associatewiththesongs. I thinkplaying themusicliveisagoodwaytofinalisethe tracks – itallows for thefinal [realisation] of them. Whatotherthingscanweexpectin thefuturefromShame,couldyoutell uswhatyou’vegotplanned? Well,we’vegotanewsinglethatwe recordedlastnight, sowe’llbeputting thatout inOctoberbeforethetour.But we’rejustworkingonalbum3at the momentandhopefullygettingthat together.We’realsodoingalotof touring nextyear,goingbacktoAmericaand Europeandplaces likethat. Wherewouldyoudifferentiatethis album3fromDrunkTankPink?Y esterdaywerecordedthesongwith JamesFordina‘live’way,whichwe’ve neverdonebeforereally. I thinkthat’llbe partof theapproachgoingforward. ImeanonDrunkTankPink, theresult
fromtheproductionwasamazing,but it wasJoshandSeanlookingatways in whichtheycouldrecordthings fragmentedandrecordeverythingin logicandworkontopof that.Butnow we’reworkingonsongs inaliveroom againandseeingwhatcomes fromthat. Youcanhearaspectthatonthealbum (DrunkTankPink),thekindof
technicalityofitall.There’slotsof movingparts.Wasthathardtorealise live? No,notatall. It’sactuallybeenfucking amazinglive. It tookusawhiletoget to gripswithplayingthesongsproperly.…. [Thetwoalbums] reallydon’t soundout ofplacenext toeachother. Peoplearethinkingaboutplayinglive
againnow, so[asawriter]you’rereally thinkingabout thatperformance element .. DrunkTankPinkseemsalotmore introspectivethanSongsofPraise, wouldyousaythat’strue, isthere anythingthatcausedthatshiſtfor you? I thinkthat’sdefinitelytrue. I thinkat the timeitwas justkindacomingbackfrom touringandthensortof suddenlybeinga lotmoreisolatedorhavingafeelingof isolation. Imean,wetouredextensively foralongperiodof timeandthen suddenlyhadthis timeoffaſter twoyears ofproperlytouring. Itwasalsoawayof dealingwiththings thathadhappened over theperiodof touringthat Ihadn’t
reallyconfronted… Youspentquitealotoftimeina
particularroomduringtheprocess.It wasinanoldnursinghomeanditwas
paintedentirelypink.Canyoutellme abitmoreaboutthat? Yeah, thatwaswhereI lived. Itwas inan oldNursingHomeinQueensRoad, Peckham. Imadetheroomwiththehelp ofmyflatmateHenryandCharlie’sDad, Lennon.Lennonisactuallyonthefront coverofDrunkTankPink;healsonamed theband. Itwas this tinyroom,andyoucould
onlyreallyfitabedinit. Ipaintedit entirelypink, lip-glosspink. I thinkthat’s whereIwrotealotof thelyrics for the albumthere.…. There’s this theorybyBaker-Miller that
there’sacertainshadeofpinkthatcan repressangerandviolenceandcalm you,andsoitallcomicallyfit together withthethemesof therecordandthe experienceof livingthere…. IjustwantedtoaskabouttheTiny DeskConcertyoudidafewmonths
ago.Itfeltlikeyoubroughtoutyour
innerTomWaits.Isthissomething you’deverbeinterestedinpursuing– thehugerangeofmusiciansand instrumentation? Wegotapproachedandtheyaskedif therewereanyways thatwecouldmake itdifferent.Weknewafewpeoplein bandswhowewereseeinglikeCaroline, whoyouseeinthevideo,andwehadKai who’s inFollyGrouponthepercussion andthenwehadCampbelldoingsax, he’s fromSorry, soit justkindof likecame together. …. Imeantherewasatimeinlockdown
toreallythinkabout thesethingsand thoserehearsals. I thinkfor themusicians intheband, it’sanamazingthingtowork withotherpeopleandpotentiallyelevate it toanother
level.Youcantryallof these differentmelodiesandtryworkingwith instruments thatwe’veneverused before. ImeanI thinkthat thereserved vanityofeverymusicianprobablywants somesortofviolinover their songsat
somepoint.NickCavehasn’tgone withoutonefor40years. Isupposeitallowsyoutoseethe songsinadifferentcontext. Yeah, ImeanJosh(bass)composedthe wholething, itwas reallyamazingto watch. I thinkitwasanincrediblethingto
watchallof theseamazinglytalented musicians justdoingit.…itwas so inspiringtobeinthat roomandjust sort of realisethetalentalotofyourmates have. You’vealwaysbeenamicrophone performer,noinstrument? Yeah,noinstrument. I liketoplaythe guitarnow,but I’mnotverygoodat it. It’s best toleaveituptosomeonewhocan doit. Haveyoueverconsidereditfora show? Potentially, Ionlyreallystartedplayingit likethisyear fromJanuaryonwards, so I’
dliketo.That’dbequitefuntodo.But if it works thendon’tfixit. Ialsowantedtoaskaboutwhatyou’d beenlisteningtoatthemoment, is thereanythingthatstandsout? Well, todayI’vejustbeenlisteningtothe mixesof thenewsingle.Butalsoour friends inthatgroupBroadsideHacks. WhenI’mrecordingandwriting, I tend
tolistentomusicless. It’sabit intenseto beplayingalldayandthenhavingyour headphonesbackinfor thecommute. Youbecomeabit tonedeafaſterawhile. I alsofindmyself somanytimes just puttingonmyspeakerandnot listening toit, justhavingthatnoiseforwhen you’rehavingashoweroryou’recooking foodorwhatever. It’snicetodoitwhenit’s
purposeful.Thanksfortalkingtous today! Noworries, thanksCal.
WORDS CallumGray
Readthefull interviewonour website.
OUTLINEONLINE.CO.UK / OCT-NOV 2021 / 11
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