The lead singer and front man for Arcade Fire went off on a bit of a political tangent when asked how the music of Haiti and New Orleans influences the band, describing a recent trip to New Orleans when David Duke was trying to keep confederate war monuments up, before mentioning just what he thinks of Donald Trump and the threat he represents.
For those not as familiar with Butler or Arcade Fire, from the YouTube video upped by Red Bull:
Edwin “Win” Butler III is the lead vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter for Canadian band Arcade Fire, known for their symphonic pop-dance-rock-noise arrangements, surrealist music arena performances and a savvy approach to the music industry. Arcade Fire have received several Juno and Brit awards. Combining a sense of grandeur, political awareness, and a gleefully poetic approach, he found a prominent fan in David Bowie, with whom he collaborated often, and in whose honor he recently led a parade of thousands through the streets of New Orleans. At the 2016 Red Bull Music Academy, Butler talked about all of this and more as he ran through his band’s discography.
Source: Entertainment Weekly
Win Butler didn’t mince words when discussing the United States presidential election.
The Arcade Fire frontman called Republican nominee Donald Trump a “complete fucking nightmare and a clown and a joke” during an interview with Red Bull Music Academy released Monday.
“It really is an extremely important election,” Butler said, via Rolling Stone. “You don’t have to hang out with Hillary. But, Jesus Christ, vote for Hillary Clinton. Everyone register because it could not be heavier. The consequences could not be more dire.”
Here's a transcript:
TODD L. BURNS
Seems like carnival and Haiti and New Orleans… seems like this is a huge inspiration for you at the moment.
WIN BUTLER
Well, Régine and I bought a place in New Orleans about two years ago so we kind of split time between Montreal and New Orleans… kind of best of North America plan. When we were writing The Suburbs we did a road trip from Houston and New Orleans because I wanted to show Régine my hometown and everything. The first time we drove through Lafayette on the way to New Orleans and we stopped and we went to a crazy Zydeco bar… it’s like this exact hybrid of Haitian and French Canadian. Régine’s like, Haitian descent, grew up in Montreal, black kids in cowboy hats playing accordion and speaking Creole and she’s like, “What’s going on?” This exact hybrid of her upbringing. I grew up in Houston so for us it’s a place we both feel very at home but for different reasons.
It’s a really vibrant… music just runs that town in a way that’s very inspiring. Music is the mayor. Crazy stuff happens… I mean the other day in New Orleans right now there’s a Black Lives Matter protest to try and get rid of these monuments, Confederate soldier monuments that are all over the city, and they were like, “We’re going to tear down this monument if you don’t take it down by this date.” A bunch of protesters went with ropes and the New Orleans police department roped it off. David Duke was there doing a counter protest. That was like yesterday… crazy. Fuck Donald Trump. (applause)
Please register to vote today everyone, please. I know that it’s not ideal, but Hillary Clinton will be a great president. Donald Trump is a complete fuckin’ nightmare and a clown and a joke. It really is an extremely important election. You don’t have to hang out with Hillary, but Jesus Christ, vote for Hillary Clinton and just everyone register. It could not be heavier. The consequences can’t be more dire.
