This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Artist Interviews
Q&A: The Wombats
By CMU Editorial | Published on Friday 6 November 2009
This three-piece indie band from Liverpool formed in 2003 after meeting at the city’s Institute for Performing Arts. Comprised of two native Liverpudlians – Matthew Murphy and Dan Haggis – and one Norwegian, Tord Overland-Knudsen, The Wombats have become rather well known for creating their own brand of danceable indie rock.
Initially signed to indie label Kids Records in 2005, with whom they released three singles, the band came to wider attention after joining the 14th Floor Records roster, most notably with the 2007 release of breakthrough single ‘Let’s Dance To Joy Division’ and then debut album ‘A Guide To Love, Loss & Desperation’. We’re telling you all this today because The Wombats are set to play Dubai Sound City tomorrow night, which seemed liked as good an excuse as any to ask frontman Murphy our Same Six Questions.
Q1 How did you start out making music?
I used to play classical guitar, which I was forced into (more or less) by my Dad. Eventually I became bored of that, and wanted to delve deeper into the creative element of music. I have to say I find it much more rewarding in almost every aspect.
Q2 What inspired your latest single?
We don’t really have a new single at the moment, so I’ll tell you about my latest song. I was driving from London to Liverpool a few weeks ago, and nearly found myself in a fairly serious car crash. Luckily no one was hurt, but there was a lot of skidding in and out of lanes, and the car in front ended up facing the wrong way down the motorway. The song is about ‘what if the worst had happened blah blah’. I guess it’s a fairly morbid topic for a song, but it’s a good challenge to see how breezy I could make it feel! As a band we have a good knack of making the most miserable of lyrics feel almost joyous.
Q3 How do you go about creating a track?
So far, I will write the bulk of the song, play it to the guys. Then we arrange it, add things or take them away, and decide on the general direction the song should go down. Some newer songs have come from little riffs of melodies that we found in the rehearsal room, then I would take these away and write a song around them.
Q4 Which artists influence your work?
I can never answer this question. We try to draw from as much music as we can.
Q5 What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time?
Hope you like it.
Q6 What are your ambitions for your latest album, and for the future?
I want our second album to offer something slightly different to our fans, whilst still retaining the qualities they liked in the first place. It has to further our craft and step our career up a notch too. But I just hope people like it basically!
MORE>> www.thewombats.co.uk
