You have more than likely been locked in a wardrobe for an extensive period of time if you have not yet heard the dream worthy tracks by new indie-psych faves Coves. Their debut album ‘Soft Friday’ caused a stir amongst music moguls and fans alike with their immersive moody doom pop. With the follow up that we’ve all been waiting for, the new single ‘Stormy’ is set for release on the 18th December. It’s more shimmering psychedelic indie sounds, scuzzy guitars and sweetly pop tinged vocals, than you can shake a glitter stick at. We managed to grab the dynamic duo (enigmatic front-woman Beck Wood and the man behind those bloody great chords, guitarist John Ridgard) to chat about the new single, drinking red wine and what we can expect from the second album.

You’ve just released the new track ‘Stormy’; tell me, who’s got thunder in their stormy eyes? (What’s the track all about?)

Beck – Now that would be telling… It’s not about a single person as such, it’s about being treated bad, getting messed around by someone you like. ‘You see nothing but thunder in my stormy eyes’ is the look you get when you’ve had enough. 

The visuals for the ‘Stormy’ video are pretty mesmerising. How important do you think creating visuals to go hand-in-hand with your music is? 

John – So many people listen to new music on youtube now you have to, it’s like people don’t have the ability to concentrate on just one sense..they need a moving image to be able to connect to the music. In saying that I love it when a video sucks you into the song and adds to it…I think that is what Beck did with this. I hate it when the video is some lame story and they keep ducking the music out for dialogue or sound effects or something.

Beck – I think it is very important, the visuals are a necessity to the image you are trying to create. It tells the story and makes it a whole, the visuals give the music a 3D dimension. It’s like the music is a circle but with visuals the circle becomes a cylinder.   

Your debut album ‘Soft Friday’ was praised by lots of industry mavericks, did this create a certain pressure when sitting down to create the second album?

John – I feel the pressure now. I didn’t when we were making it. Music is just total escapism and no thoughts enter my head other than where to go next when writing. Now all of a sudden I’m bricking it as I know it will be getting into peoples hands and everyone’s going to have their own little joyous opinion. A year of writing summed up in 1-5 little stars.

You have since moved to London since the first record, what else has changed for you guys personally for the new record?

John – I got married. In fact that is why we moved to London. I got married then Beck ended up spending more time on the sofa at mine than back in Leam so moved down.

Beck – Apart from my new job nothing else has changed in my life… London is great, expensive but great. I get to see John more and we have made a new studio den in his new house, which is where we created the new album. 

Your sound has obvious parallels between 60’s psych sounds and some really early shoegaze material. Where do you draw your main musical influences from personally?

John – I was brought up on 60s pop, pysch and soul so it will always be ingrained in me. I don’t deliberately write in that style it’s just what happens. I love all music and spend a lot of time mainly listening to new releases. But when I get into the studio that is just what comes out…I would be faking it if I tried to push it in another direction.

You’ve got some bands doing some really special stuff in the psychedelia scene at the moment, and bringing things to popular radio play, Crystal Stilts, Tame Impala, TOY etc. Who is on your current playlist?

John – As I say, I don’t really pay much attention specifically to one genre. New stuff I’ve been listening to today Dilly Dally, Tuff Love, Ratatat, Lusts, meat wave, JME, widowspeak, kid wave.. I do love the Tame Impala record, he is a mega talented guy and just seems like himself. I didn’t buy into that point last year when anyone who was slightly Pysch influenced had to take a trip to ‘Beyond Retro’ and buy a wizard outfit. 

How did you set about the recording process for the new album, and what can we be expecting from it? 

John – The last record was recorded completely by ourselves in our studio in Leam. This time we recorded it all at home first and then went in with a producer and re recorded it on proper instruments. As we had no plans to release the music we were making on the first record it was more just focused on creating big sounds with no real thought to the song writing. This time, knowing that some people would be listening to it, there was definitely a stronger focus on the song. 

Beck, you said that ‘Soft Friday’ was partly inspired by drinking red wine, is this still the case or have you moved onto a new drink of choice, gin perhaps? 

Beck – No no still Red wine, a fine French one is what we go for. Gin is also a winner of choice. When we are in the studio it is strictly red wine though, it’s just nice to get soft and fuzzy.

 Apart from the highly anticipated release of the new album, what else can we expect from 2016 for Coves?

John – hopefully lots of gigs and festivals and big nights…but who knows…all those people that go for lots of pub lunches and discus us while we are doing day jobs get to decide that.

 Finally, Tis the season (fuck it-I’m embracing it) What is your all time favourite Christmas track? 

John – propbably Macca, that weird wooly keyboard sound feels like the sound track to my festive youth.  

Beck – mine is ‘Rockin around the christmas tree’ I bloody love home alone and it reminds me of that film.

 

Thanks both!

‘Stormy’ is out on the 18th December via 1965 records.

Catch Coves live @Servants Jazz Quarters, London on 28th January HERE