Coachella Artist Spotlight: Hot Chip

There are a few bands who hover just below the mainstream radar, dancing between underground and universal recognition. Hot Chip is one of those bands, a secret treasure for all those indie/pop fanatics who do a little digging to build their music library. They’re fun, funky and playfully awkward. In other words, “upliftingly accessible.”

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Hot Chip is the creation of two long time friends, Alexis Taylor and Joe Goddard, whose partnership has lasted the better part of 18 years. They draw their influences from the likes of Pavement, Spacemen 3, Prince, and even Destinys Child; hence, they’re open to experimentation. With a relentless passion to unearth a distinct style, combining house/electronic with a variety of instruments (including bass, cello, and flugelhorn), Hot Chip lives and breathes for a kind of raw eclecticism. A catchy hook never hurt either. “I’m always naturally drawn to simple, honest big productions…Even if I’m lost in underground stuff, I’m always drawn to music with hooks in it”, said Goddard.

Their music is comprised of all shapes and forms of fun. Each member seriously invests their time and purpose on finding new music, new instruments, and new arrangements. “We were always very serious about [music]. Alexis is more obsessed with music than almost anyone else I know and I’m pretty bad too”, says Goddard. You can also hear the band collaborating on a number of remixes with artists such as MSTRKRFT and Kraftwerk, as well as several versions of original material.

Check out Hot Chip on day two of Coachella, as well as their fourth studio album, One Life Stand, which just hit stores last month. Hot Chip’s website is stuffed with up to date streams of new material if you need you’re fix.

Biographical info courtesy of hotchip.co.uk