You Me at Six - Interview

You Me at Six have exploded onto the music scene in the last year or so and have taken the industry by storm. To look at them they are your average teenage boys but to see them play they are rock stars in the making. At the moment they are always on tour, but with a new album due out You Me at Six are working harder than ever. Josh, lead vocalist took some time out to have a chat with us.
noize: What do you think your biggest achievement has been since being in the band?

Josh: “I would say playing the London Astoria with Angels and Airwaves; it was one of those moments when we thought WOW! All five of us were so happy to play there as it has always been a dream.”

n: You guys have been on tour a lot recently, what do you like to do while on tour?

Josh: “Well we play so many shows; we generally go from venue to venue, hotel to hotel. I would like to be able to play more, as sometimes we can be 23 hours preparing for a show and we only get to play for like an hour or so. Recently we had a day off, we all went to see Linkin Park, and that was pretty awesome. We generally like to go and meet our fans after the show as they have travelled far and wide to see you. I feel it is important for us to show them just how much we appreciate them.”

n: Spending a lot of time together, you must see all the bad habits? Who has the worst?

Josh: “We all have our down falls, but Matt our Bassist, is not a morning person at all. In the morning, he is grumpy. Matt is really excentric and OTT but we love him for it. Like when we are all tired and bored Matt will keep us awake.”

n: You must have some gossip to spill then?

Josh: “Not really, we are just ordinary people.” Laughs.

n: I recently saw you at King Tuts in Glasgow, and you spoke of a little incident that happened with some boxers…Tell me more!

Josh: “Well when we arrived at Glasgow I noticed that I didn’t have enough boxers to last the rest of the tour, well I did, but I didn’t want to use the nice ones! So I got a friend who comes to all our Scottish shows to take me to the High Street and get some from a shop. I have a pair on at the moment and they are not the most comfortable things.”

n: How did you come up with your name then?

Josh: “Well on a Friday night me and a mate would be making arrangements to meet up and I would always say “You, me at six?” We had played a show and someone had asked our name at that point we didn’t have one. So I said You Me at Six and it like kinda stuck, it’s really weird how it happened but after that we where known as You me at Six.”

n: If you had to sum up your new material in five words how would you describe it?

Josh: “Um, five words, that’s really hard considering how long we have spent writing the new album and recording it. Man that’s difficult if I had to pick I would say…exciting and out of the box, that’s five right?”

n: When is the album out Josh?

Josh: “it is due out in October. I am really excited but at the same time anxious. I really want people to like it. We like to read the comments about what fans think about it so far. We know that some of the stuff on it, that’s like older material may not sound the same, but that’s because it has been modified for the better. But we really want people to give it a chance.”

n: The lyrics to some of your tracks are unusual, where do you find inspiration for them?

Josh: “Well like we take our experiences from back home like parties and what people where like from back home. Like “The Gossip” I went to a party and the next band practice I had I was like guys start a drum beat with…” Starts singing the drum beat from the song. “We had never written a song like that before, and I doubt we will again.”

n: You will need to go to more parties then!

Josh: “Aww man yeah, I haven’t been to one in such a long time.”

n: When you where younger what was your ambition to be when you grew up?

Josh: “I don’t think I had one! I didn’t know what I wanted to do until early teens, when I really started to enjoy music, but I never thought I would be selling out venues, having an album released.”

n: Who is your favourite signed/unsigned band at the moment?

Josh: “My favourite signed band is Kids in Glass Houses. They are wicked! I’m loving their album at the moment. We toured with two great bands called Attack Attack! and Tonight Is Goodbye. Both are fantastic, I really like Attack! Attack! Though, I honestly believe they are one of the most underrated U.K bands around at the moment.”

n: Do you have a favourite sweet of all time?

Josh: “I love drumsticks! I really do like them…we got one of those variety packs on the bus once and I completely flipped out when I saw the drumsticks!”

n: Well Josh it has been great talking to you, I wish you and the band all the success in the world. Any final words to your fans?

Josh: “I want to say a big thank you to all those who came out to see us on tour and sticking buy us, we hope to see you all soon!”

Well fans now you know if you ever have the chance to meet You me at six in the future, make sure you have some drumsticks with you and some half-decent boxers, it will get you in the good books with the guys!

Interview by Emma Jackson

www.myspace.com/youmeatsix



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Bowling For Soup - Interview

noize caught up with one forth of pop-punk jokers Bowling For Soup, bassist Erik Chandler pre Bristol gig for a chin-wag about High School, late night shenanigans on tour, pissed off celebrities, and the real secret to success.
noize: It's my birthday today

Erik: Ohh wow happy birthday

noize: Yeah I feel well old though.. 19 is the new 30 ( laughs)

Erik: Really (laughs), Just wait till you hit 30 it's a ... special time!

noize: (laughs) not looking forward to that either

noize: Moving swiftly on, How does it feel to be back in the UK?

Erik: Always always a wonderful time the fans over here are a special bread of music fans

noize: ahh you charmer

Erik: It's always really really nice to get back over here but I have to say that we do miss home quite allot,

noize: Must be tough though being on the road?

Erik: It is, but you know it's give and take and we always have a blast anyways.

noize: Best tour date from Bristol?, (obviously apart from Bristol that's going to be tonight)

Erik: Ohhhhhhh actually that's kinda tough, all shows have been really really good I can't say that one stands out, though I would say our show in London as far as entertaining ourselves on stage was probably the best one, for us but, I can't say that any of them have been bad so.. yeah

noize: You guys in Bowling Four Soup are pretty laid back chaps, you don't seem to take yourselves too seriously

Erik: (laughs) We try not to

noize: So all you videos all seem to have a comedic tone to them, but how were you school days by the way because I've noticed that High School is a very re-occurring theme?

Erik: Mine personally were not so great, I was a bit picked on in school, but you know, high school is torture.. basically

noize: We'll your having the last laugh now

Erik: (laughs) Yeah I mean I went to school in a very very small town, and I was one of the few people in the school that was a musician and that's all I cared to be and waned to be and that didn't go over too well when your in a group of people that are growing up to be farmers and ranchers.

noize: (laughs) well your in Somerset now...

Erik:( laughs) Yeah

noize: We don't have Prom over here but in the video 'High school Never Ends' did you have fun making it?

Erik: Ohh it was a blast! That video's actually one of the best times we ever had making a video absolutely.

noize: 'Girl all the bad guys want' is still one of the main standout tracks did you guys think it would be such a hit?

Erik: That one ummm..( Pauses for a min) can I say yes?

noize: Absolutely there's no wrong or right answer...

