 4th trip to Europe but my first time performing. I was there a year and a half ago and I told myself, "The Next time I'm coming here, it's going to be with drums." At the time I had absolutely no idea where I was going as far as being in a band - and then I hooked up with these guys. But yeah, I can't waitto sit in the squares of Spain and France and enjoy a nice espresso and have a smoke with my band mates.
LA.com - Between this email questionnaire and the IM interview you did with Radio Free Silver Lake, you are working your way through the mediums of communication. In keeping with that theme, will you be pen pals with LA.com? You can send us postcard tour-updates from the road. It'll be awesome.
R: Ha! We would be honored. But how do we describe this situation if there are no pens involved anymore? Keypals? No,"penpals" is better. That way kids will read this and go research "pens" on Wikipedia. Seriously though, it's a crazy crazy time worldwide and we would be psyched to be your indie-rock eyes and ears on the Old Continent for a few weeks.
C: Yes! That would be awesome. I know on our last tour we did daily blogs on the MySpace. I'm not sure how frequently we will update because none of us will be bringing computers. As soon as we see an internet cafe, we'll rush it . . . .
R: Actually, Gil and Bryan might bring a Commodore 64 . . . we can break pieces off and send them FedEx.
C: Yes! That would be awesome. I know on our last tour we did daily blogs on the MySpace. I'm not sure how frequently we will update because none of us will be bringing computers. As soon as we see an internet cafe, we'll rush it . . . .
R: Actually, Gil and Bryan might bring a Commodore 64 . . . we can break pieces off and send them FedEx.
LA.com - Last question, name a few local bands you love.
R: Glad you asked. . . The Spires are my new local heroes. Their songs are timeless, fresh, and simple, but without platitudes. Just for reference, think of the Go Betweens and Yo La Tengo swirled into one sound - they have several recordings to keep you happy for a few months. Of course, Divisadero are equally rootsy and classic. Both bands are filled with good natured people whom we'd share a foxhole with.
C: I've been in love with jazz and I've been studying it for the last 5 years. It's inspired me the most and I've gotten a lot better as a drummer as a result. If you asked me, what's in my C.D. changer I'd say The Larry Goldings Trio, Chico Hamilton, Jimmy Smith. And on my record player Lee Morgan.
C: I've been in love with jazz and I've been studying it for the last 5 years. It's inspired me the most and I've gotten a lot better as a drummer as a result. If you asked me, what's in my C.D. changer I'd say The Larry Goldings Trio, Chico Hamilton, Jimmy Smith. And on my record player Lee Morgan.
The French Semester
Riaz Tejani - lead voice, guitar, words
Gilbert Disloquez - bass, voice
Charles Maxey - drums
Bryan Sullivan - voice, percussions, keys
Riaz Tejani - lead voice, guitar, words
Gilbert Disloquez - bass, voice
Charles Maxey - drums
Bryan Sullivan - voice, percussions, keys
