It’s not super surprising that Leeds foursome L’objectif have produced their excellent debut single ‘Drive In Mind’, a track full of moody discontent, having been together for four-five years. They should be pretty good by now, right? Cos that’s ages in band years. The unexpected bit is that they got together when they were only 12, so are still only 16-17 – something you’re probably going to read a lot when it comes to this bunch, because bloody hell???? Schoolmates Saul Kane (vocals, guitar) and Louis Bullock (drums), plus later additions Ezra Glennon (bass) and Dan Richardson (guitar), are now signed to Chess Club Records, and have plenty more to come…
Hi Saul, how’s it going? What are you up to today?
Everything’s all good, I’m off to rehearsal later in the day but apart from that not doing much at all.
What first sparked your interest in music, have you always wanted to be a musician? What did you grow up listening to?
Yeah definitely always wanted to do music; I’ve loved it from a young age, I guess. Even when I couldn’t play an instrument, I just wanted to be on stage playing it in some way. When I was younger, none of my family could play an instrument, but I grew up on their taste, I suppose. The first bands I was introduced to were probably The Smiths and The Stone Roses, so I’ve always been into that kind of music.
And what do you listen to now? Who do you find exciting?
I listen to all sorts really, spend a lot of my time trying to find more artists to become obsessed with. Right now, though, I have been listening to someone called Salami Rose Joe Louis; her music is blissful. Also Dry Cleaning, they are amazing.
Is being a musician living up to the hype?
I don’t think we have reaped all the rewards from it yet; we need to get out there and play gigs in front of people. It’s something we have barely experienced as a band. Also, we are all still in school, so I wouldn’t say it is full time just yet, but the art is what is important, and I’ve done that for as long as I can remember.
How’s Leeds at the mo? Where do you guys like hanging out, and what do you do for fun?
Leeds is great. We would normally be watching gigs every other night if we could, or playing them. Dan, our guitarist, skates so he spends a lot of time in skate parks around Leeds, we play football lots as well.
You guys got together super young, right? How has the band developed since then?
The band formed with me and Louis, our drummer, when we were like 12. We spent a lot of time just practising in my basement or garage. Since then, Dan and Ezra (bass) fluctuated in and out of the band before we fully formed as a four-piece only seven months ago. Things have kicked off since then.
How did you end up signing with Chess Club Records?
We uploaded a track to BBC Introducing feedback Friday on Twitter; we made sure we were the first to upload our track, and Will Street co-founder of Chess Club was giving feedback in that session. Chess Club replied, bigging us up. We were stoked but then thought nothing else of it from it. A few minutes later, we got an email from Chess Club asking for more tracks and information on us, and things just went from there.
What do you most enjoy writing songs about? Are there any themes or sounds you’re drawn to?
I don’t always even enjoy writing songs; I do it so often that I go through an array of emotions each time. I’m drawn to things that make me feel something – music, art, film, people. I try to replicate that feeling in the music. Doesn’t always work, and that’s why I don’t always enjoy it; most of the time, I do, however.
We hear you have a new single coming, what can you tell us about it? How does it compare to ‘Drive In Mind’?
It’s completely different. In all honesty, I don’t think I’ve ever wrote a song like ‘Drive In Mind’ before, but each song is definitely different in its own way. This next one is more poppy, elements of dream pop, jazz, funk. I’d like to think it’s catchy; it’s good.
What else are you working on?
Lots of things planned, the music will just keep coming, and shows as well when we can, exciting things in store.
Is there anything else we should know?
Not that I can think of.
Tell us a secret about yourself?
I don’t have secrets, open book…
L’objectif’s debut single ‘Drive In Mind’ is out now.