Erik: The first time that I heard that It was like yeah ok this is kinda the.. at that point the essential Bowling For Soup sound

noize: Yeah It's a classic

Erik: I still love to hear that song

noize: Going to be playing it tonight?

Erik: We actually never use a set list

noize: Do you not?

Erik: Yeah we never use a setlist.. but I can pretty much say yes.

noize: Wicked, because last time you were in Bristol on the 'Get Happy Tour' you did crazy stuff on stage like swapping guitars with random people, any crazy stuff planned for tonight?

Erik: That was a funny time especially one we did, It was on Ohio, we stopped in the middle we had Army Of Freshman come out and switched instruments with them and then finished the song, we haven't got anything like that for tonight but a laid back, straightforward, rock show!

noize: What bands are you guys listening to at the moment on the road?

Erik: Ummm lots of Elvis Costello, The Replacements, though you may be a little young to really know them

noize: Nahh I know them, any new bands that you think could be potentially great?
Or actually who could be the next Bowling for soup?


Erik: (laughs out loud!) We'll shit I couldn't say, I don't think there's a next Bowling For Soup

noize: And we wouldn't want it any other way

Erik: But as far as new bands, big fan of the Fratellis , I love those guys, there a bit younger than us but you can kinda tell maybe, and I hate to say this being recorded but I think I can tell that maybe as they were growing up that their parents offered them some really great music to listen to and so the style they have is absolutely amazing, maybe they found the music on their own, but yeah I really really like their music.

noize: What's been the best tour story to date?

Erik: The very very first 'Get Happy Tour', we were on, American Hi-Fi were on the road with us... Who have a new album coming out very soon!

noize: ( laughs) Ahh crafty quick album plug there.

Erik: That we had nothing to do with but I'm looking very forward to hearing it, I've heard a couple of tracks it's great!
But yeah in the States and one night.. well they always went to bed earlier than we did and so one night we ran up onto their bus nice and loaded at the end of the night and just woke everyone up, jumping on their bunks, so they laid low for a few days and then three maybe four days later after we were all asleep, passed out and this was like 4 clock 5 clock in the morning, they unloaded their trailer and managed to get all of their gear into the front of our bus, as well as setting up a merchandise booth selling t-shirts! they even went as far as set lists, and played a set in our bus!

noize: ( laughs) Ahh that's Awesome!

Erik: With the singer not having a PA but he walked up and down the hallway where we all slept just singing the lyrics, so I woke up to 'Radio, Radio'- Elvis Costello

noize: No shaving the eyebrows off and whipped cream incidents then?

Erik: ( laughs) Well we do do that as well but that's kinda been done a lot and I just couldn't believe that they set up a gig in our tour bus

noize: That's Effort! You must like sleep really heavily to not hear like a whole band (laughs)

Erik: There were lots of doors, and we weren't really sleeping to be honest more passed out, and I can't remember who it was at this point but they had someone hop on the bus and make sure we were all nice and out before they set up.

noize: Your doing loads of festivals in the UK at the moment, are you excited about all of this?

Erik: We really are, because these festivals that were doing now it's the first time we've ever done these particular festivals and the ones we've done before have been more towards the Rock side, and I guess these are more the pop type,

noize: Yeah you've got T in the Park coming up haven't you and did Wireless on the 6th July?

Erik: It was amazing, and when we first got the offer for the first festival our people that handle us over here, were like 'ohh no you don't wanna do that it's a Pop festival' but its like why wouldn't we

noize: Definitely, it's getting you music heard by a more diverse crowd.

Erik: Yeah go give it a try and after we accepted that one the other ones popped up

noize: Yeah a wider audience

Erik: Absolutely, it's great because were getting to play in front of people who we may have never played in front of before and its going to be better for us, all the shows we've played so far have been really really nice.

noize: That's good to hear, with your army of fans and lasting career, what's the Bowling for soup, secret to success?

Erik: Being ourselves, we have the Bowling For Soup formula and we stay with that and a big part of that is to not take yourself too seriously and play songs that we would like to hear if we weren't the ones writing and just having a good time doing what you do, I think is the biggest secret. There's so many people around that are these 'torture' artists.

noize: You guys take the piss out of loads of celebrities in your videos have any of them ever gotten angry?

Erik: Only Fred Durst

noize: Really?

Erik: Yeah he's the only one we heard a little bit back from

noize: Ohh what did he say?

Erik: Only that he wasn't happy that we had Slipknot kill him, but it's like we didn't actually kill him

noize: Geeze it's only a video he shouldn't take it so seriously

Erik: Yeah totally

noize: One of you Live DVD's has just come out a few days ago, 'Bowling For Soup: Live and Attractive', it's a wicked name but.. I haven't actually seen it yet so sell it to me in a few words?

Erik: You know what as a member of a band having played all the shows we've ever played I've never really got to see our band play and for me it was a real treat to watch that for the very first time,
because it's like you know what I would actually go watch that, I would actually pay money to go see that show. so it was really really cool, because were having fun on stage but you don't know how well that translates out front, we hope that it translates good out front but to be able to see that for the very first time was awesome.

noize: So in four words how amazing is it?

Really Very Fucking Amazing!

noize:(laughs) What's next for Bowling For Soup then?

Erik: Were working on a new album right now just started the song writing process, we've just had to sit down today and all four of us and going to get together maybe next week and start getting into it, we've just built a new rehearsal space at home and so we're going to be getting in there and get it all worked out, and we've booked the studio time for November, so hopefully recording November we'll be releasing in March

noize: Any more tours in the pipeline?

Erik: Not right now, the biggest concern is doing the album and then we'll get back on the road next year after we get this writing/ recording process sorted out.

noize: Well were looking forward to hearing it hopefully catch you on the road then, Thanks for your time and have a good show!

Erik: Pleasure, nice meeting you.

Interview by Jo Bristowe

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White Lies, Magistrates, Fields, Metronomy + more Talk about their plans for Latitude (news + interviews)

16/7/08 We have put a few questions to some of the artists, comedians and poets appearing at Latitude 2008 about what they have planned for this year’s festival. For the final instalment it's the much tipped White Lies, math dancing Metronomy, lusious indie types Fields, the one and only cock n bull kid , the soon to be huge Luke Leighfield and many, many more Here’s what they had to say:
Dirty Tim – Theatre Arena

1.) Who are you most looking forward to seeing at this year’s Latitude festival across the Arenas (Obelisk, Uncut, Comedy, Theatre, Literary and Poetry, Film & Music) and why?
I'll have a play on with my theatre company Dirty Protest, so I'll catch as much theatre as I can. I can't wait to see what Drywrite do with the guilty project, and The Factory boys are bringing their awesome Hamlet which is different every time. Joel Horwood's the next Dennis Kelly in my book, so I'll watch his Nabokov piece with pen and paper in hand. Theatre aside, I've got to see Carol Ann Duffy, Hanif Kureshi because I love their work. I've seen Kureshi before and he's a curious guy. Comedy I really want to see Tim Minchin and Hans Teuween because I keep missing them. Music-wise I have to see I am Kloot and the Breeders. I can't believe I'll share air with the Deal sisters.
Saying all that though I'll probably miss all of those and spend the entire weekend in the woods with my shirt off making friends and losing property. And I'll still think it's value for money.

