ALEX WINSTON

American singer/songwriter Alex Winston released her debut EP earlier this year and has been building up a buzz for her quirky sound that fluctuates between Arcade Fire and Diane Birch. Having recently pushed back live performance dates so she can focus on polishing off her upcoming full length album, we figured it would be a great time to Q+A the musician as she releases her latest single (and title track of her EP), Sister Wife.

Describe your sound in five words
Jangly, gangy, wall of sound.

Your new single is called Sister Wife - there is a TV show called Sister Wives which is about a family of polygamists - is there any correlation with this show and your song?
I’ve seen the show and it’s alright, but honestly, if it were to have been based off of a polygamist television program - which it’s not - it definitely would have been inspired by Big Love. I thought that show was brilliant.

What are your views on marriage in general?
I don’t know, I’m sure I’ll get married, have kids and get fat. I don’t care what anyone else does as long as they are happy and it’s not harming others. I wouldn’t judge you for having two wives.

You’ve worked with production duo The Knocks - how were they to work with?
They are two of my closest friends, so it’s easy.  We have a pretty solid working relationship because they don’t try to change my sound.  They let me take the lead with things.

You’re a fan of a cover song - what’s your favourite track to sing at Karaoke?
Youth Gone Wild by Skid Row

Which artists would you most want to collaborate with?
Little Richard.

Your latest music video is a bit bizarre and features a possessed cat - are you a fan of horror films?
I’m a fan of bad horror films like The Ice Cream Man and Sleep Away Camp. The video was inspired by the Japanese film Hausu. Everyone should check it out.

What is your favourite movie?
American Movie.

You’re off on tour! Where is your favourite place to perform?
I really love Berlin and Frankfurt. I can’t wait to go back.  I’m also looking forward to spending some real time in London.

What have been your best and worst live experiences?
The best experience I’ve had recently was coming back to New York to a sold out show.  I felt like I had been away for so long and it was really refreshing to see my friends come out to support. And I guess when I threw my tambourine into the audience and busted someones lip open…that was the low point.

[Originally published on wonderlandmagazine.com/blog]

XAVIER DOLAN

Heartbeats premiered earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival causing quite a stir, not necessarily for it’s ménage à trois storyline, but for the insightful wisdom of the film’s writer, director and star. At 22, Xavier Dolan, has a proven ability of speaking to audiences beyond his years and producing intelligent, captivating films. Who knew he was also once the voice of Stan in the French-Canadian dubbed version of South Park. We Q+A the young artist to hear more about his projects.

What is your earliest memory of film?
Disney movies, I guess. But not necessarily big classics. I remember an excellent one that wasn’t that famous called Once Upon A Forest. And then came Batman Returns, with my major crush on Michelle Pfeiffer, especially for that scene when she walks in a ball or something on Face to Face by Siouxsie and the Banshees. Edgy. I also remember writing fan letters to Mara Wilson for her performances in Matilda and Miracle on the 34th… I was already borderline. And Titanic, The Secret Garden - with Maggie Smith and this wild around-the-fire scene - and The Little Princess. You could already tell, huh? Amazing.

You were an actor as a child, did you always have ambition of making films?
No. I decided I wanted to direct when it became the last resort to act. I was unemployed and feared and loathed the child-actor-turned-anonymous-hobo pattern, and thought that being the director myself, no one would put me aside or cut me off a project because I wasn’t popular or six feet tall.

Having won awards with your directorial debut, J’ai Tue Ma Mere (I Killed My Mother), do you feel pressure to repeat such success?
No. Not really. It’s not pressure, it’s hope. I just hope I won’t disappoint my family, my friends and the public, and the journalists. I could see in people’s eyes that they were less touched by Heartbeats then they were by I Killed My Mother, because there was less emotion, and intensity, and that was sort of tough. But I think Laurence Anyways [his next film project] will be a good film, funny, touching, dramatic, epic. I have great expectations. It will hurt if I fail. So much. I’m getting prepared for that.

You have said that you’re new film, Heartbeats, contains autobiographical elements - do you find inspiration from your own life for all your films?
Yes. Some of them are more personal, some are more fictional. Well some… There are two, so… There is always a foundation, something close to the skin… But there must be drama and fantasy as cinema shouldn’t always be real life. It’s fun to shoot scenes that are hyper realistic, for some reasons it’s always a triumph when people have the illusion that things are so real they feel documentary-like. It’s a goal for me to make people feel it’s real. But in the same time, alongside with this true stuff and cathartic experiments and coming-of-age clichés, there must be some fantasy, some ideas that real life itself wouldn’t have enough imagination to concretize. Hence the style, the aesthetic, etc. That’s important for me. I know it busts some people’s balls, but what do you want. Not everyone is ready for an empathetic talking fox in [the Lars Von Trier film] Antichrist. And I know it feels wrong, but at the same time it’s so free and daring and creative and witty. I love these liberties. They are a sign that cinema still lives, no matter if it’s successful or not. We don’t do things like that anymore. I hate that fox, but I love that fox, symbolically.

Heartbeats is about love and lust - are you successful in relationships yourself?
Absolutely not.

What is the message you hope viewers receive from watching this film?
That love is a bath of blood and that’s exactly why I so rarely shower. Seriously, I dunno. They can receive whatever they want, as long as they’re touched and amused, and entertained. Otherwise I stole two hours of their lives and owe them 10 bucks. I really can’t afford it, though.

According to Wikipedia, you provide the voice of Stan in the French-Canadian version of South Park - is this true?
Yes. It’s a short-lived thing though, because we only dubbed the first season. And then it didn’t air anymore here.

South Park infamously offends… everyone at some point. What in the world are you offended by?
I’m offended by violence, hatred and fascism.

Would you ever aim to create a controversial film yourself?
I wouldn’t want to do a controversial film for the only purpose of controversy. If I ever feel like doing a film to talk about something that would risk creating some kind of polemic, I wouldn’t care about the consequences as the creative process would actually be meaningful, and justified by a need to express something in order to feel better, to change something, to make progress happen in a precise way. I feel free to do whatever I want, however I want, whenever I want, as long as I feel I’m not wasting anyone’s time, and that my work can be profitable and enjoyable to at least someone. And someone, that already is something. When I do films, I usually don’t care about people’s reactions. I ask myself, “oh, are they gonna like this or that”, but again, the only answer I can provide myself with is the answer I get from me. I am the public, too, but in the end, when I worry about people’s reactions, I end up doing what I would like. It’s much later, when watching the final cut, that I start to be really fucking scared about what everyone is going to think.

[Originally published on wonderlandmagazine.com/blog]

The Saturdays

The Saturdays are back with a spanking new single titled Notorious. Arguably the only girl band around in the UK right now, the girls have clocked up an impressive 2.5 million album and singles sales in the last three years, have scored eight top ten tracks and livened up the schedules on ITV2 with their fly on the wall documentaries. With a new album due later this year - as well as an Arena tour in the winter - things are only going to get bigger for Frankie, Molly, Una, Vanessa and Rochelle. We were lucky to steal some of Una and Vanessa's time from their hectic schedule for a quick Q+A about the new single and the upcoming album.

Describe your sound in five words
Una: Current?
Vanessa: Naughty.
Una: Dancy, girly –
Vanessa: Fun!

Your new single Notorious has quite a filthy electro edge to it –
Vanessa: I like the word filthy, actually!

Is this sound a good indication of what else will be on the forthcoming album?
Vanessa: It’s a work in progress. We’re going to be writing over the weeks and have writers come over – we want to have a massive bunch and then pick the best from that.
Una: I think every artist needs to, sort of, reinvent themselves and we don’t want any track to sound like it could have been on our previous albums. It’s going to be a step up from the last album but we’ll keep it Saturdays-esque.

What do you want to be Notorious for?
Vanessa: Making good music, hopefully!
Una: We want to be Notorious for putting on a good live show that people enjoy.

You filmed the video in LA – and there’s a nice bit of product placement – are you all using Barry M lip-gloss?
Vanessa: Oh, Yes!
Una: In the online version there is the Barry M lip-gloss and mascara. Our make-up artist has a massive basket with so much make-up. It’s ridiculous!

