London trio Playing House are in thrall to the art-pop experiments of Talking Heads, crafting their own 21st century take on David Byrne’s accessible/weird/accessible sonic sandwich.
Their knack for brutally catchy melodies and soul-searching lyrics mark them out as a new band intent on injecting real depth and honesty back into the primped-up pop machine.
Having only heard of them this January, when they popped down to the Sebright Arms for our Independent Venue Week showcase, we’re tickled pink to learn they’re releasing a smashing new EP on 7 April.
Jocelyn is a luxurious three piece suite of pop confections, each one complimenting the others perfectly. No surprise it’s all so cohesive – they had production wiz Richard Formby (Spacemen 3, Wild Beasts, Ghostpoet) on the dials.
We spend 30 seconds with the PRS Foundation-funded band, ahead of their whistle-stop UK tour, to learn more about their ace new sound…
We first started making music because…
We were all very awkward children with an unwavering commitment to eventually getting laid.
We have been making music since…
We still can’t believe we’ve only been together as a band for 18 months. But before that me & Killian (guitars) were writing and playing together for 5 years developing our sound, working out what we wanted to do and then we met Izzy and it all just slotted into place.
Our music is…
Playful, bold, art-pop. We’re in love with pop music & how we can play around with it to say what we want to say.
You'll like our music if you listen to…
Wild Beasts, Everything Everything, Talking Heads, Flock of Seagulls.
Our favourite venue is…
We’ve been lucky enough to play some really cool venues so it’s hard to pick, we launched our band in a massive church called St Giles in the Fields so that will always have a little soft spot for us. But probably The Old Blue Last, they’re so committed to putting on proper shows and supporting new bands. We’ll be launching the EP there on the 4 April.
Music is important because…
It’s our little way of communicating really. We’re all quite strange little things. There isn’t really much choice for us. We either play music or go out dancing in dark bars. So being able to do both in front of an audience is just lovely.
Our biggest inspiration is…
I think the moment we realised we wanted to be in a band together was when we all sat down to watch Stop Making Sense (Talking Heads).
Our dream collaboration would be…
Right now? Christine and the Queens. <3
To try us out, listen to our song…
Jelly Legs or New Haircut.
If we weren’t making music we’d be…
Running a venue/managing bands/writing.
In 10 years’ time we want to be…
We wouldn’t mind making the next Stop Making Sense.
http://www.playinghouse.co.uk/
Live dates
4 April – Old Blue Last, London
21 April – Full Moon, Cardiff
26 April – The Hifi Ont Sofa Presents, Leeds
29 April – Smithdown Road Festival, Liverpool
29 May – The Victoria, London
Their knack for brutally catchy melodies and soul-searching lyrics mark them out as a new band intent on injecting real depth and honesty back into the primped-up pop machine.
Having only heard of them this January, when they popped down to the Sebright Arms for our Independent Venue Week showcase, we’re tickled pink to learn they’re releasing a smashing new EP on 7 April.
Jocelyn is a luxurious three piece suite of pop confections, each one complimenting the others perfectly. No surprise it’s all so cohesive – they had production wiz Richard Formby (Spacemen 3, Wild Beasts, Ghostpoet) on the dials.
We spend 30 seconds with the PRS Foundation-funded band, ahead of their whistle-stop UK tour, to learn more about their ace new sound…
We first started making music because…
We were all very awkward children with an unwavering commitment to eventually getting laid.
We have been making music since…
We still can’t believe we’ve only been together as a band for 18 months. But before that me & Killian (guitars) were writing and playing together for 5 years developing our sound, working out what we wanted to do and then we met Izzy and it all just slotted into place.
Our music is…
Playful, bold, art-pop. We’re in love with pop music & how we can play around with it to say what we want to say.
You'll like our music if you listen to…
Wild Beasts, Everything Everything, Talking Heads, Flock of Seagulls.
Our favourite venue is…
We’ve been lucky enough to play some really cool venues so it’s hard to pick, we launched our band in a massive church called St Giles in the Fields so that will always have a little soft spot for us. But probably The Old Blue Last, they’re so committed to putting on proper shows and supporting new bands. We’ll be launching the EP there on the 4 April.
Music is important because…
It’s our little way of communicating really. We’re all quite strange little things. There isn’t really much choice for us. We either play music or go out dancing in dark bars. So being able to do both in front of an audience is just lovely.
Our biggest inspiration is…
I think the moment we realised we wanted to be in a band together was when we all sat down to watch Stop Making Sense (Talking Heads).
Our dream collaboration would be…
Right now? Christine and the Queens. <3
To try us out, listen to our song…
Jelly Legs or New Haircut.
If we weren’t making music we’d be…
Running a venue/managing bands/writing.
In 10 years’ time we want to be…
We wouldn’t mind making the next Stop Making Sense.
http://www.playinghouse.co.uk/
Live dates
4 April – Old Blue Last, London
21 April – Full Moon, Cardiff
26 April – The Hifi Ont Sofa Presents, Leeds
29 April – Smithdown Road Festival, Liverpool
29 May – The Victoria, London