Little Comets Interview

Little Comets started a small wave of hysteria back in their hometown of Newcastle in 2009. Now the four lads from the North East have their sights firmly set on the rest of the UK.

As their infectious debut album ‘In Search Of Elusive’ is released this week, Gigwise caught up with lead singer Robert Coles about how the band met over courgettes and how they plan to stay firmly rooted up North.

How are things at the moment for the band? You’re currently on tour?

Yeah were just in Scotland at the moment, driving to the venue. We started in Liverpool and it’s been non-stop since then, I’m pretty tired already.

How was the last year for the band? Did you spend most of it recording your debut?

We spent a bit of time finishing it off because our guitarist produced it all.  We did a few little bits and bobs here and there; we spent a lot of time just perfecting the album and getting used to all of the stuff that’s been happening to us. We’ve spent a lot of time gigging around Europe and the UK; we had the trouble with the label so by the end of the year we started releasing things our way.

What’s the background behind how the band started?

Were all from the Newcastle area, me and Mickey are brothers. We met Matt when me and Mickey used to work in a green grocers. We used to have control of the stereo and when I was out one day Matt was in buying courgettes for his mam and we started talking about the music on the stereo.  He started talking about David Bowie and we were mates since then.

How did you find the music scene back home at the time? Did you find things happened for the band quite fast?

To be honest I don’t think we paid much attention, we tried to put on our own gigs playing with bands we liked in Newcastle and we started playing in some strange places. I think we’ve found that when we played our music people generally liked it so we wanted to play in places that had a captive audience. So Mickey had the idea of playing on Metros and lecture theatres just so people had to listen.  We’ve always tried to do things a little bit differently as we’ve found music has become really generic.

What are your own personal tastes in music?

We have massively different tastes; Mark’s a big fan of Status Quo, Matt loves the Beatles but is also a bit of a Metal head, me and Mickey like classic singer/songwriters like Paul Simon and Bob Dylan.  I suppose we like a mix of everything, we read about new stuff and pick up on that.


How long had the debut been in the pipeline? As you signed a record deal with Columbia then left late last year.

Yeah the problem was that we had lots of arguments with Columbia but one that we managed to win was that we could record the album ourselves.  So after we left we managed to hijack the album back from them.  It was good that we had the ownership over it, as we recorded it.  When we signed to our new label they just let us get on with it, let us be as creative as we wanted.

What was the main process of recording the album?

We tend not to demo things that much we try and record them there and then.  So we used the original samples from the first recording, changed them slightly and put them through nicer equipment.  We recorded it quite a bit in Newcastle in a school and an old television centre, then we finished it off by going to France in the middle of the countryside.  We ate so much cheese every day.  A lot of bands will go to London to record but there are too many distractions by the record label popping in.  I think it was nice that we were able to be pretty focused.

How does the writing process within the band work?

Most of the time me and Mickey will come up with an idea and then we’ll play it.  Whilst were jamming it the song will form from there.  I think we do most of the work in the recording stage; look at all the parts and how they fit together.  I think Mickey likes to be really logical and make sure that everything has the right place.  We listen to a lot of classical music and the great thing to try and adopt from that is that every instrument has a point in every single note that’s played.  So when you’re recording a song you should really hone in on that.

What is the main sound of the album?

I think it’s quite beat driven, Mickey’s spent a lot of time on the drums getting the sound right and there’s quite a distinction on the bass sound. I think in a melodic sense it tends to be quite hooky and major key.  The lyrics are a major contrast to the sound as they can be quite dark and a little bit more sinister than you think.

What are the plans for the year ahead?

I think we just want to carry on touring in new places, we’re doing a couple of gigs in Ireland which should be good and the over to America in March providing we get through customs.  Then hopefully we will be playing at some of the big festivals over the summer.

Do you enjoy being on tour?

Yeah loads. We’re doing a lot of stuff from the album, I think it’s nice to try and change it now and again, play things that aren’t just straight from the album.  Playing live is always a good challenge.

Are you planning to stay up North if it all goes well?

Me and Mickey have just moved to Birmingham because that’s where our girlfriends are from so where just starting to get settled down there.  The other two still live in Newcastle; our family are still there so we pop back up most of the time.  Were still based musically up North, we’d never move it London.  I don’t see the point, I think it’s nice to go there but I wouldn’t want to live there.