Interview Screaming Lights

’ debut AA-side single ‘GMN’ / ‘Glow’ is out in a couple of weeks on 19th January (though you can get it from iTunes and the like now. Click here to buy it from 7digital), so we thought it a good time to have a chat with James Treadell, ‘Vocals, Guitar, Synth, Piano, Lyrics’, to find out more about them.

Hello James! How are you today?
Not too shabby.

So, this being an introductory-type interview - introduce yourselves. Who are you and what do you do?
We are Jay, Max, Alan and Connor. We do lots of different things. Mainly music, and the style varies. It’s threaded by a punk ethic I suppose.

You’ve recently toured with Mystery Jets and Golden Silvers - how did it go?
Really good. Good audiences, venues and two great bands. It was definitely a good time for us to prove ourselves.

Do you prefer headline gigs where you’re mostly playing to your own crowd, or support slots where you get to convert new fans?
At the moment support slots, when you’re playing to people who expect nothing. It gives you space to really prove yourself.

Your double A Side single ‘Glow’ / ‘GMN’ is released soon - why a double A Side? Was being in the spotlight just too much pressure for either on their own?
We love the songs enough to see them both as a good starting point for us. I think GMN has taken the spotlight, I think we were happy for it to go either way.

You mentioned in your MySpace blog that you’ve recorded two new songs, ‘Grandfather Clock’ and ‘Phenomena’, to release early next year. Have you got any further with that? Will it be another double A Side?
Yes, this’ll be another double A-side. They’re being mastered at the moment, so we’re looking forward to hearing them complete.

Do you think all these singles will make it onto your debut album? Are you working on an album yet?
We begin working on the record early next year. I’m not too sure whether all four tracks will be on, we have lots of songs. However, these four are the first foundations we have made, we think maybe they will be an important part of a debut record.

Where do you think you’ll be this time next year?
I have no idea. Hopefully not in this house. We’d maybe like to see the record released and gaining momentum. But who knows?

And finally, are there any other new bands you can tip for success in 2009?
I don’t know. There’s a lot of great bands, but we’ve totally lost touch with new releases being so busy with our own thing. As soon as I hear new music it’s like ‘we should be working, we should be working’.