Greg Kot previews the first American tour by the 24-member, white-robed, choral-symphonic band the Polyphonic Spree, which opens in Chicago. (Play On, page 3) An excerpt from his interview in Austin, Texas, with singer Tim De Laughter:
Kot: How do your songs manage to sound joyous without becoming sugary?
Tim DeLaughter: Because the songs are coming out of a melancholy place. When I was sick as a kid and had to miss school, my mom would have to leave for work, but she’d buy me a Disney talking storybook to help me pass the day. I listened to a lot of Walt Disney records. I’d play the music, look at the pictures, do the story in my head. That had a huge impact.
Kot: Was it therapeutic?
DeLaughter: Yeah! In fact, this interview is therapeutic. I’m having an epiphany remembering that, because that’s the key to how I write lyrics. It’s always this story playing out in my head, like when I was listening to those storybooks. I see the whole song in my head, and I used to do that as a kid listening to those storybooks. Thank you! How much do I owe you for that?
