Neu Woman’s Hour: ‘We’ve Worked Hard At Creating A Sound’

Tonight (16th November) a lucky few will get to see Woman’s Hour play The Cricketer’s pub in Kingston, alongside previous DIY First On band Yoofs. Ahead of this - and their forthcoming debut single, ‘Jenni’ / ‘Human’, due 5th December - we caught up with guitarist and founding member William.

So, you’re from Kendal, and recorded your debut single with Wild Beasts’ producer Richard Formby. Presumably that’s not a coincidence?
Yeah, we’re from Kendal, apart from Josh who’s originally from Warrington. It’s a small place, everyone knows everyone. Working with Richard was incredible. When someone knows their trade inside out it’s a pleasure to watch.

What made you choose to release ‘Jenni’ and ‘Human’? Did you have any other songs contending for the spot?
We’ve got other songs yeah, but we’re fond of the recordings we have of these two songs. When Dirty Bingo approached us we discussed the idea of releasing some new tracks but decided that these two recordings deserved a release, so it was a bit of a no brainer.

Originally there were only three of you. What do you think the later addition of Josh brought to the group?
Having an extra set of hands and ears was useful to achieve the sound we had been working towards. We’ve been able to add a depth to the sound that just wasn’t there before. It’s nice to be challenged a little.

Do you have a main songwriter in the band, or do you all chip in?
It tends to be that I will bring a sketch of a song to the band and then we create a proper song out of it, although we are working on something that Josh wrote at the moment which is sounding really promising. What we have worked hard at as a band is creating a sound, we really feel like we are there or thereabouts sonically. In a way, that’s what we have spent more time trying to achieve rather than writing songs.

Now you’re London-based, how are you finding the ‘scene’ here?
It’s great.

Do you get to pop home often?
Not that often really, I haven’t been back since last Christmas actually. I really miss it… In a way.

Woman’s Hour’s debut single ‘Jenni’ / ‘Human’ will be released on 5th December via Dirty Bingo.