INTERVIEW
LAURENS COURT
DAMIAN ROBINSON TALKS TO THE NORTH EAST ALT. ROCKERS ABOUT THE RELEASE OF THEIR NEW ALBUM
MUSIC
Image by Calum Bruce
NO ONE WANTS TO STAY THE SAME OR REPEAT THE SAME STEPS, WE’RE ALL KEEN TO PUSH OURSELVES AND OUR MUSIC INTO NEW SPACES The band discussion, we’re told, started almost immediately after the release of 2017’s very well received, traditionally guitar/alt. rock-sounding debut album, Introduction; how should Laurens Court follow up a record which placed them on the fringes of the local ‘ones to watch’ lists and what would come next? Of particular interest to the North East five-piece was what should the next record sound like, and which creative decisions should be considered? Like most musical acts trying to build on the moment of a strong debut, Laurens Court’s artistic contemplation proved difficult. Do you follow your debut up with an output which is, in essence, more of the same or do you strive to rip up the rule book and start afresh with new ideas, new production tools and a move away from one genre into another? Having spent most of the past three years considering their next move, the band are now ready to deliver their eponymously titled new album. “It’s been an interesting journey,” confirms drummer Jack Otty. “We’ve talked a lot about the sound of the band and where we want to move to. No one in the band wants to stay the same or to repeat the same steps, we’re all keen to push ourselves and our music
into new spaces.” Driven by the record’s latest single, Burn, the album misses none of the angst, anger or sonics of Introduction, though interesting choices move their sound into original places; a saxophone solo on Burn and a slow menacing introduction to Falu provide suggestions of layered textures, whilst Coming On Down uses minimal, complex guitar lines to turn up the sense of loneliness and alienation prevalent across the nine-track release. “I think more than anything what we wanted to do with this album was to make music that was less expected but to keep the overall sound of the band,” continues Jack, “maybe in the past people expected quite a guitar-driven sound, and whilst we still have layers of guitar we also wanted to create sounds which fit with the lyrics of the record and the themes of anxiety and mental health. Sometimes you need the sound of a band as you change and fit with the lyrics.” Moving across grunge and prog rock, the self-titled release is a leap forward for the band both in terms of content as well as production and composition, something they’re keen to showcase: “More than anything we want to get the record out and let people hear the songs which we’re really proud of. Then we’ll start again and try to develop further.” Let the conversations start again. The third album, so we’re often told, is even harder. Laurens Court release their self-titled album on 3rd April www.laurenscourt.com
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