2.) What aspect of Latitude Festival interests you the most and why?
I love the fact that the festival has the widest range of arenas other than Glastonbury, but the arenas are still intimate spaces. I've been every year since the start and can remember some performances as if they were yesterday because of intimate venues.

3.) What can people expect you to bring to the festival and do you have anything special planned?
We're writing a site-specific play for The Woods arena. I've written act one, and I've opened it up to the public and writing community in Wales to finish the play for me. So I don't know what's going to happen in the end but I can tell you the first act is going to change the landscape of British theatre. Or if it doesn't, it might just make you stop walking towards the Sunrise arena, sit down and listen to a story rather than a song.

4.) If you weren't doing this what would you be doing?
The only thing that would stop me coming to Latitude would be incarceration or three ex girlfriends buying tickets to go. And being as I've killed all three of them and put their heads in a draw-string and buried them in the garden, I'm pretty sure I'll be free to come.

5.) What is your favourite colour Sheep?
Puce.



Luke Leighfield – The Lake Stage

1.) Who are you most looking forward to seeing at this year’s Latitude festival across the Arenas (Obelisk, Uncut, Comedy, Theatre, Literary and Poetry, Film & Music) and why?
I’m probably looking forward to Sigur Ros because they’re one of my favourite bands but I’ve never been able to see them live before. Apart from that I’m excited about seeing my good friend Sam Isaac on a big stage!

2.) What aspect of Latitude Festival interests you the most and why?
I’ve been told it’s the most picturesque, friendly festival around so we’ll see if it lives up to that! I’ve been too busy to go to festivals over the past few years so it’s nice to be able to come to Latitude.
3.) What can people expect you to bring to the festival and do you have anything special planned?
I will mostly be bringing my piano and my band, and maybe a tent. Probably some sweets and Top Trumps too. I’m quite friendly. I hope that’s enough.

4.) If you weren’t doing this what would you be doing?
I would probably be hanging out with my parents, watching Casualty on the Saturday night and maybe heading to church on Sunday.

5.) What is your favourite colour sheep?
I’m gonna keep it real and say white.



Liz - The School – The Lake Stage

1.) Who are you most looking forward to seeing at this year’s Latitude festival across the Arenas (Obelisk, Uncut, Comedy, Theatre, Literary and Poetry, Film & Music) and why?
Loads! and we hope they don't all clash. There are some great main stage acts that we've never seen before like Breeders and Grinderman, and also some smaller bands that we know or have played with that would be great seeing at a festival like our old drummer The Voluntary Butler Scheme, Bearsuit, KateGoes, Their Hearts Were Full of Spring and Wave Pictures. We're also listening to Wild Beasts, Lykkle Li and Johnny Foreigner at the moment, and obviously we can't wait to see Bill Bailey!

2.) What aspect of Latitude Festival interests you the most and why?
There's just such a good standard of music, but also the mixture of high quality comedy and theatre compared to any other festival, in beautiful surroundings so it sounds like our ideal festival.

3.) What can people expect you to bring to the festival and do you have anything special planned?
We're going to be the best hangover cure they've ever had!

4.) If you weren't doing this what would you be doing?
Wondering why no one booked us for a festival this year and crying to ourselves contemplating our future as a band. So thank you!

5.) What is your favourite colour Sheep?
Electric.



Hugo Manuel from Jonquil - The Lake Stage

1.) Who are you most looking forward to seeing at this year’s Latitude festival across the Arenas (Obelisk, Uncut, Comedy, Theatre, Literary and Poetry, Film & Music) and why?
Death Cab For Cutie, Foals and Joanna Newsom. We listen to those bands in the tour bus all the time. So it would be pretty emotional to say the least.

2.) What aspect of Latitude Festival interests you the most and why?
We’ve played Latitude every year it’s existed so I like the familiarity of it! The Woods are definitely the best part of the festival though. I think they make every band sound like a special occasion.

3.) What can people expect you to bring to the festival and do you have anything special planned?
Last year we played an extra set in the woods after all the bands had finished. We just had a snare drum, some acoustic guitars, trumpets and accordion and made a complete racket for an hour or so. We had a pretty big crowd surrounding us... I guess they just wanted to watch something more, it didn’t matter what it was! So maybe well be doing that again on Friday night.

4.) If you weren't doing this what would you be doing?
Working in a job that I didn’t like... and going to lots gigs and feeling jealous!

5.) What is your favourite colour Sheep?
Cow-coloured



Jack Lawrence-Brown from White Lies - Obelisk Arena

1.) Who are you most looking forward to seeing at this year’s Latitude festival across the Arenas (Obelisk, Uncut, Comedy, Theatre, Literary and Poetry, Film & Music) and why?
I think we are all looking forward to seeing Interpol play. It's great that they're headlining on the last night, that's the perfect time for an Interpol set. We're also looking forward to Mars Volta, and Metronomy will be good.

2.) What aspect of Latitude Festival interests you the most and why?
The site that Latitude is located is supposed to be amazing, so I'm definitely looking forward to a festival that doesn't feel and look like a bombsite. Any festival next to a lake in a forest is going to be pretty special.

3.) What can people expect you to bring to the festival and do you have anything special planned?
It’s going to be one of our first ever shows at a festival and it’s going to be amazing for us to be opening a main stage. People can expect a glimpse of what our album will be like. Something dark and epic. We've have been told our sound will suit a big stage so hopefully we'll be finding how big we can go.

4.) If you weren't doing this what would you be doing?
I think we'd all still be doing something musical. Maybe I would be focusing more time on my label Chess Club, but to be honest, I can't really imagine us not all playing music together.

5.) What is your favourite colour Sheep?
White Lies. Black Sheep.



Lisa from Bearsuit - The Lake Stage

1.) Who are you most looking forward to seeing at this year’s Latitude festival across the Arenas (Obelisk, Uncut, Comedy, Theatre, Literary and Poetry, Film & Music) and why?
I think we're most looking forward to seeing bands like the Breeders, Go Team , Black Kids, Johnny Foreigner, Clinic, Crystal Castles and Joanna Newsom. The whole festival has a really good line up of established acts but we're also looking forward to watching all the up-and-coming gems on Huw Stephens' Lake Stage. It's often the ones you've never heard and stumble upon accidentally that really blow you away.

