Fenech Soler move in slo-mo whether they like it or not. They’ve captivated the picky dance world and have gone on to pack clubs and other venues on the simple promise that if this doesn’t make you want to procreate, then nothing will. Thanks to the amazing technological advances of the internets (yes, plural) we bring to you a few answers from Fenech Soler who are currently on tour and probably wearing robes on big comfy sofas and are drinking rare beers that only go on sale for a few hours each year.
Smashed Chair: Is it weird to see Ricky Gervais being embraced by America? Do you guys go, what the hell, we liked him way before you guys!
Fenech Soler: haha… well I haven’t actually got round to seeing the American version of ‘The Office’ but my brother Ross confirms it’s actually pretty good. I think there came a point when good old Ricky had to try and crack America as he was literally everywhere in the UK. His radio show on BBC 6 music is very funny.
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Smashed Chair: What was the writing process like on this last album?
Fenech Soler: Well we come from a very small village called Kings Cliffe in the UK and we’ve always worked on our recordings from there. To be self contained and self-dependant has always been a high priority so everything from writing to recording to remixing is done in a very DIY fashion. We have complete control over what we’re doing and also coming from place that has absolutely no music scene has kind of forced us to look else where for inspiration…
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Smashed Chair: You know how the guys from Pearl Jam require big puffy boas, and AC/DC need their booze – what would be your ideal tour rider?
Fenech Soler: Someone said to me recently that the reason ?????? always requested only certain colours of M&M’s was because if they turn up to the venue and it hadn’t been done, the tour manager would always know that every other minuet detail of the rider probably wouldn’t have been catered for… Kind of like an instant check. I think that’s a pretty good idea but alas, we’re happy with a bottle of Jager Mister.
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Smashed Chair: I once interviewed a band from Whitechapel and they convinced me that it was the bee’s knees when it came to the United Kingdom. Convince me that Kings Cliffe is better.
Fenech Soler: I don’t know much about Whitechapel but King Cliffe does have an original bakery that’s been open for nearly 100 years. What more of a reason would you need to come visit?!
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Smashed Chair: Like the fictional tale of The Wonders from the movie with Tom Hanks called That Thing You Do, what was it like to hear your music on the radio for the first time? Was Liv Tyler there?
Fenech Soler: haha… Liv Tyler wasn’t there although that would have been incredible. I remember the first time we got played on Radio 1 back in the UK was by Huw Stephens on his late night show. It was one of our first demos that we finished a few days earlier and somehow he had got hold of it. It’s always a gratifying experience to hear something you’ve worked on played on national radio. It’s also a good check to see if what we are doing is any good! When you spend a lot of time locked up recording you go through stages of thinking, “is this shit?” So it’s always nice to hear kind words and praise from Radio djs.
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Smashed Chair: How important is it to like a band that is obscure? Does that math apply to you boys in Fenech-Soler – the more obscure the cooler it is to like them.
Fenech Soler: Being obscure works. I think if I’m able to figure out everything about a band instantly or they have a typical sound for where they’re from then I guess the intrigue is lost slightly. We didn’t really go out of our way to call our selves Fenech-Soler... It’s part of our bass players name.
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Smashed Chair: Sequins, the sparkly things, right? How did that come up in the band meeting?
Fenech Soler: It just happened over time… Our music is based on imagination and colour so and for us fashion and music go together. The top I wear in the new Groove Armada video was made by their stylist and other items as seen in our videos have been acquired on our travels.
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Smashed Chair: You’re a band with an incredible shrine to the electric/disco gods, but how would an acoustic set from Fenech-Soler sound like? Were you not a band who did the simple guitar thing before?
Fenech Soler: We were actually but the band idea never left the rehearsal room… All of our songs as Fenech-Soler have come from writing music with a piano, guitar, bass and drums. There are certain synth sounds that have sparked songs but the majority of tracks are written in the conventional way. We are currently working on an acoustic version of our new single ‘Stop And Stare’… When songs are played in a more relaxed style it can change the original meaning of the lyrics. It’s a good thing to do.
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Smashed Chair: What is gained and what is lost in the transition from “unsigned” to “signed?”
Fenech Soler: I suppose you gain the support of a label that can help spread your music to the 4 corners of the globe but I think keeping creative control and keeping ideas sharp is important. Throwing loads of money at something doesn’t mean it will connect with the public and when it all goes wrong the artist is usually left with not very much.
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Smashed Chair: Is there music being written on this tour or is that too much to ask?
Fenech Soler: Well we are always writing although this week has been the most insane week this band has ever experienced and for that reason not much has been done. SXSW alone was enough madness let alone shows in New York, San Francisco and LA. We love it here.
