In conversation with Alexis Taylor - Hot Chip

Red Wing London spoke to Alexis Taylor, front man of the band Hot Chip about his long standing collection and love for Red Wing shoes. 

Photography and Words by Zoe Fenne-Bavis

RW: What was your first pair of Red Wings and where did you get them?

AT: My first Red Wings were a pair of 3142 sand coloured suede rough out Chukkas, bought in Ultrason in Paris. I subsequently bought 2 more pairs of those over the years as they are my all time favourite shoe, in terms of how they look and in terms of comfort. I became obsessed with them! Design classics. I really hope they get reissued at some point, I’m down to my last pair now.

RW: Where did you first hear about Red Wing?

AT: My brother had some when I was growing up!

RW: How many pairs do you have altogether?

AT: Over 20 pairs! Also a Red Wing coaches jacket, t-shirts, caps and miniature model boots from Japan. 

RW: What’s your favourite thing about our shoes?

AT: I love how they look, I love how sturdy they are, I love how comfortable they are. They’re tough wearing shoes that are classic in shape and can’t be beaten. They look good in any context, smart or casual, on stage or on the street, work or play. I've even played tennis in them and they’re not too heavy.

RW: Tell us about the best place you’ve been to and gig you’ve done in your Red Wings.

I wore my sandy coloured rough out suede Pecos on stage at Coachella one year, soon after a slightly crazy buying spree at the Korea town LA branch of the Red Wing Shoe Store - which was the best shop ever! Sad it’s not there anymore, the man had an amazing collection of dead stock pieces.

It was fun wearing then on stage - I think with a jumpsuit - a look I like a lot.

RW: What's in store for Alexis Taylor this year?

AT: I’m releasing a new solo record, Paris In The Spring this March and touring some of my favourite UK record stores first of all, before heading out on a UK/European and then American tour, beginning in April.

RW: What have you been working on at the moment?

AT: Working on new music with Hot Chip and writing with other collaborators too, as well as DJing and putting together my live shows for solo tour.

Alexis Taylor's new album Paris In The Spring will be released on March 13th: 

alexistaylor.lnk.to/parisinthespring. 

Alexis Taylor will be embarking on a tour across UK/EU & the US this Spring:

• 13 March - Stranger Than Paradise (instore), London
• 15 March – Truck (instore), Oxford
• 16 March - Banquet Records (instore), Kingston
• 18 March - Rough Trade (instore), Bristol
• 19 March - Resident (instore), Brighton
• 17 April  - Golden Lion, Todmorden
• 21 April  - Privatclub, Berlin
• 22 April  - Hasard Ludique, Paris 
• 24 April  - YES (Pink Room) - Manchester
• 25 April  - Waiting Room, Middlesbrough (SOLD OUT)
• 27 April  - Moth Club, London (SOLD OUT)
• 06 May - Epiphany Center for the Arts, Chicago, IL
• 07 May - Nightclub 101, New York, NY
• 09 May - St Mark's Lutheran Church, San Francisco, CA
• 10 May - Zebulon, Los Angeles, CA