Today sees the grand final of Glastonbury festival’s Emerging Talent Competition, set to be streamed via their website early this evening. This spring Camden is lucky to be playing to host to many of the acts featured, including new kids on the Brighton block, Twin Brother.
The band played Club Spangle at the Bull & Gate on Monday (see more of our great shots below), and we got the chance to ask Alex from the band a few questions.
Tell us about Twin Brother – how did it all begin?
Strangely it started with me deciding that I wanted to make some country songs as an experiment. Having just ended a previous band and not having any specific ideas for starting a new one, I recorded them by myself in my bedroom studio.
The current material is written and recorded in the same way, and the live setup has been going only for a few months. The drummer and bassist Joe and Steve have been playing with me since the first record and in the past we have had up to seven live band members.
How does it feel to get through to the Glastonbury Emerging Talent final, and what do you think of the other bands you’re competing against?
I was somewhat surprised, as the new material had only just been put online and we didn’t know what kind of reception it would get being so different from the early country/folky stuff people were probably used to. It’s all been really encouraging. The other bands are brilliant and we’re looking forward to meeting them in Pilton.
You guys are based in Brighton – have you noticed any differences between the Brighton and London music scenes?
Brighton loves folk. We had a lot of great gigs with the older country/folky material. There’s definitely a challenge in sounding different or interesting when you play as a four piece electric band. London doesn’t seem particularly phased by it though, and we’ve had some really encouraging feedback there.
What are your plans for the band for the rest of the summer?
I’d quite like to lie on a Caribbean beach, but really I have far too much new material to get on with, as well as some re-recording of old tracks and a possible release to do. We’ve also got a few festivals lined up and some more gigging. The summer is looking excitingly busy for us!
You can download a free copy of their smashing track ‘Lungs’ right here.
Pictures: Dan Aitch
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