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The UK’s next big thing, White Lies, are poised to take over the US as well. They will be here with Friendly Fires on March 26 and 27 at the Bowery Ballroom (tickets still available). Their debut album To Lose My Life comes out on March 17. What to know more? Check out this interview with drummer Jack Brown:
Big Apple Music Scene: Your music has a great energy. What kind of process do you have when you are writing new songs?
White Lies: On our album we wrote songs in two different ways. Five of the tracks were written very slowly and methodically over a period of months before going in to record the album–including the songs “Death” and “EST”–while the other five tracks on the album were written very quickly in the studio over a period of days–such as “To Lose My Life” and “Price of Love.” The tracks we wrote in the studio benefited hugely from the pressure of having to write them so quickly, and I think you can hear the tension in the music, which adds a different dimension to the sound. In general, when songwriting, the song’s structure is massively important to us, and we take a lot of time working on building songs up very gradually, and changing the mood and atmosphere as the track progresses.
BAMS: Have you guys ever played SXSW before? Are you excited/nervous?
White Lies: Never played SXSW before and we are very very excited about it. We’ve heard many a wild tale from Texas and it’s exciting to be going over just before the album drops in America. We’re doing one show at Stubb’s which I have heard is the place to be, so maybe a little added pressure there, but I think we’ll be fine. I’m also excited as the independent label I am involved in running, Chess Club Records, is showcasing out there too! Wednesday night at SXSW @ Friends Bar. Check it out!
BAMS: How does it feel to shoot to fame in the UK so quickly?
White Lies: I wouldn’t say we’ve found fame just yet, but it certainly feels good to achieve some massive milestones so early in our career. The band is only a year and a half old, but we’ve already been around the world touring, and had a number one album in the UK so we’re having an amazing time. To be honest though, we don’t dwell on our success so far too much, we try to keep looking forward and figuring out our next challenge and the best ways to keep progressing as a band.
BAMS: Do you think you have a classic British sound or do you just use that as a starting off point?
White Lies: I’m not too sure what a classic British sound is really. There are bands from every generation who’s sound has defined a time in music, but we don’t really take influence from just one period of music. As a band we all have very different musical tastes and I think our sound is simply a combination of all these things–everything from Scott Walker to QOTSA, Talking Heads to Secret Machines and Blonde Redhead to name a few important ones. Harry’s voice is definitely very strong and a definitive aspect of the band’s sound, and we’re lucky it comes so naturally to him. His voice is probably the most British thing about our sound.
BAMS: How did you come up with your band name?
White Lies: We just liked the sound of it. We have compared it to naming a child, in that there is no real reason for the name you pick, it just feels right. That’s how we felt with White Lies–it just fits with our music.
BAMS: Any crazy tour stories?
White Lies: Many, I’m sure, but they all sort of blur into one after a while. I definitely tore my intercostal muscles (ones between the ribs) whilst crashing a go kart somewhere outside Chicago last year. They are yet to fully heal due to constant touring. Also we were recently asked to sing the American national anthem at a basketball game when we’re over in March. I don’t think that’s going to happen though, we’d feel a bit weird and everyone would think we’re taking the piss or something…
Images: Angela Wolf, Filter