2.) What aspect of Latitude Festival interests you the most and why?
I like the fact that it's not just about music - that there's comedy, theatre, poetry, cabaret, art and all sorts of other stuff going on too. It's a very eclectic festival. I also like the fact that it's quite intimate and not too big.

3.) What can people expect you to bring to the festival and do you have anything special planned?
We always try to put on a good stage show. Not only do we play an array of instruments - flute, cornet, keytar, keyboards, samples, violin, accordion, theremin, as well as drums guitar and bass - but we also have some special new outfits planned. I don't want to give too much away but they're pretty spectacular and shouldn't be missed! If we can be lowered onto the stage on wires and harnesses we will be.

4.) If you weren't doing this what would you be doing?
To be honest we'd probably come for the weekend even if we weren't playing. Being from Norwich it's right on our doorstep.

5.) What is your favourite colour Sheep?
Neon blue



This City - The Lake Stage

1.) Who are you most looking forward to seeing at this year’s Latitude festival across the Arenas (Obelisk, Uncut, Comedy, Theatre, Literary and Poetry, Film & Music) and why?
There’s quite a few good bands playing this year. I’d love to see Sigur Ros again, having never seen them at a festival I think this could be a whole new experience. But there’s also Crystal Castles, Foals, Seasick Steve, Murder By Death, Interpol, and a few others in there I’ll check out. I doubt I’ll go near the Theatre, Literary and Poetry stages. But if I get the chance I’d definitely check out Bill Bailey and Rich Hall. Michael Nyman might be quite good, I like some of his stuff. That said it is a festival so I’ll probably miss them all!

2.) What aspect of Latitude Festival interests you the most and why?
It seems like there’s a lot do there. There’s so many different kinds of stages and things going on, so I’m quite looking forward to seeing how that will all work. I’m just really llooking forward to taking it easy and actually watching some bands.

3.) What can people expect you to bring to the festival and do you have anything special planned?
We all love running about and getting involved in our live show. We always try to play with a lot of energy and get the crowd going. The more the crowd get going, the more we will! As far as anything special planned, we may have some new material and the short shorts might make an appearance at some point, but I guess you’ll just have to come check us out!

4.) If you weren't doing this what would you be doing?
If we weren't playing Latitude this year we would probably be hanging out with our friends in Brighton, drinking beer and causing trouble! We’re also working on the album at the moment so we should be in the studio soon getting some demos etc recorded.

5.) What is your favourite colour Sheep?
Black with chrome!



Anita Blay aka the cock n bull kid - The Lake Stage

1.) Who are you most looking forward to seeing at this year's Latitude festival across the Arenas (Obelisk, Uncut, Comedy, Theatre, Literary and Poetry, Film & Music) and why?
Music wise Interpol, Blondie, Black Kids and Lykke Li. I also really wanna see Stewart Lee as I think he's one of Britain’s best stand ups. I'm looking forward to having a look at the literary tent as I don’t usually equate the traditional 'festival' with being civilised and feeding the brain so I might try that for a change.

2.) What aspect of Latitude Festival interests you the most and why?
The comedy arena. You can't beat some good stand up. I'll be watching out for Bill Bailey, Phill Jupitus and Stewart Lee.

3.) What can people expect you to bring to the festival and do you have anything special planned?
Love.

4.) If you weren't doing this what would you be doing?
I should be packing my suitcase as I'm off to Barcelona tomorrow but I've got this awful feeling I've lost my passport so I'm procrastinating.

5.) What is your favourite colour Sheep?
Is that a trick question?



Derwyddon Dr Gonzo - The Lake Stage

1.) Who are you most looking forward to seeing at this year’s Latitude festival across the Arenas (Obelisk, Uncut, Comedy, Theatre, Literary and Poetry, Film & Music) and why?
Blondie, she's a pin-up at the Derwyddon camp. She's just scrumptious isn't she?

2.) What aspect of Latitude Festival interests you the most and why?
The incredible variety of acts, and the amazing location

3.) What can people expect you to bring to the festival and do you have anything special planned? As always, good times, tidy dancing, erotic costumes, and of course a good o'l dose of brassy gypsy-punk-hip-hop-funk.

4.) If you weren't doing this what would you be doing?
Sitting naked in a cold, damp room, crying and wishing we were at Latitude!

5.) What is your favourite colour Sheep?
Asparagus green



Rod Thomas - The Lake Stage

1.) Who are you most looking forward to seeing at this year's Latitude festival across the Arenas (Obelisk, Uncut, Comedy, Theatre, Literary and Poetry, Film & Music) and why?
I can only make it for Sunday this year as I'm playing another festival the day before but I'm SO pleased Joanna Newsom is playing on Sunday, that will be amazing! If I could catch Bill Bailey, The Breeders and some exciting new stuff in the Literary arena I'll be very happy.
2.) What aspect of Latitude Festival interests you the most and why?
I'm really looking forward to the location and the massive variety of work you can see. I rarely get chance to see new theatre or comedy with what I do so I'm really excited about that.
3.) What can people expect you to bring to the festival and do you have anything special planned?
A lot of fun! I've got some more interactive elements planned which go down well in gigs and a sock puppet competition which is up on my blog to tie in with the new video.

4.) If you weren't doing this what would you be doing?
Running my own label and helping other artists make music.

5.) What is your favourite colour Sheep?
I get asked about sheep a lot as I'm Welsh. I'd like to think I don't discriminate, I'm a very accepting person.



James Yuill - The Lake Stage

1.) Who are you most looking forward to seeing at this year's Latitude festival across the Arenas (Obelisk, Uncut, Comedy, Theatre, Literary and Poetry, Film & Music) and why?
Death Cab For Cutie...but I have a feeling my set may clash with theirs so...Sigur ros

2.) What aspect of Latitude Festival interests you the most and why?
The size, the location and the artists

3.) What can people expect you to bring to the festival and do you have anything special planned?
I can be expected to bring a tent to the festival and I may also bring some mini baby bells too. I believe that's answered both

4.) If you weren't doing this what would you be doing?
Playing music in my bedroom, roped in bin liners and pretending I was onstage.... just a normal weekend really.

