David E Sugar!

November finally sees the release of the eagerly anticipated debut album from David E. Sugar who’s firmly established himself as one of the most promising talents on the UK underground. A gifted singer, songwriter, producer, he’s the latest signing to Rob da Bank’s label Sunday Best.

Last gig / club I went to........was CAMP (Contemporary Art Music Project in Old Street)

Last time I went dancing... was on tour with Fenech Solar

Last record / cd I bought.....was The Colour of Spring by Talk Talk

Last song i downloaded...was Ambivalence Avenue by Bibio or Melodica by Stimming

Last person I called...was Jack about my Quad 303

Last time I lied...was last night when asked if i was ok

Last time I went on twitter / facebook was this morning

Last time I got drunk....was on Saturday, though i wasn't sure at the time.

Last film I watched...I just re watched Fire Walk With Me

Last thing I ate...was dim sum

Last holiday I went on...was to Whitstable by the sea

Last time I did something rebellious...I'm pretty lost as to what the parameters are for this these days.

Summer Camp

London duo Summer Camp are Elizabeth Sankey and Jeremy Warmsley.

They create twinkling, pristine pop which sounds as though it could have been discovered in a trunk in an attic, glinting and glittering like jewels at the bottom of the sea! I caught up with the band after their tour with Frankie and The Heartstrings. The bands EP 'Young' is out now on CD and Download, for more info check out http://www.myspace.com/summercampmusic

1. First record bought...
Elizabeth: UB40's Promises And Lies, for that banging track 'Red Red Wine'.
Jeremy: This really obscure post-punk compilation from South America
(lies, it was actually Three Lions by the Lightning Seeds).

2. Would love to work with...
There are so many people we would love to work with, Brian Wilson,
Steve Mackey, Quincy Jones, Burt Bacharach - anyone with a bit of
vision and something different going on.

3. People are surprised that we....
Don't speak any English.

4. Most proud of....
Each other. And our incredible ability to not vomit after saying lame things like that.

5. Film you wish you had been in....
Elizabeth: Annie Hall, just for a tiny cameo. Or even just the
opportunity to talk to Woody about his corduroy trousers.
Jeremy: The new Star Wars, so I could have sabotaged it.

6. Last gig you went to..
We've just been on tour with Frankie and The Heartstrings, and they
were brilliant every night. We last saw them in Nottingham after we'd
all eaten about three platefuls of chili. It was a fiery night.

7. Signature dance...
That one where the girl puts her hands on the boy's shoulders and his
on her waist, and they just sort of step from side to side avoiding
eye contact and hoping their parents aren't on the other side of the
gym watching them and smiling.

8. Favorite villain...
Elizabeth: Paul (Michael Pitt's character) in 'Funny Games'. He's so
remorselessly evil, but you can't help but like him. Maybe it's those
tennis whites.
Jeremy: Jar-Jar Binks.

9. Money or Sex?
We've never had sex, so we'll go for money.

10. Describe Summer Camp in 6 words....
As if we could do that!

Is Tropical talk Sex, Clothes and Films...

London - three piece IS TROPICAL are set to release a new single, the first for their new label KITSUNÉ this winter. Formed last year, the IS TROPICAL line up of Gary Barber (Vocals / Guitar / keys), Simon Milner (Vocals / Guitars / Keys) and Dominic Apa (Drums & Programming) have developed a country wide reputation for their stunning live shows. Taking to the stage in their trademark masks, and cloaked by self-made video projections, they improvise constantly changing soundscapes, effortlessly swooping from raw pop anthems to lo-fi dance songs with fantastic results.

1. This winter I will be wearing....

Jogging bottoms tucked into socks and hoods, going for the estate look. plus mixed up with anything we get free or find laying about friends houses.

2. First record I ever bought...

All our first albums we're hip hop, Cypress Hill 'Black Sunday', Wu Tang ' 36 chambers and Fresh Prince.

3. Itching to work with...

Any of our friend - TEETH!!!, Crystal Fighters, Egyptian Hip Hop, Age Of Concent ect… just because they're all great at what they do and inspire us.

4. Favorite villain...

Anyone that wears masks because they inspire us.

5. Film you wish you'd been in...

'Rumble Fish' had some amazing actors in it - Matt Dillon, Mickey Rourke, Dennis Hopper, Nicolas Cage, Chris Penn, Laurence Fishburne, Tom Waits and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. We've also got some lyrics based loosely around it.

6. Money or Sex?

Sex

7. Last time you went dancing...

There is a night called 'Hot Breath Karaoke' and last weekend i went to there 'DANCE PARTY 4000' where we entered a dance off and lost.

8. Last song you listened to...

Tom Waits before leaving the house, the 'Small Change' album

9. First gig you ever went to...

A 'Fat Wreck Chords' mini festival, all the greats playing NOFX, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Lagwagon ect…

10. Last time I checked Twitter / Facebook / Myspace.....

Just now… anytime we get on the internet

11. Would sing a duet with...

Prince - just so we could be utterly upstaged whilst laughing at his mic skills. Also Giulia Elettra Gorietti, an Italian actress that said she could sing.

