The Joy Formidable Interview

Friday evening I caught up with Ritzy & Rhydian from The Joy Formidable before the sold out headlining show at Norwich Art Centre. To set the scene: Rhydian spent the first ten minutes ironing his shirt which is a first apparently. We were joined by Matt and Joel the band’s manager part way in. I tried a new format of having no pre-written notes or questions for this one, hopefully it worked!!

Mark: So welcome back to Norwich once again! It’s good to see you. How have you been?

Ritzy: Really good to see you as well we are great and so happy to be back again, i really mean it Norwich are really good gigs for us we were asked by Wombat Wombat to headline the Christmas show and here we are.

Mark: The last eighteen months seem to have been a real blur of gigs for you guys. You were kinda non stop on the road.

Ritzy: It’s starting to feel like that especially our laundry basket, but you know we would not have it any other way. It’s been a really good few months or so. It’s really good.

Mark: A Balloon Called Moaning has met with some great critical acclaim and not just from us at BIYL …Are lots of tracks from that going to be on the forthcoming album as well?

Ritzy: Hmmmmm, there is an ongoing discussion about it. I personally feel there are tracks that could be included. Not lots though. We have written a lot of new material in the interim period, so I think if something feels right in the context of the new material then we will go with it. It’s kind of a case of waiting and putting it all together.

Mark: Which kind of brings me onto the question of a release date – any ideas on that yet ? I know you mentioned April when we last spoke.

Ritzy: Yea it’s difficult to say, but I think it’s going to be the early part of next year. It might be May. We are definitely going to tour before the first album so it’s not too far away!

Mark: So how do you feel that things are going in general? Because it feels to me like there is a cusp now that you are going to cross over next year. Where you are potentially going to break through the barriers with more radio play and exposure. Is it twice now you have won the BBC6 Music rebel playlist on Steve Lamacq’s show?

Ritzy: Yea it’s more than that I think, it’s every time we have been on it!

Mark: You know that’s pretty good, even beating Biffy Clyro once I believe?

Ritzy: Well what can I say but … you know hats off to our fanbase. You know it’s a really nice reflection on us that they take the time out to support us in that way.

Mark: I wanted to ask you a bit of a bizarre question as this is a Christmas gig…Was it last Christmas that you were joined onstage by Santa on Manchester’s channel M during Whirring? How did that feel?

Ritzy: Yea we did the thing with ermmm Frank Sidebottom …

Mark: I vaguely remembered seeing it thinking that was very strange.

Ritzy: That whole day was very surreal. I’m really sad that Channel M has gone, it would be great if it returned. You know it was a great little indie TV channel and a really good platform for up and coming bands. Like I say it was rather surreal that and tricky as the stage was pretty tight there.

Mark: The live album has sold out as well I see.

Ritzy: It has yeah, like a lot of things we only wanted to do a limited run of it so we are more than happy with that.

Mark: I know you have only just started your run of shows with the Temper Trap. I saw them here in September and they were amazing. Who have you enjoyed touring with the most over the last year or so? I have seen you with Howling Bells, White Lies, Editors…I have yet to catch you with Passion Pit.

Ritzy: Ummmmmm you going to make us choose?!

Mark: I’m not going to make you choose I’m not that cruel!

Rhydian: (stops burning his shirt) .. I would say passion Pit.

Ritzy: Yeah maybe in terms of the connection side with the music. I suppose it obviously helps if you have that musical connection. Honestly though, we have enjoyed them all. There has not been a bum tour. There has not been a moment when I thought “Oh fuck I wish I was not doing this.”

Rhydian: Actually I think we have been fans of all the bands that we have played with over the last year. I mean that genuinely, it’s not been a case of where we have felt obligated to be nice you know?

Mark: I remember the first time we met at Latitude Festival we chatted about the White Lies, then four months down the line you were on the tour. Do you know what gig I have enjoyed the most of yours – and there have been many – the Howling Bells tour along with Chew Lips was a great gig. The whole package just seemed to have a real balance to it.

Ritzy: (Laughs) You mean like three female vocalists…….

Mark: Ok, Ok, Ok I admit it, I’m a sucker for female vocalists! (this was followed by much laughter at which stage Joel the bands manager joined us along with drummer Matt)

Mark: Guess I can give you a bit of an exclusive now, I have just been compiling my best of 2009 and I think the album actually features pretty high on Sean’s list. Anyway we have decided that A Balloon Called Moaning is eligible to feature so that is actually my album of the year on my top 5 list.

Ritzy: Fantastic, what else have you featured?

Mark: Well Duke and The King have blown me away this year as well

Rhydian: I have not heard of them

Mark: I saw them at the Scala last month. Fantastic live! You know the Felice Brothers? Well Simone Felice heads them up.

