Fleet Foxes On Religion

The band aim for "transcendence" without religious baggage

19 June 2008 - Since arriving from Seattle three months ago Fleet Foxes have played a number of sold out shows, the Royal Festival Hall and their debut self-titled album which was released on 16 June has notched up 4 and 5 star reviews across the board.

Their style includes group singing reminiscent of gospel songs, hymnals and devotionals which the critics have not ignored.

However, the band have said that when making the album, their aim was to connect with “transcendence” rather than make religious sounding music.

Frontman and songwriter Robin explained how they came to sing as a group, saying:

“We all listen to different kinds of music but as we started making singing a really big focus of the songs, there are different ways you can go.

“I think that way of group singing felt most natural as opposed to trying to work out complicated jazz interval harmony stuff. It suited the songs to treat the songs like you would hear on a gospel record.”

Because their music does not have an overtly religious thrust, but taps into similarities of that genre, drummer Josh claimed that it enables Fleet Foxes to appeal to a wider audience.

He said: “A lot of people don’t get to hear that style of music or get that feel without a religious or spiritual implication - and a lot of people want that but there is a lot of baggage with that kinda music I think.

“So, it’s interesting for people, it’s redeeming in a way to hear people doing that free of implications.”

Robin says he often listens to religious music, but went on to explain that it is not necessarily the religious connotations that he responds to, but the feelings conveyed within that style of music.

“More of what I’m responding to in that music is just some genuine feeling that the person is obviously having,” he said, “and that might be their desire for a connection to this God or whatever, but that doesn’t need to be the goal, it’s just the emotions coming through.”

"There is a lot of baggage with that kinda music . So, it’s redeeming in a way to hear people doing that free of implications."

Richard Dawkins

The conversation then moved into rather philosophical territory as the biologist and science writer, Richard Dawkins, was referenced.

Dawkins is an atheist and believes that religion is a delusion.

“Richard Dawkins describes it as a misfiring,” Josh said, in light of religion.

He went on to talk about the notion of transcendence which is believed to be inherent in humans - as we try to go beyond our limits of experience and into the unknowable, saying:

“Like, everyone has this transcendence impulse. Dawkins describes a lot of religious activities or rituals as being a misfiring of that impulse and I think that too often people throw the baby out with the bathwater.”

Transcendence then, was what they band aimed for with their music, as they both agreed.

“If you were to try and pin down any goal or objective with music I would think that transcendence would be the best one,” said Josh.

The band think that ultimately, like religion, music also the ability to be baffling and is hard to tie down, as Robin explained:

“All music to me is mysterious and transcendent. No matter what. You can’t really describe what music is really or why it affects you in a certain way.

“It’s just as much of a God figure in some way, that mysterious unreachable thing.”

So then, having already caused quite a storm at their sold out London ULU gig on 11 June and the rest of their UK tour – the boys opened up a world of discussion that extends the religious themes within their music.

But, rest assured – for those with faith or without - they do claim to offer something a bit different with their gospel style singing and somewhat spiritual melodies.

Georgie Rogers