Type and hit ENTER

Commonly used tags...

Brighton Festival Brighton Fringe Brighton Pride British Sea Power Cinecity Lewes Psychedelic Festival Locally Sourced Lost & Found Love Supreme Festival Mutations Festival Nick Cave Poets Vs MCs Politics Rag'n'Bone Man Record Store Day Save Our Venues Six Of The Best Source Virgins Streets Of Brighton Street Source Tattoos The Great Escape Tru Thoughts Unsung Heroes
  • Home
  • News
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Food
  • Tickets
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Advertise
  • Home
  • News
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Food
  • Tickets
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Advertise
Features

Pope Joan (now Black Black Hills) Interview

Mar 2, 2010
-
Posted by James Kendall

From day one we’ve had a soft spot for Pope Joan. An enjoyably scratchy post punk band who complement their angular riffs with quirky synths, their songs rattled along in a whirl of slashed guitars and shouting. Their debut release, eight-track mini-album ‘Hot Water, Lines & Rickey Machines’ had a raw charm, especially the jerky chant along of ‘No TV’. All well and good, but if we’re honest we didn’t peg them for huge things.

Then ‘Centurions’ happened. Cock-sure electro pop with insistent guitar lines and a killer chorus, it showed that they could write songs – real singalong, stick-in-your-head songs. In our contributor-voted Best Of 2009 chart, only The Maccabees and Bat For Lashes polled higher. Now they were a very exciting prospect indeed.

“It was the first track we made after the mini-album and was the starting point of a new approach,” explains singer and guitarist Sammy Aaron Jr.
“It was a watershed moment really, what’s been has been and we don’t worry about looking back on it,” adds David Coomber, responsible for the bass and some of the synths.

What must have seemed like a big gamble at the time seems now like a pretty shrewd move. By throwing all they had at ‘Hot Water, Lines & Rickey Machines’ they’ve had to basically start again with a completely new batch of songs and, it turns out, a much stronger set.
“We took what was useful from it and left behind what wasn’t working,” David says.
“I think on the mini-album it feels like we were battling to all get our oar in,” adds synth/guitar playing Tom Windsor, “whereas now less is more.”
“Now we’re much better at letting the song breathe rather than putting in the part that we want to play,” reckons drummer Andre Millin.

New single ‘Dictator’ is probably their most stripped back, relaxed, song-like track yet. Gentle, but with that same tautness, it shows that their way with melodies works at speeds other than ‘breakneck’ – another sign that the band are growing.
“It was knocking about the same time as ‘Centurions’,” says Sammy. “It came together quickly on our second go at it.”

The new version has come from working with Cribs and Biffy Cyro producer Mark Williams in a strange, but cost effective, set up. Pope Joan self-record their stuff in practice rooms, bedrooms and The Freebutt and then send them to Mark for mixing. It’s a clever idea and points to their records getting even better when they move from a pro-am set up into full studio sessions.
“It’s working really well,” says Tom. “Mark brought a freshness to ‘Dictator’ because he really liked it.”

Another song the producer likes is ‘Volumes’, the b-side of ‘Centurions’, and he’s urging the band to let him re-record it and put it centre stage.
“I think we’ll do that with him and release it later on,” says Tom. “But we’ve got bags of new stuff as well. Influence wise there was a bit more of 50s twist, like a surf kind of guitar sound. It’s not quite as glitchy, but it’s got a glitch element to it.”
“I’ve been listening to a lot of the things I played growing up,” adds Sammy, “the blues things I loved like Howling Wolf and Bo Diddly as well as Buddy Holly. We don’t sound like that but it’s informing the songwriting. In the past we wouldn’t have wanted to put too much of that stuff in but all of a sudden I’m more comfortable with the things that have influenced me personally rather than what’s stylistically right for the band.”

Getting a hold of their influences has been a key part in the growth of Pope Joan. The band has always been a bit of a musical soup, but the elements could bang together.
“Everyone throws so many influences into the melting pot,” confirms Tom. “It’s really satisfying when they all work but it takes a bit more effort. Some bands start off with an idea of what they are going to do and it’s more of a focused, deliberate process. It’s been a lot more organic for us, which is why it’s taken longer to hit the nail on the head and get something that we’re all happy with.”
“We’ve finally learned how to gel our styles, bring in the right influences,” adds David. “We have a collective mindset now of what we are trying to achieve rather than just stumbling upon it,” Sammy admits.

It all bodes well for the album that Pope Joan are working towards for the end of the year. Eight songs down and a couple of singles on the way, they’re starting to sound like a band that could deliver a proper hit album, God bless them.

Live: Prince Albert, Sun 21st
Single: ‘Dictator’ Mon 29th
Web: www.myspace.com/popejoan

Mar 2, 2010
Email
James Kendall
James Kendall was the co-owner and editor of SOURCE. He’s been a music journalist since 1992 and spent over a decade travelling the globe covering dance music for DJmag. He’s interviewed a range of subjects from Bat For Lashes, Foals and James ‘LCD Soundsystem’ Murphy to Katie Price and the Sugababes. He’s a keen photographer and has work featured in The Guardian.
← PREVIOUS POST
Interview: Steve Mac
NEXT POST →
SOURCE Virgins: Life Modeling
Mailing List

Recent Posts
  • Love Supreme Festival 2025 Review
    Jul 13, 2025

    Despite the poor weather, the performers, whether legends or newcomers, shone to ensure this year's festival ranked as one of the best yet.

  • Ghost Stories Review
    Jul 8, 2025

    A genuinely terrifying production, beautifully produced, stunningly acted and wonderfully directed. If you love a good psychological horror; don’t miss this.

  • Oral Habit Release Garage Frock! ep With a Family Store In-Store
    Jul 5, 2025

    Is this the best new band in Brighton? Team Source says "Hell Yeah!"

  • Get Ready For Some Summer Hi Jinx
    Jun 26, 2025

    New promotions team Hi Jinx are inviting you for beer and free live music beside the seaside. What's not to like?

  • Big Long Sun Launch Album No 2!
    Jun 25, 2025

    With two slamming singles the new Big Long Sun album should be the soundtrack to late night summer parties across the land.

  • Great Escape 2025 Day 4 Review
    Jun 13, 2025

    Day 4 started with a party whistle thrash punk Extravaganza and ended with the glorious debut of Post Common. We love you TGE.

  • Great Escape 2025 Day 3 Review
    Jun 9, 2025

    One of the real joys of the Great Escape is you can often see the bands that really grab you more than once. Day 3 delivered.

  • Great Escape 2025 Day 2 Review
    Jun 7, 2025

    Day 2 provided a diverse range of acts. Within 30 minutes we went from beautiful Australian folk to riotous Korean DnB and that was before tea time!

Website developed in Brighton by Infobo
Copyright © Brighton Source 2009-2023
Pope Joan (now Black Black Hills) Interview - Brighton Source