Getting to know... Llovers

Catch the band at Dork's Easter show.

Dork’s throwing an Easter Party this very weekend and it’s going to be a blast. Anteros are headlining, supported by lovely newcomers Superglu and - as you may have guessed by now - Llovers, who’ve spared us a few minutes to answer some questions. Fancy coming to see them this evening? They’re playing the Old Blue Last in London today, Saturday 31st March, and entry is absolutely free. Nice one.

Hey Jack, David, when did you realise you wanted to make music, did you have a musical upbringing? Jack: I think I knew from a very early age because music was absolutely everything to me as a kid. I didn't have much in terms of formal music lessons, but my parents always had a fairly strong taste in music. I can very distinctly remember hearing Bowie's 'Life on Mars' in my Dad's car and just thinking to myself, 'What the hell is this?' and getting the most amazing feeling. From that moment on I just lived for tracks that packed a punch and energy.

How did you guys get together? David: Me and Jack met while working part-time in McDonald's. We joke about how it's our means to escape the Golden Arches. Anyway, we've been in a number of bands separately, one day it came to a point where we thought we'd start something fresh, so we enlisted Joe and Matty with whom we released a few tracks. Then recently we got Ben on board, who's Joe's brother, to play keys for us.

Tell us about the singles you’ve released so far. Jack: 'Borderlands', 'Feeling Sound', 'I Don't Mind' and 'Just Lust'. Thematically they're all very similar; there's a lot of focus on the idea of time and how it affects emotions and how this filters through to dictate our actions. We try not to be too bold and make brash statements about the way that things should be or how they are, instead focusing on how things make us feel and respond, that way our music is as honest as it possibly can be because, regardless of subject matter, it's about us. I think people can relate to that. In terms of the music, the tracks are all over the shop. As we're self-recorded we don't have anyone to tell us what we can or can't do, so we really try to have fun with it, trying to fit different sounds and aesthetics into our music while we have that creative freedom. We might not have that further down the line when working with labels or producers, as well as this the restrictions that writing a single body of work such as an album imposes means that while we're just collating singles, we might as well take them in whichever direction we feel at the time.

What’s been the highlight of your time as a musician? David: It’s always proper nice when you see people singing lyrics back, or coming up to us after we’ve played and having a really nice conversation. I don’t think I’ll ever get bored of that. We’ve had some good achievements on paper as well, but I think the interactions we’ve all had are way more meaningful to us.

What would you most like to achieve during your music career? Jack: I'd really love to write a concept album. I really love writing music. From that, I like to listen to albums and really try to understand the overall theme or message that artists try to convey. To do it in a 3-minute track is great, but to achieve that gravity throughout an album is insane. I'd love to manage it, even if my mams the only one to hear it.

What do you guys do for fun? David: I’m in my final year of University, so I’ve forgotten what fun is. I think the band is kind of my release from all the stress. I think everyone in the band feels the same; it’s something that we started because we all enjoy playing music and it’s spiralled into this, which is great.Are you pals with any other bands? David: There’s loads of mint bands coming out of Teesside that we just know from playing around the area - PLAZA, Avalanche Party and Cape Cub just to name a few. Also, when I was living in Brighton, I used to work at the same horrible call centre as Jack from The Magic Gang, this was a few years ago now.

What are you working on at the mo? Jack: We're in a perpetual state of recording these days. We have a lot of material to get through, so it's just about getting as much of it prepared as possible. We should have a new track out around early April.

Do you have big plans for over the summer? David: We’re heading out and doing a few dates around the UK in June, as well as a few festivals here and there.

Are there any acts you’re especially looking forward to seeing during festival season? Jack: I really want to see Bloxx at some point this summer, I'm digging everything I hear about those guys at the moment. David: I’m really into Methyl Ethel, it would be nice to catch them. Also, Paramore’s new album is wild. I used to proper be into them when I was in school and thought I’d outgrown them, but no, the new album is sick. Jack: I second that.

Llovers play Dork’s free Easter Party at the Old Blue Last, London on Saturday 31st March. Factfile Who's in the band: David (Vox, Guitar); Jack (Vox, Guitar); Joe (Backing Vox, Bass); Matty (Drums); Ben (Keys)

How long have you been together: 1 year 1/4

Where are you from: Teesside

What musical pigeon-hole can we shoehorn you into: Dreampop, maybe

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