The Lottery Winners interview: Smile Music

Ben Smith spoke to The Lottery Winner's about anything from Fame Academy's Lemar to signing with Warner Records - the band head on tour from September.

Ben Smith

Last updated: 25th Aug 2016

Image: The Lottery Winners

Indie pop gang The Lottery Winners have managed to connect the dots between Leigh and Warner Records. It's not a combination you often hear about is it?

They were signed to the label by legendary A&R Seymour Stein, who labelled the band the best thing he's heard since The Smiths.

Uncannily you can hear the legendary Salford band in their sound, but it's The Lottery Winners frenetic live presence and buoyant indie pop melodies that really strike it home for the four-piece.

Their success has not came overnight however, the band have been together for seven years. Only now are they on the cusp of dropping their debut album, but first they head on a 'world tour of the UK'.

Ahead of their debut headline dates, Ben Smith spoke to their lead funnyman Tom Rylance about signing to Warner Records, their debut album, Lemar from fame academy and penis reduction...

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We hear you’re from Leigh, which is well placed between the Manchester and Liverpool music scenes, how’s life being in a band from Leigh?

Life isn't so bad in Leigh, there's loads of charity shops and bakeries and cafes and that. I think it's fair to say that Leigh doesn't have a 'music scene', though. There are no venues and we're one of only two bands, the other band are well better than us. Bizarrely, though I live in a little town with no music scene, all of my friends are amazing musicians.

We love your sound it definitely makes us smile and takes us back The Smiths, do you see the comparison?

I'm thrilled about that! A friend of mine once described us as 'smile music', which I think is really beautiful. Funny, though, because I doubt most people would dub the Smiths 'smile music'.

I suppose I do see the comparison, but how could I possibly even bother to write a song when Morrissey has already said everything better than I ever could. Hey, can you help me get tickets for that gig in Manchester he's doing?

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[Laughs] Speaking of huge stars, what’s the story behind your Ed Sheeran obsessed music video for ‘Pillows’ and do you know if has he seen it?

Honestly? I have no idea. I just decided to do it one night and didn't think twice about it. It's really weird, isn't it? I don't think he's seen it. He's too busy surprising his fans in shopping centres and telling young girls that they're beautiful despite their flaws.

You’ve bided your time in releasing a debut album, do you feel that band’s can be too quick to make an opening statement these days and how far away is yours?

Oh, of course! Album one is a big, big deal. It's the summary of the entire time you've been together so far. We've had a seven and a half year sentence, and through that we've had some bloody terrible songs.

We've just signed our record deal with Warner, and it was always important to us to have the right backing and platform, We were never going to let an album just fall out of our pockets.

You’ve already played Sound City and The Great Escape this year, how were those experiences and who did you enjoy taking in as a music fan at the festivals?

We love festivals! Festivals are well better than real life. They're just these fields that are dedicated to fun, and nobody is worried about work or their hair.

I haven't had chance to see many bands, but we did get to see Lemar from Fame Academy. That was mint.

You’ve got a strong run of festival dates ahead, how do you feel about reaching new audiences who may not normally stumble across one of your live gigs?

I feel excited about that. I love new audiences, I can do all of my tired old jokes and they laugh.

I suppose it might sound a little arrogant, but I know that we're an excellent live band. I think we put on a great show, so I never really worry about people disliking us. Is it okay to say that?

Why not? We certainly agree... We have to ask you this, if you were to win the lottery, what is the first thing you’d buy just for the hell of it?

Gastric band, hair transplant, veneers, laser eye surgery, tattoo removals and a penis reduction.