Interview The Long Blondes

Sheffield’s The Long Blondes have recently toured alongside Boy Kill Boy, The Automatic and ¡Forward, Russia! on the NME New Music tour, signed to Rough Trade and are about to release brand new single ‘Weekend Without Makeup’ through the label on 26th June. We spoke to them to see how it was all progressing…

You’ve just got back off the NME tour, how did that go?
Reenie: It was great, we especially enjoyed being first on. People semed to think we were hard done by, but we loved getting things going, and the fact we were done and dusted by 8pm! We spent the rest of the night manning the merchandise stall, so as not to get cabin fever in the dressing room.

It seems like you’ve been tipped as being on the brink of ‘making it’ for a while now. Do you think signing to Rough Trade is the catalyst?
Reenie: Well it’s certainly a start.
Screech: I guess it depends what you deam to be ‘making it’?! To me quitting work and being in the position where we can spend a lot of time making a great album and doing gigs is exactly the position we want to be in.

Sheffield seems to be the centre of every A&R man’s attentions right now, do you feel much affinity with the scene?
Screech: With the city certainly, though not neccessary with the scene as people see it. There a lot of great music being made in Sheffield, but it’s more off the beaten track then the whole ‘New Yorkshire’ thing, bands like Navvy, Monkey Swallows The Universe, Hiem and Kid Acne. There’s a lot going on outside of music as well, fanzines like ‘Go Sheffo’ and places like the Mailtida Social Centre and nights like Electric Blankett make it a very interesting place to be.

You’ve been in the studio recently, are you pleased with the results?
Screech: Very pleased. It’s the first time we’ve been in the studio with the luxury of time on our side, so it was a far less stressful experience. We worked with two different producers on the a-side and b-sides of the single, Steve Mackey and Erol Alkan respectively, and both really got the best out of us and gave the recordings the really distinctive sound we like.

Out of all the festivals you’re playing over the summer, which one are you looking forward to most?
Reenie: Leeds and Reading seems like a big deal. My 15 year old self is extreamly excited about playing there. But the Isle of Skye festival should be great too - we love the Scots.

You played a gig in Mexico recently. What’s it like doing a show out there?
Reenie: Hot. Damn hot. It was also the cleanest festival I’ve ever been to. And I speak for us all when I say we put on a damn good show when we are rewarded with a dip in the pool and a margerita afterwards…
Screech: People out there are so friendly as well. After the show, someone offered to meet us our hotel the next day and take us pony-trekking. I’d have taken them up on the offer if I wasn’t terrified of horses!