Electric Six Talk New Album, 2024 UK Tour And More

US Disco-punk act Electric Six have released their new album ‘Turquoise’ which is out now on Metropolis Records and will be touring the UK extensively throughout 2024. Vocalist Dick Valentine very kindly spoke to JLTT about the new album, UK Tour and more:

Who is in Electric Six, what do they play and how did you meet?

I am in Electric Six. I am Dick Valentine and I sing the voice. I met myself slowly, over time. The rest of the band is The White Wolf on guitar, Herb. S Flavorings on guitar, Tait Nucleus on synths, Dr. J on drums and Rick Schaple on the bass. We all met because of mutual interest in me.

Your new album ‘Turquoise’ is out now. How did you want to approach the making of the record?

We started the recording of Turquoise in January 2020 and we thought, like most of our albums that it would be done that year. But something happened in 2020 that kind of slowed us down. Much of the record was recorded remotely, bouncing ideas off of computers. In the meat of the pandemic, I would do my vocals in the garage, away from people in the house.

Where did you record the album and who produced it?

The record was recorded at The White Wolf’s house in Warren, Michigan by the White Wolf….much like many of our records.

One of the new tracks is ‘Units Of Time’. What was the story/inspiration behind the song?

Units of Time is about an older man with a bushy mustache and a cowboy hat rolling into a diner, having a cup of coffee, looking around and realizing that his life is about to wrap up and he ain’t done shit with it.

Do you have any favoured stage instruments, effects, pedals etc?

Not me! I just get up there and grab the nearest mic and do karaoke 90000

Where is your hometown and could you please describe it in five words?

My hometown is Detroit, Michigan. Has a devil-may-care raison d’être.

Do you have any plans for live shows in Europe/UK in 2024?

Yes. We will do a tour of the UK in June and July along with a Dutch festival. In November and December, we do our usual tour of UK clubs and also some shows in Holland.

You are given the opportunity to write the score for a film adaptation of a novel that you enjoy. Which novel is it and why?

Kramer vs. Kramer. My parents got divorced so maybe my soundtrack can get them back 2gether again.

Which of your new album tracks hear you at your a) happiest, b) angriest and c) most reflective?

Happiest….Take Me to The Sugar

Angriest…Window of Time

Most reflective….Hot Numbers on the Telephone

Who are some of your musical influences? Do you have any recommendations?

F***ing hate music and musicians.

Was it a difficult album to write?

No, man. This is Electric Six. We’re well aware that if we make any of this difficult people will point and laugh at us and say, “my God, look at them making it difficult when they are just Electric Six. F***ing spanners.”

Who designed/created the album artwork?

Luke Spooner of Carrion House Illustrations! He will be knighted some day! You will call him Lord Luke!

Given your vast catalogue, is it difficult picking a setlist and do you have a specific song selection process?

Gotta have Gay Bar and High Voltage. After that, we just snort a bunch of meth and start guessing

How do you look after your voices?

We don’t!

What makes Electric Six happy and what makes you unhappy?

Happy….a time machine…and forgiveness

Unhappy….a mirror