What’s the inspiration behind the music?

It was kind of harking back, originally, to a 90s sound – the kind of stuff we grew up on. It’s kind of moved away from that now, but there’s a lot of 70s music in there as well; the Stones, the Zeppelins, Black Sabbath, that kind of stuff. We just wanted to make songs that people can connect with easily and that were a little bit heavier than the sort of jingle jangle indie that’s going on nowadays.

Why is the album called Baby?

It just came up one day, y’know – it’s our debut and it’s our baby. We couldn’t believe that no one had called an album baby before. It’s like the most commonly used word in music.

What made you decide to record the album on tape?

We just wanted to get that warmth of sound that you can hear on so many older records. I suppose with the X Factor generation, you listen to something on the radio and you’re not actually listening to the person or the band, you’re listening to a fucking computer program that’s put it together. So we wanted to get away from that and make something that was a bit earthier and hopefully has longevity.

There have been rumours about a member of the band dating actress Scarlett Johansson. Is it strange to find yourselves an interest to the tabloids?

Yeah it’s just started. I don’t think it affects the band, it’s just the British press and all that – we’ve got friends who are actors and do all that paparazzi nonsense. I just think it’s not really for us, but you can’t do anything about it. It’s fun for your mum and dad and your nan. Nan’s like, “Ooh, he’s in the paper'”- I think that’s about as serious as we take it.

What has been the worst moment for the band so far?

Fucking stuck in Poland last month for like three days freezing our arses off in some God forsaken shithole. We broke down while we were on our European tour and we were in a really rough part of Poland. It was really tense; the hotel clerk wouldn’t even let us go out the hotel. There was even a man with a gun in the car park protecting our van.

How about the best moment?

The Electric Ballroom in Camden in October – it was the first time we’d sold so many tickets. It felt like we’d finally left the clubs and we were into the venues. It was a big moment for us.

Baby is set for release on the 16th
Words: Tom Shepherd

The post NEW NOISE: Tribes appeared first on Wonderland.

First of all your band name – Viva Brother – what happened there?
We didn’t know there was a band from Australia called Brother. [Frontman] Lee [Newell] did actually Google and discovered them but didn’t think anything of it at the time. Then we were playing a show in San Francisco and out of nowhere this guy battled his way through the crowd of the sold out show and slapped this fifty page legal writ at Josh’s [Ward, bass player] feet, and he just kicked it to the ground. None of us knew what was gong on but after the show a few people from our label were milling around with this document and basically they were trying to sue us. So there’s been a bit of a legal battle since, and they’ve managed to keep their name and we’ve changed ours. But I’m not bothered. I’m happy with the new name – it’s like saying Long Live Us! Our twitter name was already Viva Brother and people in crowds at our shows would shout it out anyway and we think it sounds good. So it’s the right decision.

Have you heard actual Brother?
I haven’t actually listened to them. I have no desire to. I’ve heard that it’s quite comedy. Although it’s weird – it’s like they don’t have a single fan in the world but they seem to be able to afford a big case. They can continue playing shows to no-one.

Right. So can you describe the sound of your own music in five words?
Super fast rock n’roll injection.

You guys have been making a bit of a name for yourselves in America – does it feel to be making it big in the USA?
It was a surprise for us. When we did our first trip in March where we did SXSW and some shows in New York – they were only tiny shows, but they were all sold out. It was a really good feeling. American’s like Brits and British stuff, but to have a loud British band come and shake things up, I think they’re ready for that.

You’re from Slough – not the most renowned part of the world for generating engaging music – could Slough become a new cultural hotspot?
We’re not all from Slough. Lee and I were both born there, and Frank was born in Canada but we all spent so much time in and around Slough when it started. We used to rehearse as much as we could and Josh lived with Lee so as a band we started there. I can’t imagine it becoming a cultural hot spot any time soon. It’s so industrial and stuck in the 9-5 mindset that I can’t see it getting out of.

When did you realise you could make it as a band?
For us there wasn’t any other option. We had to make it work as we can’t do anything else. We’re useless. One of the first songs we wrote, Darling Buds Of May, our manager said was a great song. He put so much time and faith in us and we had to make it right and then we put it out and it got picked up almost instantly. Zane Lowe started playing the demo in his show and played it three times in one week. It’s been a rollercoaster since then!

The band have been championed as saviours of the guitar-rock Brit-pop world – how has all the critical praise affected the album writing process?
Um, we were on the cover of NME in January, I think. So we were on the cover before we’d recorded the album, but it still seems now that people judge us before listening to us – purely because of what we say in the press. And I don’t blame them we have said some daft things but I wouldn’t go back on them because we’re being honest but I just hope people still listen to our record because it is bloody good.

The band have made a few derogatory comments about other music acts out there – does the band need a bit of anger management?
We’re not angry boys! I promise. We’re nice and pleasant. When people ask us what we think of other bands and other people, if we like them we say we like them and if we don’t we’ll colourfully tear them apart. We’re being honest, that’s all it is. We’re not doing it for attention.

Lee went as far as to say “I see evil in her eyes” about Jessie J.
[Laughs] Oh yeah. She is quite evil.

So is it a tabloid tactic? Obviously you’ve been compared to Oasis and Blur who famously had spats with each other in the press – is this something the band are trying to create?
We’re not influenced by Oasis at all and all we get is that we’re Oasis wannabies. I wouldn’t want to be like Liam Gallagher and if I ever was I’d hope someone would punch me in the face and tell me to fucking sort myself out. We’re not trying to start anything. We’re just focusing on our own band. That’s what other bands should do. That’s what Liam should do.

Who do you see as your competitors in the music arena?
I don’t really look at anyone as competition. You have to focus on your own thing. But other bands that want the same thing of having rock and roll back in mainstream music would be bands like Vaccines, Wolfgang and Tribes. Those guys are great. They’re really good. And Yuck. They’re great.

How does it feel to be flying the flag for British music?
It feels good. It feels nice. We’re just anxious and eager for our album to be out so people can hear the whole thing. It’ll be nice for everyone to be like “Oh right! They DON’T sound like Oasis.”

Famous First Words, the debut album by Viva Brother is released today under Geffen
Interview: Seamus Duff

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