Do you like going out to LA?
Vanessa: Everyone has asked why did you film it in LA when you didn’t even film it outside, but we really liked the director and stuff so that’s why we went over.
Una: Plus it’s an excuse to go to LA!
Vanessa: We love it out there.

Where’s your favourite place that the band has taken you to?
Vanessa: We’ve been everywhere! We did Aisa and that was cool. We’ve been to LA, we did Norway –
Una: [sounding incredibly excited] We’re going to Germany! We’re releasing the single there. People don’t realise that there is a big market there where they love pop music – and David Hasselhoff. We can take The Hoff on [in the charts] there as well! We’re well up for that.

Have you enjoyed making your latest reality show “What Goes On Tour” for Channel 4?
Vanessa: It’s quite nice to be followed around on tour. No one really gets to see what goes on behind the scenes.
Una: We want our fans to see how it is behind the scenes and to show our friendship – people never believe we actually get on but you can see the banter we have.

And you’re going on tour later this year – what’s the best thing about performing live?
Una: We’re doing an arena tour in December which we’re really excited about.
Vanessa: We like to put on a good show and it’s amazing to go to a different venue every night.

What has been the biggest tour disaster so far?
Una: A few wardrobe malfunctions. Although the first tour we did, on the second night, we were in a place where there were a lot of steps at the back of the stage and it was very dark and Vanessa tripped over a wire and broke her foot!
Vanessa: So I was out for the rest of the tour.
Una: But she was wheeled back on stage half way through the show!
Vanessa: And the embarrassing point is that we were doing a cover of Rihanna’s Shut Up And Drive at the moment I got wheeled back out in a wheelchair [laughs].

That is quite innovative to incorporate it into the performance! So have you heard Tinchy Stryder and Dappy’s track, Spaceship?
Vanessa: It’s been a topic of conversation.
Una: They mention Rochelle! She’s on their list!

We wanted to ask if everyone else is jealous that they didn’t get mentioned?
Both: No! [laugh]

Have you seen the video as well?
Vanessa: Yeah – don’t you think the girl looks a bit like Rochelle? But it’s not her.

If you did have convincing look-a-likes, what would you use them for?
Una: Maybe for when I want to buy a drink I could get my look-a-like in in-case I didn’t have my ID and I get refused – which happens a lot even though I’m 29. It’s so embarrassing.
Vanessa: Erm… I’m not quite sure.
Una: Maybe to come into work when you’ve had a heavy night out?
Vanessa: [laughs] I’m not gonna lie to you – I would love to have that!

[Originally published on wonderlandmagazine.com/blog, May 2011.]

FRIENDLY FIRES

Friendly Fires released their self titled debut album back in 2008 and set dancefloors alight with their spangly, dancy tunes. Now Ed Macfarlane, Edd Gibson and Jack Savidge are back with a second album with hopes to repeat the same success. We Q+A the bands most social-media-friendly member Jack about the new record and find out what the band’s obsession is with Parrots.

Describe your sound in five words
B-B-Booff, Skrung, Tsktsh, Lalala, Rowwwww

What are the inspirations behind new album, Pala?
Huxley’s ‘Island’ novel, Utopias and realities, and our record collections.

Having experienced considerable success with your debut, did you feel pressure for the second record?
Yes it is inevitable. You want to make something that lives up to where you’ve got to as a band, and that supercedes your old music. But you soon find writing good music doesn’t necessarily come from hammering away at the coal-face, but from little uncontrollable moments of inspiration and happy accidents.

What does being nominated for awards mean for the band?
It’s nice to be commended by the music industry, but its not desperately important.

The new album was rumoured to be released at the end of 2010 - why the delay?
Our first deadline was to have the album delivered in May 2010, but in the end you’ve got to make the best record you can possibly make. Deadlines are there chiefly to chivvy you along, and we like to take our time to perfect things. Sometimes the time it takes is frustrating, but honestly I wouldn’t have it any other way.  We wrote, recorded and mixed ‘Hawaiian Air’ in the days leading up to the album being mastered (March 2011) so had we delivered any earlier it wouldn’t have had that track on it, which is one of our favourites.

You covered Depech Mode’s Strangelove for the Gucci Guilty fragrance advert - what other songs would you like to cover?
We’ve always talked about doing Inner City ‘Good Life’. Or a Korn song.

What is your favourite karaoke song?
Warren G and Nate Dogg ‘Regulate’. Best done with a partner. I’m able to slay both roles.

The new album cover features a macaw and you posed with one for the cover of NME - what’s the bands obsession with the bird?
In Huxley’s ‘Island’ the island of Pala is inhabited by parrots who recite uplifting carpe diem-ish slogans. It also seemed to symbolise our music a little- we paint sound in bright colours.

Why are you the only member of the band that tweets?
It’s because I’m such a don on Twitter and they know they would never be able to compete. No, I jest. I think they just aren’t interested, and I’m embarrassingly obsessed.

What are your plans for the summer?
Gigs, festivals and partying.

[Originally published on wonderlandmagazine.com/blog, May 2011.]

JOE CORNISH

Having wowed audiences when it was given it’s World Premier at SXSW earlier this year, British film Attack The Block finally invades cinemas today. Starring Nick Frost, Jodie Whittaker, Luke Treadaway and newcomer John Boyega, the first full length feature from Joe Cornish sets a group of South London delinquents against an invasion of ferocious intergalactic enemies. We quizzed Cornish about his new foray into film making, find out about the potential of a reunion with Adam Buxton for more Adam And Joe Show antics, and look towards his next project.

What is your earliest memory of film?
Being taken to see Picnic At Hanging Rock, a film by Peter Weir, when I was seven. It’s particular because it was a U certificate but it’s an incredibly scary film and it freaked me out. I think it was the kind of thing that made me realize being scared could be fun. It’s a very good movie.

When did you decide you wanted to act and perform and write and direct?
I went to film school straight after school when I was 18 so I always wanted to make films. It’s been about waiting for the right idea to come along in terms of making a feature film. I first had the idea [for Attack The Block] about seven or eight years ago and I started writing it about three years ago and spent a good year and a half writing it, doing re-drafts and research – the Aliens research came from my imagination and watching 80s creature feature stuff that I love like Tremors. And we spoke to hundreds of young people around south London to research the world it’s set in.

Your debut feature length film, Attack The Block, is based around a council estate – have you ever experienced living in council digs?
I grew up in Stockwell in a nice middle class house but right beside lots of tower blocks and estates and I have lots of friends who grew up in them. So I was always near but never living in them. I spent a lot of time talking to different people that did live in them to find out about their experiences.

Do you hope the film will show a different side to Hoodie culture?
It’s not too much about Hoodie culture, really. It’s just a movie with a hero in a difficult place in his life and is on the brink of making a bad decision – a bit like a John Carpenter film – and is faced by terrifying outer space threats that teaches him something along the way. It’s very much a film about characters. We set it in a council estate because, for me, that’s almost a science fiction setting. Those tower blocks are like spaceships like the ones in Alien or Aliens.

What were the biggest challenges you faced making this film?
We were quite ambitious! We have creature works, we have stunts, chase scenes, pyrotechnics, special effects, fights! We shot it entirely at night and had 12 young actors that didn’t have that much experience of feature films – a lot are newcomers. We had a lot of challenges but if your going to do something it’s worth being ambitious.

What would you do if Earth really was invaded by aliens?
It would depend on the type of aliens. If they are nasty lethal beasts like the ones in my film then I would probably go to the all night garage because they have very high security, hit the emergency button and then live off tango and picnic bars. Plus you’ve got petrol that you can throw at them.

Were you surprised by the reaction from the screening of the film at SXSW?
It went down really well! I wouldn’t say we were surprised but we were very gratified. We hoped people would like it and we worked very hard to make it as good as we could. But we were excited that an American audience understood something that is quite a British film, but then it’s a sci-fi film and sci-fi and aliens is an international language that everybody appreciates.

