PHENOL – INTERVIEW
Electro poppers Phenol are gaining fans and respect fast. With some high profile shows already under their belt, the studio is now the place where magic is happening ahead of some anticipated recordings. Martin Kendrick grabbed a few words with singer, songwriter, founder and general brains behind the operation Meritxell Lavanchy to find out more…
MK: So where are each of you guys from originally, and how did you all get together?
ML: Phenol isn't a band in the traditional sense. I'd been mucking around with a couple of friends from Southampton and had written a handful of songs and recorded a single; but I wanted to take things further and they didn't fancy gigging... then when Alan McGee offered us a date, I found three guys in London who'd heard the stuff on myspace and wanted to join. But it's kind of transient – in fact our drummer left after the last gig... but that's fine...
MK: Your in the studio at the moment, are you pleased with the results so far?
ML: Very... I've just re-recorded a song that's only been played live twice... but we see it as the next single... we've slowed it down, and given it a really throbbing dance feel... it's sounding amazing
MK: What’s the plan for the songs you’re recording, are they for the debut album?
ML: Yes! Well, we'll see... we're being courted by a couple of record companies, but we're not in a rush... we want to do the songs justice, and release them when they're ready. Maybe a single will pay for an album to be recorded.
MK: Apparently your working with Martin Rushent (Buzzcocks, Stranglers, Human League) – must be pretty exciting! What’s he bringing to your sound and your way of working?
ML: Martin is wonderful, really nurturing and patient. He's teaching me discipline and organization – which I desperately need. Everything I did before was done in my bedroom. I'm a self-taught engineer, and discipline is not my forte. Martin's turning my muddy demos into crisp, pacey, urgent little masterpieces... teasing the sound out of the song and giving it what it needs to get under your skin
MK: When you go into the studio, do you go in with a clear plan and maybe some demos, or do you go in with no real plan and let things happen naturally?
ML: Oh, definitely demos. I have the whole thing worked out. Studio time is precious – I don't see the point of being there unless you have a fully worked up song that you need to perfect.
MK: Your songs have a real 80’s vibe to them – are you big fans of the music of that era?
ML: God yes. I find it funny people keep saying that but I can't be objective enough to see it. It must just be oozing out. I was dazzled by the pop music and glamour of that era: Duran Duran, The Associates, Heaven 17, The Smiths, Siouxsie, Blondie, ABC – the 80s were full of brilliantly crafted songs... And I guess in turn I'm influenced by their predecessors - Bowie, Roxy Music, Velvet Underground.
MK: It seems like the band has quite a sophisticated style and image – is that something that’s important to what your trying to do?
ML: Style and image is intrinsically linked to music. I want to put on a bit of a show; I'm an extrovert and I like people watching me... I don't expect them to want to watch so much if I look like I just stepped out of a student union cafe. To me bands with “no image” actually look like they don't understand...
MK: What would you say is the idea and vision behind the band?
ML: To make magic pop. To get people I don't even know to smile cos there's a Phenol song they can't get out of their head. But also to be a new kind of band... transient membership is cool... our guys want anonimity so we conceived this idea of virtual band members. Sometimes they are there and sometimes they are not.
MK: So what made you name the band after a chemical?
ML:The band needed an identity that wasn't run of the mill – and i wanted to suggest something through a name that maybe had a dark side too. You know, choosing a name is always hard, you always end up thinking everything you've chosen is shit.
MK: There are a lot of new bands around at the moment, like CSS, New Young Pony Club etc, making a similar style of music to you, would you put yourselves in the same kind of bracket as them?
ML:I wouldn't put us in a bracket with anyone else I think that's other people's jobs. I like CSS a lot, they're sassy and have a couple of stand out tracks but I think my songs are more traditionally songlike than theirs. Same goes for New Young Pony Club. Maybe some of the sounds are similar – I use a moog synth a lot!
MK: Looking to the future, where do you see Phenol in 5 years from now?
ML:Infecting fifty per cent of i-Pods across the globe.... hahahahahahahaha
www.myspace.com/phenolmusic
