One eskimO's Kristian Leontiou On Holiday Albums and Manga Snoopy

London's whimsical pop band One eskimO will be playing an exclusive WFUV show tonight, November 24 at 8PM EST, from New York's City Winery. You can hear the concert broadcast live on 90.7 WFUV and WFUV.org. We caught up with One eskimO's singer and songwriter Kristian Leontiou via email as the band crisscrossed the country on tour, and learned a bit more about the distinctive animation that accompanies the band's debut, his Manga Snoopy vision and why you won't hear Leontiou warbling polka Christmas tunes like Bob Dylan.

WFUV/TAS: Given One eskimO's expressive foray into animation - as a child, what literature or picture books or films, animated or otherwise, made the deepest impression on you?

Kristian: I think one of the first animations I saw that really stuck with me was a Japanese Manga movie called 'Akira.' I think the animation was made around the time I was born, I loved the odd characters, the weird story lines, and the almost comic style over dramatic gore... plus I just loved the style of animation.

WFUV/TAS: You worked with the team behind the Gorillaz' animation - how did you hook up with them?

K: I started out working on character designs whilst working on the sound - sketches of things that felt worked well with the music. Whilst finishing up the album with the idea of an animation, along with some characters being developed, I met up with a friend of mine called Nathan Erasmus [of Gravy Media]. Together we managed to pull a few animators to independently work on our first animation for a song called 'Hometime.' Along with a couple of the animators calling themselves Smuggling Peanuts, we managed - after 7 months of 26 frames a second animating - to finish hometime. In 2008 we won the British Animation Award.

WFUV/TAS: What was the give and take in the process of the characters' creation?

K: I really wanted the animation to have a Snoopy-meets-Manga feel to it but with a slight blanket of effects that mirrors our sound of the album. We then started working with Passion Pictures - the team of animators behind [Damon Albarn's band] Gorillaz mid-2008.

WFUV/TAS: Do you draw and paint yourself?

K: I've always loved drawing - probably my favorite subject at school - but I'm no artist.

WFUV/TAS: Do you feel that One eskimO's destiny is with more 'graphic albums' in which the visual is an equal partner with the music? Any fear that the fascination with the visual aspect of the band could override the impact of what you do musically?

K: I wouldn't say the animation is an equal partner in the album, although it is a big part. We all come from making music; the lyrics, sound, musicality of the album was the first and main thing we were working on. The animation was because I felt we had worked so hard to create a filmic and magical sounding album, that I wanted to create a visual side that made sense to the music. Its been great fun working on the animation and I think I would definitely try to work on another visual album again.

WFUV/TAS: We're fast approaching the season where your Snowman character would feel most at home. Has One eskimO ever contemplated doing a holiday album?

K: I wouldn't do a holiday album - I don't think I can write songs to such a brief. For me, every song you're writing is dictated by the mood you're in, and I don't always feel in the holiday mood.

WFUV/TAS: One eskimO is on the brink of wrapping up a tour of the States; how does your enjoyment of performing live with this band differ from the days when you were a solo artist?

K: Being in a band is a totally different experience from being a solo artist. Its the first time in my life I've really felt that my decisions don't just affect me anymore. I think there's just different sort of pressures, but it now feels more like I'm part of something, rather than as a solo artist really does feel solo. I would definitely say its more fun as a band. It's also nicer working together on the music. We all have a great understanding of each other on stage and working on new material.

WFUV/TAS: Are you writing on the road and working new material into your set? Are there plans for a sophomore album ahead in 2010?

K: It would be nice to get some new songs and animations done for 2010 - I feel we're making a good start but for now it's really just trying to find the time.