Ritzy: I love Felice Brothers.

Mark: Anyway now I’m digressing as usua! How do you get that dynamic onstage? No disrespect to Justin who was a fantastic drummer but it seems to work even better with Matt on board?

Rhydian : Absolutely I dunno… really (Ritzy interjects)

Ritzy: It’s a different dynamic with Matt. I dunno if we have all got bigger amps … I’m joking! They are the same size amps we have just got used to turning them up. We are losing our hearing more and more as each gig comes along!! (the room descended into chaotic laughter at this stage as a band struck up in the bar below the dressing room)

Rhydian: I think some of it has come from being constantly on the road, I think you kind of learn as you go along.

Mark: Well by the time you finish up the March tour it will be eighteen months more or less solid on the road.

Ritzy: Well that’s just the beginning I hope!! Hey Joel when is our holiday?

Joel: No holidays for you guys!

Ritzy: See he is just fuckin’ horrible! No he is lovely really. So when Joel?

Joel: Maybe 2011

Ritzy: Oh fuckin’ hell!

Mark: So with the album is that going out through a label?

Rhydian: We don’t know yet actually, we have just concentrated on doing the recording. There are things happening and we are talking but we are kind of keeping our options open. I wouldn’t like to say because nothing’s confirmed yet.

Ritzy: Joel what’s going on with the album?

Joel: We are open to offers!

Mark: I mean I speak to lots of label PR people and plug you guys – and a lot of them seem to think you are signed already!

Rhydian: I know that’s quite weird really.

Ritzy: That’s fine because we have managed to achieve quite a lot already. It’s not something we really think about as long as we can manage to put the music out there. I think the main issue with this release is to maybe have a better distribution with it. To be able to get it out to more people who want it. Other than that…maybe a big wad of cash would be nice! Seriously, we are not that bothered we have got all that we need right here, let me look: a bottle of Bombay Sapphire and a bottle of Advocat. Actually we have fuck all!

Joel: Can I have that in writing that you have all you need?

Mark: Yeah but you have always been great with the fans, I have always loved your ethos of giving people free downloads even of the album. I know lots of people do the sign up to our mailing list and get a free download. I think it’s probably the way forward nowadays but you seem to go that one step further. I think it really gives you that extra connection with the fan base.

Rhydian: Hopefully it’s a two way trust thing, it’s not just about giving away. Yeah it’s a track but hopefully if they like it they will invest in coming to see you live and buying your music. For me, things are definitely changing with the sales of written press in decline now guys like you who love music are at the forefront of the sea change, press-wise.

Mark: Well you know we always post an mp3 but I like to think it’s just a way of introducing our readers to great new artists like yourselves. For me the most important thing is to stay loyal to up and coming acts I really like. Too many people post their colours to a different mast each month. It’s so bloody fickle out there.

Rhydian: I think it’s important to keep things fresh not contrived, but use some creativity. Surely that’s what it is all about?

Mark: I think it’s given you the chance to retain artistic freedom and grow as a band by going out on tour playing live. You know like it used to be, kind of honing your stagecraft. As opposed to being snapped up by a major and releasing the album and having that big headlining tour before you were ready.

Rhydian: I think that’s an important factor we really didn’t want to relinquish control of the creative side to someone who didn’t really get what we are about, that’s why we have not been chasing a deal, do you know what I mean?

Mark: Yeah ,Yeah for sure. I know a couple of years ago I sat with James from Glasvegas and we had exactly that kind of conversation. I think it’s important not to compromise yourselves. Although I feel that the label have tried to change them for the American market certainly with the promotional videos.

Rhydian: Yeah it’s a shame when that happens.

Mark: So next year it will be the tour through March, then a break? Joel says no break?

Ritzy: We are going to New York in January so hopefully we can go back and revisit there when the album is out. And just keep writing. We never have really thought about things they just kind of happen. It’s important to just keep the momentum going if not you are fucked. We have just been lucky I guess.

Mark: Finally, can I ask you what your favourite track is to play live?

Rhydian: Well it kind of changes all the time you know, sometimes you get on a roll touring constantly. I always remember Billy Corgan saying sometimes you don’t feel all the songs every night, you know what I mean?

Ritzy: Hmmm tonight I think I am really looking forward to doing “While the Flies”.

Rhydian: ‘Whirring’ is always really good because we have the option for quite a lot of improvisation in there.

Mark: Well thanks so much for your time! It’s always a real pleasure to catch up with you and have a great gig.

Ritzy: You are always more than welcome Mark

The Joy Formidable – Whirring

Tags: Interviews, the joy formidable