The Graveltones are rumored to be one of the bands that you should be listening out for. There has been much attention this year surrounding music duos like Alunageorge and Wild Belle. Now, the Graveltones are set to get in on the hype. The Londonist said, “they are the band to watch”, so a new album may be just what they need to fly straight to the top.
We spoke to Jimmy and Mikey from the band to see what they make of all the fuss:
You had an amazing year in 2012, where do you hope to see yourself by the end of 2013?
Not sure really, we’re just working really hard and wherever we find ourselves I’m sure it will be the right place.
What are your plans for this year? Most of your songs are about negative things like murder and black magic. Will you ever release songs about positive things or is the band about the shadier side of life?
Definitely not, some songs on our debut EP were of a dark nature, but that was something that just kind of happened it wasn’t a planned thing. ‘I Want Your Love’ our recent single is a pretty positive song and we’ve got a bunch of songs we play live too which are quite upbeat, We tend to just play whatever comes out and not think about it too much, if it’s a good song we’ll run with it whatever the mood.
Do you ever find it a challenge to write a song with just two members in the band?
Not at all, I tend to write a lot in my own time, so we always have ideas to draw from and sometimes songs just write themselves you know. Mikey’s full of great ideas and is very good at arranging, so we just get in a rehearsal space and throw it all together and then normally walk out with a song or two. In any case I think it is easier being just two, you know what they say about too many cooks in a kitchen.
You’ve toured across places like Europe and Australia. Where is it your dream to tour?
The States is next on the list. This is something we’ve always wanted to do is a cross country tour.
What is the message behind the 60s girls on the single’s cover and the music video (which I love btw)?
“Thanks, well we really thought the track had an older vibe about it, so we through some ideas around and that one just stuck, there’s no particular message behind it, we just thought it suited the song. The film clip is the work of a guy called Andy Townsend who we work with quite a lot. He is a very multitalented guy, photographer, director, artist, the guys a genius. He does all sorts of stuff you wouldn’t believe, so it was all his idea and he just went and did it for us, we were like wow that’s great!
There is a definite vintage inspired vibe to the band with influences like Captain Beef heart and John Lee Hooker. Which era is the most influential to you?
We both have really varied tastes in music I wouldn’t say there was a particular era, it’s really spread out. Music from all different times has influenced us at some point or another. Captain Beeffheart and Hooker, those guys will blow your brains out!
Who are you listening to at the moment?
Jeff Buckley, Them, Nick Cave, The Band, Bowie, Dionne Warwick, Ray Charles, Kill It Kid and Dylan’s new album is astonishing.
And finally, what do you love about London?
London’s serious about stuff, you come here and you either fall flat or you run, It’s a big old time machine and it can get you anywhere you want to go.