CHVRCHES Hit Manchester With Their Electropop Excellence

Sophie Parkin | 23rd November 2015

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Taking time out of their hectic schedules, in the midst of an 8 day UK tour, CHVRCHES invited me for a talk. On Thursday, 19th November, VIVA was invited to experience CHVRCHES sold out show at the Albert Hall. Think intense strobe lights racking up a pricey bill for what can only be described as a night of pure talent.

Lauren, Martin and Iain, the Glaswegian trio set full steam ahead, opening with Never Ending Circles, the opening track of their latest album. The wonders of Albert Hall, were filled with a buzzing atmosphere for what was set to be a great night.

Lauren Mayberry’s presence on stage, despite her petite demeanour, was anything but short. Stomping her Doc Martens around in a black dress and glitter on her face, the front-woman shines with her energy and dancing as the band proceed with their unashamed electro-pop.

Following a successful night, VIVA caught up with CHVRCHES to talk all things music, to smelling of curry.3971Amazing gig last night, thanks for inviting us along! How are you feeling about selling out Manchester and the added date here tonight?

‘It’s great, we always seem to have a good time in Manchester. I think we’ve played here about 6 times, so it’s always been one of our favourites as the atmosphere is so good and the crowd is always great. Manchester was our first date to sell out, and cause of previous ticket sales we left a space open for an added date just in case.’

What would be your favourite track on the new album ‘Every Open Eye’ and does this have any specific significance?

‘I’d say my favourite track on the album would have to be ‘Clearest Blue’ as it had the big importance of, when we had wrote it we knew the direction we wanted to go with the new album, so it helped with the structure of that.’

As 2015 has been such a successful year for you, do you have any highlights?

‘Well we’ve kind of had a split year, where we was writing and in the recording studio at first, which is always fun. And touring for the second half which is always great cause we get to connect with the crowds. We also played at Central Park, which that was pretty cool.’

You call yourselves, a ‘band born on the internet,’ I’m guessing this is how you started?

‘Yeah that’s pretty much how we started, we put a track on soundcloud then this got shared round blogs and the media, which got us recognised and a following.’

I saw your appearance on Channel 4’s news about the online abuse and threats you receive, how do you cope with this?

‘Well its like I explained on Channel 4, you get the best of people and you get the worst of people at shows. Online is obviously where most of it happens, but with every bad comment I then have my fans. There’s no point pretending it doesn’t happen, because it does. I just think it’s the way you approach it, generally the good weighs out the bad and the internets actually been a really positive thing in getting the band recognised.’

I’ve also read online that you Lauren, have always persisted in being a trio, despite the possibilities of more success if you took more of the limelight?

‘Yeah, I mean, we started as a three and we’ve always wanted to present it as a band cause it is a band. That stuff doesn’t really interest me, its just always been about the band ethos.’

You’ve been mentioned as a kind of ‘Feminist Heroine,’ do you feel like you need to get a certain message out to the younger crowds?

Well that’s what I think is so great about our fans is that its such a diverse range of ages. I just feel as though I should always conduct myself in a way that feels right to me, and hopefully others will agree with that.

You mentioned last night at the gig about visiting Akbars in Manchester, and smelling of curry?

(Laughing) Yeah well there’s a lot of similarities between Glasgow and Manchester, they’re the only places that do Indian food properly, and when your touring it’s hard to find. So we went, and got the sacrificial naan bread, but I just stunk of curry through the show, I kind of felt bad on the guys.’

Have you visited anywhere else in Manchester?

‘Not this time round as we’ve been here mostly getting ready for the shows. But I do love Manchester, I think it’s great for the rang of music and events they hold. Martin, last gig attended the Warehouse Project, which he said was really cool. I just think it’s a great city for music.’

 

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