Indian Standard Times
Saturday, March 4 at 0930am, 2000hrs and 2230hrs
Sunday, March 5 at 0600am, 1700hrs and 2030hrs
Monday, March 6 at 0900am

Franz Ferdinand’s lead singer Alex Kapranos and bass guitarist Bob Hardy join TALK ASIA’s Lorraine Hahn this weekend. The four-piece-band first got together in 2002 and have since produced two critically acclaimed albums, enjoyed chart success on several continents and won a number of prestigious awards including the Mercury Music Prize and MTV Video Award in 2004 and Best British Group at The BRITs in 2005.

The group hopes that their unique name, taken from the Austro-Hungarian Archduke Franz Ferdinand whose assassination precipitated the First World War, will inspire musicians to be a catalyst for change. A combination of art, communication and social responsibilities lies at the heart of their music: “the best music does make a difference to your life as well. And it’s often in a personal way, and it’s often more of a social thing than a political thing.” Being both performers and fans, Franz Ferdinand also appreciate the artistic qualities of other British bands. To them, the term “competition” is rather “an old-fashion attitude”.

Keeping true to their Indy roots, Franz Ferdinand have remained active in the music scene of Glasgow and enjoy creating tunes that people can dance to. “There’s no point in trying to create music that has a commercial appeal, it just doesn’t work. I’ve known bands that have tried to chase after the current trend, or whatever is particularly fashionable…and it always comes across as being insincere and slightly distasteful” explains Kapranos. To survive in the current music industry, “you’ve got to keep writing goods songs” and that’s what they hope to do with their upcoming third album.

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