With
the maximum amount of respect, your sound doesn't strike me as one that would
typically win a competition like Futuresound - it's something more complex and
slow burning - which for me makes it seem all the more sweeter. What were your
hopes when you first entered the competition?
I think
it's fair to say we hoped for it, but didn't pin any hopes ON it, if that makes
sense? It was just another gig which, if it happened, would be a pretty bloody
good opportunity. The concept of music as a competition is something I whole
heartedly disagree with and we never saw it as 'us vs them' with any of the
other bands, not least because a lot of them are our friends. Like I say, most
'battle of the bands' type events are poor, they aren't cool and they rarely
promote artistic integrity beyond their own financial gain. However, we did it
(just like Pulled Apart By Horses and The Cribs) and it paid off. Personally, I think Futuresound
is different because the gigs are run properly, in a decent venue with good
sound and I believe the prize is actually worthwhile; that 'prize' is my
teenage dream. Regardless of whether we had to enter a competition to get
there, even a band with the most humble musical ambitions wouldn't turn down
the chance to play that stage. I just hope people see us as more than
competition winners, it sounds like we won a raffle…
There
has been a huge momentumn behind you over the last 12 months. Did the
Futuresound gig feel like culmination of a particularily fruitful period?
I think
so, yes. You take the opportunities as and when they come, and we try not to
think about what we may or may not get, only what we've got. We've worked
incredibly hard over the last year developing our sound, gigging, recording,
releasing, promoting and we've always been extremely grateful for everything
we've received. I kind of wonder if we're cheating to be playing that stage
after only a year and a half as a band. But then again, and I say this with
genuine sincerity, we have worked hard for it. A lot of bands don't like to
admit to that, which I think is a shame. We truly believe in the music we make,
it's hard not to sound pretentious when you say that…
What
has changed in the immediate aftermath of the win?
The
band have received a bit more attention which is great, but we're still just
carrying on as we always have. It's all about writing songs and moving forward
musically as opposed to second guessing what people want from us and losing
track of what we want to get from being a band. Despite the fact we would love for
this to be a job, I wouldn't like to get bogged down in anything that detracts
from our creativity for the sake of financial gain or a rise in popularity,
though I am in now way opposed to any of that if it's on our own terms. I used
to bemoan all my career driven friends for their materialistic ways, but since
I watched The Sopranos, I kind of just want a huge fucking house and lobster
for tea every night, so who knows if we will sell out should the opportunity
arise...
I might
get to meet Dave Grohl
I'm
still on the dole…
I might
get to meet Robert Smith
The
Rock n Roll life style's still a myth…
I might
get to meet Tom Meighan
I don't
want to…
Who
were your own highlights of the Futuresound shows?
The
Wind Up Birds, Two Trick Horse, Super Luxury.
How are
you going to prepare for the Leeds and Reading
I keep
having a recurring nightmare where I get locked in the van… I can see the stage
from the back of the van, but the band can't hear me and don't know I'm trapped
in the van… they're all on stage and James Thorpe-Jones (guitar) is just
playing the opening riff over and over and over again. I'll probably try to
avoid getting locked in the van.
Where's
best for people to go to listen to your music if they've not heard it yet?
You can
buy our new e.p here on vinyl, cd and digital download. That or come see us
live.
Dean Freeman
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