12. People would be surprised that Is Tropical....

Spend the weekend in betting on X Factor

Kurran & The Wolfnotes

Kurran and the Wolfnotes bring an unmistakable noughties twist to the alt-folk sound, with a playful hint of The Strokes complimenting the otherwise straight up trad-sound. I caught up with New Yorker Kurran Karbal to talk about dancing by himself and not f*cking it up!

The 5-piece, already with a single release under their belts and recent show-stopping performance at Latitude, plan to tour in September and will be announcing dates soon. In the meantime they are working on their debut album.

1. You wouldn't know it but I'm very good at....golf.

I wanted to be a pro golfer when i was growing up, not a musician. But then i got interested in girls and golf wasn't getting me too far.

2. My favorite item of clothing is....

my beanie, cause i have a pea head and it widens it out.

3. If I wasn't working in music, I would be....

a tramp, cause its the only thing I can bring myself to actually work at

4. The best advice i ever received was...

you can't master any skill until you've trained, or practiced 10,000 hours.

5. I would most like to have lunch with...

John Goodman, I'm sure the food would kick ass.

6. The last record i bought was....

Keaton Henson 'Dear'

7. The last time i went dancing....

Last night at white heat on my own for alot of the time

8. My life in 6 words right now....

DO NOT FUCK IT UP KURRAN!

Kurran and the Wolfnotes eagerly awaited single ‘Your Four Limbs’ is out now! on Chess Club Records.

Gwenno From The Pipettes...

I Start the day with........Fruit, yogurt and seeds

This summer I will be wearing......Floaty 90s short-style jumpsuits, they're comfy, feminine and pretty flattering I think

My Most Recent splurge..... a new condenser mic

I Can't stop watching.....French language films, from Jean Luc Godard to Vanessa Paradis's latest

You won't find me.....in West London that often

Invention that would make my life easier......a teleportation device

I am Dreaming about......Love

I am Itching to work with..... anyone who has interesting ideas

Ben Seary Graphic Designer

1. Hi Ben, how is it all going? I saw you had done the artwork for Hit Clubs new single by the much hyped band Egyptian Hip Hop. How did you come up with the idea for the singles artwork? Were the band involved at all?

I had seen Egyptian Hip Hop play live a few times and spoke with them, they sent me over some images they liked at the time and we took it from there. We had loads of ideas, however the final artwork was initially inspired by the patterns on the shirts the band wear but got taken off on a few tangents. We all wanted the artwork to be slightly obscure, unexpected and like nothing else. So they were defiantly involved.

2. When working on a bands 7'' Single is it important to involve the bands ideas?

If they have ideas then of course, the artwork is a visual representation of their music, sometimes I'm not into their ideas but we talk about it. The band know their song inside out and I want to create something that we feel works with the music. I have worked with all the bands on the artwork for singles even if it's just them sending me images they like, talking and then using that as a starting point. It's good to work with so many different people, at times it's a little difficult but it's always interesting.

3. Have any other bands or record labels artwork inspired you at all?

There are some amazing record covers and artwork for bands out there, however I try and just concentrate on the band I'm currently working with. I get more influence from the ideas behind the covers and why they were created, I think there should be meaning behind all the artwork. This is defiantly what I try and do with Hit Club. Too much music artwork is throw away, it's a shame, I think it's a great canvas to work on especially when it's with a good band.

4. When you are freelancing whats your typical day?
Sometimes I'm in a studio and sometimes I work on my own. I normally try get up early and if I'm in the studio I walk to the bus listening to A Tribe Called Quest or something like that and answer e-mails on the bus while trying and ignore everyone around me. When I get to the studio I work all day with other designers on loads of different projects, which is really cool, there's a lot to learn from other people. 
If I'm working on my own, I normally work from home in the morning, lot's of e-mails, then find a load of new music to listen to and in the afternoon I usually have meetings, they tend to circulate around Freuds in Covent Garden. It's a good little cafe/bar that no one really seems to know about.

5. What future projects do you have lined up?

We (Hit Club) are currently talking with a load of new bands which we are really excited about and sorting out future singles and artwork. Personally I have a few things I'm working on, the next big thing will be a fashion based project which will be out soon. I'm also working with some really interesting people on their visual identities, some new jewellery designers, photographers and bands. Just trying to work with interesting people who I think are doing really cool things.

For more info on Ben Seary see http://www.benseary.co.uk/

L from Spectrals

Spectrals is the creation of one young lad “L” from the north of England, a place where to not have a baby and a criminal record by the age of 18 is seen as unusual. After being in various bands playing punk rock in basements, L decided to start something combining his love of doo wop, girl groups and adding a bit of rat pack flair with a punk rock vibe to create Spectrals. In Spectrals short life span they have released an excellent single for Captured Tracks and toured the UK with bands such as Girls, Real Estate and Desolation Wilderness.