5.) What is your favourite colour Sheep?
Are we talking the West African mountain sheep or the indigenous jumper sheep of Wales?... actually...they're both blue so it doesn't really matter.



a.P.A.t.T. - The Lake Stage

1.) Who are you most looking forward to seeing at this year's Latitude festival across the Arenas (Obelisk, Uncut, Comedy, Theatre, Literary and Poetry, Film & Music) and why?
OOO a.P.A.t.T. are big fans of Joanna Newsom, Deus used to be amazing and they have been away for few years so it will be good to see what their up to.

2.) What aspect of Latitude Festival interests you the most and why?
Latitude seems to be in the woods, is this right??? We really like playing outside in the sun so it looks well mad playing in there and in the woods! can't wait!!!

3.) What can people expect you to bring to the festival and do you have anything special planned?
Every show we play is special, this show will flow with awesomeness.
Expect many surprises as usual. If people want to see something different this year watch a.P.A.t.T.

4.) If you weren't doing this what would you be doing?
Making very private, odd, beautiful, interesting music, without anyone knowing!

5.) What is your favourite colour Sheep?
Ooo if there was a Blue one that would be swell.



Arnab Chanda - Comedy Arena

1.) Who are you most looking forward to seeing at this year's Latitude festival across the Arenas (Obelisk, Uncut, Comedy, Theatre, Literary and Poetry, Film & Music) and why?
Most excited about Blondie I think. Life is sad sometimes because everyone dies eventually, except me, I’ll probably live because I pray a lot, but sadly Blondie will die too so I want to see them before that happens because they're such an amazing legendary band. And Rich Hall as well. When you watch him you realize he's in a super league of comedians along with people like George Carlin and Chris Rock. It’s a privilege to watch.

2.) What aspect of Latitude Festival interests you the most and why?
So many great acts in tents which are in cool little nooks and crannies. People seem to be smiling and are friendly, which is rare in England.

3.) What can people expect you to bring to the festival and do you have anything special planned?
People can expect me to bring my legs and head and face. Anything beyond that is a bonus. I may have jokes, which may or may not work. Who knows?

4.) If you weren't doing this what would you be doing?
I’d be superman.

5.) What is your favourite colour Sheep?
I like sheep that play paintball. You know which sheep play paintball because they have either a red or blue spot on them. Sheep that don't play paintball are boring and lame and don't deserve to be eaten, but I don't like them, that’s the point.



Nic Dawson Kelly- Sunrise Arena

1.) Who are you most looking forward to seeing at this year’s Latitude festival across the Arenas (Obelisk, Uncut, Comedy, Theatre, Literary and Poetry, Film & Music) and why?
I'd have to say Johnny Flynn and Joanna Newsom from the musical acts. I've been lucky enough to catch Johnny a few times this year and he never fails to disappoint. Joanna, I've never seen but am holding my heels with excitement for...alongside this I enjoy some of the poets you've got this year. Simon Armitage last collection was heartbreakingly brilliant and what Adrian Mitchell has written I enjoy.

2.) What aspect of Latitude Festival interests you the most and why?
It doesn't separate genres. Good music has its elements of poetry and comedy, and likewise...comedy and poetry has its rhythm. I think with Latitude you tend to get that whole package.

3.) What can people expect you to bring to the festival and do you have anything special planned?
The Colombian dancing girls and Thai Circus won't be with me for the summer...so I guess I'll just have to rely on singing, which may be a shame for the audience. Hopefully I can win em round though...if not, if not I’ll have to fall back on my crotch less leopard print slacks.

4.) If you weren't doing this what would you be doing?
Selling second hand Ascot headwear for next year’s lah-de-dah.

5.) What is your favourite colour Sheep
I've never gotten over the purple and yellow one's in Amsterdam. I suppose you shouldn't feed livestock marshmallows.



Magistrates - Uncut Arena

1.Who are you most looking forward to seeing at this year’s Latitude festival across the Arenas (Obelisk, Uncut, Comedy, Theatre, Literary and Poetry, Film & Music) and why?
There are so many people playing. I think I will actually head over to the comedy tent as its not often you can play and then watch comedy.

2.) What aspect of Latitude Festival interests you the most and why?
That there is so much going on. It seems different to most festivals. Music, poetry, film, a nice mixture for everyone.

3.) What can people expect you to bring to the festival and do you have anything special planned?
That’s a tough question to answer, we will bring the sun and good music that will make you feel great for the rest of the weekend. Nothing special planned just of yet we tend to think of these things the day before that way its extra special.

4.) If you weren't doing this what would you be doing?
Continue recording our album most possibly.

5.) What is your favourite colour Sheep
I speak for myself, no idea what the other guys favourite sheep is. in my mind I like the idea of a black sheep with white stripes. In fact that’s what we have planned, we are going to bring on stage a sheep with white stripes, not Jack and Meg, however that could be interesting!!!



Tallulah Rendall - Sunrise Arena

1.) Who are you most looking forward to seeing at this year's Latitude festival across the Arenas (Obelisk, Uncut, Comedy, Theatre, Literary and Poetry, Film & Music) and why?
The Mars Volta - their records are brilliant and I have never seen them play.

2.) What aspect of Latitude Festival interests you the most and why?
Exploring it all... giggling to Bill Bailey, listening to Nick Torday, wiggling my ass with the Laundretta chicks and finding a boat.

3.) What can people expect you to bring to the festival and do you have anything special planned? Butterflies... Yes

4.) If you weren't doing this what would you be doing?
Buying a ticket, taking a guitar and Jo´s cello and playing in the wood... and the railway station... and anywhere else that would have me/us.

5.) What is your favourite colour Sheep?
A white one.



Godwits - Sunrise Arena

1.) Who are you most looking forward to seeing at this year’s Latitude festival across the Arenas (Obelisk, Uncut, Comedy, Theatre, Literary and Poetry, Film & Music) and why?
Pretty much everything I think. I'm hooked on the Howling Bells record right now, also Lykke Li, BSP, Joanna Newsom, Death Cab, Guillemots, Sigur Ros... We'll probably just wander round being happily bewildered at all the good stuff going on. Plus I studied Carol Anne Duffy at school and she's smashing. Maybe catch her ripping up the stage with a rendition of her onion poem.

2.) What aspect of Latitude Festival interests you the most and why?
I think the diversity of what's going on is astounding. Broadening the line-up to encompass other performing arts is a really great idea, people can give their eardrums a rest and check out Bill Bailey, Simon Armitage, or theatre and cabaret... In that sense it might also alert a lot of people to a wealth of good literature and performance that they'd not have come across otherwise.

3.) What can people expect you to bring to the festival and do you have anything special planned?
We're playing quite early so we hope people will be out of bed. Think it's first thing on Friday or something. I think people can expect small-town, middle England folk songs that spent their formative years in the reign of British Indie. A sorta synthesis of those two perhaps? It's jangly noise with violins and mandolins and brass and things.

