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Source: Little Argument With Myself (Lancaster)
Subject: Intervew

We did this interview with Lauren Holden for The Visitor in Lancashire when we played Alex's home town of Lancaster but we missed the deadline so it didn't get published. We thought you might like to read what we said...

Lauren: How would you describe your sound to someone who is unfamiliar with your music?

Lawrence: We're like a miniature indie orchestra. There's loads of textures - interlocking guitar parts, strings, vintage keyboards, ethereal samples and effects and lots of harmony vocals. The songs build from simple melodies and get very orchestral and cinematic but all contained within the structure of a three-minute song.

Lauren: Been up to any rock 'n' roll tomfoolery of late (lobbing tellies out of windows and such like?!)

Alex: Oh yeah! We've walked out of two restaurants on our tour so far, both for completely justified reasons. I'm not going to name the places - the culprits know who they are! We've also pranged our van twice - that's pretty rock and roll. Actually it's not.

Jasmin: On our last tour we got thrown out of a venue in Leeds for eating sandwiches. Does that count? If some one did give us a hotel room with a TV in it we probably would throw it out of the window as most telly is rubbish.

Lauren: Any musical influences?

Lawrence: As a songwriter, I'm influenced by bands who put melody, lyrics and beautiful sounds first. I love alt.country from remote parts of America like Sparklehorse, Mercury Rev and Low. I think you can draw links to post-rock bands too, like Sigur Ros from Iceland and Godspeed from Canada.

The British music I listen to tends to come from Scotland - like Delgados, Mogwai, Malcolm Middleton - and Wales - Super Furry Animals, Gorky's Zygotic Mynci. Despite that I think we have a really English voice to us and our songs are very much about life here - we're a very autumny band. That's another influence, I think. A lot of our songs deal with climate, nature and sources of light. I think they're a response to the dark winters here - there's a mix of melancholy and uplifting warmth - the songs are an attempt to bring light and warmth out of sad things.

Alex: Basically we're influenced to do what we do by the occasional, inspiring groups who make truly beautiful music which matters…Sigur Ros, Tunng, Ella Guru for me. Also iLiKETRAiNS, who have been really good to us and are great friends.

Lauren: How and when did the band form and what has been the band's highlight since?

Lawrence: We've been gigging for around two years now although lots of the songs pre-date that time. I started recording and producing and then it gradually turned into a band as we met each person.

The highlights so far are getting picked up by Static Caravan who are a brilliant experimental indie record label. We've been working really closely and have released a sold out ep and single with them which has been amazing. We also got to play Green Man Festival. It's the most beautiful festival I've been to. It's up in the Brecon Beacons in Wales and it's really misty and green and we got to see loads of acts we love like Gruff Rhys, Micah P Hinson and Tunng.

Jasmin: Having our single sell out on preorder was pretty ace. Although I think we're more excited about it being on clear vinyl!

Alex: The highlight was definitely Green Man! A beautiful, understated festival where the litter is picked up, the music, food, drink and setting are all perfect and we had brilliant fun together. A first appearance at a national festival is always going to be exciting.

Lauren: What can crowds expect from your LAWM set?

Jasmin: They can expect to see me trying to play more than one instrument at a time!

Lawrence: They can expect lots of instruments and something quite different to the usual band lineup. If you haven't seen a band with a French horn before, this is your chance!

Alex: We think it's really important to set the scene correctly…the lights go down and we decorate our stage with lights and curiosities. We use quite an array of instruments and sometimes it is a squeeze to get on stage.

Lauren: Get many groupies at gigs? hee hee

Lawrence: It's great to see familiar faces at shows. We've been playing for a couple of years now so we've started to build a loyal following and it's always great to see someone in the crowd who you recognise. Being in a band doesn't really work in isolation and we're very interactive onstage and off, I think.

Jasmin: People who have been to lots of our gigs have started sitting cross-legged on the floor at the front. I like it but I feel like we should bring them a cushion or something.

Lauren: Any amusing tales involving the band?

Alex: I am originally from Lancaster and I played my cello for the Queen when she came here in 1999. Except we messed up the first piece we played and had to start again.

Also, my brother's band Dry Green made regular appearances at the Yorkshire House between 1995 and 1997, but I didn't think I'd ever play there, especially with my cello and in this context. I can't wait.

Lawrence: Aidan and his friend ended up in a heckling match with a band they were watching up in Leeds which led one of the Kaiser Chiefs who were also present, to turn to his bandmate and say 'I predict a riot', so that song is technically his fault!

Lauren: If you could share the stage with any act, past or present, who would it be and why?

Lawrence: I'd love to open for Spiritualized, Sparklehorse or Super Furry Animals.

Alex: Nick Drake, Sufjan Stevens, Micah P Hinson.

Jasmin: We tried to get the Salvation Army brass band to support us at a gig we did on a bandstand but they were busy.

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