I have known a couple of the girls from The Rayographs for nearly 15 years which is pretty scary. Imagine the best bits of the Kill Rock Stars label with some Television, The Breeders, and Patti Smith thrown in, sung by the best female vocalist this country has seen since PJ Harvey and you’re in the right ballpark. Anyway, as a first, and because I know them pretty well, I decided to interview the three girls – admittedly via email, but I think that counts all the same.
What is your favourite Breeders album? Mine is 'Title TK', I'm aware it's not the best, it's just the one I like the most.
Jess (bass): Choosing between them is like having to choose between my children, but if I must, I will choose ‘Pod’, the firstborn.
Astrud (guitar/vocals): ‘Last Splash’- that 2 minute virtual instrumental with a blazing wall of sound forging through it is immense. I listened to a tape of it constantly for the first two weeks of university so it reminds me of being in a dingy room in brighton with fairylights- it sounds depressing but it was sort of liberating.
I really can't get into Patti Smith, no matter how hard I try, but you guys are definitely influenced by her, but I like you. Weird huh?
Jess: I don’t like fresh ginger, but I like ginger nuts, see what I’m saying?
Astrud: She was influenced by all the rock and roll poets. I actually visited Rimbaud’s house last week, where he lived with Verlaine in 1875 or something- it’s in Camden. Apparently their landlady at the time was called Mrs. Smith and it was suggested that it was as if the spirit of Patti Smith was their protectress then, watching over these two romantic vagrants. I like that idea. I would say if you’re looking to get into Patti Smith don’t start with her Tears For Fears cover. ‘Piss Factory’’s ace though.
Amy (drums): Er, that's 'cause we ain’t no tribute act dude...Hmm I like Patti Smith a lot but I wouldn't say she's an influence of mine personally in terms of the band.
Your single is awesome. You recorded it on a farm didn't you? What's the best thing about recording on a farm? When's the single out? What label is it out on? Who produced your single? The mix is rad - pretty glacial were you guys pretty hands on in the studio, or did you let the producer do his thing?
Amy: It was really nice to record there 'cause it was so noticeably quiet compared to where we've recorded before and the way the studio was laid out and all the photos John had on the wall just made me feel instantly chilled out. I loved being able to come out and hear loads of birds and stroke horses and stuff. There was something good about how isolated the studio was. I think it helped us all to feel quite focused.
The single's officially out in the shops on Monday 3rd of November and will also be available for digital download with an extra third track. It's coming out on a new label called Everyone We Know who are two lovely lads that will be mainly doing smallish, special-ish limited edition runs (alongside a digital release) of new bands they really like.
Jess: One of the windows was next to a little horse pen thing and occasionally a horse would look in and that was funny. I find having eye contact with animals weird, and it seems to freak them out too, even our cat Pinky looks away all embarrassed when I look her in the eye.
Astrud: John Hannon is the clever man that recorded and produced it. I’m also obsessed with his dad’s poetry. We trust John Hannon. We had a great time at the farm and we want to go back. Everything was good about it!
Amy: One of my favourite moments was after I'd got all romantic about the farm shop (and John had warned me not to be), I really excitedly picked up a bag of massive home-made scones and saw they'd turned blue with mould. The let down was well funny. Astrud's right, John is man to be trusted. That, and when John was coming up with some really cool little ideas to get the sounds right. On the extra digital track I love it 'cause he's made it so Jess's voice sounds like it's down a corridor, quite haunting. Reminds me of some of the Breeder's production now you mention ‘em.
Who is the most sucky band you've ever played with and why did they suck so hard?
Jess: We once played with this metal band who obviously just put on the night so that they could play. They made us the headliners but insisted on playing for an hour and a half before we went on, and then when we went on stage one of them sat on a chair in front of the stage with his back to us, texting throughout our whole set. The only people there were five of our friends sitting right at the back. That was a good gig.
Astrud: We once played with a rap-rock group with a female singer that went off-stage mid song, went into the backroom with some sort of motivational coach revving her up while she looked hard into the mirror like it was a boxing match. She did that thing where you roll your t shirt up to expose your midriff before she went on again. It was harsh.
Amy: Ohhh..I wanted to say about that one! She was amazing.
Who is the best band you've played with?
Astrud: We played with this band called Mz Sojourn at a squat that used to be an old nursery school for Ladyfest Leeds. They had tiny sinks and toilets and posters of dinosaurs cleaning their teeth and stuff. It was quite a strange atmosphere because the day before one of the local residents who were angry about the occupancy had broken in and started smashing everything with a baseball bat. Anyway this band started playing and managed to blow a bass amp in the first song before going into an avant, LOUD version of I wanna be your dog- they were exciting. Also Bela Emerson who we saw in Cork was mindblowing, improvised cello with pedals- really, really electrifying and actually very emotive.
Amy: I've enjoyed playing with and or seeing lots of bands inc. Maria and The Mirrors (they're our friends too), The Mules, The Guillotines, Awesome Colour – I really relished getting into 'rocking out mode' around them...I absolutely adore their drummer, she's fucking wicked. They're just really cool dudes too. That's the thing we also love playing with certain bands 'cause we have loads of fun with them, like Le Tetsuo. We haven't been able to play with them for a while but i do actually think one of the best bands we played with are Wet Dog. Sarah is an ace drummer. Sorry - I couldn't possibly be capable of a singular answer for that question...most questions actually.
What's your favourite effects pedal?
Astrud: At the moment, the Boss DD7 delay pedal that I got for my birthday- we reckon we might be able to use it to double amy’s drums, but we might sound like we’re ripping off the Liars. I’ve also been starting to use my bright yellow tuna-melt tremolo pedal that sounds ace with reverb. I want to get a tape-echo, the chrome 70s ones look ace; I’m a massive fan of the BBC radiophonic workshop stuff so old style effects appeal to me a lot.
Amy: A pedal that could make me sound like I can sing, would be cool.
The Rayograph’s single ‘Hidden Doors/Golden Light’ is out now from all the cool normal places, or you can order it straight from the band at their My Space.
Posts
