TLOBF Interview :: Cherbourg

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On the release of their debut EP, Amy Pay interviewed folk band Cherbourg. Random but true, the dance moves of the late, great James Brown were unintentionally discussed. Needless to say, the usual music related banter also featured.

Describe your sound in five words.
Broad, Epic, Soulful, Punchy, Intricate

You have been likened to Arcade Fire and Beirut. Why do you think this is? Do you agree with this comparison?
Those two bands are purveyors of epic-folk music. “Folk” is a term used too loosely, but I suppose that is what everybody knows them as. We’re in the same boat as them in some senses: we like our music to hit you hard when lyrically relevant and to be quiet and tender at other times, almost erring towards classical music, in terms of arrangement and dynamics, while retaining a rock edge. We love those bands, though, so it’s flattering to be classed alongside them.

Why are you called Cherbourg?
Too many reasons… It’s a Beirut song, it’s French, and therefore romantic, and arguably most importantly, it’s the first place the Titanic ever docked.

The band members in Cherbourg seem to have differing backgrounds. How did you meet?
We owe a lot to the Chelsea Folk Club. To massively simplify how we all met, it was in a basement bar in Chelsea before the smoking ban. Serious Folk’n’Roll.

Have you found that the band members’ diverse cultural experiences have influenced your music in any way?
Definitely. Everyone brings their own set of ingredients to the table, so the end result is a big mix up of everything.

Who do you consider to be the target audience for your music?
I never quite understand this question. Why would anybody want to limit the amount of people that listen to their music? Our target audience is the whole world! Not in a cocky way…

Which bands or artists do you listen to in your spare time?
I am in love with the 80’s and the revival that is currently happening. The Cure, A-Ha, Wham, LaRoux and White Lies are all on my ‘Most Recently Played’.

Do all the members of Cherbourg have similar musical interests?
No Way! Quite the contrary, actually. For instance, half the band love Jazz, the other half hate it. If we all liked the same music we’d be really bored of each other by now. The same applies to our ways of life: Some of us like drinking fine malt whiskies in front of a fire. Others love running off to Bali for a quick spot of surfing. Of course we have common ground too.

If you could resurrect any deceased musician, who would it be and why?
Whoever I say will send dozens of others turning in their over-decorated graves. I’d like James Brown to teach me how to dance.

If you weren’t in Cherbourg, what do you think you’d be doing?
Not much! No, not really…I have tons of energy and ideas, musically and otherwise, but for now Cherbourg is my everything. Look out for an 80’s side project in future, though!

What’s next for the band? Have you got any plans to tour?
Absolutely! We’re in the process of arranging our touring diary until the end of the summer. We’ve been cooped up in the studio for a while, so we’re really keen to get on the road. There’ll be a record out before festival season, so look out for that!

Cherbourg on Myspace