The Maccabees

The Maccabees released their debut single 'X-Ray' way back in November 2005. Twenty-six months later the group look like they might have their first proper hit on their hands. 'Toothpaste Kisses' has got the approval of radio play-listers and is wooing the public with its simple, lilting melody and sumptuous vocals from the rather posh-sounding Orlando Weekes. We called Hugo White, the band's guitarist, to find out a bit more about what makes The Maccabees tick.

So, what are The Maccabees up to at the moment?
"We're working hard at the moment. We're trying to write our second album, so we're full spending all our time in the rehearsal rooms trying to get it done as quickly as possible really."

Your debut album Colour It In only came out in May. Why have you decided to get working on the second LP so quickly?
"We want to get the second album out as quickly as possible rather than let the first one hang about for too long. We have fans who've been into The Maccabees from the start and a lot of those songs have been toured for two years, so it's important for us to have these new songs out for those guys."

How's the new album progressing? Is it very different from Colour It In?
"It's still at the beginning, so we can't really tell what it's all going to sound like, but it is coming together. It's going to be different, though."

Are you surprised by the positive reaction to your new single 'Toothpaste Kisses'? It's getting lots of exposure on the radio and on the music channels.
"Yeah, it's amazing. People have always liked that song off the album. When we wrote it, it was there to end the album and it was never meant to become the single. But then it kept going down well at gigs, so we thought releasing it as single would be a nice way to finish off the promotion for this album. As for its success, well it got Radio 1 playlisted, didn't it? It's a load of rubbish really. Our other singles didn't get onto the Radio 1 playlist and you know how it all works. It's ridiculous, isn't it?"

What are 'Toothpaste Kisses'?
"You'd have to ask Orlando about that, but it's something to do with when you first meet someone and you're constantly trying to impress them. Because you like them, you'd be brushing your teeth before you kiss them - that sort of thing I think."

Are you waiting for a call from Colgate's ad campaign manager now?
"That would be nice. Ha ha! We could get a lifetime's supply of toothpaste, perhaps?"

The video for the single features loads of people snogging each other's faces off. Who had that idea?
"From the beginning with our videos we've always tried to get our friends involved - talented people who do graphics and stuff like that. We have lots of friends in that field. It just so happens that mine and [my brother/bandmate] Felix's auntie, a woman called Lee Anderson, is a choreographer. We've wanted to work with her for ages and the opportunity came up with this song, so really it's her concept. It's also her group of dancers that she managed to persuade to kiss each other."

Are you worried it might inspire copycat behaviour at your gigs?
Ha ha! I hope not, Alex. I don't know about that. It would be a bit weird, wouldn't it?"

You've been on the road all year. What have been the highlights?
This year has been amazing for us - we've done so much. We went to America for the first time and toured there, which was incredible. Doing Reading Festival and Glastonbury for the first time was amazing too. The gig that topped it all off for now though was the final gig on our last tour, which was at the Roundhouse in London. It ended the year on such a high because we'd managed to sell out a 3,000-seater venue and pull it off."

What keeps you motivated as a band when you're on the road?
"We still feel lucky to be in the situation where we're in - we're not going to take it for granted. You can't just expect things to carry on around you. You've got to work hard on things to continue doing this as a band. We want this to last, and we're getting paid to do it so it's just important for us to keep this going."

The Maccabees' new single 'Toothpaste Kisses' is out on January 7.