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Feb 19, 2014 By Under the Radar Staff Web Exclusive

For Under the Radar‘s 11th annual Artist Survey we emailed some of our favorite artists a few questions relating to the important issues of the last year, as well as some quirkier subjects. Check out our next print issue and digital issue for surveys from My Morning Jacket, Amanda Palmer, Local Natives, Wild Nothing, These New Puritans, Lanterns on the Lake, Xiu Xiu, Summer Camp, and others.

Here are answers from Yannis Philippakis of England’s Foals. Foals’ latest album, Holy Fire, is out now on Warner Bros.

Top 5 Albums of 2013

1. Forest Swords: Engravings
2. Jai Paul: Jai Paul
3. Darkside: Psychic
4. Nils Frahm: Spaces
5. Kanye West: Yeezus

What was the highlight of 2013, either for you personally or for the band?

Our Glastonbury show, releasing Live at the Royal Albert Hall, and still being alive.

What was the low point of 2013 for you?

Having to do end-of-year questionnaires.

What are your hopes and plans for 2014?

To make something better than what has come before.

What are your thoughts on the passing of Lou Reed? Did his music influence you at all and in what way?

We’re all orphans now. R.I.P. Lou.

What are your thoughts on the U.S. government shutdown and the debt ceiling debate?

The radicalization of the right in the U.S. is one of the most terrifying and sobering developments in global politics. It is pernicious and corrosive and needs to be combated with transparency, education, and passion from all those who know better.

What are your thoughts on music streaming services such as Spotify and Rdio? Are they good or bad for musicians?

Spotify and the major labels need to find a way to pay musicians an adequate wage from their business model. If they don’t, musicians increasingly will find more ethical ways to stream their own music and empower themselves outside of a system which doesn’t value the music or the music makers.

www.foals.co.uk