The Koolaid Electric Company have made an impressive impact on the UK psychedelic rock scene having toured their home country with US acts such as The Warlocks and The Black Angels. Renowned for their mind altering stage presence, their musical credentials further expand to previous collaborations with legendary Ricky Maymi, most known for his work as an ex-member of The Brian Jonestown Massacre. The result of their past achievements have led the talented sextet to the long awaited full length debut album Random Noises And Organised Sounds. We’ve met up with guitarist Dean Koolaid backstage after their sold-out London headline album launch party, picking his brains on their current musical path and take on the spectacular Koolaid journey.

You’ve just played your debut album launch party tonight, what did you think of the outcome – did it match your expectations?

Dean: This is the first show we’ve headlined for about two years and we’ve since then grown quite a following and I was very very frightened that no one was going to turn up… And it’s all happened, the show sold out and it’s been brilliant. We’ve sold a load of albums and I can’t believe it. It’s far better than we thought, you know, we had a totally sold out show. What more can you ask for, and we sold loads of CDs.

Considering that at this point you have no management, no agent and no label yet you’ve outplayed bands playing shows with a significantly smaller turnout albeit their extensive industry backing. Quite an achievement.

Dean: I don’t understand why people come and see us and it freaks me out that all those people come and even stay and enjoy it [laughs].

The Electric Koolaid Company have created quite a buzz in the UK within your scene playing support slots and touring with some of the most reputable US acts such as The Black Angels and The Warlocks. Where would you say the dedication of your growing fan base comes from?

Dean: I don’t know I think they just realize we enjoy making music and we’re really easy and cool people to get on with. If we were doing it for money we would have stopped a long time ago. We’ve got Sam (Samuel Toms – Vocalist/Guitarist) that writes great songs and people really like them and we enjoy playing them. And those bands started off the same as us and just moved along a lot quicker. You know, we’re the most un-proactive band in the world; we don’t do anything we’re very lame and that’s why we are where we’re now whereas in talking about other bands and saying how great they are.

You’re renowned for your stage presence and performance. How did that translate to the recording on the album?

Dean: We don’t really think about that. It doesn’t translate into anything, we recorded everything at home in different rooms of the house and just made the record. We obviously aimed for a certain sound but I don’t know, it’s just very organic.

Ricky Maymi (Ex member of The Brian Jonestown Massacre) played on some of your previously released songs, amongst other artists, whereas on this record you only present your own line-up and band members. What was your approach to the making of this album?

Dean: The band’s been going for five years, this is our first proper release so we’ve recorded some of these songs before with other musicians playing on them. The whole point of this album now is that everyone in the band is on the record. We had Ricky (Maymi), and Marty (Willson-Piper) from The Church all playing on our records and those records are still available but they’re not on this album. It’s different versions of the songs without those people.

How did those collaborations with such high profile musicians come about?

Dean: We just met those guys, went to their shows, we hung out with them and realized we had things in common. I don’t like football and don’t like many people but when I hang out with musicians I get along really well with people.

You’re close with The Brian Jonestown Massacre; infamous for being an erratic maniacal band. Would your experience with them confirm these preconceptions?

Dean: I find that hanging out with The Brian Jonestown Massacre, although they have a reputation of being wild people you can learn a lot from their path, in sound checking and playing live especially. Their reputation is based until this day from a long time ago, they’re not like that now, they’re a lot nicer [laughs].

Has your complete DIY approach to music been an intentional decision and the route you want to go?

Dean: No, it’s just a lack of us trying anything, you know we don’t have a manager and we make the CDs ourselves. That’s the way it is. It’s not some big thing where we’re about doing it on our own and fuck off everyone else. That’s why I find it strange that people think we’re so amazing.

Regardless you’re doing exceptionally well on your own, with an ever growing fan base and a sold out headline show tonight for your debut album.

Dean: Yeah, well I think that’s also down to Matt (Matt Sawyer – Promoter – “Together We Can Walk On Water”).

What’s the meaning behind the band name?

Dean: Bands with really short names, I always hated them and was like fuck bands with short names. Yeah and it’s trying to be smart on things like the Kool-Aid Acid Test and things like that. And I thought if we have the word Koolaid we could use the logos it would be cheap [laughs]. People can look into it as much as they want, but I just wanted a long name. I must admit when you have to write the name out to people, I wish we had a short name [laughs].

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The Koolaid Electric Company’s debut album Random Noises And Organised Sounds is available now.
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/thekoolaidelectriccompany