Honestly, when I first heard of the band School is Cool, I found its name ridiculous. But, as it goes with silly band names (The Beatles, anyone?), once you like the music, you forget the meaning of the words and connect them solely to the sound. “School is Cool has proven to be a catchy name,” Genard admits. “Once you’ve heard it, it seems to stick with you.”

The Antwerp fivesome rose to fame in the spring of 2010 when it won the Humo Rock Rally, Flanders’ most influential rock‘n’roll contest. In the past, this biennial has launched the careers of Das Pop, Goose and The Van Jets.

School is Cool immediately became a favourite of top rock and pop radio station Studio Brussel: It saw three songs topping De Afrekening (The Reckoning), the top songs chart voted by the station’s listeners. Two months ago, School is Cool released its debut album Entropology, which went gold within a few weeks.

How would Genard, 23, have reacted when someone predicted all this two years ago? “I’d have taken the Mickey out of them.” Though he clarifies: “Of course, I hoped for all of it. But it sounded utterly impossible.”

The philosophy of music-making

Dreams do come true, the band proves. But their realisation comes with a price: Genard (airborne in the photo, right) has had no time in the past year to follow his philosophy studies. “I fear that at one point in the near future, I’ll have to choose. That’s gonna be hard,” he sighs.

But really, he’s already made the decision. “Music! It has the best outlook. Not that I started making music because I wanted to earn money with it. Nor did I choose philosophy for that reason. But I admit that in the end, that economic aspect does play a small role.”

“Entropology” is a concept that pops up in thermodynamics as well as in philosophy. It was coined by the French structuralist Claude Lévi-Strauss. Genard, of course, is aware of this, but he had chosen the title “before I discovered its meaning. I like the sound of the word. And the inherent link with anthropology, since as a songwriter I feel like an anthropologist: I describe the world around me.”

That’s an interesting view, considering that most songwriters get inspired by what happens to them personally. “I am not one of them,” the headmaster of School is Cool stresses. “I don’t think my life is enthralling enough to write about. Look at Tom Waits – not that I want to compare me to him, mind you! But he’s a prime example that a wild imagination is a much richer source for great songs than one’s autobiography.”

Advice for Rock Rally-ers

Strikingly, School is Cool combines mostly upbeat, carefree music with, in general, fairly dark lyrics. “That grew naturally,” clarifies Genard, who’s the lyricist of the band and writes the music with his cohorts. “But now I’d like to stick to that. I like the contrast. Especially when during concerts people joyfully sing along with bleak lyrics.” He ponders for a moment. “Or maybe they do realise what they’re singing, which makes it even cooler.”

Entropology is one of those albums still worth buying physically, since the 32-page booklet contains some amazing, gloomy etchings made by Antwerp art and design collective Afreux. They look mysterious, but Genard explains that the mostly surrealistic images “were inspired by the songs on the album. Though I still have to meet the person who understands all the hidden meanings.”

The next edition of the Rock Rally starts its cycle in January. Has Genard some swinging advice for the freshly selected competitors? “I’ve heard people comment that you only have to prove that you’re a good live band to win the contest. Not! The jury first and foremost weighs the quality of the songs. Of course, you shouldn’t mess them up live. But believe me: It’s all about the songs.

15 December, 20.00

Muziekodroom

Bootstraat 9, Hasselt
www.muziekodroom.be

17 December, 19.30

Glimps Festival at De Centrale

Kraankindersstraat 2, Ghent
www.glimpsgent.be

See website for a complete schedule of shows
www.schooliscool.be

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