The Adam And Joe Show was one of our favourite sketch/comedy shows of the late 90s – would you and Adam ever consider a return?
I don’t know. You’d have to ask Channel 4 television. What would we do? We’d be two middle-aged men – maybe we’d have to be in a shed or an attic beavering away instead of being in the same bedroom. It may well come to that! I’m sure the day will come when Adam and I will be knocking at their door. But for the moment we are enjoying ourselves being at 6music and, for me, trying my hand at making a movie.

The show always opened with a parody using stuffed toys - is it easier to create scenes with stuffed animals or with CGI aliens?
The toys are maybe easier, but I don’t think the end result is nearly as scary.

What’s the latest with the Marvel film, Ant-Man? Is this still happening?
We delivered the second draft [of the script] recently. I am merely a writer on that. Edgar Wright [who is due to direct] is the man you would have to ask. I am a fan of the Marvel universe and I am majorly excited to see what Joss Whedon will do with The Avengers.

[Originally published on wonderlandmagazine.com/blog, May 2011.]

CLARE MAGUIRE

23-year-old Clare Maguire whipped the musical world into a frenzy of excitement when she emerged earlier this year with the release of her debut album Light After Dark – gaining recognition from the BBC’s prestigious Sound Of 2011 short list and bagging Q Magazine’s Next Big Thing Award. Today sees the release of new single The Shield And The Sword so we caught up with the songstress for a Q&A about her music icons and experiences.

Describe your music in five words
 Honest, emotive, strong, heartfelt, pop

What are the inspirations behind your music?
 Everything from everyday experiences, people, overhead conversations, music, film, art, fashion and alcohol.

It has been said your single The Last Dance was written in response to the death of Michael Jackson – is this true?
 It was triggered by his passing. He was one of my biggest musical inspirations and I got so annoyed with the negative coverage he received at the time.

Who are your musical heroes?
 Johnny Cash, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Howlin’ Wolf, James Brown, Bob Dylan, Dolly Parton, Prince and Michael Jackson.

Your new single is called The Shield And The Sword but which is your favourite Shield And Sword style film out of Gladiator (starring Russel Crowe), Troy (starring Brad Pitt) or Red Sonja (starring Brigitte Nielsen)?
 Definitely Gladiator. Troy is one of the worst films I’ve ever seen. I quite like Brigitte Neilson though, but more for Beverly Hills Cop 2 than Red Sonja.

What was the inspiration behind the video for your new song?
 The different setups were inspired by different things. The blonde wig came from my love of Marilyn Monroe. The beehive setup was all about my love of men in small pants.

You’ve toured with Plan B, Hurts and The Script and are hitting the festivals this summer – what has been your most memorable gig to date?
 My first show ever was at Green Man Festival in Wales playing blues and folk songs with my mate Tom on guitar. Started off playing to a couple of people in the rain at the Courtyard stage, and by the time I finished it was rammed. Best experience of my life so far.

What has been your worst gig so far?
 I enjoy all the shows, even the bad ones.

Which festival are you most looking forward to taking part in?
 Glastonbury. It’s first time I’ll have been there, and I made sure I played on the Sunday so I could watch Beyonce afterwards. Also on the Friday I’ll be jumping on stage with James Breakage to perform his Ain’t Nobody remix.

Will you be camping?
 Won’t be camping I’ll be glamping.

[Originally published on wonderlandmagazine.com/blog, April 2011.]

LABRINTH

It’s Tuesday the 15th February 2011. Comedian Alan Carr stands in the middle of the stage of London’s O2 Arena with the task of announcing the Brit Award winner for Best British Single of the year. The venue is packed and anticipation is high as the envelope is popped open to reveal the winner as Tinie Tempah with his number one debut smash, Pass Out. The stadium erupts into applause. Tempah looks ecstatic, his comrades lifting him into the air. The crowds are screaming. A voiceover accounts the success of the single – two weeks at the top of the charts, 16 million hits on YouTube.
“Where’s Labrinth?” yells Tempah as he takes the stage. “I can’t accept this speech without Labrinth, I can’t” he goes on, the crowds still cheering. Labrinth (actual name Timothy McKenzie) – who co-wrote, produced and leant guest vocals to the track – clearly needs to be included. “Where’s Labrinth?” Tempah repeats, applause slowing. “Where is he? Lab?” The O2 falls silent. Tempah’s friend and co-writer is nowhere to be seen. It looks as though Tempah has been snubbed.
“I didn’t even know Tinie was going to call me on stage,” Labrinth explains when we meet a week later. “So…I went to the toilet!” he reveals, burying his face in his hands with embarrassment. Fortunately no love has been lost between the two collaborators and Labrinth is now looking forward to letting his own music take the spotlight taking centre stage with his own music.
“I’m going to call the album The Gallery,” he says. “. I feel like I’m a photographer with music and . [I] take pictures of different sounds and bring them all into one studio. I like the idea of me being in so many energies and pictures and presenting those pictures to the world.”
This sonic gallery offers enormous variety. Lead single, “Let The Sun Shine”, with its uplifting sound and slick production that reached number 3 three in the charts at the tail end of summer last year. Then there is “Powerless”, a finger clicking Nina Simone-esque pop number. “Beneath You’re Beautiful” is a piano driven ballad co-created with Mike Posner (of “Cooler Than Me” fame) that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Coldplay album. “2AM” is a euphoric club stomper inspired by the thought of “an old fat man” who decides “to go raving all over the world”. And “Express Yourself” samples the Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band classic and gives it a glossy 21st century update. All in, where Pass Out blended multiple genres (RnB, Drum N Bass, Dubstep, Pop) into one track, The Gallery caters for many musical tastes.
“I want it to be a mixed, wild album,” says the artist. “In a gallery every picture can look different even when created by the same artist. I draw in different styles every day; music is a mash up of everything that I experience.”
Labrinth’s rise to prominence hasn’t happened overnight. Having first drawn attention for producing the 2009 album, A.D.H.D, by Master Shortie, the 22-year-old collaborated, co-wrote and remixed for the likes of Professor Green, Jessie J, Devlin and Gorillaz. In the process, he attracted the interest of professional talent spotter, Simon Cowell. After Cowell signed Labrinth to his Syco – making him the first non-reality show originating talent on its roster signing since the days of Pop Idol – he trusted the singer/songwriter enough to give him his own imprint, Odd Child.
“I want to bring through other artists I believe in and give them the same mentality as I have – which is freedom,” says Labrinth, explaining that he tends to look for new talent beyond the hype machine of industry showcases. “I don’t like The X Factor,” he says. “Some people have a dream to be a singer and The X Factor can work for them. But I’m wishing for something very different.” And when it comes to signings – as with his collaborations – fun is the only key element he’s looking for. “That and being free with the music as much as possible, ultimately bring success,” he says.
With signings, more collaborations and his own material all in the works, can Labrinth expect a Brit Award for himself in the future? “I love the idea because it does feel like you’re being appreciated,” he says. “But I try to keep my head out of it. If I’m just making music for awards then I’m not going to make good music.”

[Originally published in Wonderland Magazine Issue 26, April 2011. Photography Alistair Strong.]

TIM & JEAN

Cute Australian duo, Tim & Jean, today release their single Come Around and are the latest in a steady line of Antipodean euphoric dance/rock outfits, following the likes of The Temper Trap and The Naked And Famous (mixed with a bit of MGMT). We Q+A the boys on their music and experiences to date.

Describe your music in five words
Synth based with alternative swing

How did you guys meet?
We met on the local gig scene, later we ended up running into each other at a train station, had a bit of a chat and decided to catch up for a jam.

How did you start making music?
We recorded what we were jamming when we met. The first night we stayed up through the early hours and wrote our first 2 songs ‘come around’ and ‘like what’ and it was the music we first made that became the music that got us noticed. We didn’t take it seriously at all

What inspires you when making music?
Listening to the music that influences us. Watching great players like we have on tour. We recently supported Erykah Badu and watching her every night side of stage was amazing. The band were so good and great to talk to.