4.) If you weren't doing this what would you be doing?
This interview? Um, I'd probably be preparing and eating breakfast. Which is what I'll be doing shortly after I finish doing this. Cereal, most likely. And toast.

5.What is your favourite colour Sheep?
There's this sorta parable about empirical science that runs along these lines: three people are on a train from London to Glasgow, and as they cross the border the first thing they see on the Scottish side is a sheep, facing the window of the train. The first says: "All sheep in Scotland must be black." The second says: "We can only really say that one sheep in Scotland is black." And the third says "Actually, all we can say for certain is that the front half of one sheep in Scotland is black."
So my favourite colour sheep is front half black, back half orange, confounding train travellers everywhere.


Grammatics - Dominic Ord - Sunrise Arena

1.) Who are you most looking forward to seeing at this year’s Latitude festival across the Arenas (Obelisk, Uncut, Comedy, Theatre, Literary and Poetry, Film & Music) and why?
Howling Bells, Grinderman, Interpol and maybe a few others in the music arenas. Stewart Lee on the comedy stage for being the best thing since Bill Hicks. Maybe better! Irvine Welsh and John Niven in the Literary Arena for an insight into their wonderfully warped minds.

2.) What aspect of Latitude Festival interests you the most and why?
The huge variety of acts and artists appearing - it'll be a rare chance to do something other than trying to watch a band when you've just woken up feeling like the apocalypse.

3.) What can people expect you to bring to the festival and do you have anything special planned? Besides tents and sleeping bags, weird pop music and a keen eye for hecklers. Anything special planned? I think we’re the opening band of the weekend on the Obelisk Arena so I suppose we’ll have to think of an appropriate welcome for the revelers. We’ll get our thinking caps on.

4.) If you weren't doing this what would you be doing?
Recording our debut album with our long time friend and producer James Kenosha in a barn on the Yorkshire coast.

5).What is your favourite colour Sheep?
Ginger.



Nick from Fields. - Uncut Arena

1.) Who are you most looking forward to seeing at this year’s Latitude festival across the Arenas (Obelisk, Uncut, Comedy, Theatre, Literary and Poetry, Film & Music) and why?
We will be looking forward to seeing Sigur Ros as it will remind Thorunn of home. One of the best things is just to wander about and discover things as they happen. It is nice not to have a plan sometimes. I expect to be enjoying some spoken word in a cidery haze. Is ‘cidery’ even a word? It is now.

2.) What aspect of Latitude Festival interests you the most and why?
The coloured sheep. Do they get a choice in what colour they will be?

3.) What can people expect you to bring to the festival and do you have anything special planned?
We shall probably bring a tent so we can stay the entire weekend. As for our performance we shall be bringing an entirely new set of material and a Somerfield bag full of cider. Expect some form of psyched up cider-fuelled carnage.

4.) If you weren't doing this what would you be doing?
Probably attempting to recreate Latitude on the roof of my east London flat with elaborately spray painted pigeons, some acoustic guitars, ‘the ha ha bonk’ joke book and a Somerfield bag full of cider.

5.) What is your favourite colour Sheep?
It is tempting to say black as I can relate to that but really I would rather see a gold sheep. Can you do one with stripes? Pink/gold/black. That would be good. What colour does the sheep want to be???



Joe Dunthorne - Poetry Arena

1.) Who are you most looking forward to seeing at this year’s Latitude festival across the Arenas (Obelisk, Uncut, Comedy, Theatre, Literary and Poetry, Film & Music) and why?
Crystal Castles in the music arena. I'm looking forward to just hanging out at the Theatre tent. And in Literature and Poetry there's lots: Irvine Welsh, Simon Armitage, the Aisle 16 boys, Rachel Pantechnicon, Tim Turnbull, John Osbourne.

2.) What aspect of Latitude Festival interests you the most and why?
The arts stages. There's no other festival with its breadth of arts stuff going on.

3.) What can people expect you to bring to the festival and do you have anything special planned?
I'll be bringing the noise, the pain, the wickedness - anything I can lay my hands on.

4.) If you weren't doing this what would you be doing?
Making creepy noises outside people's tents as they sleep. Yeah, that was me.

5.) What is your favourite colour Sheep?
I'm Welsh and we keep it traditional: white.



Metronomy - Sunrise Arena

1.) Who are you most looking forward to seeing at this year’s Latitude festival across the Arenas (Obelisk, Uncut, Comedy, Theatre, Literary and Poetry, Film & Music) and why?
British Sea Power, Sadler’s Wells dancers, Franz Ferdinand, The Breeders, Julian Cope, Grinderman, Interpol...plus many more.

2.) What aspect of Latitude Festival interests you the most and why?
Last year I really enjoyed sitting in on the BBC 4 recordings. It's also nice to see that the headliners are a bit more diverse than at most festivals.
The boat that takes one across the lake is also a highlight, because it is exciting.

3.) What can people expect you to bring to the festival and do you have anything special planned?
Well, last year we played in the daytime. This year we are headlining a stage, so I think people can expect us to bring their evening to a nice end. We'll try and do a party set and perhaps trick Sadler’s Wells into dancing for us.

4.) If you weren't doing this what would you be doing?
If I wasn't in a band I would be a driving instructor.

5.) What is your favourite colour Sheep?
Off white.



The Joy Formidable - Sunrise Arena

1.) Who are you most looking forward to seeing at this year’s Latitude festival across the Arenas (Obelisk, Uncut, Comedy, Theatre, Literary and Poetry, Film & Music) and why?
Hello Latitude Festival.
Tough question, I'm going to be doing a lot of running in between stages I think. I am looking forward to Grinderman. Brilliant album, very curious to see the live show.

2.) What aspect of Latitude Festival interests you the most and why?
The musical aspect is definitely of huge interest, being my main passion and obsession. Such a treat to see so many different artists. Saying that, I have a love affair with poetry, theatre and comedy too ...so again, a lot of flitting to be done.

3.) What can people expect you to bring to the festival and do you have anything special planned?
We're an exciting live band who have a lot of fun. We might throw a few surprises into the mix, but no pyrotechnics planned for this one.

4.) If you weren't doing this what would you be doing?
This interview? I should be recording, we're at our house/studio. I'm waiting for Rhyds to finish his bass parts and then I'll adorn with guitars.

5.) What is your favourite colour Sheep?
Are there sheep at Latitude? I love all things flossy, so I couldn't possibly choose.



