Popular Workshop
'We happen to have a skilled mathematician, a rational genius and a completely emotional gigantic mess playing together... we cover the whole spectrum.'
London trio Popular Workshop released their debut album 'We're Alive And We're Not Alone' back in September, having recorded with producer Steve Albini. With latest single 'Her Birthday' out now on This Is Fake DIY Records, Anna Dobbie asks frontman Gypsy about being labelled and their plans for a second album.
You describe your sound as 'not nu rave', which covers quite a lot of ground. If that's what you're not, what is it that you are?
Aaah the not nu rave thingy is completely outdated now isn't it? That was just a little comment on whatever was sweeping the streets of London at the time, and also a clarification to whoever may have approached us on MySpace expecting us to sound like that just because we happened to play some nu-rave club nights or simply were operative in London in 2007. Perhaps we should update it for 2009 and print some T-shirts that read 'not Scouting For Girls'... Seriously though, I think we're a pop band. A popshop band.
I've heard you described as both math-rock and art-pop. Considering that art and maths are controlled by separate areas of the brain, do you think you use your left or right hemisphere more when writing music?
Both in equal representation. You see, we happen to have a skilled mathematician, a rational genius and a completely emotional gigantic mess playing together in this band, so we cover the whole spectrum.
Do you get sick of hearing the term 'angular guitars'?
Not really, but it's a shame that no one comments on our rhomboidal drums or parallelepipoidal bass.
According to your song title, villains who twirl their moustaches are easy to spot. Have you ever encountered a moustache-twirler who wasn't intrinsically villainous?
Bananas are fairly easy to spot because, mostly, they are yellow. Occasionally they'll be green or brown. There are loads of yellow things which turn out to be not intrinsically banana-like. Post-it notes, for example. Mmm, there's a promoter in London who twirls his moustache, and he's a fine gentleman.
You recently released your debut album after several years performing together - what took you so long?
Record labels being too busy signing nu-rave acts for a quick cash-in and our own utter indolence.
How do you feel about people's reactions to the album?
Great! We've had excellent feedback so far, which is a nice thing to have, feedback. Can't get enough of that.
You've played an awful lot of gigs - which is the most memorable gig you've played and why?
I really had the time of my life at the album launch party at Catch, in Shoreditch. It was rammed and people had completely gone mental. There's another one that will always stay with me, a little affair at the George Tavern in east London. Total trash. People falling over and tables flying. Beautiful.
Which is your favourite London venue?
I can only speak for myself here but nothing can beat the Barfly on a good sticky night.
I hear on the grapevine you'll be taking a break from gigging to write new songs and work on a second album. Can you give us any hints as to what we can expect?
We don't know ourselves. We only rehearsed again for the first time last week and we wrote two new tunes from scratch. One is a mid-tempo poppy treacle and the other one is complete disjointed madness with a massive melody fighting to come across. Clearly a recipe for triumph at next year's BRITs - when the whole country will eventually have accepted that coordinated dancing is so so so last century.
Your latest single 'Her Birthday' has lyrics about a girl who says she'll kill herself tomorrow because she's turning 23. You're over 23 - do you think you're growing old gracefully?
Oh yeah. Very gracefully. 'Til I have enough of the current state of things and decide to go berserk in some bank. I‘ll try and trash it gracefully.
As you met through an internet advert, what is your advice to people seeking to meet new friends online?
Forget about it and go to the pub! Now!
Where do you think you'll be in a year's time?
In the pa-pub. Innit.
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