You supported Moby on tour – did he have any advice for you about the music industry?
We didn’t really get into that kind of conversation with him. He was a nice guy though – really polite and thankful and surrounded himself with good people. We supported him at the Opera house in Sydney, we were the main support and it was only our third gig so it was a pretty weird and stressful show but great as well. We’ve had plenty of other bands offer us advise while on the road. Everyone has a story of some thing or label to avoid and that type of stuff. We’ll no doubt have a few of our own to offer down the track.

How did you end up supporting Moby?
We dunno. We made this track and then before we knew it we were supporting Moby. It was pretty mind blowing.

We think your track “Like What” [the title track of their forthcoming album] is like a combination between Example’s “Kickstarts” and the 1998 classic “Music Sounds Better With You” by Stardust – who are your current and classic influences?
We have a lot of influences, from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers to Herbie Hancock. So I guess a lot of artists have influenced us to make music but we do not necessarily sound like them. We do definitely have the 80’s synth vibe which also comes from the influence of Prince. We take 6 keyboards on the road with us but were now starting to use more guitars live and no doubt we’ll be pushing that more on the next record.

You’ve been touring Australia– what’s been your best live experience to date?
Playing Splendour In The Grass – it was amazing! – we had the best response at any show so far. The Falls Festival we also had a massive crowd and a huge response so that was great. Hanging out and watching with Erykah Badu’s band on The Good Vibrations tour was inspiring. Seeing so many great bands live is such a big thing, we wouldn’t be able to afford to see them otherwise.

What has been the worst live experience so far?
They’ve all been good for us. There were definitely times where we could have played a lot better but nothing drastic. We’ve had some pretty bad weather situations on the Future Sound festival tour and when you’re using a lot of technology there’s always the odd nervy moment. Occasionally the food is crap and we don’t get any beer.

What are your plans for the Summer?
Play as many festivals as possible and hopefully be somewhere different and interesting. We’re always up for new experiences. Make some new music, see some great bands and have a good time. That’s not bad if we can do a bit of that.

[Originally published on wonderlandmagazine.com/blog, April 2011.]

ALEXIS JORDAN

“Oh my gosh! It’s freezing!” shudders 18-year-old Alexis Jordan, meeting Rollacoaster within a blissfully warm office on a cold December day. The young RnB Pop star is in London to promote her debut album, Happiness, and has arrived at a time where snow and ice have brought the capital to a near stand-still, with temperatures far colder than those Jordan would find in her native California. Despite the Artic snap, the singer couldn’t be happier to be in the UK. “I’ve been here a lot. It’s somewhere I feel is really open,” she gushes having already snagged a top three position with her album’s title track back in November and enjoyed crowds chanting lyrics back to her during live performances. “Newcastle was so loud!” she recalls. “I could barely hear myself sing!” And what else of the locals? “Oh my gosh! The girls wearing heels in the freezing snow!” she exclaims having witnessed the infamous stereotypes. “It’s not a stereotype – I saw. I was like “go ahead girrrl!”
Alexis Jordan first came to attention during America’s Got Talent’s first season at the tender age of 14. Despite impressing judges Piers Morgan, Brandy and The Hoff, she didn’t make it beyond the semi-finals, but far from being the end of the dream, she went beyond reality TV and blazed onto YouTube, clocking up hundreds of thousands of views and, eventually, the interests of super-producers, Stargate (writers of international chart toppers, Irreplaceable by Beyonce, Firework by Katy Perry and Rude Boy by Rihanna). “They say it was a joke – they were clicking videos and making fun of people singing their songs and I just kept popping up on their screen and finally they clicked it and listened. They flew me out to New York to record a couple of songs and then Jay-Z walks in. We met and talked a lot and then next thing you know I got signed to Roc Nation.”
The team went to work and the finished album is an impressively varied offering. There is the euphoric title track (Jordan’s honey sweet vocals playing over the Deadmau5 trance track Brasil) and dance-floor friendly second single, Good Girl. There is reggae on upbeat Love Mist, a tougher edge on the attitude filled Hush Hush, a stripped back acoustic guitar lead The Air That I Breath, which showcases Jordan’s powerful voice, and, most surprisingly, the Tears For Fears sampling Shout Shout.
“This is my first album and I wanted to put my heart on it,” says the singer, explaining how she would re-record the tracks until she was satisfied with the end result. “I’m so excited for it to come out.

[Originally published in Rollacoaster Magazine Issue 2, February 2011. Photography Brendan & Brendan.]

SIMON BIRD

 Most will recognise comedian Simon Bird for his role as Will McKenzie in E4’s Bafta-award-winning series The Inbetweeners. So successful was the show, which ran over three seasons from 2008, that Film 4 have commissioned a full-length version - due to arrive at cinemas before the summer’s end.
For now, Bird is playing Adam Goodman in new Channel 4 comedy Friday Night Dinner, involving two brothers (Bird and newcomer Tom Rosenthal) who return to their parent’s home for a traditional Friday night dinner – both immediately reverting to their teenage callow, the minute they return to the parental fold. Incidentally, Bird himself has recently returned to his own parent’s home in Guilford, (buying a flat in London is taking longer than he originally thought).
Before diving into the biscuit tin to face our brazen collection of questions protocol dictates that we ask Bird to come up with his own question to add to the mix, said question is: “What super power would you have?” Ironically once Bird delves into our biscuit tin the first question he pulls is that suggested by previous Biscuit Tin interviewee, Tinie Tempah…

What’s the weirdest place you’ve ever had sex?
Right. That’s a nice gentle one to start me off. I don’t know if my girlfriend would appreciate me telling this… [a long, careful, pause] I’m not going to answer this one!
What is your earliest memory?
My older brother falling into a waterfall when I was three. It was Glen Ellis Falls in America and we were at the top and my brother wanted to test the temperature of the water and then next minute slips in. Luckily he could swim otherwise he would’ve been swept away. It’s a proper big waterfall. He would have definitely died. It was very dramatic.
Who was the last person you told that you loved?
Erm… probably my girlfriend. There was quite a lot of love on set of Friday Night Dinner and The Inbetweeners – we’re always telling each other we love each other. But I think my girlfriend would get quite offended if I didn’t say it was her.
What’s your work out routine?
For the Inbetweeners movie I have, somewhat embarrassingly, started going to the gym – literally in the last two weeks. As if that’s going to make a difference! We’re starting work on the film in 14 days as it’s a lad’s holiday in the sun so we have our tops off for most of it. We all suddenly realised, about a week ago, that our flab is going to be on the big screen but I think I left it too late
What is your weakness?
Not great for an actor, but I have a really bad memory. I’m awful with my lines. Some people can turn up on the day and know them instantly whereas I need to spend some time to get them to lodge. And in a worse way I’m bad with friends’ birthdays and important dates.
Sweet or savory snacks?
Sweet, certainly, but, as I said, not in the last couple of weeks. That’s why I’ll only eat HALF a marangne. I’m a bit of a junk food addict, really.
What do you find attractive in the opposite sex?
A sense of humour is the most important thing, and luckily I find my girlfriend very funny. It’s sort of unspoken, but there is a bit of competition between me and my girlfriend if we have people round and stuff.
What would you like to wear but know you shouldn’t?
I used to wear clothing that was similar to my character in the inbetweeners. I was quite preppy – sleeveless jumpers, that sort of thing. But I can’t really do that anymore. People would get very confused between myself and my character. So I avoid tank tops.
Where is your best place to go out?
Somewhere I discovered recently is a restaurant called Polpetto in Soho which is a lovely tapas restaurant. And in Guilford, where I am with my parents, there is Guilford town centre – great shopping. Great restaurants!
What did the last text you sent say?
It’s boring… “Hi Rich. My train gets into Waterloo at half nine, so I should be at Channel 4 by 10.” We can check the one before that, if you like [checks] No. You can’t have that one! [smirks]

[Originally published in Rollacoaster Magazine Issue 2, February 2011. Photography Amarpaul Kalirai.]

