image//brad truax words//shaun oppedisano
Josh Dibb is by all accounts a pretty normal, positive-minded guy. As Deacon (or Deakin, depending on the time and place), he is an unconventional musician that makes up one fourth of the soundscape of Animal Collective. When I spoke to him today from his hometown in Maryland, Josh had a lot to be excited about. He is less than a week from leaving for Africa, and just days away from premiering brand new solo material.
How did the whole Festival in the Desert arrangement come about?
I really had no intention of playing shows or anything and then AC had this offer to go to this festival. I knew that we weren’t gonna do it as a group, or the other guys weren’t gonna do it in the formation they’ve been in for the past couple of years. So, on a whim, I was just like, “Fine, I’ll do it.” I’ve wanted to go to Africa, and specifically Mali, for a long time–and I know about the festival and it’s amazing–so I’ll figure it out. And quickly, I guess, it turned into a lot more than I bargained for, but definitely in a good way.
So, then, you haven’t been to Africa before?
No, it’ll be my first time.
You’re going with Gang Gang Dance too, right?
No, they’re not now, and that’s the thing. Originally, it was supposed to be Animal Collective and Gang Gang and then we decided as a group that we couldn’t do it this year, although we’re thinking about doing it another year. And Gang Gang was supposed to go too, but stuff with them got a little hectic and it just didn’t make sense.
Yeah, it seems like it would be a little short notice to do new AC stuff.
Yeah, totally. I mean it’s short notice for me too. Actually, I’m writing right now. [laughs]
So then who’s going to be traveling with you?
It’s going to be me and my friend Brad [Truax], who I’m hoping will be playing with me. I’m not sure if it’ll happen at this point because he has to leave early, but he’ll definitely be there for different kinds of support. And we’ll be with our friend Wes, who really did a lot of the legwork to make this all happen.
What are you most looking forward to in the trip?
I’m really psyched to be meeting the bands that are playing there. There’s definitely a ton of people that I’m huge fans of. It’s now looking like I’m also going to be meeting the guy who runs this organization called TEMEDT, and that’s honestly a little overwhelming. But I’m really psyched… he seems like a really amazing person and the fact that he wants to meet me feels cool. I feel pretty unworthy in a way. [laughs] But it’s exciting to be able to go somewhere like that and feel like people are interested to meet you because you’ve done… anything.
What most personally speaks to you about your opportunity to make a difference with this trip?
I think to be this directly active in anything, with relation to my music, is a new thing for me and the opportunity to do that in general was really surprising. I’m suddenly learning what it means to be engaged in making something that I care about musically, while also being aware that I can connect to things that are going on in the world.
And what specifically drew you to TEMEDT?
When I started looking into organizations that I could support, I was really surprised to see that there was a slavery issue there at all. My impression of Mali had always been of the friendliness of its people, which I gather is very real thing there. I have met people from Mali in the States and, without fail, after talking for 10 minutes they are offering me a place to stay with their families if I ever travel there. I think my first glimpse of there being struggle like that in Mali came from getting into the band Tinariwen. They have a really amazing story and their music was very much central to the Tuareg Revolution. So when I read the story of this organization TEMEDT, who are working to establish laws in Mali to make slavery illegal and to create programs to give ex-slaves new opportunities, it just raised my awareness of what was going on in Mali. I guess it’s really just about feeling like this whole experience has helped me pay more attention.
But even before the trip, you’re playing a show at the Ottobar.
Yeah, I actually just set that up two days ago. [laughs] That kind of came up from someone else’s suggestion. They were just like, “Dude, why don’t you just set up a show before you leave for Africa so you can at least know what you’re doing and test it out?” And I was thinking, “I don’t really have any time.” But I’m leaving Saturday, so if I can’t play a show on Friday, then I probably can’t play a show in Africa. So I guess I’m removing one day of practice, but at least I’ll be practicing on stage in front of people which is probably a good thing.
Hopefully you won’t have any of those message board haters in the crowd.
Oh, I’m sure I will. I mean, that’s the thing that’s weird about it. For me, I’ve dealt with people saying nasty shit about me and us as a band. Tons of people hate our music, and we expect it and it’s fine. But it’s the personal stuff–actually being criticized about the process itself of getting this Africa thing together–it’s a very different level of criticism. It’s harsher than just saying, “Your music really blows.”
What’s your New Years resolution?
Man, I’ve got so many New Years resolutions. I think it’s really part of me doing this kind of auspicious thing. I guess my New Years resolution has to do with–I don’t really know to say this without it sound cheesy–but I guess kind of about like not holding back… do the kind of things you want to do in life.
“Reach for the stars.”
[laughs] Yeah, totally. Just actually live that reality. I mean, I’ve been able to do a lot of awesome things over the years, but I’ve often in many ways been hesitant because of my own psychology, I guess. So my New Years resolution is to just follow that advice.