Artist Interviews

Q&A: The Good Natured

By | Published on Tuesday 19 July 2011

The Good Natured

Led by Berkshire-bred waif Sarah McIntosh, who performs and records with her brother (and drummer) Hamish McIntosh and bassist George Hinton, precocious dark-pop three-piece The Good Natured self-released their first EP, the acclaimed ‘Warriors’, in 2008, garnering press attention with this and latter works ‘Be My Animal’ and ‘Your Body Is A Machine’.

Having signed to Parlophone/Regal earlier this year, the trio released latest EP ‘Skeleton’ a few weeks ago, taking their gothic-style slant on compulsive synth-pop listening to its widest audience yet. The band are playing a show tomorrow evening at London’s Hoxton Bar & Kitchen, the first in a string of live dates that include appearances at both legs of this year’s V Festival. Ahead of all this, singer-songwriter Sarah took a spare moment to answer our Same Six Questions.

Q1 How did you start out making music?
I’ve always been into music. As a child I played the recorder (who didn’t?) then I went on to do four grades in the violin and joined a local choir. But when I was fifteen, I really got into music, and took up the drums and put together my own band with three boys. It was fun. We did a lot of local gigs but I got very frustrated with the song writing process, so I thought I’d try doing it on my own. When I was seventeen I wrote my first songs under the pseudonym The Good Natured. I was determined to get them heard and sent them everywhere. And then Huw Stephens played one of them on Radio 1. I couldn’t believe it! And basically, I’ve been doing that ever since. The Good Natured has slowly formed into a band now, consisting of myself, my brother Hamish, and our drummer George.

Q2 What inspired your latest album?
Our debut album is due for release early 2012, I’m writing and recording it now. It’s inspired by emotions and experiences that I have been through. Every song is a story to me.

Q3 What process do you go through in creating a track?
The process differs every time. Sometimes it starts with a musical idea and other times it’s lyrically inspired. I wouldn’t say there was a fixed process as such, it just depends on how I feel at the time!

Q4 Which artists influence your work?
My parents have the most amazing record collection which has inspired me from a young age. I’d say Siouxsie And The Banshees, Blondie, The Cure and Japan have all influenced me. I also love the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Q5 What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time?
I would say that they were about to listen to pop with a darker side to it. I’d describe it as ‘pop with a heart’.

Q6 What are your ambitions for your latest album, and for the future?
We want to have a very successful debut album and go on an amazing tour!

MORE>> www.thegoodnatured.co.uk



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