Like with the recent “The Swear” interview, this interview owes a lot to
Conor and his excellent “Angry Left Wing Mofo” fanzine
(He can be found through the links page).
In Issue 5 of “Angry Left Wing Mofo”, he did a joint
interview with both “The Swear” and “The Violets”.
“The Violets” are this excellent girl led punk band from
Southern England (I can't remember where they said
truth be told) which I think was London who make
their own excellent racket which could almost be 60's
girl groups meets grunge be it for a better description
with a look that kept remaining me of Blondie for
some reason.
Interested by Conor’s interview, I had a look at their
website and down-loaded one or two of their tunes
available and was pretty impressed.
So I e mailed the band and Andrew from the band
e-mailed me back and the rest is history as I always
say.
Thanks to Andrew for the enclosed interview, I wish you
good luck with future gigs and singles and things.
For more information on the band – please check out
their official Website – http://www.theviolets.co.uk
Regards
Andrew N
Setting Sun: How are things and what are you doing
At the moment?
Andrew:
Things are good, super busy.
Setting Sun: Can you tell us a little bit about
the history of “The Violets”? Although I know a
little bit about you from your good interview
in “Angry Left Wing Mofo”, but as I always say
clearly there are people who wouldn’t have
heard off you so can you give the story or
who fired the starting pistol as I always
like to
say.
Andrew:
We have been together for about a year
and two months. Joe and I met at university
and lived together for a few months after
we graduated.
He met Alex at his job and was saying
to me 'I know this really good singer
and we are starting this band yada yada..'
I wasn't really that interested
but I listened out of politeness.
Anyway, they went to New York on holiday
and recorded 'laxteen' with our friend
Scott on drums.
The minute I heard it I was like, 'okay, gotta do this
band!'
Alex walked up to Tim who runs the windmill in
Brixton (London - SS) and blagged a gig off him so we had a gig
before we even really had a band.
We had to work fast, thus no bass player.
so that was the start really. we only had
about 4 practices before our first gig and
then just played all we could after that.
Setting Sun: What have you been listening to recently
(music wise) and what have proved your influences?
Andrew:
We have pretty eclectic tastes. I come from a
very hardcore punk background and like all the
dischord/ Washington dc punk stuff, but at the mo I
like LCD soundsystem, Cut copy, Daft Punk, any sort of
rhythm music. I think that sums up my drumming 'Dave
Grohl disco' I like to call it! Joe and Alex don't
really like any of that stuff. I would say the only
proviso we have with our music is that the songs would
be short and mostly fast.
We like all the classic guitar post punk stuff, Britpop,
60's girl groups, grunge, all the type of stuff people in
their early twenties today grew up listening to.
But we also like modern bands and go as punters to
loads of London gigs. (although I would say they
Is not really an influence as such)
Setting Sun: Again for those who don't know you,
can you tell us what stuff you have released so
far and where people can get them?
Andrew:
so far we have recorded nine songs. 'laxteen'
is on 'the new cross' angular sampler, which you can't
really buy anymore so download it I guess.
'Stealer' on rip off your labels, the 2nd angular sampler.
We had a split single on filthy little angels with the
Swear 'Feast on you' and 'come home'.
Our first single proper is called 'mirror mirror'
will be out on April 18 with 'hiero' and 'hard hammer
as b-sides.
We also have a couple of other songs that will no doubt
see the light of day soon. you'll be able to buy our
single in most good record shops.
Setting Sun: Probably my favorite song of yours
(so far anyhow) is the song, which is currently available as
a free download on your website (I do love the EP however) –
“Laxteen”… What’s the story behind this song etc, etc?
Andrew:
as I said before it was recorded in New York
with our friend Scott on drums. it was the first ever
violets song and was written and recorded in a couple
of hours- almost first take I think.
I really like it even now when we have junked most of
our early songs we still play laxteen cause it's so fun.
it has a powerful and beautiful simplicity to it I think.
I remember when I heard it, it gave me Goosebumps.
Setting Sun: I also can see from looking at your
website that you also gig regularly – How did
your gigs compare to your recordings?
Is their one you prefer over the other?
Andrew:
We have played loads of gigs. it just kind of snowballed
after 'the new cross' came out. Personally, I prefer
playing live. I think our live show is rawer and
more emotional. I think, being a punk rock group,
Playing live regularly is the only honest option. it’s
what it’s all about. I find being in the studio a
pressure. The clock is always ticking. as of yet we
have not had the time or the money so I haven't really
been happy with any of our recordings.
Setting Sun: What has been your best / worst
experiences of been in a band?
Been in a band myself I've had some fun to
tell certainly so I could guess you are the same...
Andrew:
My favorite experience was our tour with the
long blondes and some of the shows we did those two
weeks, particularly in Brighton and at the barfly
supporting the rocks.
When I walked off stage at the barfly I was
dripping from head to toe in sweat and this guy
was standing in front of me with his fingers
in his ears and a huge grin on his face. that image
will stay with me for a long time. Our trip to America
was fun. there hasn't really been any bad times- the
odd crap gig, the odd argument..'
Setting Sun: What’s next for you all? Do you
have any more recordings planned
(Perhaps another single or maybe even a album)
/ gigs lined up? I notice from your website that you
have played my area (Stockport I think!), so would you
play Manchester (or surroundering areas) again?
Andrew:
Yeah we have a single. We try not to think about the
future too much.
It’s funny about Stockport, we played an awful gig
there where the promoter didn't really promote it
so it was empty, and three of the people
that did turn up started a fight with us and called
us' southern pounces' or something like that.
We promised ourselves never to return
to Stockport again, but we will definitely
play in Manchester. The violets love the north.
Setting Sun: Anyway, a few slightly more light
heartened questions to start winding down with
... firstly, what would you like to be doing when
you are 60?
Andrew:
I'd like to be retired, stinking rich, really
egotistical like Elton john, demanding my servants
remove all the brown m & m's, that type of shit.
hanging out with Kate Moss's granddaughter at the new
star wars premiere.
Setting Sun: What will you be doing when you are 60?
Andrew:
In fairness, I’ll probably be dead, or in a bedsit
alone on a mattress stinking of piss crying.
I don't have a lot of faith in the future'
Setting Sun: Lastly, to finish off with (Borrowed
from a pal's Zine almost) "Imagine you were
ship wrecked on a desert Island and could
have (clearly have second sight here - lol)
the choice of having 5 records or Cds with
you with a stereo of course - what would be
your desert Island Discs?
Andrew:
'Big star- no1 record/radio city'
'The Cure- singles collection'
'Dinosaur Jr- BBC Sessions'
'20 years of dischord- box set'
'Madonna- the immaculate collection'
