How did you meet and what’s the story behind your band name?
Both sets of brothers have played in bands together since we were tiny. Elliot and I used to play White Stripes tunes at school talent shows, that sort of thing. Oliver and Jake did more of a grungey thing whilst growing up, I think, but Ell and I were raised on Prince and Elvis Costello, so we always wanted to play catchy songs together. We met the others at school when Oliver and I became friends ages ago.
How would you describe your music?
I think we just write based on thousands of different influences; soul, reggae, ska, country, and all kinds of rock of course, so it all just comes into the things that we create. As a band we believe in riotous performance, a sort of anti-shoegaze thing. And we always laugh a little when people comment on the “teenager in love” style lyrics and easy going pop songs; when you really listen, you start to realise how cynical some of the songs actually are. We like sugar-coated music. Pop songs that sound happy, but are really quite satirical and sarky.
What have you been up to so far and what can we expect over the coming months?
We’re starting to write new material again at the moment for the next release, and really just gigging a lot. We’ll have some more new songs by next year.
If you could duet with anybody who would it be and why?
It would have to be a proper female soul voice, I think. Although I would love to have a jam with Kim Deal (telling me off all the time for putting on the ritz). But I think I’d choose Bettye Lavette. She’s basically taught me how to sing.
What’s your desert island disc and why would you take this one album?
It’s a really close call – Up the Bracket is the record the reminds me of being 8 years old and feeling completely exhilarated and enamoured by a band for the first time. But I think I’d choose Last Splash by the Breeders. That record has the best attitude in the world, and its also so soft and heartbreaking in the nicest way. I like imagining stories about a bloke called Mad Lucas when I listen to those songs.
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