WHITE LIES

It’s a cold, dark night at the end of 2010 and White Lies are taking to the stage of east London boxing venue york hall to showcase material from their highly anticipated second album, Ritual. Vocalist Harry McVeigh stands defiantly at the front of the stage, his deep, powerful voice booming through the majority of the record’s ten tracks. The singer is flanked by band mates Jack Lawrence-Brown (on drums) and Charles Cave (bass) whilst above the stage a coat of arms displays the words “from great things to greater.” it’s a motto that could easily describe White Lies themselves – it quickly becomes apparent that they have taken the grandeur and drama of their 2009 debut, To Lose My Life…, and amplified it all to a near-biblical level for their second offering. While playing one of the new tracks, the walls of the venue shake with the bass from the guitars, McVeigh’s vocals thunder over the music and the strobe lights behind the band blaze to a blinding level. it’s pretty transcendental.
    When Wonderland  meets the band at a later date, we confess to having had something of a spiritual experience. McVeigh’s dismissive: “God could probably hit five octaves. I can only do three.” So then, despite a chart-topping debut, and overwhelmingly positive reviews for ritual, the guys haven’t let success go to their heads. “I just think we are very realistic people,” offers Cave. “We’re very aware that all this could just disappear and if it does we’ll go and do something else with our lives. We don’t have great plans for the future – we just work in the present and work hard.”
    White Lies formed in 2007, since when they’ve supported A-list acts like Coldplay and Jay Z, but now they’re playing their own shows, at major venues. for the new record, the band’s drafted in legendary producer Alan Moulder, who has worked with everyone from Depeche Mode and placebo to Nine inch Nails and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and who’s helped to beef up the White Lies sound into something richer, more mature, more layered. Lead single Bigger Than Us, with its reverby synths and chugging bassline is a prime example. This is all a far cry from a project that was intended as nothing more than a hobby for three friends to get involved in. “We never talked about wanting to be a famous, successful band,” continues Cave. “We just enjoyed making music and got on with it. if we stopped enjoying it, we wouldn’t do it.”

 Accolades followed White Lies’ debut: Q named them Best New Band, Mojo gave them their Breakthrough Award and they also picked up the  Eska Music Award for Best Rock Band (a prestigious music award in Poland where the band have a huge following). Cue: sex, drugs, rock & roll? “To be quite honest,” says Cave, “I think we do experience the rock star lifestyle, but in 2011 it’s fairly mundane. It’s not very cool to be in a band anymore. From the 60s to the 80s girls were flinging themselves at musicians…” there is a pause while he thinks before concluding tactfully, “it’s not a very justifiable thing to be doing with your life.”
    Lawrence-Brown has his own concerns: “There’s quite a family vibe between us and all our crew,” he says. “if any of us started doing anything too rock and roll either our crew would take the piss out of us or we would take the piss out of each other. We’d feel a bit awkward.”

    McVeigh simply can’t be bothered. “I don’t even go out when I’ve got time off. I’m a really lazy person that way. I love going to the pub – that’s one of my favourite places to be but I would never go to a club or anywhere loud. I might go to the odd gig, but that has been kind of ruined for me as we’ve played so many it kind of takes the mystery away.”

Success has given the band a golden ticket to some of the biggest events in showbiz, but despite sharing billing with big names and bumping into icons like Yoko Ono and ZZ Top, they’re admirably cool about it all. However, they are not immune to being star struck. “Dave Grohl gave me a back rub!” McVeigh says gleefully – apparently it was part of a plan by their tour manager to “weird out” the front man. “It didn’t weird me out – it just made me very excited,” McVeigh continues. “I love Dave Grohl. he’s one of the best drummers in the world and he’s a really nice guy. He’s honest and not an arsehole and doesn’t slag people off.”

[Originally published in Wonderland Magazine Issue 25, February 2011. Photography Alex Sainsbury.]

THE GRAND TOUR

Music’s latest hopefuls show us round their favourite spots.

TROPHY WIFE
Trophy Wife (singer Jody Pruitt, keyboardist Ben rimmer and drummer Kit Monteith) are the latest in a series of indie greats to emerge from oxford, the town that brought us Supergrass and Radiohead. “Kit occasionally teaches at Thom Yorke’s son’s school in oxford,” says Rimmer (apparently, he even beat Yorke once in a 100m sprint). The trio met playing in experimental pop band Jonquil, from which they then “peeled off” to forge their own brand of melancholic disco pop. Wonderland caught up with Monteith after a gig with Bombay Bicycle Club.

How do you find being the warm up act? It’s always quite weird because obviously people aren’t there to see us. The Foals Tour [October 2010] was amazing as we were quite well suited. We got people over to our side a little bit.
Do you have any pre-show warm up rituals? We wander around aimlessly and do vocal warm ups. On tour with Foals and Crystal fighters... their warm ups were just insane. They do a circus ring-kind-of cheering and weird shouting
and screaming. I think we more indulge in the contrast between the quietness back stage and then throw ourselves into it on stage.
Who would be make the best Trophy Wife? I always say Maggie Thatcher. Just the notion – amazing.

D/R/U/G/S
“It’s the only thing I care about. It is my only passion,” says Callum Wright of the music he crafts under the guise of D/R/U/G/S. Dropping out of a criminology degree in April of last year, the 22-year-old has since been developing a sound that straddles the genres of dance, chill out and minimal techno and has been bagging performance slots all over London’s east end. Joining the musician for a stroll along the Southbank, we find him on fine form and ready for anything.

What’s special about the Southbank for you? 
 Mostly the vibrance and the architecture. I grew up in London then went to university and came back to see London totally differently. you’ve got ancient buildings and the most modern buildings and all the landmarks. I find it so impressive.
Describe your sound. 
I used to be into ambient music and that’s where the whole band came from. it was never an aim to make a dance sound – it just evolved that way. But I’m happy to be a dance act. Especially today when there’s so much that can be classed as dance that goes against the traditional, semi-embarrassing idea of that genre.  
An EP is out in April and you’re going on tour – are you looking forward to hitting the road? yeah. it will be quite intimidating to go and play in Germany because so much of my favourite music comes from there – the whole genre of minimal techno pretty much started in Germany.

 ISA SUMMERS
“I love being in my studio” says writer and producer Isa Summers. That’s just as well: the pixie-like songstress is currently involved in three musical projects, and must spend a lot of time there. her most recent venture is The Life, The Love and The Grateful (“The Doors meets Metallica meets Tinie Tempah,” she says) who will be taking to the road and releasing an album this year. Then there is ivan ink ‘N’ isa, who release a four track EP of dreamy, fairytale-esque tunes this month. on top of this, Summers has her continued duties for her most famous project. You’ve heard of Florence Welch? Well, Summers is “the Machine.”

How do you find the time to work on all these musical projects? I don’t sleep and I live in my studio. I basically am a work-a-holic but I want to get things
done and have hit records, like Rick Rubin.
Can you pick up any instrument and play it? I come from a hip-hop back-ground where I was programming drums and sampling
other people’s music. The Life, The Love and The Grateful is a whole band so I’m trying
to write guitar, keyboard and drum patterns and then get them to play all this stuff. It’s
a challenge!
What is your history with Florence? We were having boy troubles and going to the studio together. I always said to [Florence] from the first moment we made a song; “you’re going to be a mega-star. Go and work with everybody because you’ll learn from everyone, whatever happens come back and make songs with me.” And she has!

YUCK
“I like getting up early and not wasting the day,” says Daniel Blumber, singer, writer and
guitarist of reverb-loving pop rockers, yuck. A stream of gigs and touring had been playing havoc on his sleeping patterns leading to an unhealthy routine of not getting up until 3pm, however he has since bounced back to a normal schedule, along with the rest of Yuck, comprising Londoners Max Bloom and Ilana Blumber (guitar and vocals respectively), New Jersey drummer Jonny rogoff and Japanese bassist Mariko Doi. Wonderland  caught up with Blumber at Hackney City farm.

