Interview: exlovers
Posted by: nick
Music Mule got to interview the wonderful exlovers prior to their EP launch party at The Lexington which turned out to be a storming performance. We liked them so much that we’ve booked them for our next Acoustic Consequences night. Here’s what exlovers Pete (vocals/guitar) and Laurel (vocals) had to say anyway…
What is your favourite song to play live?
Laurel: For me at the moment it’s the one we open with. What’s it called again?
Pete: “A moment that Keeps Repeating”.
Laurel: We have a habit of keeping songs without names for a while.
Pete: Mine changes but at the moment I’m really enjoying “Photobooth”.
What is your first memory of playing live as exlovers?
Laurel: The Windmill (Brixton) is the first memory. It was actually alright our first gig! I don’t think it was our worse. We only rehearsed for about two weeks before we played.
What was the last really memorable gig you played?
Laurel: I think the last one here (The Lexington) was really good, it was with Young & Lost Club. There was a really great atmosphere and crowd and it’s always good to play a Young & Lost night.
Pete: The sound seems to be really good in this venue.
Laurel: Yep it’s a huge factor.
Pete: We can’t afford our own sound man.
Who was the last artist/band you shared a stage with that made you think – “damn this is good!”?
Pete: I don’t think we’ve ever played with a good band.
(laughter)
Laurel: Pete & The Pirates, we love them and love playing with them.
Pete: Yep, Pete & The Pirates, let’s leave it at that.
Do you have any strange rituals you go through when playing?
Pete: We’re not a very ritualistic kind of band.
Laurel: No high fives in the back room!
Pete: We pick our noses and eat each other’s bogies, not even our own.
Laurel: It builds up our immunity.
What’s the most memorable gig you’ve seen?
Pete: I really liked seeing Spiritualised at an ATP event not too long ago.
Laurel: Mine’s probably The Breeders at Black Heath Hall on their first ever comeback tour about five years ago.
You get to curate a festival stage. You’re playing on it and you get to pick five others, three current and two not around anymore, who would they be?
Laurel: PJ Harvey, as a current one.
Pete: The Beatles and Nirvana for old ones. My Bloody Valentine are kind of current. The Lemonheads. Actually I probably wouldn’t anymore, I didn’t really dig their new album.
Laurel: The Breeders and PJ Harvey would be the ultimate for me.
Pete: The Shins would be pretty cool.
MM: Ok I think that’ll do it!
Laurel: We could easily curate a whole festival.
What have you been listening to lately?
Laurel: I listen to a lot of The Lemonheads, The Breeders, PJ Harvey but not that many new bands.
Pete: Bon Iver is pretty good as far as new bands go.
In olden times people weren’t thought to be geniuses, they ‘had geniuses’, it was a spirit that attached itself to you, animal or otherwise. What would your genius be?
Pete: It would probably take the shape of some kind of muscle-clad hero, which is quite homosexual. Maybe Schwarzanegger or Bruce Willis.
Laurel: Would it? That’s interesting! Is that how you feel when you create?!
Pete: I think there’s a Brice Willis inside me trying to get out.
Laurel: Ha ha so your creative spirit is Bruce Willis! I like that.
Pete: Yep my creative spirit would be Bruce Willis. That’s a horrible answer!
Laurel: Mine would be some kind of ethereal meanie that keeps deserting me when I need them.
MM: Which one of those would win in a fight?
Laurel: Probably my ethereal meanie!
Pete: Mine’s Bruce Willis!
Laurel: But mine’s invisible so he wouldn’t see it coming. But it does desert me when I need it so it would probably pansy out.
mp3: Ex Lovers – A Moment That Keeps Repeating
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buy: exlovers – You Forget So Easily EP