New band ‘Brothers’ have barely had time to take in all the great reception they have been getting from the media, they have been described as “the future of music” and “saviours of rock’n’roll” before they have even realised their debut album. In little under a year they have gone from playing one of their very first gigs at Slough train station to playing Glastonbury and supporting Morrissey. When I get to catch up with them they are rehearsing for their new tour and enjoying the glorious weather but lead singer Leonard Newell takes some time to talk about their incredible year.
How did the band get together?
We have known each other for about five or six years. We started playing in local bands when we were kids and we got together about two years ago. We decided that the only way we were going to make anything of ourselves and get out of Slough was to start a band. We got together and we rented out an apartment for a couple of years and I wrote these songs. About 8 months ago we put our songs online and Zane Lowe put them on the radio and we got signed within two months of us really existing, which was pretty exciting.
We have been in bands our whole lives, we have been in local bands touring for five or six years and once they had sort of finished we started this one and it happened relatively quickly, I like to think we put in the ground work.
What was it like playing at Slough Train Station?
It was one of the first things we did with the band so it was more of a statement of us and how we are and how we wanted to do things are way and play no matter what. It was quite nerve wracking and it was a bit different. I enjoyed it though it’s basically like Hollywood.
What was the reaction to your tour in the US?
It’s been amazing; most of the shows have been sold out. It’s only our second time over there so it’s pretty incredible, especially for us coming from Slough to playing LA and New York and all of that, it’s just incredible.
Was there anything unexpected you found when you started to gain some success?
People that you have grown up with who start reaching out to you, I mean Morrissey, who is one of my heroes, has invited us to go on tour with him which is pretty ridiculous and Noel Gallagher has said he is a fan, you do start living in a different world.
What’s been the highlight so far?
Each day is a highlight really as something new is happening every day. Whether it’s being on TV, I mean we have just played the Letterman show in New York which is pretty insane. Then we are going on a UK tour and playing Glastonbury and Reading and all that, each day is insane.
Do you have an advice for new bands?
Spend a lot of time writing the songs and don’t put them online until you have made sure you have got the best you can get before you are ready to show everyone. The last thing you want to do is publicly grow and develop because it’s great for people to see everything all there at once.
What’s the album like?
It’s a fun album, its ten tracks of us just having the time of our lives and escaping what we never wanted to be. It’s produced by Stephen Street who produced Blur and the Smiths, we are really happy with it.
What can we expect from a live show?
I wouldn’t want to give anything way buts it’s quite extraordinary. We put everything into and we are exhausted every night, it’s quite a party. Sometimes I feel like I am living the proper rock n roll lifestyle and sometimes I feel like I am close to becoming a corpse.
How do you process all the fantastic feedback you have had?
Just sort of agree and get on with it. You can’t take too much notice of what people say you just have to enjoy it. You can get lost in it; I have seen people get lost in it so we just get on with it.
Which bands have inspired you along the way?
A lot of my favourite bands like the Stone Roses or the Smiths or the Happy Mondays have more or less broken up. There is a new band called Everything Everything who I am a massive fan of.
Where would you like the band to go in the next couple of years?
I am quite happy with how we are steadily creating momentum at the moment but who knows. In a few years headlining Glastonbury or something like that would be pretty sweet.
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