Where did the name Yuck come from? I came up with the name. I just thought it was a cool band name – it doesn’t mean anything.
How did you all come together?Ilana, Me and Max were born in London and me and Max have known each other from when we were about six. I met Jonny in the desert in Israel where he was working on a date farm and I was on holiday visiting some friends also working in the desert. We just met each other for a few hours and were talking about music. He was a drummer and when we started the band I remembered him and asked him to come. And Mariko is from Hiroshima in Japan but moved to London anyway so was around. It felt very comfortable, very quickly, playing together.
And what brings us to Hackney City Farm? We’ve been there before and it’s amazing. We want to do all our pictures with animals – they’re nice!

BECOMING REAL
Toby Ridler created Becoming Real while studying fine art at Kingston University. After blogs including The Fader picked up on his futuristic tracks – inspired by classic Scifi and postmodern theorists such as Jean Baudrillard – he decided to do it full time. His music – full of tinkling, crystalline synths and globulous low-end pulses, mixes the stealth and stride of dubstep with the drama of Vangelis. Wonderland meets Ridler at his digs in east London.

How long have you lived in Mile End? I wish I could say my whole life, but only three or four months. I really like it. It’s near Canary Wharf which is a pretty unreal place. It’s so futuristic but it’s now. I go there and walk around, and I try and take that experience and put it in a song.
How would you describe your sound? Icy. Something like that. As my production has come on it has become more about texture than a straight up dance track. I’ve taken influence from beatless stuff, like early grime days when Wiley was making ice cold synths and songs without any beats, just the bass. The more I push it the more I try to expand the sound and the closer it gets to weird classical music.
Is making music something you always wanted to do? I think I always assumed I would do music even when I was in rackety punk bands
when I was 15 and 16 years old. I don’t really know how to do much else because I put so
much time and energy into it.

 PORCELAIN RAFT
Italian born Mauro Remiddi (who moved to London from Rome in 2000) has put out a steady stream of EPs under the name porcelain raft, creating bleary soudscapes from the comfort of his own bedroom. The home studio setup hasn’t proven problematic so far, but he’s just moved to a shared house in North east London, where Wonderland meets him.  “My next songs are going to be really quiet,” he laughs from his new digs. “I like to hear feedback and experiment with
amplifiers, but I can’t really do that here.”

How would you describe the music of Porcelain Raft? I feel when waking up in the morning there is a precise moment where you don’t really know where you are, or remember your name. That second when your eyes are half closed is, I think, where I am focusing. Also I think I function very well when I’m exhausted.
Do you feel you have to exhaust yourself before you can start working then? It’s not like that. I’ll play a song non-stop until my voice is weary and everything is a little bit blurry and I’m like ‘ can do this again and again.’ When I listen back those tracks are the ones that I like – and the same happened to me when I was touring. Every day there was a gig, every day there was another city. [By the end] I was truly exhausted but the music felt more in unison with me because I wasn’t even thinking any more.

MAVERICK SABRE
Michael Stafford, better known as Maverick Sabre, describes his sound as “hip hop-inspired
soulful folk music,” listing artists as diverse as Ben e King, Tupac and Bob Dylan as influences. you may already recognise his voice – he guested on professor Green’s single “Jungle,” but there’s more to come from this MC-turned-singer-songwriter  in 2011. Wonderland met him at his local caff for a cuppa.

How did you come up with the name Maverick Sabre? I basically got a thesaurus and looked up two words that I thought matched my initials.
So I had Maverick – someone who thinks outside the box and I wanted to do that with my
music, and Sabre – with the meaning of someone who puts on a front of hardness to the through tough times.
How did you get involved on Professor Green’s single? A producer called Blue Bear on True Tiger recordings sent me the beat through my lawyers over a year and a half ago. I listened to it and then sent it back within a day with everything you hear on the track now. It was given to Professor Green and he recorded his part to it then I went and rerecorded my vocals and then it went on his album. It all came together quite nicely.
Any thoughts on the rise and rise of British Urban music? It’s a movement. A couple of months ago, the top ten was filled with acts from the UK
Urban scene – acts that have been influenced by Dizzee rascal and Kano and have come from pirate radio and mix tape days. I’m proud to be part of it.

ALEX CLARE
Ray Man music in Camden has served as a go to for 25-year-old solo artist Alex Clare. “They have so many massive instruments. Whenever you go in there for something really basic you end up buying something you definitely don’t need.” Though he’s been making music from the age of 19, Clare’s career has truly taken off, in the past 18 months, after his demo caught the attention of Island Records. His difficult-to-define mix of dancehall rhythms, catchy melodies and electronic flourishes has found him illustrious fans in club veterans Diplo and Switch of Major Lazer, who are lending their production skills to his upcoming debut.

Describe your sound. It’s a mix. There’s a combination of live instrumentation, orchestration, electronic beats,
live beats, distorted base and full synthesised sounds as well. It’s a real mongrel!
If you hadn’t been in music… I don’t know what else I would do if I wasn’t making music. I trained as a chef when I left
school but it’s too much hard work for not nearly enough reward, you know. You work 14
hour days and suffer burns and all for shit pay.
Any advice for getting a record deal? I don’t even know how Island picked those demos up, actually. I think I have a guardian angel out there who went “hey, listen to this” and then in a few weeks someone got in touch to
say “Do you want to make an album?” Then I was offered the chance to work with Diplo
and Switch and I would have been a fool to refuse.

[Originally published in Wonderland Issue 25, February 2011. Photography Robin Mellor.]

Pete And The Pirates

Pete And The Pirates today release their new single, Come To The Bar, as a prelude to their Brendan Lynch (Primal Scream, Paul Weller, Ocean Colour Scene) produced album, One Thousand Pictures - which will be released in May. We Q+A front man Tom Sanders to quiz him about working with Lynch, being championed by Zane Lowe and discover a general ignorance of Monty Python’s Life Of Brian.

Describe your music in five words.
Bricks, hair, fruit, nudity, autumn.

What are the inspirations behind your music?
My songs often appear from nowhere, often at quite inconvenient times. Romantic frustrations often feature. More recently though, lyrics have been more of a train of thought. Kind of abstract, like a series of nice pictures. In the band we are all inspired by each others stuff too, we kind of have an ongoing, unspoken competition of who can write the best new song. It’s me.

Your new album is called One Thousand Pictures – what was the last picture you took? What is the significance behind it?
The latest picture I took was of the back of my head. I was cutting my hair and need to see what the back looked like.

You’ve been working with Brendan Lynch for the new album – how was he to work with?
Working with Brendan was a breath of fresh air. Recording is often viewed as a process of breaking things down and separating them. On the contrary, the approach on One Thousand Pictures was all about capturing the sense of togetherness. We spent the last seven years either in practice rooms or on stages, playing on top of each other and in each other’s pockets. So it’s the most natural thing in the world for us to record that way; that’s where the true energy comes from.

Who else would you like to collaborate with?
Dave Allen did a couple of tracks with us a while back. He did most of The Cure’s best stuff. I’d like to work with him again. He’s an interesting dude. In general I don’t like the idea of collaborating – it scares me. The idea of relinquishing any aspect of control. I need to get over that.

Will you be taking to the festivals this summer?
Oh, I don’t know. We will be in a field somewhere at some point. Hopefully Bestival is one we will be doing. That is a guaranteed hoot.

Come To The Bar was championed by Zane Lowe as “Hottest Record in the World” – how has this praise affected the band?
That kind of praise is very welcome! But the next day some other band have the hottest record in the world. It’s very short lived. There are some texts from friends saying ‘wow!’ Then it’s all over like a sneeze.

Which track would you champion as “Hottest Record in the World”?
Can it be one of our songs?? I’m a little out of touch with current songs. But I love the latest Grinderman song - think its called Palaces of Montezuma.

You have a voice a little like Eric Idle – are you a fan of Monty Python?
I don’t know who that is. I’m sure you’re just poking harmless fun at me though.

Do you always look on the bright side of life?
When you remember to chill the fuck out and stop worrying about things that haven’t even happened then it feels much better.

[Originally published on wonderlandmagazine.com/blog, February 2011.]

