Interview: Various Cruelties speak to Skiddle

Having already gained support from the likes of BBC Radio 1 and BBC 6 Music, and with a ‘Later With Jools Holland’ spot already under their belts, Various Cruelties recently finished their biggest headline tour of the UK to date and released their self-titled debut album.

For anyone who isn’t familiar with Various Cruelties, how would you describe yourselves in three words?

Mod Goth Soul

Your debut album was out last Monday, you must have been pretty excited? There must be a great sense of pride finally having your record out there? Few nerves too I should imagine?

Yes the album is out now. Available from all good record shops and some bad ones as the saying goes. It is a massive achievement to think that people can get their hands on 11 Various Cruelties songs. I am proud of that fact alone. Yes I would say we are nervous, but also very excited! Like raising a child, this record now has to fend for itself.

Which track on the album stands out for you and really encompasses what Various Cruelties are about?

Some of the songs were actually written pre Various Cruelties and had incarnations as Liam O’Donnell acoustic songs. So I would probably say ‘Dry Your Tears’. We were on our way to record in Los Angeles. I was desperately thinking I wanted one more song to consider. In the airport I began editing lyrics over a few Bloody Marys. Once we’d landed and heavily jet lagged I cobbled together a rickety iPhone demo in a motel room (still have it). Next day I turned up with it in the studio, played it from the phone and we began working on it. I’d sold it to the label back in England that we had the last song for the record.

How important do you think album record sales are these days? Obviously it’s something you have to think about but is it more important for you to have people enjoying your music and turning up to gigs than having a set of figures on a page?

Well record sales are obviously important to some degree as that’s the industry we’re in. I try to think if people enjoy the album and come to the gigs then the rest will follow suit. I have to try my best so that they do enjoy it!

You’re currently in the middle of a UK tour, how’s it going? It must be a great feeling playing bigger venues off the back off the shows earlier this year, especially without the record having been released?

Yes. It certainly is a great feeling. The crowds have all been great and it makes us even more excited for when people are actually familiar with the album. I felt like I was in my element playing to a sold out crowd in Leeds. One of the best experiences ever! Obviously there have been lots of other highlights on this tour. Meeting more Various Cruelties fans, having a laugh. The hangovers have been tough though. After a few days on tour, you get a bit delirious.

You’ve played your fair share of support slots, is it nice as headliners being able to give emerging acts a chance to play on the bill?

Of course. There’s always something to learn from every gig you do. We opened for Miles Kane and Kasabian a few times last year. You see the level of consistency that they hit every night. That’s what I found most phenomenal about those shows. Now we still have a long way to go to reach them. We’d be flattered if support bands can learn anything from us. I guess that’s what the whole process is about.

We’ve seen your name cropping up on a few festival line-ups for later this year, which ones are you most looking forward to?

Well Hop Farm looks pretty special. We’re playing the same day as Peter Gabriel. Bob Dylan is playing the next day. If I could have any dinner party guest I’d probably pick him. Dylan would probably have some decent stories to tell. I’d maybe pick Sly Stallone as well, but as far as I know he’s not at Hop Farm this year. Really excited to play Kendal Calling too, I’ve heard great things about that festival. Lounge on The Farm looks pretty mint as well!

You must have frequented festivals as punters before the band, you’re a Yorshire lad, was Leeds festival a given every year?

Yes. I’ve done Leeds Festival several times as a punter. I’ve seen great bands like White Stripes, Maccabees, Arcade Fire to name a few off the top of my head. I’ve camped. Woken up freezing cold with the tent wet through at 9.30am in the morning and decided I was gonna go home have a shower and come back later on in the afternoon. Not true festival spirit.

What’s your best festival memory?

Once at Leeds festival a girl fell in the toilet after dropping her phone and trying to retrieve it. She was alright, but I remember there was one of those massive festival rumours and a newspaper article even came out about it.

You’ve now relocated to London, how does life down South differ from up North? Did it take a while to get used to?

Yes of course it did. I missed a few old haunts from Leeds at first. Down here things can be quite different, like going out and bumping into people. Or staying out late and passing the point of drunkenness where you accept you’ve missed the last tube. Obvious stuff like that. I’ve been down here just over 2 years and I have to say I’m starting to like it here. Not that I don’t miss Leeds. It will always be where I’m from. I want Leeds United to get back into the Premier League!

You like to tweet, how important do you think the likes of Twitter and Facebook are to bands these days? Do you enjoy having that instant interaction with fans, being able to see feedback about tracks/gigs etc.?

Yes I like being able to interact with Various Cruelties fans. I like having good banter with some of them!

One of your tweets mentioned that you’re heading to The Stone Roses gigs, it’s going to be some weekend, are you excited to finally see them back together? How do you feel about the trend of bands reforming?

Well of course, I totally missed the Stone Roses the first time round. So they’re one of those bands that I’ve grown to love over a lifetime really. That’s why I’m excited. Their story has grown the longer they’ve been away too. So it’s got a certain romance. My next door neighbour taught me ‘Sally Cinnamon’ on guitar when I was 16. It should be a great day out. I’ve missed these sorts of Summer gigs. I went to see The Specials a few years ago and haven’t been to one since. As for bands reforming it’s all good I guess, but you do have to wonder where the next Stone Roses are coming from, or else who’s gonna be reforming in 10 years time?

And finally, after the festivals, what has 2012 got in store for you? Some time off to take stock?

Well I best get started writing more material, just in case anyone asks us to do a second record. But yes a week’s holiday seems like a decent idea.

Interview: Michelle Lloyd

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