DIIV plunging into 2022 Norman Music Festival Los Angeles rock quartet headlining Friday line-up By Doug HILL ~ Photo Provided
DIIV ( dive ) is looking forward to more Okie hospitality when they top Norman Music Festival ’ s main stage Friday evening , April 29 . The City of Angels-based new wave grunge outfit have been to the Sooner State before in years past on their way to somewhere else . Guitarist Andrew Bailey vividly recalls an interstate gas station episode that began intensely but left a lasting favorable impression .
“ We had our first and only tornado experience here ,” Bailey said . “ There were all these sirens and an employee asked are you in or out ? And we ’ re like in or out of what , and then I guess in .”
The band was ushered into the walk in cooler which was full of other customers sharing their predicament on phones .
“ The tornado was nowhere near which makes me think Oklahoma has its shit together because they quickly got us into the safest place available ,” Bailey said .
DIIV was founded by vocalist and guitarist Zachary Cole Smith in Brooklyn , New York in 2011 . Presently in addition to Bailey on guitars , the rhythm section is Colin Caulfield ( keys , bass , vocals ) and percussionist Ben Newman . 2022 Norman Music Festival will be their first live performance here .
“ We ’ re really excited to play a local , seemingly non-corporate festival that is free ,” Smith said . “ To me that ’ s the best case scenario for both a music fan and musician . And it ’ s a good line-up .”
Although DIIV have generally been shoehorned into dream pop , shoegaze and post-punk genres , its band leader clarified what they ’ ll be like on stage here .
“ We put on a real rock show now ,” Smith said . “ In terms of how loud it is and the dynamics . For a long time we did throw and go shows which were punk style where we ’ d just show up and play all the songs really fast . Now there ’ s a lot more thought and care put into it . We ’ ve designed visuals and worked really hard to make the show what we think is pretty special .”
DIIV is making the case that they are legit festival headliners . “ This is the first time we ’ ve had a headlining slot so we want to step up for that ,” Smith said .
DIIV has been assembling every day in LA to further refine their art . They ’ ve found less distraction from that on the west coast along with being more mature now . They ’ re in their mid-30s .
“ Now that we ’ re older we spend a lot more time making music together ,” Smith said .
“ When we all lived in New York it never felt like there was much time to get together and work ,” Caulfield said . “ There needs to be free time to come up with really cool ideas and do songs as a band . There ’ s space , the weather is nicer . New York is a very bustling place which informed the band ’ s vibe for a long time .”
All DIIV ’ s players are veterans of other bands . They recognize the value of working together in this project . “ Collaborating is difficult to do ,” Smith said . “ There are barriers to entry for people who want to , because the creative process is very personal . If there are four people you ’ re going to have four times as many good ideas . Different perspectives give interesting ways of approach . I understand why a lot of artists don ’ t do it , there ’ s this mythology about singular genius artists . I don ’ t think that ’ s the best path .”
Drummer Newman was formerly lead vocalist and guitarist for Charlotte , North Carolina ’ s Banda Suki that ceased in 2016 .
“ You get ideas you ’ d be incapable of getting on your own , thoughts that just wouldn ’ t occur ,” Newman said . For many , four guys driving long distances in a van together is the stuff of nightmares . After their Norman date DIIV play shows in 10 European countries from May to August , which sounds more exotic than pulling over for gas in Elk City , Oklahoma . But it ’ s all a strain .
“ I think for me the secret of touring is surrendering and not trying to maintain any sort of control ,” Caulfield said . “ Checking in with yourself when you ’ re depressed or too tired . It ’ s like a ship you get onto . If you try to get off you ’ re in the ocean .” Smith employs a useful acronym for this subject .
“ It ’ s H . A . L . T . hungry , angry , lonely , tired ,” he said . “ You can check in with yourself and possibly be one of those things but definitely not all of them .”
DIIV are purposeful on tour . They embark on artistic missions .
“ Playing shows feels vital and meaningful , especially when we ’ re in Europe or another part of the world ,” Smith said . “ It ’ s an easy trade-off to make . Rewarding but difficult .”
“ The whole day can suck then you play the show and it ’ s the best day ever ,” Bailey said . “ If it weren ’ t for the show I couldn ’ t do it at all .”
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