It’s one of those days during which it pours it down followed by some sunshine, however that’s not the case for The LaFontaines drummer, and best swimmer in the band, Jamie, who joins myself and frontman Kerr via Zoom all the way from Croatia to talk about the band’s upcoming album and tour!
The band is inspired by a love for music, “otherwise we wouldn’t be doing it anymore. It’s inconvenient at times, but music makes the hairs on my arms stand up, and I love it!” Jamie adds that the process of writing songs is different every time, “most of the time it’s just me playing about with a guitar. I find it hard to come up with lyrics, it’s easier to write if there’s some sort of conflict or strife. Songs usually start with a chord, but I have recently been using more computer programs to create beats and have the other boys add to it.”
Kerr’s favourite song of the upcoming album is the one that restarted the musical engine, “after the pandemic happened I personally was ready to pack it in. We had just had a first Top 40 record, we had toured Asia, India, Europe, we were flying, we were doing it full time, it was the accumulation of 12 years of work that was starting to pay off. And then the world stopped. Any possible way I knew of how to make money, anything to do with my skill set just disappeared. I lost the love of music completely. Until Jamie sent a song called ‘Business As Usual’, and I couldn’t not write to that song, I felt it was so good, so Jamie saved the band. From that it became quite a personal record, I was writing about everything that was happening in my life. I just had a son, I wrote about family life, and I’m not usually that kind of person to do that. This album allowed me to. It’s the most upbeat record with the darkest lyrics, which is a nice juxtaposition.”
Jamie added “there’s a couple with old soul samples, they’re more dancey, more upbeat, earlier songs came from more of a rock background, there’s still a bit of that on this album but the new stuff is composed differently. For the new album we had to do things remotely, but I like all of the songs!” They’re playing HMV Glasgow on the 15th of June, and continue on an in- and outstore tour before heading out on their own headline UK tour in September. “We’ll be playing Glasgow’s Barrowlands, which is our favourite venue in the UK.” Jamie specified, “in the record stores we’ll still be playing with the full band, we’re definitely better, louder and more energetic. We’ve tried doing acoustic stuff, but in the record stores we’ll be playing full volume.”
“I would like to get very very good at mixed martial arts” – Kerr, frontman
On touring Kerr said “we stay in different countries, I’m in London, the boys are up in Scotland, and I’m looking forward to just seeing the troops again. I’m looking forward to playing the tunes in different places, and it’s been a while so it’ll be nice to show people the new music.” Jamie added “my answer would be very primal, I just absolutely love playing the drums! Any opportunity, anywhere, I just love playing drums. Playing Barrowlands again is a dream come true for the sixth time.” We continue on the topic of dreams, “about 15 years ago we had three dreams, one was Glasgow’s Barrowlands which we’ve done six times now, the other is being on Jools Holland, and the other is playing Glastonbury.” Kerr would also be well up for a night with Jools, and aside from that would like to get very very good at mixed martial arts. Who wouldn’t. “I’d like to have the ability come to me.”
Guitarist Darren is into foraging and likes his wild plants and nettles, so I’ll make sure to show him where to find the best wild garlic in Newcastle, “he’s got this app that identifies where the plants are and he’ll go and find them, Kerr does a bit of yoga, I just like a nice book in the van.” Rock’n’roll comes in different shapes and forms, that’s clear! When it comes to their hopes and dreams for the near future, more travel is on the books, hopefully a night with Jools Holland, and Jamie is all for trying local sausages. If they could give their younger self one tip, Kerr would tell himself; “learn another skill earlier, it’ll help you. As opposed to ‘plan B is a plan to fail’, no actually just keep it rolling!” Jamie ends the interview with the most beautiful quote of all “don’t worry, you are perfect, just the way you are.” and if that isn’t the most perfect pitch to tell you to come to one of The LaFontaines’ upcoming shows, then I don’t know what is…
Instore Tour Live Dates
15th June – HMV Glasgow (Instore)
16th June – Church, Dundee (Outstore)
17th June – Tunnels, Aberdeen (Outstore)
18th June – Sneaky Pete’s, Edinburgh (Outstore)
19th June – Banquet Records (Instore)
Autumn UK Tour Live Dates
13th Sept – Glasgow – Barrowland
16th Sept – Newcastle – The Cluny
17th Sept – Leeds – The Wardrobe
18th Sept – Manchester – The Deaf Institute
19th Sept – Birmingham – O2 Institute2
20th Sept – Cardiff – Clwb Ifor Bach
21st Sept – London – Omeara
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