Having no mapped out blueprints of a structured sound or idea, Andrew Hung and Benjamin Power are all about experimentation, exploration, and determination. Submerging listeners into what some would call a melodic abyss of sound since 2008, we fast forword to three successful albums later and the duo enjoy the honor of opening the 2012 Olympics with their appropriately titled Olympians track, Fuck Buttons have sonically swelled their way into the public ear. Journeying farther distances than most in a short amount of time, while acquiring great achievements, Fuck Buttons are just getting started!

We were privileged enough to have picked at the brain of Benjamin Power and Andrew Hung in this exclusive interview.  

Since the 2012 Olympic opening ceremony (in which “Olympians” was used) and the release of Slow Focus (2013), have the lives of Fuck Buttons changed all that much?

Ben: Our lives don’t seem to have changed that much. It was amazing to have been included on something with such a wide reach, but our working process hasn’t changed at all, and hasn’t since day one, really. We’re still touring like crazy. Can’t retire just yet! or wouldn’t want to for that matter (BP)

Andy: Not really. We’re still living on the streets, trying to make ends meet.

Now that one of your tracks has been televised and enjoyed by 30 Million people around the world, Have you been approached by any other major events for musical spots or soundtrack offers since?

Ben: Not yet, but it’s something we would certainly consider (BP)

Andy: Mmm.. nothing to write home about. Yet. (AH)

Can you walk us through the process of coming up with titles and visuals for your songs/album?

Ben: We never have any kind of preconceived idea of what a track in it’s final state is going to be, so therefore the creative process brings a lot of surprises for us even. Every day in the studio brings something new and therefore we stay excited and entertained. Without the aid of any lyrical direction, when titling tracks it’s pretty much to product of Andy and I having a conversation about any imagery the mood of the song when it’s complete. This is always a very fun process for us. The visuals are something that we wanted to be more of an interactive extension of our existing live setup, and it’s working really well for us right now (BP)

You’ve worked with some of your favorite artists in the past, whether is was John Cummings (Mogwai) producing Street Horrrsing, FB remixing Moby’s “The Perfect Life” (in collaboration with Wayne Coyne), or last years tour with The Haxan Cloak. Are there any new Fuck Buttons collaborations in the works?

Ben: We’re concentrating on our own tour right now, but who knows what’s around the corner! (BP)

Andy: It’s always exciting to work with other people; to see their processes. There aren’t any collaborations in the pipeline, but it’s always an interesting prospect! (AH)

 Have you recently discovered any new artists that you’re intrigued by, living or dead?

Ben: I have been listening to way too much Scott Walker recently. Also, I recently discovered an old Canadian prog/synth band called Syrinx. It’s really amazing stuff (BP)

Andy: There is just so much music out there now that it’s generally quite overwhelming to wade through it all. Things that are intriguing me at the moment are Caribou’s new album, Slackk’s new album. Actually, I saw a good artist the other day who supported us. Her name was Void Vision. She’s got it all; strong rhythm sections, melodically and compositionally interesting and a good voice. Check it out; it sounds like an Italo Horror informed Curve. (AH)

Andrew mentioned in a interview last year that he wasn’t really a “gear head” when it comes to keeping up with new equipment. Have their been any new gear additions since then? or are you still using what you know and love?

Ben: We’re not really gear heads, in the sense that we don’t tend to get too attached to any piece of equipment and ‘master it’. We much prefer the approach of never treating anything as a ‘go to’ piece of kit. That way we’re not frightened of using it unconventionally and we don’t box ourselves in, where the palette is concerned (BP)

Andy: It’s a means to an end with gear and equipment. I’ve got into studio gear recently because I’ve had a stronger desire and focus in working in the studio and learning engineering and mixing etc.  (AH)

Your music drives the imagination of it’s listeners to far beyond any familiar territories. What is the strangest interpretation a fan or someone has described to you?

Ben: Oh man. we get all sorts. It’s great like that though. Most are spacey of some description but we also strangely have a lot of reports of people using it as their work-out music. (BP)

Andy: We’ve had people telling us that they’ve experienced the Universe whilst listening to our music but I imagine they were transported there more by the rocket ship from greensville. (AH)

You guys have been doing a lot of touring lately. Any crazy stories from the road or particular cities?

Ben:  Andy, our lighting guy and sound guy won big in a casino in Chicago the other day. I think at the time I was in my hotel room watching Battlestar Galactica. About as crazy as it gets really (BP)

Andy: Touring is really unexciting. Gruelling yet unexciting. That’s the work really; the show is what’s fun. Sometimes, when we don’t have to get up early the next day; we may have a drink in a bar after the show, but generally speaking, it’s straight back to the hotel afterward, to prepare for another day of sitting in a car. (AH)

Are there any pre-show rituals you guys do before playing a show? 

Ben: We listen to this song to psych ourselves up! (BP)

Andy: Just the usual; limbering, lunging, stretching and a quick lap of the venue before going onstage. (AH)

Favorite thing to do in L.A. while on tour?

Ben: Eat all the amazing Vegan food (BP)

Andy: I’d really like to go to Apple Pan this time round. Or get a Bibimbap in Korea Town. I went to this food court in Korea Town Plaza every day and got a bibimbap from Gamja Bawi; marvellous! (AH)

What can Fuck Buttons fans expect in the future, beyond 2014?

Ben: MORE! We love what we do and enjoy the cycle. (BP)

Andy: An ever-broadening of our horizons to expand ours (and yours hopefully) consciousness. (AH)