Your music has been described as ÔÇÿThe Stone Roses flapping at Echo and the BunnymenÔÇÖs long coats and mussing Robert SmithÔÇÖs hairÔÇÖ. How close in general would you say critical perception of your musical style has been in relation to the bands you are influenced by?
Ben Romans-Hopcraft (vocals/guitar): ItÔÇÖs all over the placeÔǪ I think some elements are correct, bands like The Stone Roses and Echo & The Bunnymen and The Cure, I like all of those bands, but I would┬á never say that our sound is too dependent on that kind of style, all those particular bands and what they achieved is nothing to do with that for us, really. Loads of people always say that we sound like loads of 90ÔÇÖs bandsÔǪ most of the bands we get compared to, we donÔÇÖt really listen to, we listen to a little bit, as much as the average indie rock listener would listen to most successful, famous bands, itÔÇÖs not like a passionate thing. ThereÔÇÖs a lot more other things going on, which people will probably see. We only have two songs out. The whole thing is limited to two songs; people make their own assumptions of probably about six minutes of stuff you can hear on the internet.
Leo Dobsen (guitar): Wed like to think (the full album will be out by) April. It probably wont be out by April. Optimistically saying April, but we know its not going to happen
Daniel Salamons (bass): Definitely before festival season.
This year, you have done multi-venue festivals alongside major camping festivals such as Reading & Leeds. Which of the festival atmospheres do you prefer?
Daniel: TheyÔÇÖre both good, theyÔÇÖre very different.
Ben: I think itÔÇÖs impossible to really categorise the big ones, ÔÇÿcause you go to Reading and itÔÇÖs completely different backstage, the vibe is different at up-and-coming festivals. Every festival is completely different. In all honesty, I think I prefer the camping festivals because I associate them with summer, and I associate these ones with it not being summer, because thatÔÇÖs why theyÔÇÖre in a city.
Daniel: These ones feel a lot more like a gig because thereÔÇÖs three bands on at the venue and weÔÇÖre just playing┬á with them, which is cool, but maybe camping festivals are a little bit of a different vibe and you donÔÇÖt really know what you expect to get when to walk into, as such.
As a band from London, how was it being in the hub of the city while developing your music? Would you say you had more opportunities?
Daniel: Probably fewer opportunities
Leo: In a way, it depends how you look at it, if you want to find a load of A&R men in one room, the best place to do it is in London. The opportunity that we had, cause at the time we were one of the few bands playing the style of music that we were playing in┬á Nottingham, so just because of the numbers, you get a lot more gig opportunities. We had loads of producers contact us, cause if youÔÇÖre a band in Nottingham playing a certain style of music, people hear about you more easily, cause thereÔÇÖs more of a close-knit community, so you get more opportunities for producers. In London, everythingÔÇÖs so saturated; getting a good gig in London is a lot harder than getting a good gig in Nottingham.
The Guardian’s Paul Lester has described your debut single, ‘Blue Velvet’ as a “classic.” How does it feel to have such praise given to your work at this early stage in your career?
Ben: I call everything classic in a way, I guess itÔÇÖs one of the things people say these days that doesnÔÇÖt have the meaning that it used to have. But I think itÔÇÖs really good that people are saying this, I try and play it down, but if anyoneÔÇÖs giving me support like that, then we appreciate it from anyone. If someone came up to me at a gig and said a songÔÇÖs classic, IÔÇÖd be like ÔÇÿgreat!ÔÇÖ , but the fact someoneÔÇÖs said that and put it in their publication is equally as great. Anyone who appreciates is good.
Dan:┬áItÔÇÖs really nice, whenever anyone says anything nice, itÔÇÖs a good thing, but you donÔÇÖt want to take it too seriously.
Leo: If people are listening to that track ten years down the line and say itÔÇÖs a classic, then thatÔÇÖs great.
Dan:┬áWeÔÇÖll find out if itÔÇÖs a classic.
Ben: Hopefully Paul Lester was right, potential classic. I donÔÇÖt know if itÔÇÖs a classic yet. We really appreciate the support from The Guardian,┬átheyÔÇÖve been really nice to us.
Check out Childhood on Soundcloud.