Moreish Idols are a band to make note of. Not least because of their engaging, frenetic energy, but they’re also one of the latest groups to join the highly respected Speedy Wunderground label, run by producer Dan Carey.
Melding punk, jazz, krautrock and funk into a glorious swirl of sound, it’s not hard to hear they’re from the same label as black midi, Sinead O’Brien and Black Country, New Road.
Frontman Jude Lilley spills the beans on how they formed, why now is the best time for music and their debut EP, Float, which is out in August.
How did you guys form Moreish Idols?
Moreish began as a solo project I started whilst studying Film down in Falmouth. I caught Tom (another Film student) playing drums in the basement of a house party and asked him if he wanted to form a band. We decided to record an EP in his bedroom before he graduated.
Whilst recording, he introduced me to Sol who then replaced Tom on drums after leaving Falmouth. For the new outfit, I got my fishing pal Caspar on bass and Dylan, a mutual friend on saxophone. The four of us gigged around Falmouth through our final years before reuniting with Tom in London.
You moved from Falmouth to London (unless I’m mistaken). How are you finding London? And what do you miss about Falmouth?
For me, London took a long time to settle in because of how different it is to Falmouth. Now I absolutely love it. I live in Peckham and struggle to walk down the street without bumping into someone I know – which is exactly what I missed about Falmouth.
It was such a valuable move for the band, as it completely altered our musical taste and motivated us to level up our sound. Shortly after moving to London, we decided to write the music together and push the project towards a much more collaborative realm.
The guys were getting bored of just playing my songs and quite-rightly so, because I was (and still am) finding my feet as a songwriter. You can hear our move from the sea to the city in our music over the years. It displays a definitive link between sound and space, which goes to show how influential your current location can be.
If your sound was a painting, which painting would it be?
I’m going to say ‘Choke’ by Robert Rauschenberg, the approach to our music is like making a collage, there’s a lot of cut n’ paste going on.
Now, let’s not be so highbrow… describe your sound in no more than a Tweet (280 characters).
Super frickin sexy n hot.
Jude, explain how your track ‘Speedboat’ was inspired by you wanting to be a postman in Venice…
I was sitting on a jetty in Venice eating a pizza as I watched a guy zip about on his speedboat blasting tunes. It wasn’t until he got closer I realised he was a postman delivering parcels to houses. He was living his best life and I wanted a slice.
Which bands or artists are you most enjoying listening to at the moment?
I’m rinsing ‘Yes’ at the moment, particularly their album ‘90125’ which could not be more GTA. I’ve also got ‘Kikagaku Moyo’ on repeat. Sol and I watched them play their last ever UK show which was some of the most inspiring shit I’ve ever seen.
What’s the thing you agree on the most?
The music.
…and what’s the thing you disagree on the most?
The artwork.
What was the best decade for music, in your view? And why?
I gotta say, I still pinch myself when I think of the music coming out now. When I was younger, I was never really interested in anything current, only the music my Dad played me: Bowie, The Beatles, The Who etc.
Now I feel so insanely lucky to be around during such a vibrant and exciting era for music. Otherwise, I’d probably say the nineties – it has everything I love: shoegaze, second summer of love, grunge, baggy Madchester you name it.
Which album do you think gets the most criticism, but you would defend as a great record?
I don’t know if it gets much criticism, but it wouldn’t surprise me cos it’s goofy as hell… Beck – Midnight Vultures. Over the years, I’ve discovered more and more people who’ve listened to it… mainly because of the Futurama episode. I absolutely love that record, it showed me how fun music can be.
You’re with Speedy Wunderground. What’s it like being with such a respected label – joining a roster that has released records from the likes of Black Midi, Black Country, New Road, Kae Tempest? And what has it done for you as a band?
Feels pretty damn good. We’ve always been huge fans of the label and can’t believe we’re working with them so closely now. Dan is the master of capturing bands live, which is something we’ve always wanted to achieve with our sound, it’s a match made in heaven!
Recording the EP has certainly influenced the way we write now, constantly developing our individual parts with the intention to record them live in the room.
Your debut EP, Float, is out in August. If you were writing a press release, how would you describe it?
Float is amazing, we’re amazing, I’m amazing, you’re lame.
… and if you were being honest, how would you describe it?
It’s a happy/sad doom n’ gloom comic. 5 heads merged into one like something from The Thing (1982). I’m dead proud of it.
And what’s next for you guys? What are you up to this summer?
We’ve got Wilderness coming up very soon, which is our first Festival and apart from that cooking up some more salty beef for y’all!
