More about: Suede

Suede are a band of such immeasurable influence, a complete package with a far reaching aesthetic that touches on sound, vision and beyond. It stands to reason that they should be a band of wide-ranging influences, interests and passions. 

We met frontman Brett Anderson shortly before they released their incredible new album, Night Thoughts. It's since been heralded as one of Suede's best - not just by Gigwise but by fans, critics and the world at large. Creatively, Suede are at the peak of their powers.

But there's obviously got to be creative influences that fuel that fire of Anderson's, and so we asked him about some of his favourite new music, books, and films. Come with us, as we dig deep into Brett Anderson's top picks.

What have you been listening to recently?

"The track that I'm obsessed with at the moment is a song called 'Blue and Yellow Light'  by The Duke Spirit. I never really heard much of The Duke Spirit that's really done it for me before, but this new song's amazing. I'm really excited about the album which is out that's called KIN."

"There's also a band called The Organ from years ago that passed me by, that I really like actually. An American band, the singer sounds like a cross between Debbie Harry and Patti Smith. I love that."

Anyone else?

"I like Foals. They're a strange band I don't quite know what their influences are. The whole concept of influences is a slightly dull concept, it's one of those things that uninspired interviewers always ask. Their influence thing is really fascinating though. Their guitar playing sounds like Femi Cuti or something like that but obviously with an alternative structure to the song. Yeah, I love the Foals, they're great."

"Also, Joanna Newsome's Divers. I think that's great! I think she's really interesting - a fascinating artist."

What are the classic albums you always go back to?

"I don't really listen to much music that I listed to when I was a kid. The thing is about those classic songs, The Smiths, Sex Pistols, and Bowie - they were the three most important acts for me - is I don't ever listen to them. It's not disrespectful, because every single second, every moment of those songs is in my head, and it's so familiar to me I can almost sit here and replay it in my head. I don't kind of need to listen to it in a funny sort of way.

"I find it exciting finding new music. That thrill of finding a new band. Hearing something that really excites that's really amazing. Every time that Duke Spirit song came on the radio I rushed to the radio and turn it up. I kind of felt like a teenager again - it's so exciting."

How about literature?

"I read about two novels a week so.."

OK, so just your favourite three or four?

"I love Sebastian Faulks, he's one of my favourite writers. I can't read things that aren't beautifully written. I have to read things that are beautifully written. I can't read things that are just a good story. I can't stand blockbuster literature. I find it poorly written, it's all about the plot rather than the detail. 

"There's a writer who I didn't really know called Tessa Hadley, who I absolutely love and she writes about incredibly about complex family relationships. It's very subtle documentation of British live which I really love. I find her books absolutely beautiful. They're really readable. They're not really about anything, they don't have a plot, they're just about people hanging out and meeting. It's about the way that the scenes are drawn, it's beautiful.

"I also like Suburban Noir novels. I love Louise Doughty and Sabine Durrant. I find that genre quite good fun."

Any films that you would recommend?

"It's different with films. I don't listen to old music, but with films, a film that I love, I watch over and over again. There's a film called Jean Des Florette and the sequel's called Manon Des Sources, that I absolutely love and it's made in the '80s by Claude Berri. It's such a beautiful film. Again, the characters are so beautifully drawn, they're so subtle and lovely. I always take it on tour with me and it's a real comfort. I watch it night after night on tour. It's like music to me, it makes me happy."

Night Thoughts by Suede is out now - read our review here.

Suede's 2016 tour dates are as follows, and tickets are on sale now. Get tickets and more information here.

Suede will play:

FEBRUARY:

Monday 8 - Glasgow -Royal Concert Hall
Tuesdayt 9 - Manchester- Albert Hall
Wenesday 10 - Dublin - Olympia Theatre
Friday 12 - London - The Forum
Sunday 14 - Leeds - 02 Academy 

More about: Suede