Music
So what have you been up to recently?
Luke: "We basically spent all of last year touring. We played over 150 shows, did a big UK tour, went straight to Japan, did a full tour over there, and went straight to LA to record a new album with Matt Wallace. We spent three months over there refining the songs, got back to the UK at the beginning of March and mixed the record here. We're about to announce our next UK tour [and] get out there, start playing the album."
What do you think sets you apart from the many indie guitar bands on the scene at the moment?
Luke: "I think it's definitely our sound. As you said there's a lot of indie or guitar bands drawing influences from people like the Talking Heads, The Clash, that sort of sound. Our influences are very different to that - we've got our classic rock influences like Led Zeppelin, Cream, Free, bluesy sounds. Our more modern influences are Guns 'N Roses, Pearl Jam and Incubus. It's very different music to someone like Razorlight, and we're not afraid of that. It's quite nice to have a different sound. Hopefully, if people really cotton onto it, it'll make us stand out."
Pretty much most bands seem to go out to Japan to play gigs there at some point. Why is this important? Is it?
Dave: "I think so. I just think if the territory is interested in you, then get over there. We had people waiting for us at the airport. There was a real buzz over there about us. It was nice to meet the fans, play some shows for them and not neglect them, just cos they're from another country. Everywhere's equal - we want to be successful the world over. You have to take risks."
Tell us a bit about your new single - how do you think it compares to your previous work?
Dave: "I think it's definitely a bit different to the stuff we'd done before. It's got a big chorus, it's more of a live sounding track. One thing Matt Wallace tried to get across on the record was that it sounds a lot like the four of us just playing. It's maybe slightly maturer sounding, and it's got more modern influences - as opposed to the classic rock on the last abum, which was a bit more Pearl Jammy. It's a bit more up to date."
You moved to LA to work on your next album - why not just London? Did you need to clear your heads?
Luke: "A little bit. To be honest, after all the touring it would have been very nice to stay in London and see our families. But, we also had a wish list of producers and Matt Wallace was top of the list. When he got back to us after seeing some live footage, well, you don't turn that opportunity down. He's had huge success with Maroon 5, and he's a hero of ours, but he only works in LA. It's exactly as you say - it was very intense, we only had each other, we were working six days a week, twelve hours a day. The fact we had no distractions means this album's a lot better for it."
Dave: "It was very strange because we had the sun and stuff, which was great, and if we had a day off we'd sit by the pool, chill out and take our mind off everything. But being in the studio - there was no window, you were stuck in there. It could have been anywhere."
What was it like filming the video in New York? Anywhere more exotic you'd like to go in the future?
Luke: "Hawaii would be nice, or the Caribbean. Again, it was very much... we found a director we'd like to work with - Charles Malling - he's shot a lot of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club videos. They look great, and 'Home' is such a big grand epic song, we needed the video to look the same. It looks like the song sounds. Going out to New York was his idea - he wanted to use the Chelsea Hotel and the Unisphere...we had a couple of days off there, which is [unusual]. We checked out New York, full on tourists! [For the] future, if we could get out to anywhere, really, even the Antarctic!"
What's the best gig you've played?
Dave: "It's very difficult but...very early on, we got the opportunity to support Robert Plant, who is one of our absolute all time heroes. It was amazing getting to meet him. We were playing at the Royal Albert Hall, which is one of the most prestigious venues [around]. We've been to gigs there and wondered what it would be like to be on the stage, feeling the history. The crowd was enjoying what we were doing, so it was an amazing experience, [something] we probably won't get the chance to do again."
Tell us about your new album 'Circles and Satellites'.
Luke: "I think we're really, really proud of this album. The first one, Nick and I wrote together before we got Dave and Ben involved. The second album all four of us are writing together - it feels like another debut for us. Ben and Dave's influence in songwriting has brought our modern influences out more. The production is a lot better [too]. We worked with a lot of different producers on the debut album, which gave off quite a confused sound. On the second album, all the songs are unified by quite a live production. As Dave said earlier, that's what Matt wanted to show off on this album. 80% is all four of us in a room playing each song together. You can hear the energy of our live performance, the songs are better [as well]. We played 150 shows last year to promote the album, and we want to better that - get to Europe and the States, whilst keeping the UK and Japan happy."
People seem to think you've been 'away' for a long time, even though you only released your debut album in 2005. It's as if you formed back in the '90s!
Dave: "It was strange for people to say 'you've been away for ages' and whatever, as we didn't really feel that. We were off to Japan touring and recording the [new] album and then mixing it and then straight back out [there]. People [still] think we've been away for ages, [though]. I think it's good that the first album had so much success, as it's given us a great starting block to gain the credibility and mass appeal we're waiting for."
What are your plans for the future of Rooster?
Luke: "For the near future, we're about to announce our next UK tour. We're looking forward to getting out there and playing again. For the more distant future, we want to get to the places we couldn't play last year - Germany and Scandinavia, and ultimately get to the States. Having worked with an American producer, I think we've got a chance out there, because of the work ethic of this band. Ultimately, world wide sell out tour - surely every band's ambition?"
Let's round off by you giving the readers an idea of what you think they should be listening to.
Luke: "I think Razorlight's new album is going to be great. I like the new single - those guys have been working really hard. I'm quite impressed with what The Feeling have done, coming out unashamedly with a Supertramp-esque record. There's some really good songwriting out there."
Dave: "I think the new Red Hot Chili Peppers' album is really amazing. It's a good album - there's a lot to listen to, as it's a double, as well."
Thanks for chatting, guys!
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