Who says chillout needs to be so chilled? Probably not Thievery Corporation, who are probably the most actively plugged-in electronic music duo in the universe. And we're not just talking about decks, drum machines, samplers and sequencers, but global food shortages, economic stratagems and brain-teasing terminology. That kind of plugged-in.
As reported in Listening Post earlier, Rob Garza and Eric Hilton have teamed up with the United Nations to shine a light on the global food crisis. Which makes sense on many levels: The duo hails from D.C., and is outernational to the limit, working with everyone from Americans like Flaming Lips and David Byrne to international artists like Bebel Gilberto, Emiliana Torrini and many more. In other words, Thievery Corporation gets around, especially on the forthcoming effort Radio Retaliation, out September 23 from the its home label ESL Music.
It eventually got around to talking to Listening Post too. We chatted with Hilton about resource wars, acronyms like the UN and IMF and what outernational means. Toby Keith fans might want to sit this one out.
Wired.com: You're working with the United Nations on the food mess. What's your take on it?
this audio or video is no longer availableEric Hilton: I think the greatest cause of the global food crisis is the displacement of large numbers of poor people for resource extraction. In order for us to live our relatively pampered lives, complete with iPods and air travel, we in the so-called First World consume more than our share of the world’s resources – oil, silver, gold, coltan, and more. To make matters worse, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) makes loans that generally line the pockets of corrupt leaders of poor countries and multinational corporations. The people pay the ultimate price through harsh structural adjustment policies and endless debt servitude.
Wired.com: Any recommended reading on this?
Eric Hilton: The system is neatly outlined in the books of John Perkins. His book, Confessions of an Economic Hitman, is a must for anyone who wants to truly understand how the rich world shakes down the poor through so-called international institutions like the IMF.
Wired.com: You seem convinced that this isn't a temporary problem.
Eric Hilton: It seems pretty clear that the future will include increased struggle for ever scarcer resources. Many will go hungry. The good people from the United Nations World Food Programme invited Rob and I to become spokespersons for their cause. Their stated mission is primarily focused on distributing food where it is most needed. This seemed like a worthy cause and we have worked with them for the last couple of years. Rob has been on two trips, to Kenya/Sudan and Nepal. I'm looking to go soon.
Wired.com: In other words, the term outernational has become more than a song title for you.
Eric Hilton: We like the term, which was originally coined by Jamaican Rastas, who really have and incredible flair for words. For us, it means a certain appreciation and empathy for all people around the globe, and their struggles and triumphs. To us, we're all part of one consciousness and the quicker we realize that and begin to seek harmony instead of hegemony, the better.
Wired.com: Big words tend to scare some. Translate that, will you?
Eric Hilton: The only thing I've ever cared to remember from formal education was something simple a history professor once said: "No matter where you go, people are pretty much the same." I've found that to be the case. The corporate media and politicians seem to thrive on dividing us, mostly through fear.
Wired.com: Your recent Outernational tour on the food crisis featured some frequent collaborators and new faces.
Eric Hilton: We're friends and peers. A few were bands we've never met before, like Ladytron, but were digging their sound. We played with TV on the Radio in Brazil and got along well. Federico is obviously a labelmate and good friend. Los Amigos Invisibles are friends. Bebel Gilberto is a former Thievery collaborator and dear friend. Seu Jorge is our new badass friend. He’s great. Our only regret is that we couldn’t get Femi Kuti on the bill, but we have songs with Femi and Seu Jorge on Radio Retaliation.
Wired.com: OK, let's talk tech. Any new faves?
Eric Hilton: We have started to play around with a new piece of hardware called the Lemur, which is basically a sampler and sequencer with a great screen interface and smooth triggering capabilities. It's a fairly limited-edition piece made in France. Their support people have been really helpful and we're excited to be using it. So far, so good.
Wired.com: Do you think tech can help solve our probs with food and climate crisis?
this audio or video is no longer availableEric Hilton: I'm afraid it might just do the opposite. We humans may be the big brains on the planet, but I think Mother Nature will always have the last word. One only needs to look at genetically modified foods, pesticides, killer seeds, DNA patenting and all that to see that we've probably lost the plot.
Wired.com: Are you against it?
Eric Hilton: I'm not anti-technology, by any means. Although I do enjoy John Zerzan's books and essays, especially Future Primitive. I just think that we need to stop trashing the planet, and start respecting it. Then we won't need a technological fix in some final hour.
Photo: Andrzej Ligguz
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