The Splendour try to be different

26 August 2008

The Splendour

With ‘The Best Way To Make Money lining music shop shelves, The Splendour took a few minutes’ break from their hectic tour schedule to tell FemaleFirst how they plan to make it in the competitive British music scene and how they are different from the rest.

For all those people who are still to hear about you, how would you describe your sound to them?

‘searing slice of honed to perfection stripped to the core edgy psychosis.’ Someone said reviewed us like that and I think that’s about it.

How did you come up with the name ‘The Splendour‘? Does it have any particular significance?

Well we’re not an anthemic ballad rock over produced wash of sound like you might expect from the name. but there’s a fair bit of crazy high backing vocals on it over this pretty stripped down sound - we called it the splendour with irony like calling an album ‘the best way to make money’ (it isn’t) you don’t get what you expect but I like that.

What makes you different from all of the generic bands who are trying to break onto the scene at the moment?

They’re all different, it just sometimes takes a while to get over the influences when you’re listening. A lot of people think you have to have a totally new sound for people to take notice which is bollocks – it’s all like a continuous strand. It splits off but you’ll always be similar in some ways to other bands. If you listen to one song of ours you’ll know it’s us on the second.

What musicians do you look up to?

Most impressive and brilliant when a friend writes a beautiful song so friends because they’re closest.

Where does the inspiration for your songs come from?

All over. I flip from one mood to the other quickly, either all upbeat or mournful soulful – which is why in the middle of the album there’s suddenly a very reflective track called ‘missus’ after spikey pop.

If you could work with any band or singer, alive or dead, who would it be?

David Bowie in the 70’s. Hunky Dory/Ziggy Stardust just amazing alums – the songs!! His production – you know its his sound! Even though Eno was producing it – you can hear it through Lou Reed and he produced that. So to be produced by him then would have been amazing.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

Playing at Glastonbury as the sun came up was amazing. Biggest crowd I’ve ever played to and we weren’t even on a stage, just chucked it together and people flocked in the hundreds. We were pretty mashed and it was amazing.