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Having risen like a phoenix from the flames toward the end of 2004, Embrace are currently enjoying new found heights of popularity. Their fourth album ‘Out Of Nothing’ has shifted over half a million copies, and they’re now preparing for a trip across the Atlantic, as well as hosting their own outdoor shows in Leeds at the end of May. Central to their epic anthems and touching ballads is keyboard player Mickey Dale, so Gigwise got on the phone to him before he performed at another sold-out gig…
Gigwise: Six months ago ‘Out Of Nothing’ was about to be released, how were you feeling?
Mickey Dale: It was really weird having to go back to a job after we finished what we thought was and still think is the album of our lives, but every time I walked through the office of the agency I’d see ‘Gravity’ on the telly. There was a sense right then that it was building better than ever before. Three years in the wilderness, writing the album, having no money, and having to get day jobs was scary.
G: You’re now onto the second tour for this album, how’s this one going?
MD: Brilliant, we’re playing lots of new songs after to going out to Spain in January. We had a big writing session and we’re going to Olympic Studios in London with Youth when we come back from America. The soundchecks and the gigs have been a good opportunity to test the new material.
G: What has been the best gig so far?
MD: Barrowlands (Glasgow) is always absolutely amazing, all the bands say that but there is a magical atmosphere and you can see the punters on stage. Manchester was good as well, because the venue is beautiful and the crowd there is always mad. The big surprise was Wolverhampton, we haven’t played there for so long and they were fucking mental. We played our arses off and were jumping around at the end like it was Christmas Day.
G: How was writing for the new album in Spain?
MD: It was intense; Youth has built a studio out there, where you look out onto snow-capped mountains. We were starting at 11 everyday and not stopping until 11 at night, just jamming. We got through so many ideas that trying to play them live we have to refer back to rough mixes, 23 songs in 10 days is motoring compared to 18 months for the first record!
G: How would you describe the sound of the new material?
MD: It’s quite diverse, there’s a lot going on. There’s not much in the way of piano-ballads, but there’s a lot of rocking guitar stuff. The energy has gone right up, and scale as well, they’re big songs with big choruses. With ‘Out Of Nothing’ we tried to limit the pallet and keep it ‘classic’, this one will probably have more electronics.
G: How has the band developed?
MD: The big changes have happened recently in how we work together. The last two tracks of ‘Out Of Nothing’ were written by the five of us and Youth, jamming from a blank page. The same thing happened in Spain, and the first day was really productive with 2 or 3 songs, and on the last day we came up with ‘Contender’, which I think is brilliant. ‘New Song Number One’ I think is really cool, and ‘This New Day’ is blinding.
G: Is there a potential release date for the fifth album?
MD: No, we don’t want to rush ourselves too much, but we’ll record when we get back from America and then go back there to support Snow Patrol. We might finish recording that batch of songs and then find that we need three or four more, so I don’t want to start thinking about having it completed when you might find you need more.
G: Is there pressure to capitalise on your current success?
MD: Yes, but that’s mainly from us because we want to keep the momentum going as we’re in a really good place. We can work a lot quicker now, we gel together much better, and Youth is very impatient in the studio – he won’t stand for any messing about.
G: What are the plans for America?
MD: We fly out to LA for a day of promo and then a small club gig, then the same in San Francisco before a weekend off in New York, and a sold-out show there on the Monday. We want to work our arses off and do well out there, we haven’t been in 8 years, and it’d be fantastic to be successful there. We want to really impress crowds.
G: How are you feeling about the A Glorious Day shows?
MD: When we booked that we thought it take ages to sell, so when it went in hours we were confident and thought we’d do two nights. They’re going to be amazing, like a mini-festival, we’re going to have a shit-hot lighting show and not skimp on the PA, we’re going to put on a proper do. We’ve also got a good spread of support bands, something for everyone. I’ve heard good things about The Ordinary Boys, who look insane from some live photos I’ve seen, and Thirteen Senses are great – it should be a big after-show!
G: You’ve got a reputation as fan-friendly band…
MD: It started off with the secret gigs, which gave the fans a chance to get close to us and let us get to know them quite well. They become kind of like family, who you can talk to really openly. The Spain thing, taking fans out there, we met some really cool people. It feels like a community, and it’s really important as is the message board, and we’re happy to build that.
G: What has been your favourite secret gig? And what would be your dream location for one?
MD: SG14 (a yacht in Spain) was amazing and rewarding because I was really involved in the planning. It started off as a low-key thing, but we scaled it up by making a documentary, so we had to fly out film crews and all our gear – it became a logistical nightmare. I was proud to be involved without fucking it up! The Scotland one just before Christmas was funny because Rick forgot one of my keyboards, so we had to use my laptop for some of the songs. My ultimate secret gig would be on Alcatraz, but it’d cost a fortune and we’d probably get arrested!
G: What about plans for the rest of the year?
MD: There are a few festivals, T In The Park, V Festival, and Isle of Wight. Then we’re going to have some time off, and then there will be the album to mix in September, with an aim of releasing early next year. There might be more touring as well, and while we wouldn’t want to lose the intimacy of smaller venues, it’d be nice to take the next step up.
With that Mr Dale bids Gigwise goodbye and rejoins the rest of Embrace, a band who have earned a second shot in the music industry - and with the ambition spelled out during the conversation, you get the feeling this time they won't give it up so easily.
