SOURFACE

LIFE IN LONDON WITH

SOURFACE ARE A NORTH LONDON based indie-pych band. We caught up before their recent headline show at the Assembly, Camden and after many a lost phone call and a lack of a kick pedal, we trekked into what was left of the sunshine. Following the road that cuts in between Camden Market and a big Morrison’s we searched for somewhere to capture some shots. The band were fully clad in their best wear, pointed collars and fitted suits galore! After almost blinding the band with so-called “golden hour”, and almost being hit by a bus, we walked back down to the venue where I asked them for a series of questions on life in London.

WORDS & PICTURE: WILLOW SHIELDS

With most of the band hailing from France, my first question was easy. How did they end up in London? “Tom grew up in Le Vesinet on the outskirts of Paris, Ludo and Alex in the centre of the city, and Matt in the English Cotswolds. We all moved to London in 2017.”

Arguably, French breakfasts are the ruler of all. So where do Sourface find a suitable breakfast in the capital? “Kent Cafe in Kentish Town. Or a tclose second, the Euro Cafe on Cally Road. Perfect for a slow Sunday with a hangover.”

I’m personally always looking for a good spot to walk since I’m quite impartial to walking in the city. Sour Face recommend going “Down the Camden canal with a coffee. Peoplewatch at the market. Finish up gazing at the view on Primrose Hill. Repeat.” As for spots of greenery in the big smoke their personal favourite is “Regent’s. I had a delightful nap in there before our recent gig. It’s always super quiet even on a sunny day.” After the long, and sporadic summer we’ve had, I asked the band where their favourite spot is to spend a sunny summers day, “It’s gotta be stunting it round Soho with the sunnies on, judging tourists, and reveling in the Boschian chaos of consumerism.”

However, where do the coolest bands go for their groceries? Sourface enlightened me and shed some light on my burning question. “Phoenicia supermarket on Kentish Town Road. For those who crave a bit of the Mediterranean in their week. Don’t bother with a flight, just come here!” And what borough is Phoenicia supermarket in? It’s in the band’s favourite borough of course “Camden!”. They also name their favourite Wetherspoons location as “The Ice Wharf in…. Camden, of course. Although the Marylebone place was offering £1 pints before lockdown, so they should get creds for that too.”

However, as dedicated as they are to their beloved North London, Sourface name the Circle as their favourite tube line. “Although it can be long, used to take me back to uni when a new term started. Real good memories.”

I then pose to the band the famed question of somewhere they’ve never been but have always wanted to go “The Science Museum. Yes, really! Love me some scientific progress.” And the best hidden gem? “Ain’t Nothing But Blues, just off Regent Street. Always a great atmosphere. And dancing on the tables!Take me back to uni when a new term started those were real good memories.”

“A WALK DOWN CAMDEN CANAL WITH A COFFEE, PEOPLE WATCH AT THE MARKET, FINISH AT PRIMROSE HILL. REPEAT.”

As I asked Sourface where their favourite spot to see live music is they replied “[We] saw black midi at St John’s Church in Hackney recently, that was a cool setting, although the acoustics were not great.”

On that vein, what do Sourface proclaim as the best night out in the city? “Heaven for the classic tunes and friendly atmosphere with an obligatory walk home braving Arctic temperatures.” Perhaps prerequisite by an evening in their favourite beer garden “The Lord John Russell in Bloomsbury. We must have been half these guys’ revenue back in the day. Highly recommend.”