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Frontrunners in guitar music’s return to prominence alongside fellow Londoners The Vaccines, Camden four piece Tribes were originally met with countless comparisons to the likes of Nirvana, Suede, even Starsailer, as their sound recaptured the emotionally rooted, sepia tinged sound of the 90's on debut album ‘Baby’.
The fact that Tribes only emerged less than two years ago makes it somewhat hard to believe they are releasing their second album next week. ‘Wish To Scream’ was recorded in LA’s Sound City, the studios Dave Grohl recently made a film about and where Fleetwood Mac recorded their seminal album ‘Rumours’.
Ahead of the album's release, we caught up with Dan from the group to discuss ‘Wish To Scream’, Amy Winehouse and going to the pub with Ray Davies.
Your second album 'Wish To Scream' is released next week, just over a year after 2012's 'Baby', how long has the record actually been in the making?
We pretty much started it immediately. As soon as we finished ‘Baby’ we just kept writing, so once the album was out we started coming up with new ideas.
Were you worried about rushing the ‘difficult second album’?
No not at all. We were presented with the opportunity to go record at Sound City in LA, and we just thought “how could you say no to that?”, so we went for it. We had some words that were written on the road over the last year, and I feel we created something that had more space to it, which we were really happy with.
This album has an overwhelmingly grander, more American feel compared to ‘Baby’, was that something you aimed to achieve before making the record?
I wouldn’t say the record is necessarily grander, I would just say we were looking to find more space in our songs. They were pretty much all written on acoustic guitars on tour, which is perhaps why they’re more laid back. We just wanted to add more depth to our sound and make it fresh.
Watch the video for new single 'Dancehall' below
Were you at all worried about the fans’ reaction to your updated sound?
We had such a great time recording that we really felt like we were making our best music at the time. Obviously you don’t want to let anybody down, because there are a lot of fans that have stuck with us that we don’t want to alienate anyone. We also have to keep learning and progressing though, and that comes from challenging ourselves.
Where is the next location for you to ‘challenge yourself’ then, if you’ve already recorded one album here, and one in the US?
I want to do the next one in London, we come from Camden so it makes sense to record it there. We’ve got some new stuff that we want to get down so we’re just going to focus on that after the festival season this summer.
Coming from Camden, what’s your opinion on the forthcoming Amy Winehouse statue that’s set to go outside the Roundhouse?
I haven’t actually heard about that. I think Amy was a wonderful musician, I met her a few times and she was an incredible woman, I’m not sure how she would feel about a bronze statue though. However I’m sure it will be done in the best possible spirit.
2013 has seen a number of new guitar bands hit the mainstream. Any of the newcomers, such as Peace, The 1975 or Palma Violets, giving you sleepless nights?
Not at all, it’s really cool to see so many great British bands coming through at the moment, Peace and Palma Violets are brilliant, and I look forward to see what they do in the future
Where do you stand on the whole ‘Guitar Music is dead/Guitar Music is the future’ argument?
I don’t get involved with these arguments; it’s such a vacuous subject. Guitar music has always existed, and it may become more popular in a mainstream sense, but it’s just the same argument in the same magazines every Christmas.
Watch the explicit video for past single 'How The Other Half Live' below
What are you listening to at the moment?
I f*cking love Atoms For Peace, I think that’s the coolest album. We saw them at Fuji Rock’s festival last year, and it’s just so loose and open ended, which is wonderful to see live.
What albums are you looking forward to this year?
I’m really looking forward to seeing what The Horrors do next. They’re good friends of mine, and I think the broad nature of their sound best represents our music scene. They’ve always had a real autonomous feel as well; sitting on the fringe as outsiders which I think is really intriguing.
A lot of people are getting excited about the new Beady Eye album. Do you think it will ever be possible for Liam Gallagher to come close to the success he experienced in Oasis?
Who am I to write off Liam Gallagher? The two things I loved most about Oasis was Noel’s guitar playing and Liam’s voice, and I think those two combined is where the magic is, I am a fan of both of their new work though.
And finally, If you could spent the night in the pub with another artist, who would it be and why?
I see Ray Davies around now and then, as he lives near me in North London. He did wave to me once, but I’d love to actually go to the pub with him.
Maybe accidentally walk into him next time you see him…
I have actually tried that, maybe it will work if I just keep doing it.
‘Wish To Scream’ is out May 20th via Island Records.
Below: 13 Reasons to be excited about guitar bands in 2013
