You guys are originally from Devon but you live in London now. Do you find it very different and do you miss home?
Matt: Well we've been up in London now...at least me and Charlie have been up in London for 10 years so London is our home and Devon is just where we grew up really. The others, Tom and Henry.....
(To Henry and Tom) How long have you been in London for?
Henry: 6 years.
Tom: About 7 years. All our friends are in London so it's cool.
What made you decide to do a version of 'Back to Black'. Was it a group decision?
Matt: No, it was a decision that got made for us really. The record label asked us and we were all like "No, we're not sure". Then we kind of got forced into it and it's probably one of the best things that really helped us break through and be heard by new ears, which includes Mark (Ronson).
How was it working with Mark on your new album? Did you find it overwhelming in any way?
Matt: Not really. It was quite an organic process the way we got to meet him through the remix of a cover or whatever you want to call it. It kind of grew in an organic way we went on tour we were his support band on The Virgins tour and we kind of got to know him; and then Charlie started to play with him and sing with him onstage.
Henry: By the time we actually got over to New York it wasn't that stressful at all, was it?
Matt: No, not at all. It was really an easy process.
Is that where you recorded it all New York?
All: Yeah
Mark described 'Welcome to the Walk Alone' as the best song he's ever produced. That must be quite an honour for you?
Matt: Yeah, definitely. It's nice to hear isn't it?
Tom: I think he quite enjoyed working with a band because he works a lot with separate artists, so I think he kind of enjoyed the actual process of a band coming in and recording with them.
Henry: I think the sound of some of his records is amazing. The Amy Winehouse stuff has got incredible sounds so it was pretty nice of him to say that.
In various music publications your music has been described as very 50's inspired, do you agree with that?
Matt: Yeah, I think we're a bit wrapped up in lots of decades.
Henry: Well, yeah. We're kind of inspired by Talking Heads and Charlie's more into Adam Ant so there's a lot of the early rock and roll stuff for Charlie as well.
Tom: We quite like 1940's stuff as well.
Henry: Yeah, definitely.
Does your second album differ to the first one and if so, how?
Matt: It's pretty different.
Tom: The first album was the four of us playing with the drums and instruments we had and was a bit D.I.Y. epic I suppose. With the second one we had the opportunity to make it with an orchestra and on a much grander scale so we went for it. It sounds a lot bigger, a lot more epic.
Matt: Do you want a beer?
I would love a beer. Thank you! Are you playing any more festivals this summer?
Matt: We've got Reading and Leeds. We've got a few lined up in Spain too. This is Sam by the way who has just come in.
Sam: Hi!
Hi! So do you guys prefer gigs or festivals or is just much of a muchness?
Henry: They're very different but I think by the time the festival season ends, it's quite nice to get back into doing gigs. Gigs are a bit more controlled because you get a sound check and stuff like that, whereas at festivals you just show up and get up and play.
I suppose gigs are more your own thing because you're headlining at your own event?
Matt: Yeah. I mean they're both really good and it's quite nice to have a cycle because it seems to work.
Charlie enters.
Charlie: Hi, how are you doing?
Fine thank you.
Sam: We're headlining tonight and we've never played in a place like this. There's a UFO in that tent and they're going to make it crash in the middle of the field tomorrow with all lasers coming out so that's pretty cool.
Ok, well thank you guys. It was a pleasure and thanks for the beer!
All: No, that's fine. Cheers. Enjoy the rest of the festival.
article by: Fiona Madden
published: 27/08/2009 16:04
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