spot on: Zulu Winter.
Who knows who really will be responsible delivering the hot new shit of the British island? Well we hope we do! There are a few clues why – the Guardian’s Paul Lester featured them, they have played an enormously promising first headline gig in London last November so far, they release on Double Denim, have the same management as the likes of The Vaccines and obviously: they talk to us…. and since speaking to them and publishing this article via frock&roll they have signed to PIAS (one of my favourite labels). The first single they’ll be releasing is We Should Be Swimming on the 27th of Febuary and the album is to be expected in May. There is also a line of festivals and gigs they’ll be playing including Eurosonic, NME Awards, SXSW and Field Day.
The London 5 piece wraps their atmospheric, dreamy sound round singer Will Daunt’s falsetto vocals. Having been labeled as the new Wild Beasts, Friendly Fires and The Vaccines already Zulu Winter will tell us how it feels to be the latest buzz in the music and blogger world.
We’ve all been messing around in bands together since we were teenagers, but formed Zulu Winter in earnest about 18 months ago. We’d been playing under various guises and with various other people up until that point, but decided to knuckle down to write the back bone of an album before we played any shows as Zulu Winter.
What’s the story behind the name of the band?
We all liked the juxtaposition it presented, but truthfully it was a case of enjoying how the two words looked together. It also has a slightly unsettling tone to it, which reflects the melancholy or darkness in some of our music.
What is being in Zulu Winter all about?
We want to write songs that are essentially pop, but with enough layers and intrigue to allow people to dig a little deeper if they wish. We believe that pop music doesn’t have to be one-dimensional – it can offer depth as well.
Of course it’s nice to be compared to those bands – they’re all good and have had success. But in real terms it means very little. The media are always casting around for new artists to talk about, which is right as its new artists that most need support and exposure, but sometimes the pressure of finding the ‘next big thing’ means that silly things get said. The Vaccines are a great band, but aside from the instruments we play and the fact that we’re both song-based, there’s little resemblance.
The music press in England has always been fickle. Is it difficult to get noticed by the major magazines and do you view it as important to your success?
I don’t think any of us have thought about it that way. We like to focus on our music rather than who does or doesn’t like us in the media.
On an individual basis we have varied taste in music, and in some ways our instruments dictate those tastes. I’m the singer, and I like more song-based artists, our keyboardist and guitarist enjoy more sonically sprawling stuff, and the rhythm section enjoy more beats-based material. That said there are some touchstones for all of us. We like the melancholy and mood of bands like Caribou and Portishead, despite the fact we’re more guitar based than them.
What process do you go through when you write your music?
In some cases I’ll write a melody, lyrics and chord structure then bring that into the band for it to be fleshed out. Other times something great will emerge out of a jam; Let’s Move Back to Front was one of those moments. That’s probably the most exciting part of writing – when a song appears suddenly out of nowhere.
Do you write your songs on an autobiographical basis or do you take inspiration from other things?
Some are autobiographical, although I think it’s good to invent other characters and scenarios to write about. Dylan does that, as does Nick Cave, and it allows them to explore areas they don’t necessarily have any personal experience of. Let’s Move
Back to Front describes a man whose just finished a relationship dancing drunkenly around a fire in the woods,desperately trying to escape from his own body. I’ve never done that, but that doesn’t mean I can’t write about it.
What role does social media and the internet play in your attempts to market the band?
We’re on Twitter, and we have a blog where we post various odds and ends (books, films, theatre) that interest us, but I don’t think we’re particularly cutting edge when it comes to social media. The great thing about it is it allows direct interaction with people who listen to your music, which is always cool.
What do you think about fashion is it a necessity or luxury?
Fashion is a luxury – clothes are a necessity. The two shouldn’t be confused!
Are you seeking fame or fortune, birds or something altogether different?
All we’re seeking is to play our music to as many people as we can, and to record music that we love. The rest is a bonus.
How would you describe your sound in one sentence?
Melancholic, with a slight hint of menace.