FRANKIE AND THE HEARTSTRINGS

Sunderland five-piece Frankie & The Heartstrings are bringing Northern soul to the rock n roll world with their distinctly heartfelt lyrics and gritty sound. Having played Glastonbury last summer and gigged across the country since, the band have thrilled crowds and also generated nods from the fashion world for their sharp appearance - with front man Frankie Francis making the cut for the recent GQ 50 Best Dressed Men list. With their debut album, Hunger, released today, WONDERLAND thought it a good time to Q&A Francis about playing live, musical influences and what makes him cry.

Describe your sound in five words.
Romantic, Emotional, Relevant, Engaging, Honest.

Your album is called “Hunger” - what are you hungry for?
We are always striving to be creative, to be able to express ourselves. Your never more creative than when you have the hunger and desire to prove to people what your capable of and show other people that know you can how right they were.

What are your inspirations when making music?
We take inspiration from lots of things, not just our record collections, books, poems and even brithish television. Not to mention our hometown and the people of Sunderland.

Who are your music icons?
We have many, Orange Juice, Dexys Midnight Runners, les savy fav, Belle and Sebastian, The Fall, Girls, Billy Childish, The Futureheads, Adam Green, Scott Walker, The Housemartins…….we all have huge record collections.

You’ve been described by The Guardian as “One of the best live bands in Britain” - how do you feel about this?
Confident, as we treat every single gig exactly the same whether there is 10 people there or 10,000 your gunna get the same show, all of us leave the stage feeling emotionally and physically drained every time.

What has been your best live performance experience for you to date?
So many Reading/Leeds, Glasto, we have always had good gigs in Manchester and Leeds venue’s too, it might be our next gig.

What is your pre-performance ritual?
We normally have a big pre gig group hug and tell each other good luck and have fun, and rock out of course.

Is there a difference from playing shows ‘up North’ compared to the rest of the UK?
Well I see it as my role sometimes to break down any audiences that seem to enjoying it but not showing it, so in the end they all are the same, singing along and clapping, I love that as a challenge, were from the North and love playing up here, but a trip down south especially to london is always exciting.

What is guaranteed to pull on your heartstrings and make you cry?
I’m not sure, I guess it just happens. Crying can be a happy thing too though. Who cares, we do wear our hearts on our sleeves though we cant help that.

Frankie “The Saturdays” Sanford, Frankie Boyle or Frankie Goes To Hollywood?
I’d marry Frankie Sanford, go for a drink with Frankie Boyle and then spend a summer in Hollywood working on Frankie and the Heartstrings the movie, starring Russ Abbott.

[Originally published on wonderlandmagazine.com/blog, February 2011.]

MEN

New York Punk/Funk outfit MEN started life as a side project for JD Samson’s Le Tigre before developing into a fully functioning band. Today MEN release their debut album Talk About Body as well as their new single Who Am I and tonight take to the stage for a live set in London. We throw some quick fire questions at Samson to get some more info on this disco band.

Describe your music in five words
Gay electronic built to spill

How did MEN come together?
It was the merging of two projects. One which was myself and Johanna Fateman, and the other was Michael O’Neill, Ginger Brooks Takahashi, Emily Roysdon.

What are your inspirations when creating music?
I am inspired to make music conceptual and to bring joy and sincerity and vulnerability to people through movement of the body.

It’s Valentines Day - what are your plans?
We will play a show with Sleigh Bells at Heaven and probably dance our way around London, feeling as free as possible.

What is the secret to love?
Honesty. And admittance of failure or imperfection.

Anthony Hegarty has remixed your new single Who I Am To Fee So Free - how did that happen?
I’ve known Antony for a long time. He opened for Le Tigre a couple of times and we asked him to collaborate [on the single] and he was thrilled to be part of this track. It was really amazing to work together on something so emotional and political.

Are you excited to be performing in the UK again?
Yes we are happy to be back in the UK. We often have a great reception in London and can’t wait to meet more people here.

What has been your best gig to date?
Berlin at So 36 was pretty amazing on our first tour ever.

Who Am I… is pretty disco friendly - what tracks never fail to get you on the dance-floor?
Michael Jackson or Hercules And Love Affair.

Do you have any favourite dance moves?
Nope just pretty much feeling it and letting the music tell my body what to do.





[Originally published on wonderlandmagazine.com/blog, February 2011.]

CHAPEL CLUB

Chapel Club release their new single, Surfacing, today ahead of their highly anticipated debut album next week. Front man Lewis Bowman is given the Wonderland Q&A treatment to talk covers, comparisons, and C.S Lewis.

Describe your sound in five words
weeyow eeyow swoooosh splash ahhhh

What is the meaning behind the name Chapel Club?
Well, more or less, it’s that when I grow up I want to be a prophet.

How exactly did the band come together?
We sat in a small circle and each man took a firm grip upon the man to his right (none of us are lefthanded, thankfully), then we all yanked on the count of three. Actually, yank is the wrong word, mine was more of a motivational caress

You’ve been compared to the likes of White Lies, Editors and My Bloody Valentine, but who (if anyone) would you most like to be compared to?
MBV is nice. Right now I’d like someone to describe us as Fleetwood Mac meets Yo La Tengo with C.S. Lewis on lyrics. But that’s such stuff as dreams are made on.

What are the band’s inspirations and influences?
All of the above, plus almost everything else. You never know who or what is around the corner preparing to blow your mind. Yesterday in the studio the touchstone was Kazuo Ishiguro; today it’s The Flaming Lips

Your single, Surfacing, hit an obstacle when it was originally planned for release due to copyright issues in relation with a sample on the track - would Chapel Club ever flat out cover a track? If yes - what would that cover track be?
We would flat out cover a track, yes, damn right we would and make no mistake. We covered Wham’s Last Christmas at a show in Manchester in December, but it’s a bit fuzzy on YouTube. Plus everyone covers that song; I just wanted to sing a George Michael vocal to be honest. We have a few others lined up for when we have time though: Arthur Russell’s That’s Us/Wild Combination and maybe Wichita Lineman

You’ve become renowned for putting on a good live show - what has been the highlight of your live performances so far?
I enjoy any show where I can hear myself 100% properly, which at this early stage in our ‘career’ happens on a surprisingly occasional basis. I think I may have bad ears. As for great shows: Reading Festival was cool, as were all the European gigs we did supporting Two Door Cinema Club in November. The Manchester show I mentioned was very special too, it was in a beautiful church and we did some acoustic stuff alongside all the rock and the Wham and it felt very festive

Have there been any bad live show experiences?
I couldn’t hear more than a few notes of my vocal in any live set up until about May last year, so I’m sure there were a few shows that seemed pretty hairy at the time. And more are ahead, I’ll wager. Gigs - especially those involving loads of pedals and effects and stuff - aren’t a perfect art. You’re just stepping out into nothing and hoping you’ll fly half the time

You were on Jools Holland at the same time as other guests The Ting Tings, Mumford & Sons, Cyndi Lauper and John Legend - would you ever want to collaborate with any of them?
Marcus Mumford was utterly lovely on the night, so I’ll say yes to him, though I haven’t heard any of his music yet (somehow). Actually that’s not right, I have heard one thing: a cover of a song from Disney’s Robin Hood. And as that’s by far the best of the Disney musicals, I give him much credit for that. As for the other people on Jools - I don’t think it’d really work, our differences would be too profound and disturbing. Who would I like us to collaborate with? There’re a lot of people… Karen O, Cibelle, Harry Belafonte, Jim O’Rourke, Wayne Coyne, Caribou, Janelle Monae, any ballet or dance companies or makers of beautiful paintings or films. Again though, I don’t think any of them would feel it very necessary. Maybe one day.


[Originally published on wonderlandmagazine.com/blog, January 2011.]

YASMIN

Going from spinning records to making them.

