We talked to our BOTW, Stubborn Heart, about their album, Northern Soul, and the year in music.
Can you talk a bit through the recording process of the album, seeing as I consists pretty much electronic/synthesized production?
We made the album using Logic on Ben’s Mac, a tiny keyboard, and a crap mic. We had a limited amount of sounds and samples that we used and just tried to find sounds that suited the vibe of each song. Sometimes the music came first, sometimes the song came first. Nothing complicated – we just tried to capture true emotion.
Your album, from what I read you say, is sort of a break-up album. Did writing an album whilst going through a more extreme emotion – as opposed to just, say, contentedness – make the music stronger?
No, it just made making music more difficult because you can’t help thinking you’re dealing in clichés and you think about things too much.
You said you’re excited about sharing your album in a previous interview but when it’s so personal do certain people’s reactions not worry you at all?
Obviously if you’re writing about friends or ex-girlfriends you don’t want to hurt their feelings but you can’t let that get in the way.
In general, do you mainly write about your experience and feelings, other people’s stories, or do you write something more fictional?
All three, sometimes in the same song .
Why did you choose all girls for the ‘Need Someone’ video?
We tried boys but it wasn’t the same. The girls seemed to feel it more .
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What do you think made your debut Rough Trade’s Album Of The Month? What makes you stand out?
They said it was nice having a contemporary electronic album with songs you can sing along to.
Which Northern Soul artists have had the most influence on you?
None of them have influenced me – I just love the music. The northern scene is littered with great singers and bands who only have 2 or 3 songs that I truly love, or 2 or 3 songs that are really worth listening to. If there’s one name that stands out it’s Mike Terry, a producer/writer/arranger who is responsible for dozens of classic tunes.
What’s the last book you read?
Love In The Time Of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
Seeing as it’s nearing the end of the year, what bands/songs/albums have been your favourite over the past twelve months?
Grimes’s singles, ‘House‘ by Kindness, Quakers, Jai Paul, Disclosure, Ariel Pink, Raffertie, Clams Casino, Airhead, Japandroids, Daphni, Melody’s Echo Chamber, Dean Blunt, Leila, Zebra Katz, Night Slugs, Micachu, Fourtet, Plaid, DJ Rashad, Jeedo, Leonard Cohen, Dobie, Field Music, Ratking, Actress, Death Grips, Dave id, Can’s Lost Tapes, AlunaGeorge, Major Lazer’s ‘Get Free’, Icez, Max Cooper, xxyyxx, Dro Carey, Gregory Porter’s ‘Real Good Hands’, Fhloston Paradigm, Still Going, Will Ward, Pinkunoizu…
…Lots of things, but nothing amazing this year – had my head in the sand most of the year. Still listening to an album by Roll The Dice from 2011 – lovely stuff.
What are your ambitions for Stubborn Heart?
To give people a beautiful listening experience, on record and live.
-Bronya Francis
