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Artist Interviews
Q&A: The Sunshine Underground
By CMU Editorial | Published on Tuesday 18 May 2010
The Sunshine Underground are an indie rock four-piece based in Leeds. Their debut album, ‘Raise The Alarm’, was released in 2006 on City Rockers, followed by appearances on the European festival circuit as well as a sold out headline tour and support slots for LCD Soundsystem, which saw them earn ‘Live Band Of The Year’ at the Leeds Music Awards. The band have just released their new single ‘Spell It Out’, taken from second album ‘Nobody’s Coming To Save You’, again via City Rockers. Amongst a string of UK dates over the next month, The Sunshine Underground are set to play at Liverpool Sound City on 22 May. We caught up with bassist Daley Smith to ask the Same Six ahead of Saturday’s gig.
Q1 How did you start out making music?
I started learning an instrument when I was twelve or thirteen. Luckily there was a youth club near my house that had practice rooms and amps, which were free to use. We were encouraged to get into bands by the youth workers really early on.
Q2 What inspired your latest album?
We wanted the album to be an extension of the first album, only better, faster and stronger. We wanted bigger songs and louder guitars, and harder beats.
Q3 What process do you go through in creating a track?
When writing the last album we got through lots of songs that just didn’t make the grade. Someone would bring an idea to the practice room, and we would bash it out until it reached its conclusion – and then dump it.
Q4 Which artists influence your work?
We all have very different influences, but meet somewhere in the middle. We all appreciate bands with longevity. Blur and Radiohead are both bands who have changed and experimented with their sound and that’s something we admire too.
Q5 What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time?
I would probably steer them in the direction of my favourite songs. Probably ‘Spell It Out’ then ‘The Messiah’. Then probably point out my favourite bits from every song.
Q6 What are your ambitions for your latest album, and for the future?
We have just released the last single ‘Spell It Out’ from the second album. So we are playing all over to promote it. We should be touring again towards the end of the year. We are also working on new material for our third album. We’re trying out new directions, keeping things fresh, and seeing where we can take it. It will be a nice surprise for everyone. We just want to continue progressing artistically and reach new heights.
MORE>> www.tsuarmy.blogspot.com
