Bursting to the dance music front echelon in 2006 with hit single Things You Say and a self-titled debut album, UK electro masters CICADA are heading down under to mark the summer of ’09 prior to the release of their new studio full-length. DENIS SEMCHENKO talks to lynchpin/producer AARON GILBERT.

Responsible for a number of dancefloor hits such as the propulsive Things You Say, the shimmering All About You and mantric recent single Falling Rockets, London electro-pop acolytes Cicada have first established themselves in 2002 as a top-tier remix team, tackling tunes by Depeche Mode, New Order, Editors, Client and numerous other big names. “Basically, myself and Alex [Payne, co-producer] started Cicada as a bit of fun,” says Aaron, also known in the dance world as Mr Natural. “We did quite a few remixes and then put out a record, and here we are!”

Cicada’s vocalist Heidrun Anna Björnsdottir, who previously graced Icelandic electronic wonders Gus Gus’s records with her distinct, atmospheric vocals, was an instant foil for the project, according to Aaron: “We went through a number of other people but we knew we wanted someone who wasn’t your ‘typical’ dance music singer, as they call them these days, and started to do something a bit different.”

Listing Chic, Blondie and Giorgio Moroder as their primary influences, Cicada share the futuristic notion with not only the above artists, but many more stylistic pioneers. “Growing up in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, we got exposed to a lot of that music which helped us start our own musical journey,” Aaron reflects. “Pink Floyd, old rap and funk records – we drew inspiration from all of them.”

With a massively successful eponymous debut behind their belts, Cicada upped the ante even higher with quite possibly the catchiest dance tune of 2008 – the irresistible Falling Rockets. “Basically the song came about when we used software vocals – we often write backing tracks using software but it’s very rare for us to use software vocals,” Aaron says. “We wanted a dance track with an angsty, ‘80s kind of vocal as the lyrics refer to the obsession with fame and reality TV.”  

By the time this interview goes to print, Cicada will already have a new album in the can, set to be released at the start of 2009. “We’ll be finishing work on the new album in a couple weeks time,” Aaron asserts, subtly reprimanding me for not being up-do-date with his band’s progress, to which I cannot object due to (then) being a casual fan.

Being a self-confessed synthpop addict, I query Aaron whether he shares the affinity of setting melancholic lyrics to metronomic beats with artists such as Depeche Mode and New Order. “I think sometimes it works, especially when we remix people like Editors,” he replies. “We often look into the heart of what the track is, and sometimes the melancholy just comes out.”

Having done a number of indie rock collaborations, does Aaron see himself as someone who makes music for both dance and indie crowds? “Definitely – it’s music for everybody,” he emphasises. “We’re big on social networking, MySpace, getting through to different people who like our stuff, from dance kids to the indie kids; I’ve done a lot of dance stuff but that doesn’t mean I don’t like other types of music or am unwilling to cross into other genres.”

The words ‘Antipodean summer’ are music to Aaron’s ears in the light of Cicada’s return to the Southern Hemisphere’s festival circuit: “We were in Australia at the beginning of last year, and we’re now looking forward to getting back there and meeting the new year – it’s been a lot of hard work.”

CICADA play Summafieldayze at the Gold Coast’s Doug Jennings Park on Saturday Jan 3, alongside Underworld, Ferry Corsten, Calvin Harris, Digitalism, Adam Freeland and many more. www.myspace.com/cicada1 / www.summadayze.com

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