Rosie and the Goldbug - Lake Stage

1.) Who are you most looking forward to seeing at this year’s Latitude festival across the Arenas (Obelisk, Uncut, Comedy, Theatre, Literary and Poetry, Film & Music) and why?
Mars Volta because they are the most original band and crazy people I have ever seen, Bill Bailey easily the funniest man alive, Sigur Ros for the heart melting moments of pure genius, Grinderman because Nick Cave is the darkest man alive, Blondie no need to explain why, it’s Blondie!, Interpol his voice is awesome, Dave Gorman makes me laugh…

2.) What aspect of Latitude Festival interests you the most and why?
The aspect that I like most about Latitude is that they choose artists that actually live for their music and mean something rather than bands that just happen to have a top 10 album at the time.

3.) What can people expect you to bring to the festival and do you have anything special planned?
We hope to bring the Cornish weather and some raw sounds that just might make you want to lose control of your bodily functions.

4.) If you weren't doing this what would you be doing?
Watching the bands at Latitude with a smelly friend. There really is nothing else we want to do but play music.

5.) What is your favourite colour Sheep?
I like the idea of a best of both worlds sheep which changes colour with your mood.
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The Rizla Arena is all set to turn up the heat at The Big Chill + we talk to Kid Acne (news / interview)

14/7/08 Having stormed Rockness festival in June, the Rizla Arena is heading to The Big Chill festival (Eastnor Castle Deer Park, Herefordshire, on 1st-3rd August) with a line-up that promises to put on a mammoth three-day party.
This year’s collective of party hosts; the Rizla Invisible Players, feature; Greg Wilson (Wigan Pier, Legends, Hacienda), Annie Nightingale (Radio One, Breakspoll), Justin Robertson (Lionrock, Spice, Most Excellent) and Kid Acne (Lex, Invisible Spies).
The bill features an exclusive UK Festival set from the legendary Chicago house legend Derrick Carter, who headlines the Rizla Arena on Saturday night and promises to be one of the highlights of the festival.

Other highlights include Richard Norris (Beyond the Wizard Sleeve), Horse Meat Disco, a Stuart Patterson Deviant set and the mighty Disco Bloodbath.

Confirmed line-up, Rizla Arena, The Big Chill, 2008:

Friday 1st August:

12 – 3: Heavenly Jukebox
3 – 4: Broader Than Broadway
4 - 5.30: Annie Nightingale
5.30 – 8: Richard Norris (Beyond the Wizards Sleeve / Time and Space Machine)
8 – 11: Greg Wilson (2020 Vision set)
11 – 2: Justin Robertson

Saturday 2nd August:

12 – 3: Heavenly Jukebox
3 – 6: Stuart Patterson (Deviant set)
6 – 9: Greg Wilson
9 – 12: Horse Meat Disco DJ’s
12 – 2: Derrick Carter

Sunday 3rd August:

12 – 3: Heavenly Jukebox
3 – 6: Kid Acne
6 – 8: Andy Blake (Dissident Records)
8 – 11: Disco Bloodbath
11 – 1: Greg Wilson (Credit to the Edit set)

The updated Rizla Arena features a 1920’s speakeasy inspired design, complete with musical van where the decks are based, creating the ideal space to chill during the day and party from late pm to early am.

The bar is set high for this year’s Rizla Arena having been described by punters in 2007 as; “The most amazing music in one of the most amazing settings I've ever been in. The Rizla area was without doubt the one place with a real club vibe happening. I was shaken*.”

Graeme Park voted his set at Rockness in Scotland among the top five sets he has ever played, confirmation if any was needed that the Rizla Arena is the place to party.

Playing from a unique musical van, a recreation of the original Rizla touring van of the 1920’s, The Invisible Players will play spontaneous and inspiring sets from a diverse record collection. There are no prepared set lists, just pure improvisation and the creation of a unique vibe in the Rizla Arena. The sound could vary from Dub, Electrofunk, Balearic, Hip Hop, Breakbeat to Northern Soul and Acid House – the roots of popular music as we know it.

Greg Wilson had this to say: "Last year was really special, the whole tour received such an energetic and positive reaction, culminating in the memorable finale at Bestival, undoubtedly one of the highlights of 2007 for me and the perfect way to top off the summer. Given the success of last year, and the anticipation that's built up towards this years dates, 2008 could be even better! Needless to say that I'm very much looking forward to playing in the Rizla van again."

2008 will see the Rizla Invisible Players play a series of club nights across the country as well as going to three of the UK’s best festivals. Rockness (6-8 June) Big Chill (1-3 August) and Bestival (5-7 September) will all play host to the Rizla Arena.

For more information visit http://www.rizla.co.uk/

Kid Acne Q&A:

How you got involved with the new Invisible Players project?

I know Andy Votel and Pete Fowler who did the Invisible Players last year and speak highly of it. They said it was good fun so when I was asked to do it I said yes!

Are you looking forward to hitting the festival circuit this summer?

Yes, more so now that I’ve met the other Invisible Players and realise exactly what I’ve been asked to do, which is play records. The project involves my art work in some capacity too.

So you’re an artist as well as a DJ?

I do illustration. I started painting graffiti in about 1991 when I was 12 and made fanzines and designed record labels from 1996 onwards. I also designed skateboards, flyers and t-shirts, and I’m designing some toys at the moment for Kid Robot in New York. The illustration work has come from doing the graffiti. I started as a teenager and came out the other side as a creative adult. I’m going more into Quentin Blake inspired work at the moment. Raw, single-line illustration.

How did you first get into Djing?

I started playing records at NY Sushi in Sheffield. I started there doing live graffiti then began to play records with my mates, doing tag team sessions. From this I started my own nights in Sheffield and now it’s turned into me playing live music more.

What inspired you to get in Djing?

I had a bunch of records and someone asked me to play them. Everything I do has happened because of a coming together of events and people, I never really planned any of it.

Does your music complement your artwork and vice versa?

The only thing that links the music and the artwork is that I do them. The project this summer though will be nice because I will incorporate both in some capacity and hopefully they will flatter one another.

What’s your take on the current music scene?

I’ve tended to listen to more and more old stuff and less new stuff. There are some new things that I’m interested in, but I really enjoy going back through hip hop and rave and finding a sample then going back further and finding the original artist. I’m as interested in someone like Tortoise as I am in Ghostface, for example.

Where is the most random place you’ve DJ'd?

I once played in a Chinese restaurant in Helsinki. It actually went really well, I got laid!

What are your festival survival tips?

