Indie rockers The Feeling returned with their fourth album, Boy Cried Wolf, last October and will commence a second tour of the UK promoting the album next month. The Edinburgh Reporter spoke to bassist Rich ahead of their Liquid Room gig next month.
This is your first album away from Island Records – what’s different?
It’s different, there has been a lot more creative control over the album now with BMG as they pretty much allow us to do what we want. That’s why the album was self-produced. This time we felt we could make a stronger album that way. It took us 18 months but it has been worth it in the end.
Your third album was unfortunately critically panned, especially by NME. Did the negativity in all of the reviews make you step up your game?
That NME review is hilarious. How can a publication be so vague about an album? No, it didn’t really.
There has been a great critical response to the album, what have the fans thought about it?
They actually really dig it, they’ve always stuck by us and were even big fans of the last album even though it got those bad reviews. The fans are great, they are always telling us what they think of our material, it’s really special.
You mentioned that your new album was self-produced and obviously you will feel more proud that it is wholly your work – was there a lot more pressure this time round?
Not at all, it was like going back to the first album when we produced it, although because we signed for Island Records that had to get to mixed and add overdubs. You get a lot more creative control when you are self-producing an album and nobody is dictating the sessions so you can sound exactly like you want to, and you don’t have to worry about success as you already have some people coming to your shows and fans.
Were BMG quite lax?
They were, they just let us record the album in peace. When they signed us they said that they would just release it.
How do you think you are going to follow-up Boy Cried Wolf and when do you think it is going to happen?
We actually have some ideas floating around already which is quite exciting and it would be good to get the tracks laid down. It will probably happen after this tour or just before Summer. I don’t know, we will have to see.
How does new material arise?
It usually starts with Dan sitting at a piano which can get a few ideas floating about or we start drinking which leads to us getting drunk and something fine might come out of that.
How are the new songs sounding in rehearsals?
The new songs are sounding great. We have already played a few of them during the last UK tour in October so it was really just nailing them for this tour.
Are you going to unveil any songs from the new album that you haven’t played yet?
Em, possibly! I can’t really answer that as of yet.
Some bands write a different setlist every night favouring in setlist variation. Have The Feeling ever considered changing up the setlist every night to get more out of your catalogue?
I know some bands do it, a lot of big bands mainly, but when you write a setlist, you have think if the fans are going to like some of the songs that you will play and it also needs to be consistent. Sometimes we will draft a couple of songs in but we don’t really venture into that.
This is your first gig in Edinburgh, correct?
I’m not sure, we were here during the festival last year and saw some shows. That was great, but I think we’ve played Edinburgh before.
Are you looking forward to coming here and the whole tour?
Yeah, obviously it will be great to get out and play some shows again. We always love touring so yeah, very much looking forward to it.
Is there any differences in touring from seven years ago?
There are slight differences. We mainly drink single malt whisky now, at least one a show or nearly that.
Is there any festival appearances lined up this Summer – if so, which ones?
There were be a couple, some of which we cannot comment on at the moment but we are playing one in Scotland in Keswick. That will be good.
Your new single, ‘Fall Like Rain’ is out March 24th, is there going to be a b-side with a new song on it?
That is a good question. I don’t know yet. Hopefully.
What do you think of your support act The Gentlemen?
We were looking for a support act and they came in contact. We listened to them, quite liked them and signed them up to the tour. I’m really looking forward to having them on tour and hanging out with them.
What modern music are you into at the moment?
I’m really into Bon Iver and I quite like the new Mogwai album. I bought that and put it on the car in Germany where we were doing some promotional things and it’s great driving music.
The Feeling are playing Liquid Rooms on March 11th with support from The Gentlemen. Tickets can be purchased on Ticketmaster or all legitimate online ticket retailers and in-store at Ticket-Scotland on Rose Street. Tickets are £18.50, subject to service charge.
Freelance and student journalist currently educated at Edinburgh Napier University.
