Fickle Friends: "It’s just relentless ridiculousness and hella fun"

In Dork’s December/January issue (feat. The 1975, out now), we tackled a bunch of our favourite new bands - the ones whose gigs buzz with excitement, who inspire more devotion in their fans than Emmerdale does from our grans, and who will undoubtedly make 2017 special. Fickle Friends’ Natti is taking a lil break mid-rehearsals.

How have you found 2016 so far? What was the most exciting thing that happened for Fickle Friends?

It’s been a bit of a crazy year for us…probably hasn’t seemed like it from the outside but we’ve been busy writing and recording our album which has pretty much dominated our lives. Festival season flew by but I think playing the Radio 1/NME stage at Reading was a definite highlight for us. Aside from the incredible show, I topped off the day watching Dynamo do magic tricks on Diplo…and I then featured in Diplo's Snapchat the next day. It was a big moment for me, lol.

Last time we spoke your debut album wasn’t very far done at all - how’s it looking now? What can you tell us about it?

It’s almost there actually. Pretty exciting…we just want people to hear it but looks like we may have to a wait a bit for that. It’s come a long way since we last spoke. We wrote a lot more over in LA and during the summer so there’s definitely an obvious progression in the music…it’s pretty diverse to be honest... some darker pop songs in there...not just straight indie pop. (That’s right, FF do ballads too, shocking!?) I like to think people are gonna be pleasantly surprised. We’ll just have to wait and see.

What do you think has been the biggest music-related news story of 2016?

Well, I guess there have been a number of them... but to me, it was the passing of two incredible men who have helped shape me as a person and that is David Bowie and Prince. It’s weird to feel such loss for people you’ve never met but they really touched my soul ya know?

What song would you crown banger of the year?

‘Toothbrush’ by DNCE orrrrrrrr ‘Closer’ by The Chainsmokers. Both were/are circulating the Cali airwaves on loop all day, all night... haven’t tired of either yet. The sign of a true banger… the song that makes you go “FUCK WHY DIDN’T I WRITE THIS?!”

What’s top of your bucket list for 2017?

Play Glastonbury. The greatest festival in the worldddddddd.

Which album are you most looking forward to being released next year?

Ooh interesting… Well, I know there’s a new Friendly Fires record on the way. It’s gonna be very very very synth and very very different from what they’ve done previously….but I’m pretty psyched for it nonetheless. Also a lil bird told me that Prince left enough songs behind to last a lifetime so I expect something gallant is coming from him, may the great man RIP.

This time next year, what would you most like to have achieved that you haven’t already?

Erm… well it has to be something along the lines of successful record followed by sold out tour. We’re just kinda in that stage where we’re getting some radio and still building our fan base (the most fun part of band lyf)… but it’s still early days for us. I think we’d all love to sell out a show in NYC and in LA. We spend so much time there but have yet to play to anyone.

What’s your absolute favourite thing about being in Fickle Friends?

Aside from it being the best job in the world, and this is gonna sound lame and I hope the boys don’t read this, but I spend pretty much every waking minute with my four best friends and I can’t believe how lucky I am because it’s just relentless ridiculousness and hella fun.

Who do you think will be the biggest new band of 2017?

Black Honey. [sc name="stopper"]