When Wonderland meets Manchester born, Glasgow raised DJ and musician Yasmin at the Ministry Of Sound headquarters in South-east London, she recounts a recent review from a well-known music magazine that she eagerly wants to clarify. “I did a gig in South Africa” Yasmin begins. “And when I got a copy of the magazine I was flicking through and the headline was something like ‘British hiphop vixen Yasmin – we watch her blow some more in South Africa,’” she says aghast. “I was like ‘did not one person proofread that’?”
    Keen to reach the conclusion that the publication could only have been meaning that she was about to ‘blow up’, this term encouragingly predicts the trajectory of a career that has been quietly building over the last few years. With her own music soon to be released, the beginnings of Yasmin’s career in the industry are found in the world of DJing. “I’ve always written lyrics, I’ve always sung,” she says. “It wasn’t a conscious thing – I just became a DJ. When I was 17 I became a friend of a guy and he used to play in this club every week and I would go and hang out and say ‘play this – I bet everyone will like this’ or ‘oh I’ve not heard that in ages – play that.’ Eventually he just let me play one or two tracks when he went to the toilet and I just got the hang of it and I got a buzz off it and ended up getting my first gig and things went from there. A lot of DJs become producers, but I’ve never really been a beats-orientated kinda girl – I love a great beat I don’t like tracks without songs on them. For me [song-writing was] my natural progression.”
    Describing herself as “the warm-up DJ’s warm-up DJ” from when she first started out, Yasmin’s DJing antics have seen her moving from Glasgow venues to London’s West End clubs to  DJing across the globe, and supporting the likes of N.E.R.D and Eve on tour. When we meet, she is fresh from supporting rap artist Example on his UK tour and this experience harks back to her comment that she was once the “warm-up DJ’s warm-up DJ”, appearing on the billing as warm-up to grime artist Devlin who played ahead of the main star (she also played DJ between her own, Devlin and Examples sets). Despite still playing the supporting role, Yasmin is ready to make the transition into the spotlight. Her guest vocals on Devlin’s recent hit, Runaway, may give an idea of what her voice is like – however her own music is more 90s infused with a hiphop edge (Yasmin sites Massive Attack as a main influence) sounding familiar, yet fresh. Her material will be released in the UK from the beginning of next year but already a scramble is occurring over the international release rights. A process the artist is slightly baffled by. “I’ve had quite a bit of interest already,” she says with a slight expression of disbelief. “What I find so hilarious is when some people are so interested and they’ve not heard a single song. I’ve been plunged into this world in the past six months but I’m not blinded by the lights of it. I’m aware that I got DJ gigs off the back of the way I look or being a girl and in a way, the pop industry’s the same thing. But with being a DJ, I proved myself and I’ve got some really respected DJs that will stick up for me and be like ‘that girl can mix!’ and that the same thing I want to do with my music.”
    Keen to retain her own artistic integrity, Yasmin warns that other aspiring artists should be wary of offers that might not be what they seem. “I really want to be a role model,” she starts, “and I know it sounds cliché, but honestly I think it’s so important. I want to inspire other people in the way that I’ve been inspired. When I was on tour with Devlin, we went to some performing arts college near Newcastle and we did a performance and a Q&A and a guy asked all the kids in the class ‘do you want to be signed?’ They all said ‘yeah’ and I said to them ‘it’s not all about that. I could call people right now in my phone book that would give back their record deal, just to be able to make the music that they loved.’ I quite like to break down the façade. It can be quite frustrating. It can be misleading.”
    Taking a moment to think, Yasmin concludes, “I think a lot of people need to ask yhemselves – do you want to be famous or do you want to be a musician?”

[Originally published in Wonderland Magazine Issue 24, November 2010. Photography Nik Hartley.]

TAYLOR MOMSEN

 The Pretty Reckless’ lead singer is finally pursuing her biggest passion.

Ahead of our interview with singer and actress Taylor Momsen, Wonderland are struck down with the now traditional winter illness – flu. Regardless, we get tanked up on Nurofen and Lem-
sip and are somewhat relieved to find Momsen herself is a little ‘out of it’ when we settle down to talk. But it’s nothing to do with the reported ‘wild child’ antics of the 17 year old that she
is a little dazed, she is just tired and only recently woken up. “It was nothing exciting last night,” she declares shaking herself awake. “But I didn’t exactly get to bed early.”
    Finding herself back on set for the fourth season of Gossip Girl, Momsen is keeping herself fully occupied following her week-days filming – sacrificing sleep as a result – by taking her rock
band, The Pretty Reckless, on the road to entertain her fans all over North America at weekends. In fact, with her busy schedule, Wonderland has had to reschedule our interview three times before finally managing to get some time with the star before she plays in Baltimore one Sunday in October.
    “I want to make music for the rest of my life,” she says with passion when we ask if there is a preference between being an actress and a musician. “I’ve been writing songs since I was five and music’s always been a part of my life and still is. It’s self expression compared to a job.”
    Born in Missouri in 1993, Momsen has clocked up an impressive CV to date with film roles including a foray into the Spy Kids franchise, featuring in Jim Carrey’s The Grinch, becoming a household name courtesy of the hugely popular Gossip Girl and has fronted campaigns for New Look in the UK and, more recently, as the face of Madonna’s Material Girl line – becoming instrumental in the label’s launch.
    “Madonna was awesome,” she says of being the face of Material Girl. “Your representing a brand when you do something like New Look or [Material Girl] so you’re not just a model, you’re a name, a face someone knows as opposed to just a model. So there is a level that they want me to be comfortable with what I’m doing and that I represent the brand as myself along with representing the brand with how they want it to be viewed. So there is usually a compromise and a collaborative process but when I do a campaign it usually has something to do with me in some way. I worked very closely with [Madonna] and Lola [Madonna’s daughter, Lourdes – also a key member of the Material Girl brand] on set. Lola and I styled all the looks together and Madonna took some of the photos.”
    But as Momsen herself states (admittedly with lots of gratitude), these previous ventures are regarded by her as ‘jobs’ (she describes the Gossip Girl set as being “a work environment.
People think of it that way – we’re all doing a job”) and her position at the front of a band allows her to present herself for who she really is and music gives her a new platform to express herself. The apparent re-invention of herself as the lead of The Pretty Reckless, Momsen professes as being her true identity, declaring she sported heavy eye make-up long before she was the fresh faced Jenny Humphrey that most associate her with. “There’s not many female-fronted rock bands,” she states, re-buffing a comparison to Courtney Love and Hole as a mere coincidence. “The influences that went into [the record] were all male-fronted rock bands – my idols and the people I look up to are mostly male. I grew up on the Beatles with my dad. He had a big record collection and I listened to a lot of the classic records growing up – The Who and Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin – all the kind of classics. The Beatles were the first band I ever heard. I’m a fan to this day. We’ve done some work on the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus [a non-profit organization that acts as a travelling recording studio allowing school students to learn about the industry – Momsen recently participated, singing vocals as high school students played instruments on a recording of All You Need Is Love] I’ve been promised I’ll get to meet Yoko Ono one day.”
    Despite the lack of similar female artists, an appreciation for Ms Ono and the confession that she idolises many male musicians, Momsen shys away from being called an idol herself. “I didn’t want to be a role model,” she says modestly. “I’ve said that before – it’s just how people look at you. I think it’s important that the best role model anyone can be is to just be themselves – that’s the coolest thing you can be – and not give a shit what anyone else would say about you because it really doesn’t matter.”
    These sentiments are echoed when we point out that some people seem intent on taking her down – notably notorious celebrity blogger Perez Hilton. “Oh he says mean stuff about everyone!” Momsen laughs. “Does he ever say anything nice about anyone ever? It’s his job. I don’t know why people take it seriously. People realise when they read tabloid stuff or a web-site like perezhilton, they [the journalists] get paid to talk trash about you and put you down. If they were talking nice about you they wouldn’t have a very popular site. Insults are more entertaining to read than compliments!”
    As a reluctant role model, what advice would Taylor Momsen have to anyone else wanting to achieve their dreams? “Everyone’s always going to talk shit, no matter who you are so as long as you stay true to yourself then that’s the coolest thing in the world. That’s the only thing I would preach. Don’t be anything like me!” she declares. “Just be yourself.”

[Originally published in Wonderland Magazine Issue 24, Novemeber 2010. Photography Mark Kean.]