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1.As both musicians and music fans, what do you like music to do
for you?
“To evoke some emotion. I don't like music that sounds void of
any sense of joy or despair.”
2.Turning old-school for a moment, if you were to make a Mixtape
for me, including one of your own songs, what would you put on there
+ title the compilation?
“The Mixtape would be titled ‘Lover-guts’ and the tracklisting
would be…”
Comet Gain – Why I Try To Look So Bad
Exlovers – Moth-eaten Memories
The Joy Formidable – Austere
Little Death – The World Won't Wait
The Brian Jonestown Massacre – When Jokers Attack
The Lemonheads – Break Me
Built To Spill – Liar
Young Husband – Buttercup
Blur – Beetlebum
Beach House – Gila
3.As a band, what was the first song that you ever played together,
and how long after this was it until you realised that you had something
special / that there was a chemistry between you all?
“Just A Silhouette was the first song we did together, I just started
playing it and everyone joined in, then it was finished. I guess we
knew straight away then that we could work together.”
4.Do you have a romantic idea of what a songwriter is?
“I don't think so – I never thought ‘I want to be a songwriter’,
I just started writing songs and over time, I realised that it was the
thing I loved doing the most.”
5.What are the main themes of your lyrics?
“I go through periods of writing about specific themes depending
on what's happening to me at a particular time. I only ever notice them
on reflection though. Recently, I've realised just how much my environment
influences my writing. Your lifestyle and diet is important as well,
it's difficult to write when you're malnourished and full of chemicals.”
6.I really love all of the harmonies in your music – but from
all of your favourite artists’ songs, are there any harmonies that
you love?
“I'm listening to a lot of Beach House at the moment, their harmonies
are beautiful.”
7.What’s the story behind your name, Exlovers, and can you remember
where you were, and how you felt, when you first heard one of your songs
on the radio?
“It felt for a long time, that I'd never think of a name that we'd
like enough to keep. It's a difficult thing to do, and for a long time,
we didn't have a name. It has a specific meaning to me, but I don't
think I'll ever tell anyone what it is (sorry), I just don't think it's
important for people to know exactly where it came from, it means something
different to everyone and it's quite nice to keep it ambiguous. I haven't
listened to the radio for a long, long time. I used to when I was a
kid, I'd sit there on a Sunday and record the Top 40 on a tape-recorder.
Though when I was told that we were up for ‘Single Of The Week’
on Radio 2, I tuned in and listened to the results. It was a weird/amazing
feeling to hear the opening notes of Just A Silhouette coming in.”
8.Do you have any special memories of places you’ve visited,
bands you’ve met, or standout gigs so far?
“Yeah, lots. Most recently, was a tour in France with Peter, Bjorn
& John – it was the first time we'd toured in another country
and we were all very excited. Our favourite place to play is in London
though, at The Lexington, it feels like home.”
9.Some of Q Magazine’s most prestigious annual Music Awards include:
Classic Album, Classic Songwriter, Innovation In Sound, Legend and Outstanding
Contribution To Music. But if the decision was yours, who would you
hand each of these trophies to?
Classic Album – Loveless: My Bloody Valentine
Classic Songwriter – Elliot Smith
Innovation In Sound – Aphex Twin
Legend – Charles Manson
Outstanding Contribution To Music – John Lennon
10.A number of music critics have argued that Greatest Hits and Best
Of albums will no longer remain important, due to the increasing popularity
of downloading specific songs. Would you agree with this and do you
have any favourite Greatest Hits and Best Of packages?
“I don't have many of those records – I think it's better
to listen to the albums as they were intended to be listened to by the
artists. I think I have a Best Of The Cure album somewhere. Yes, I imagine
they will certainly lose popularity, along with the general decrease
in record sales.”
11.Judging by Exlovers own record sleeves, I would imagine that you’re
all avid record collectors yourselves, and also appreciate their aesthetic
appeal?
“Yeah, I love owning records in physical form. It's a shame that
it has become less important to some people, but for anyone who wishes
to, they can still own their own copy of every record that has been
made.”
12.I think your cover version of Wicked Game from Wild At Heart is absolutely
beautiful, but if you ever had the opportunity to compose music for
a film soundtrack, is this something that you would consider trying
+ do you have any favourite film soundtracks?
“It's something I've wanted to do for a long time and I'd absolutely
love to get the opportunity to do it. The soundtrack to Dead Man always
sticks out in my mind, it's just Neil Young playing a melody on an electric
guitar and it comes in and out all the way through the film, it's perfect.
I love a lot of the soundtracks Danny Elfman composed as well, he writes
a beautiful melody.”
13.On a similar note, do you have any current favourite films, records
or books?
“I'd recommend watching Dead Man by Jim Jarmusch and my favourite
book at the moment is The Great Gatsby.”
14.Can you tell us what we can expect from your debut album, and what
your biggest hopes are for Exlovers long-term?
“I can't tell you much, because we haven't started recording it
yet. I have started writing songs for it though, and we're very excited
about recording them in the not so distant future. I think the album
is the main thing we are looking forward to, we can't look beyond that
yet.”
15.Lastly, chips or cream buns?
“Chips.”
A very special thanks to Peter and to Rob @ Partisan
PR, for all of their time and help.
www.myspace.com/weareexlovers
“You forget so easily”
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usicm
the 3rd album?