On their musical influences
Steve: So that you’re saying you don’t hearken to a lot music?
Alex: No, no. It’s not that I’m like, ‘I don’t need to hearken to that, don’t play that.’ I hearken to music if it’s on and music actually does have an effect on me. Possibly that’s why I don’t hearken to it as as a result of it impacts me whether or not it’s a tragic tune or a cheerful tune. However yeah, from the start, I by no means needed any affect from anyone. I needed the whole lot I wrote down to return from [gestures] right here and in right here.’
Steve: So is it unusual then when individuals say to you ‘I can hear a bit little bit of this in it’ since you haven’t listened to any of those individuals.
Alex: Yeah, within the early days there have been a variety of comparisons and I used to be simply form of like….[shrugs] Thanks? [Laughs]
On their songwriting course of
Steve: Do you write actually simply? You make the songs sound easy so I don’t know why you write, if you happen to’re all in a room collectively or whether or not [Alex] you’ve received a tune and also you play it to the band. How does it work?
Alex: I simply always write. You may name me a little bit of a hermit as a result of when everybody else is out having enjoyable, I’m sat at residence with my guitar.
Steve: That’s your enjoyable although is it?
Alex: Yeah, that’s simply what I need to do.
Steve: Are you more and more arduous on your self: ‘that is adequate, this isn’t adequate’ while you get to the tip of writing a tune?
Alex: After the tune you all the time suppose, I may’ve executed that, I may’ve executed this. However I attempt to take it at face worth and once I first write it, how does it make me really feel and the way may it make anyone else really feel? If there’s ardour behind it, I don’t need to lose that. I don’t need it to get misplaced within the ether. I need to get it out. I feel there’s all the time room for enchancment but when you already know one thing feels proper, you simply know don’t you?
On private songs
Steve: [Your songs] nearly sound like pep talks to your self.
Alex: No one’s ever touched on that however I do see that. As a result of it started as remedy actually: I began writing songs as a result of I wanted simply to flee. I’m very deep, me. I simply suppose all of the issues massively and also you get it out. For me anyway, personally – all these issues that maintain bringing me down, if you happen to say it out into the world, it’s not as dangerous. I’ve removed that ache and I’ve put it into that tune.
On beginning out
Alex: There was much more – and I’m solely going again a few years right here – there was lot extra alternative. When it comes to, a number of the pubs we used to play once we first began, they’ve gone, they’re boarded up. Simply nothing round it. However its vital isn’t it? It’s how we began. And I need to say, we by no means had anybody placing us down or [asking] ‘why are you in a band?’
On what they’re doing subsequent
Alex: I’m going yachting with Rihanna, me!
Steve: Okay, does your supervisor know?
Alex: No, no one is aware of.
