Les Betes Noires have sleuthfully risen...
risen from the ashes of Irish Alt.-rock faves Blind Eye View...
Here they have their say about their past, present and future...
1. HI. YOU ARE IN 'LES BETES NOIRES.' PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND YOUR BAND AND GIVE US AN IDEA WHAT YOU IRISH BOYS ARE ALL ABOUT WITH YOUR ROCK MUSIC...
Paul: We�re a 3-piece alternative-type rock band from Belfast. We try to make things as interesting as possible in our music and as a result our songs are quite varied in style although always keeping that core element of rock-ness.
Simon: I love songs whether hard or quiet that have an underlying pretty, sometimes bitter heart either lyrically or melodically, and I suppose I try to follow that ideal. Though with a drummer as �tactful� as Ryan, sometimes the return to the drawing board can be rather quick. But he�s usually right.
2. HOW DOES YOUR ROCK MUSIC DIFFER FROM EVERYONE ELSE'S?
Paul: We have more weird noises in our music than a lot of bands and put a lot of effort into each song lyrically and musically to make it as �complete� as possible. Each song also contains subliminal messages aimed at corrupting the minds and very souls of all who listen�when you wake up one night, head towards the knife drawer and realise that you�re not in control of your own body, then you�ll realise�
3. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF OTHER IRISH BANDS CURRENTLY EMERGING AND MAKING IT BIG SUCH AS 'THE THRILLS' AND 'THE REVS'? DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER FAVE IRISH BANDS WE MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT?...
Ryan : I can�t say I�m much of a fan of The Thrills, they�re a bit too �nice� for my tastes to be honest, and The Revs I haven�t actually heard yet ! Its great that a *lot* more bands are now making the effort to play Belfast or at least Dublin, as even a few years ago most bands just ignored Ireland completely. There no shortage of excellent unsigned bands here, with The Debonaires, Element the Holy Ghost Fathers being a few I�d recommend.
Paul: I say all the best to these bands making an impact, they may or not pave the way for others to follow which is good. As Ryan says, there�s so much talent around these here parts�Yakuza, Large Mound, Edgeweather�loads more. I�ve always liked Snow Patrol but people seem to class them as Scottish so I get confused.
Simon: I agree with all of the above, m�lord.
4. IS IT FUN BEING BASED IN BELFAST AND ARE THERE MANY DECENT PLACES TO PLAY?
Ryan : Being based in Belfast isn�t ideal as we�re pretty much removed from 99% of the music industry by the Irish sea ! Saying that I actually quite like the city, as with all cities it has its good and bad points but from a music point of view you usually don�t have to travel too far to find a gig or something happening.
Paul: There are lots of quality venues that will give gigs to new bands and run regular local music nights. It�s a sort of close-knit scene here which guarantees a decent after-show party if you�re that way inclined.
Simon: Though don�t mix copious red wine and jazz cigarettes at the aforementioned parties. I�m blushing at the thought.
5. WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT BELFAST'S MUSIC SCENE?
Ryan : Belfast�s music scene is large enough that there�s plenty of venues, bands, events going on pretty much all the year round, but it's also small enough that you can go to a gig and know a plenty of people there.
Simon: It�s small enough that you generally get friendly with quite a few of the bands, though there is bit of clique that can be quite intimidating to new bands. Generally the people are warm and supporting, but to quote a legendary Northern Ireland paramilitary bonehead... there�s a bit of the �one-eyed monster� around.
6. WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT BEING IN 'LES BETES NOIRES'?
Simon: The ability to be able to do what you want musically, and not be tied down to one specific style. We have songs that vary in style quite significantly. It�s great that the three of us feel able to explore that and not be hampered by differences musically, and well a few other differences we may have encountered in the past. I�ll say no more.
Paul: I enjoy the fact that they take my shit and we like each other on a musical and personal level. Ryan keeps me amused with his impression of a cocaine-addicted monkey who�s had too many cups of coffee and Simon with his Zoolander-esque facial expressions as he gels his luscious hair in the mirror.
7. WHAT IS THE EXACT ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF 'LES BETES NOIRES'?
(Hey, I did French A-Level and haven't got a clue! - Ed.)
Ryan : Paul has told me that the literal translation is �the black beasts� but apparently the phrase has been adopted to mean your pet hates or peeves. Most people can�t spell it or pronounce it (including me!) so its fun to confuse people a little.
Paul: Me being the French expert of course! I have no language skills but the dictionary explains everything and it�s one of the most awkward names in the history of music which is a feat in itself.
Simon: I actually have a real infatuation with all things French, and I get drunk and annoy my girlfriend by talking in pidgin French all night. I want to retire there in a nice wee village, saturated in red wine and young French fillies. (only jokin� darling!)
8. HOW COME YOU WRITE AND PERFECT YOUR SONGS SO FAST, BEARING IN MIND THAT AT THE TIME OF THIS INTERVIEW YOU'VE ONLY BEEN TOGETHER A FEW MONTHS AND ALREADY YOU'VE RELEASED A TRULY OUTSTANDING EP?...
Simon: Oh go on you big charmer! Paul, Ryan and I used to play together in a different band, playing stuff we realised we weren�t particularly happy with. So we imploded that and got together as a three piece. It clicked instantly, we seemed to find rhythm, not a particular sound, more of a feel, and songs have been flowing ever since. It was, and is very exciting.
Paul: We come up with ideas and put them together so quickly that we have 10 years worth of material already! We might consider selling some songs to a boy band or 2 in order to fund our rock n� roll excesses.
9. HOW CAN WE HEAR YOUR MUSIC, AND IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO TELL US OR FOREVER HOLD YOUR PEACE?
Simon: The easiest way would be to check out our website www.betesnoires.com, and download an MP3 of one of our new tunes. Alternatively, email us your address at [email protected] and we�ll send you out a lovely handmade copy, complete with a sexy black witch on the front. I would like to say, never trust a middle class socialist. Or a smiling Irishman.
Thankyou.