The Orange Lights have an epic sound, and an album’s worth of big songs with uplifting lyrics. The themes are universal: loss and redemption, clutching hope out of the jaws of desolation and despair. Thats what the press release says anyway… This years Coldplay released their debut single Let The Love Back In this week, so we thought we’d catch up with the band as they embark on world domination with their Ken Nelson (Coldplay / The Charlatans) produced debut album.

1. Describe your sound in 3 words.
Widescreen Soul Rock
2. Diet coca-cola or normal coke?
Normal Coke please
3. What would be your ideal holiday?
A cool European city in early summer with great food, great tunes, late nights and chilled times.
4. Whats the best cure for a hangover?
One banana, one packet of crisps. And one drink of the dog that bit you.
5. What’s on your rider?
Zubrovka (bison) vodka and apple juice
6. How do you get ready for a live show?
A spliff works quite well about an hour before.
7. Favourite song to play live?
‘The Explanation’ and ‘Life is Still Beautiful’.
8. When was the last time you told a lie?
My rule of thumb is that lies are fine as long as they are small white ones and dont hurt anybody.
9. Who would win in a fight, a stoat or a goat and why?
A stoat. Stoats are seriously fierce .
10. What was the last album you bought?
Thirteen Senses
11. What’s your pet hate?
People who dont do what they say they are going to do. If you’re not going do do it, then don’t say it. We’re all grown ups, we can take the truth.
12. Dead or alive. What 5 acts would you have play with you at a festival.
Hendrix. The Rolling Stones. Beatles. Portishead. Radiohead
13. Desert Island Disc? Pick only one.
Police - ‘Walking on the Moon’
14. Most memorable moment of the bands career thus far?
Ibiza Rocks for Channel 4 supporting Editors. San Antonio bay, sun coming down, crowd going mad and singing along to songs they hadn’t heard before. What could be better?
15. Whats the best thing about being in The Orange Lights?
Being able to make the album we wanted to make, and play songs we love that come from a real emotional place without having some major record company tosser pulling our strings. It’s nice to be a captain of your own destiny, it’s a rare thing.
16. Do you read your own reviews?
Not really. I love what I’m doing, thats all that matters.
17. Tell us a fact about yourself we probably don’t already know.
I used to be a karate kid and got a black belt when I was 17.
18. Are you a morning bird or a night fox?
Mornings are my favourite time of day but I know I’ll be a retired old biddy before I get to see one every day , so that makes me a night fox.
19. If you could travel back in time where would you set the dial?
Seeing Hendrix at Woodstock.
20. Least favourite person in the universe.
I’m not into politicians getting in the way of people power. So any politician. Politicians tend to just build their own castles in my opinion, they’re no better than a Punch and Judy show.

Links
The Orange Lights [myspace]