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With two released albums, Ezra Furman and her band The Harpoons have become one of the best proposals in the current US rock scene. Their sound is halfway between folk-rock and traditional American rock, but what really makes the difference is the songs, hits that stick to your brain after the first listen. In their Spanish tour stop, we've interviewed Ezra Furman...

You've been here before. What do you think about the audience?

It looks like in Spain they are crazy about us, so we like coming here.

Where is the best audience?

In Madrid in general, although it also depends on the day…

There are many bands following your same formula, but a few of them are as successful as you are. Where is the key to your success?

Well, there are many bands which are more successful than we are, really. The most important thing is having a good, nice song. Many bands spend more time trying to be cool and creating an image instead of writing good music. We are not cool. We are more focused on finding what can move people. We send music to the audience that we think will touch them in some way or another. I imagine the secret lies on doing what you like best. In the end everything works out that way.

How did you start playing together?

I started playing when I was 13 years old. My parents bought me a guitar and all of a sudden all I wanted to do was to play punk. I met the rest at university. We used to play in fraternity parties. Then one day we tried to become a serius band with real songs instead of just covers.

Why the name The Harpoons?

I think it is because I was reading Moby Dick at the time…

How do you see your progression since Beat Beat Beat and Banging Down the Doors?

The sound is similar and we are still poor not matter how successful we have become. It's been four years and we have a new guitarist. I think we are closer together as a badn now and the sound is much better.

How would you describe your music?

Emotional, talkative… A bunch of different emotions at the same time, in fact; just how most of the people usually feel.

Your latest album was released tow years ago. Are you recording something new?

Of course. There's a new album that will be released sometime this year, although we don't know when exactly. In a few weeks when the tour is over we will go back home and see what we have. I've written many songs, too many, perhaps, and now it's time for choosing the best ones. But one thing is for sure: the album will be very nice and will sound well because we are better musicians now.

In the same label?

Our contract is due and we have to look for another label. We've gotten some offers, but we can't say anything just now.

There's a video in YouTube where you sing a song titled Kirsten Dunst and declare your love to her. It's kind of old, though. Would you marry her now or do you have another celebrity in mind?

When I watched Spiderman I wanted to be him, and I still do. She's the kind of girl I like, and as far as celebrities goes, she's still my favourite.

What is your favourite hotspot?

There are tons of them in Chicago, although I recommend going to see a baseball match or to go to the Improv Olympic to watch any show.

You can't stop listening to...

Girls.

You vibrate with...

Prayers. I'm a Jew and praying helps me a lot. That's what I was doing before the interview. Music and religion go close together in my life.

You'd prohibit...

billboards.

For you good2b is...

Being honest.

POLL