Q: The title "Marigold Sky" suggests wide open
space and unlimited possibilities. If anything, your music has always had no borders
around it. There's been rock, soul, pop, there's even been some folk elements on the
'Abandoned Luncheonette' album and 1990's 'Change of Season' album. Reflecting about that
album, how do you feel that record might have played into the creation of this one.
DARYL: I think, in some ways that album was very much a
direct predecessor of this one. The whole idea was that we really wanted to involve our
band because we had been touring with them for a while. It really was a reaction against
the highly technological sound that not only we, but most people had in the eighties. We
were trying to downscale and downsize and simplify all of those things. To me, the new
album really is a very 90's record. It has the elements that typify this whole decade, not
necessarily musically but sort of emotionally; it's sort of a reaction against the 80's.
Q: This record marks the first DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES
album on an independent label. How do you feel about moving against the grain by not being
on a major?
DARYL: There is so much more flexibility with an indie label.
I definitely feel we can approach our music from different angles when your dealing with
an indie.
Q: Some people say the name of the group in the same breath
but don't stop to realize what the differences might be between DARYL and JOHN.
How do you feel you guys are different?
DARYL: The truth of it is, the differences are irrelevant.
Our similarities are what's important about DARYL HALL and JOHN OATES . We
are totally capable of working on our own, by ourselves. We chose to work together because
we have a unique sharing of roots and we like the same kind of music. So it's our
similarities that matter.
Q: When it comes time for the history books, what do you
think DARYL HALL & JOHN OATES going to be remembered for?
DARYL: I think, simply what we did, we took our regional
influences and our life experiences and we formed a kind of a sound that is very unique to
us. It's elements of rock, jazz, classical music and mainly Philadelphia R&B; all
mixed together in a musical melting pot that became our signature sound. American music is
about European and African music coming together and forming a certain sound. We came up
with a unique combination of that sound, and we'd like to be remembered for that."
Daryl Hall and John Oates
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