Scala And Kolacny Brothers: Interview

Scala were ticking along just nicely until they found themselves propelled to super-stardom last year, when The Social Network director David Fincher used their cover of Radiohead's 'Creep' as the soundtrack the movie's trailer.

Since then, Scala's re-imaginings of songs by the likes of Kings Of Leon, U2 and Wheatus have cropped up everywhere and taken them on tours across the US and the rest of the world. Consisting of brother Stijn and Steven Kolacny, not to mention 300 girls, Scala's mission is clear: to enchant their audience with inventive takes on well known classics

Ahead of their appearance at this weekend's Latitude Festival, Gigwise caught up with Steve Kolacny to talk about their whirlwind last twelve months.

Congratulations for your debut album. After more than ten years together, you must be glad to have found the platform to finally release it?

“Yeah, we are very happy that we have released an album in the UK, and I'm also really proud that it's this kind of record. Maybe you already know, but Scala has been touring around Europe for a while and it's very difficult to reach the US and UK, but it makes it possible now to show Scala in the right way. Nearly everything we do or can do is on the CD now.”

I was wondering what the process or formula was for choosing the songs you cover?

“When I pick out a song and I start working on it I give it a little bit of time at home with piano and I got to my brother and then the Scala girls, and when the girls are rehearsing it we have a pretty nice idea of what it's going to be.

“Of course, if you got to the more commercial songs, things like Madonna or Robbie Williams, you can be pretty sure that it won't work. But if you go to the dark stuff, the rock and indie songs, that can be impressive because nobody expects that a girl choir will sing 'Beautiful People' by Mariyln Manson'.

Scala have been together for over a decade now, but The Social Network was a big help in giving you worldwide exposure. How did it come about?

It's all true what you say, it turned our lives a little bit upside down. It just came in by email. We were coming back from Berlin, from a big show – I remember we played for Angela Merkel – and the next day we were coming home and there was an email asking for the rights of the version 'Creep' by Scala. It was so funny for us that we thought it was a joke. Being a Belgian, it's really unusual...you're not thinking about Hollywood. We gave the request to management and the next day they called back and said you need to sit down because you have a big friend in the US – and that was David Fincher.”

It's not the first time your music has been used in TV or film. What do you think music supervisors see in your covers that appeals to them?

“I think that when we speak to the music supervisors they are always looking for something new, and maybe hip and trendy, but I believe something unique – something they've never heard. Especially for the movies. The biggest compliments that we've had in the US now is that they're all interested in my own songs as well, and that's very nice because it motivates us to write music. My biggest dream is to end up again in trailers or movies, because I really like to have our music connected to movies.”

Was it quite poignant for you that 'Creep' was covered for The Social Network? That was one of the first songs you covered when you were a classical choir.

“Yeah, 'Creep' was made when we were switching in 2001 and leaving the classical grounds behind because we were board with those things. 'Creep' was the second song I wrote, and it's really nice that they used this song because I think it's still one of the most beautiful versions of another song we've done. I wouldn't feel very comfortable and we would say no if somebody asked me to make 'Angels' by Robbie Williams to use for a movie because it would give the completely wrong impression to the audience. But 'Creep' was the perfect choice.”
Going back to when you first started doing covers, did you ever fear a backlash from those who supported your classic guise?

“Yeah, and I think we have already, we had in those days a little bit of the original audience saying that we're not supposed to do this. The only good thing about the whole switch was that Scala was not a real typical classical choir. I was already from year one looking for something new, something different. And you can see now the audience of Scala is so mixed and that's what makes me really proud – it ages from 7 to 77. We sometimes have whole families, and we have the rock fans and the classical fans – and that's what it should be.”

The Social Network trailer featuring Scala's take on 'Creep'

Scala, in its full force, is a 300-piece choir. Although you don't tour with the whole outfit, it must still be a challenge touring?

“We have a system of rotation which means they know they cannot sing every show with Scala. Besides, there are too many shows so it's not possible to do everything. For instance, in the US there was a whole month and some of the girls are working or studying, so it was very difficult to organise. But if a Scala girl is free and she gives up her name, that means we can count on her. Then we see which voice we need and there is something also priority to those who have been performing with us for a while. That's what happens in a football team, if you play in the Champion's League and Chelsea, they don't just have 11 plays, they rotate, and that's what we do.”

You are playing Latitude Festival this weekend? Are you excited about that? Have you thought yet about how your music will translate onto a festival stage?

“That's a good question. I only know Latitude by name, but we are really honoured by the spot we have. I heard we were the surprise act and that two years ago it was Thom Yorke playing, who is my personal hero. I'm a really big Radiohead fan, so if the next year you are playing in his spot then that's brilliant. I think people will be a little bit surprised on paper that there is an unknown girls choir showing up., but will have a full band - we won't play only with the girls and a piano because that will be like suicide. We have a rock band. We will do 'Creep' of course.”