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The Violets have been quietly building up quite a following in London for several years now with their jagged, feedback enfused guitar noises and the enigmatic brilliance of front woman Alexis. However 2007 looks set to be the year they shrug off the tag of promising newcomers and finally garner the countrywide attention they deserve. Here we bring you a short Q&A with the band for those of you yet to discover their off kilter world. Read on...
Who are the Violets?
Alexis (Voice), Andrew (Drums), and Joe (Noise).
How did you begin?
We bumped into each other whilst hanging around the Pirate cemetery in Deptford. My great-great Grandad is buried there. He was involved in a smuggling ring in Margate.
What are you musical influences - current and past?
Pop music in all of its shapes and forms. For example, Read About Seymour by Swell Maps, Runaway by Del Shannon, and Wild Beasts recent single, Brave Bulging Bouyant Clairvoyants.
Describe your music?
Feral pop.
What is a Violets gig like for the audience?
Unsettling, exciting. People always talk about our 'scary' frontwoman...
What's been the most exciting aspect of being in the Violets so far?
Making records, releasing records, playing gigs, playing gigs with bands we like, putting on our own events, making videos, writing new songs. Everything apart from waiting around.
Where do you hope to take the band?
I don't think about things like that. I live in the present, like a Scientologist.
What sets you apart from your musical peers?
Our peerlessness.
Plans for the next year or so?
We're making an album soon. And it would be great to tour lots and play abroad as much as possible.
What is your assessment of the current indie scene in the UK at the moment?
The kids are definitely being shortchanged, if you compare the music of today to the last time that indie music was quite big, Britpop had a lot more going for it than today's mainstream indie. There are a couple of exceptions, but most guitar bands are terrible. As usual there's loads of great music out there, but it seems to remain in the shadows. Maybe its better that way.
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