Baby wipes, air bed, waterproof tent, someone who can drive, generous mates and disposable barbecues. The best thing to do is just drink through it. Plug yourself up on meat, drink lots of snakebite then worry about it when you get home.

www.myspace.com/kidacne123


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The Raveonettes - Interview

Make Music Pasadena surprised us all with its impressive lineup of indie acts. Autolux, The Little Ones, and surprise guest Switches took the stage on the stiflingly hot first day of summer, but most impressive were of course, The Raveonettes. We had the opportunity to sit down and talk with The Raveonettes' chief songwriter and brilliant guitarist, Sune Rose Wagner. We touched on topics ranging from tennis to The Smiths to personal style while lounging in a hotel bar.
A few hours later, The Raveonettes treated the normally hum-drum city of Pasadena to their unique brand of heavily-reverbed, vocally lush and lyrically dark shoegaze-pop. Standout tracks included an extended version of the electro-tinged "Twilight", "Aly, Walk With Me", "Here Comes Mary", which always sounds even dreamier and gloomier when performed live and the rambunctious, dirty "You Want the Candy". It was a brilliant set from beginning to end and we were lucky to catch their last US show of 2008 so close to our little home town.

noize: We heard you talk about trying to release 3 EPs this year. 3 EPs is almost a full album, so what made you decide to divide it up into EPs rather than a single album?

Sune Rose Wagner: Well, I mean there’s no um, three was just a number, I think its just because I wanted to do another full length album this year and so i would just divide them up instead of doing one, you know? And also you can do different stuff, I think the first one is going to be strictly electronic. And the next one is probably going to just be a noisy one.. and then the last one, I don’t know, it might be a Christmas EP.

n: Really? Are you going to do Christmas covers?

SRW: Well, I don’t know, we have a couple of songs written already that are our own Christmas songs. I think that’s going to be it really.

n: Is it hard to work when you and Sharin live on opposite coasts? How much does each city figure into the music?

SRW: I dunno, I mean, I write all the music, uh, and do everything. I send files to Sharin so she can hear the song and then she’ll comment on it, what she likes and what she doesn’t like or the particular songs and stuff. I dunno, I wrote the first EP, “Whip It On”, when I lived here.

n: Did you not like LA?

SRW: No, I like it fine when I was here but I don’t like to drive that much, you know, and I don’t like to… I like to just walk out of my apartment and go into a bar and meet people and go to restaurants so that’s primarily the reason. And I like the seasons, I really don’t like hot weather that much, even though New York is very hot in the summer time, theres still a lot of seasons, you know. I always liked New York, I lived there for 5 years, I always felt very comfortable in New York. But I do like it out here, inspiration wise.

n: What made you want to play such a small, random, free festival like the Make Music Festival Pasadena?

SRW: No idea. I think its because you know, Sharin is pregnant, you know and she won’t be performing, and then I knew that we weren’t going to have another US show probably this year, and so when that came around that maybe we should do a US show this year, so I think that was why.

n: What are you going for today, as the lone Raveonette, I mean you have Loui, but…

SRW: Lisbeth her name is, and we’re actually using a drummer that we never played with before, too, so it’s a completely different line up today, a Danish guy we know called Chris, he’s sitting right there in the checkered shirt.

n: So did you guys rehearse much?

SRW: We just came in from rehersal now. Cuz we never played with Christopher and Lisbeth. We flew in yesterday and we rehearsed this morning. I played two festivals with Loui and Lisbeth in Europe already, and so we’re doing that for the rest of the summer. Yeah, we’ll see.

n: We’ve noticed you take a very DIY-Personal approach to your band and your fanbase, such as scheduling this interview on your own via text message, basically.

SRW: Yes! Of course.

n: Is it important to you to keep it that way as your popularity rises?

SRW: Yeah! I mean, we always want to be in control of everything that we do anyway, so… Sometimes its just easier than if I have to go through my manager and then it has to go through my publicist and I get 5 different confirmation emails for one interview and its just like, so its just easier to do things other ways. I mean I do the other stuff to because I have to, but sometimes if something comes up or if a friend is asking, its just easier.

n: When we saw you at the Terrorbird party at SXSW, we noticed immediately that you have fantastic shoes.

SRW: Oh was it those? [Points to shoes currently on his feet.]

n: Yeah! I think it was.

SRW: They’ve been around now!

n: Is your look totally organic or are you going for something?

SRW: I don’t have that much clothes at home actually, and I always wanted to keep it basic stuff – you know, T-shirts and jeans.

n: And your ornate rings?

SRW: Yeah! These are great because those are very old ones that I found in a vintage store once. But other than that, like I said, I don’t put too much thought into it because this is how I’ve always dressed. You know, and I don’t dress up for shows. You know what I mean? Like when I woke up this morning, I put on these clothes and this is what I’ll be playing in…

n: You don’t want to compromise your style?

SRW: Oddly enough, when I played music back in the early nineties, uh, and Nirvana was big at the time, I remember Kurt Cobain saying once that he always thought it was like ridiculous for people to dress up for shows, and he just wanted to wear what he was wearing because he kept it real, or whatever. And for some reason that has always stuck in my head. I don’t mind people dressing up for shows, like you know the girls put on nice dresses, or whatever, its fine – but I guess I always liked that line and it always stuck with me like, he’s absolutely right, I mean I am who I am and I’m not changing when I’m on stage like, you know what I mean? I am the same person.

n: Morrissey says the same thing.

SRW: Yeah I just wear what I wear!

n: Is it safe to say that Sune keeps it real?

SRW: Yeah! Keepin’ it real!

n: We read you were on your way to becoming a pro-tennis player as a youth!

SRW: I was a semi-pro tennis player.

n: What made you switch from being hardcore into tennis to music?

SRW: Because I lived in a small town where I couldn’t take it to the next level. And my mom wouldn’t allow me – because I wanted to go to tennis school in Sweden at the time, to get to the next level – but she wouldn’t allow me to travel because I was young at the time, 14 or 15, I dunno. So I decided to stay and go to school, whatever. I just couldn’t take it to the next level so I just decided to do something else.

n: Do you miss tennis? Do you ever get to play anymore with your hectic schedule?

SRW: Sometimes, when I go home for Christmas, I’ll play with a friend of mine, yeah!

n: Who has been your favorite tour-mate?

SRW: Depeche Mode. Absolutely, by far! Absolutely!

[Some unintelligible laughing between Colette, Robyn and Sune]

n: Is it more fun to have a tour-mate for the entire tour, especially in large countries like the US or to have different local bands in each city?

SRW: No, I prefer a band to have on the leg of a tour kind of thing– for sure. Because you get to know people and you know, you become friends with them and that’s nice.

n: Do you like the sense of community?

SRW: Yeah you see the familiar faces every day and it makes you feel kind of nice. Especially if its band you