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White Rose Movement thought they'd be doing their pre-gig interview in the cosy pub behind Camden's Koko, but the Duke Spirit have commandeered it for their album launch party and it's busier than Santa at Christmas. So we head to the Purple Turtle across the road, but there's a death metal night on. We'll blatantly never hear the interview on playback if we do it here. In despair, we head to the Chavtastic Wetherspoons across the road, but the Arsenal game's on the big screen and there's nearly as many folk inside there as there is at Highbury. The band are starting to look a bit deflated but are trying to keep their spirits up. "We could do it in the park," offers Finn (vox/guitar) with a wry smile. The park gates are locked. So to top this comedy of errors, we do what all self-respecting interviewers would do, and conduct the interview...at the fucking bus stop! Taxi for Gigwise (or the 253 - it's cheaper!).
White Rose Movement are: Finn Vine (vocals, guitar) Jasper Milton (guitar) Owen Dyke (bass) Taxxi (keys) and Ed Harper (drums). A motley crue with a spiky pop sensibility, inspired by a collective love affair with '80s pioneers such as Depeche Mode and DAF. Perched precariously on those skinny, red plastic benches only found at bus shelters, the band are gracious about their surroundings and our interview technique. “It’s fine, we don’t mind. We haven’t done that many interviews, so we’re pretty nervous anyway.” Despite having hosted several cool underground parties to all those trendsters in London's East End, which have been the scene of much creative debauchery over the last 12 months, with the likes of M.I.A. performing and Chris Cunningham DJing, the band aren’t indigenous to the capital. They’re actually from Norfolk. Keen to eschew any parallels with the capital’s fickle music scene, they’re “tempted to say we’re a Norfolk band rather than a London band. We’re London based, but not a London band,” says Jasper. ”Well, let’s say we’re an East Anglian band, because it has the word angle in it,” says Finn. Er, ok.
They signed to Independiente in 2004 and within a couple of weeks working with the-man-with-the-midas-touch, producer Paul Epworth, they'd recorded debut single 'Love is a Number', out sometime in June, although it “keeps getting put back”, says Jasper. Queries about what to expect from the single and the sound of the band as a whole are met with shrugged shoulders and “dunnos” from the band. “We obviously hope it’s gonna be well received, it’s been played by a lot of DJs,” says Jasper. Indeed – it’s been a favourite at Erol Alkan’s Trash club since the white label was pressed. “It’s a cross-over track” sniffs Taxxi – with an air of Scandinavian cool. “But it doesn’t take it too far in the dance direction, even though you could dance to it, I wouldn’t call it a dance record.”
Taking producer Paul Epworth’s recent bands’ success into account (Bloc Party, Maximo Park), it could be somewhat prophetic in the success WRM may embark upon. “We met Paul at the right time,” says Jasper. “Our single moves away from those bands you mentioned though,” says Taxxi. “People are starting to talk about us on the back of one track; the record’s talking for itself.”
This is their first tour (supporting the Kills) which has been a winner in WRM’s camp. “It’s amazing getting to watch them every night,” says Taxxi. They’ve really got it down and they’ve looked after us. They just fucking give it all every night. It’s inspiring.”
Their electronic sounds earned them early support slots in Glasgow’s Arches with Felix Da Housecat and Miss Kitten, which was somewhat amusing: “Someone told us the crowd wouldn’t be expecting guitars. We were told that they’d probably throw bottles at us and we thought, ‘wicked’. Everyone was ripped on Es and were friendly, so it was alright. We met some good characters there,” laughs Finn.
Mindful of the fact that we’re shivering at the bus stop and the band are due onstage pretty soon, we let them get on their way to the venue. “Our album,” they shout over their shoulder en-route to the gig, “will be finished soon. People will either get it or they won’t. There’ll be no grey, middle indie ground,” they assert. And having seen their brand of spiky, punchy, electro-rock, Gigwise is in full agreement. They’re playing at the Isle of Wight Bestival in June - a must see this summer.