- If i wasn't a muscian i would be.....

Up to no good.

- The last record i bought was......

Fleetwood Mac - Tango In The Night. I like it because it's Fleetwood Mac.

- The last gig I went to was......

Thee Oh Sees, I liked it because it was mad and I didn't like it because it seemed to last 5 minutes and I couldn't make it to London to see them the evening after, and also because they make my songs look rubbish.

- My secret crush is.....

I like her out of Harry Potter, Emma Watson, it's her posh voice.

- I most admire.....

My Pop, my Dad (How can it not be these) and also, Harley from Cro-Mags.

- When i'm not playing gigs my ideal night out / in is...?

Out - Having some beers in a little pub in my town called the Old Hall with my girlfriend and/or a few buddy's, maybe a Bolagnese Pizza on the way home or something.

In - Watching "Friends" and eating Fish Finger sandwiches with my girl.

- My biggest extravagance is....

Hats.

- My favorite guilty pleasure song is... why?

I don't have these, If you like a song you like a song, and if you won't admit to it then you are a poser.

- You wouldn't know it but i'm not very good at...

Doing interviews.

- You wouldn't know it but i'm very good at....

Kissing.

- My life in 6 words.....

"I Just Wasn't Made For These Times (I knicked an extra one)

BARRY FROM THE FUTUREHEADS

The Futureheads have been ticking all the right boxes since 2000! The Futureheads are all but a national treasure!

It has been an explosive return for The Futureheads after being dropped by their major record label a couple of years ago.

The band's new album ‘The Chaos’, which they independently released through their own Nul label was critically acclaimed.

After a fully sold-out, British tour the band are embarking on an American tour this summer.

I caught up with Barry from the band to talk about what he's eating and good advice...!

> Last Thing You Ate / Was it good?

I ate some fennel and orange salad, some tabuleh, some sweet potato 'slaw.I'm preparing food for my Birthday Party you see. It all tastes lovely.

> Last Pecie of Good Advice Someone Gave You...

'If you bring forth what is inside you, then what you bring forth will save you. If you don't bring forth what is inside you then what you don't bring forth will destroy you'. Heavy stuff.

> Last Time You Went Dancing...

I dance everyday. Usually a slippered shuffle down the stairs. I haven't been clubbing in a very long time. It's a horrible way to meet people. I used to dance ALL night.

> Last Record you Bought.....

I bought the debut album from occult punk rockers 'Killing Joke'. No joke. It is seriously powerful stuff.

Underrated to say least, brilliant stuff. Too bright for most people.

> Last Time You Told A Person You Loved Them....

My wife, everyday, it's the law. She got me a big book and a USB microscope for my birthday. What's not to love.

> Last Person You Texted....

My dear Mother, to thank her for the book on psychology she got me. Thanks Mam.

> Last Gig You Went To....

Frankie and the Hearstrings at independent in Sunderland. It was splendid. An invite only show, special stuff.

> Last Time You Lied..

I have never ever lied. I promise. Cross my heart and hope...............cough cough splutter..... to die.

> Last Time You Were Hungover...

Really Hungover?!? Hmm after a late night tequila binge in New York. BooHoo York more like it..

> Last Time You Checked Twitter....

Just now. I said 'Happy Birthday to Me' and other self congratulating nonsense!

Holy Ghost!

Alex and Nick, are the brains behind Holy Ghost! With their debut EP, ‘Static On The Wire’ out this summer. The band have been described as 'the best electronic dance music New York and beyond has to offer!' Holy Ghost! have been building a reputation over the last couple of years as one of the best remixers out there, with reworkings for MGMT, LCD Soundsystem, Moby and Phoenix.

Q.1

You wouldn't know it but I'm very good at?

NICK: Nothing. Jack of many trades, master of none.

ALEX: im pretty good at basketball and i also can use a movie camera.

Q.2

You wouldn't know it but I'm not so good at?

NICK: Shaving.

ALEX: keeping 1 cellphone for more than a month.

Q.3

My favorite item of clothing is?

NICK: An old Levi's denim jacket I've had since I was a kid. It still has an original "Powell Peralta" patch my mom sewed on it for me and some original DFA pins James gave around the time I first met him when I was 18 or so. It's almost as old as I am and it still fits. Kinda.

ALEX: i dont know if this counts but i LOVE the pair of topsiders i just bought.

Q.4

When i was a child i wanted to be?

NICK: I've wanted to be a musician for as long as I can remember.

ALEX: Elvis or Mick Jagger. i used to cry if my mom called me Alex. I was "Mick" from age 6-8.

Q.5

My real life villain is?

NICK: Alex.

ALEX: what!!!!? you dick.

Q.6

A band / musician / song that changed me?

NICK: James Murphy and Tim Goldsworthy, any record that features the credit "Produced by the DFA" and any song that contains the words "DFA Remix" in the title.

ALEX: agreed. also a movie by the talking heads called "stop making sense" changed everything for me when i was 18.

Q.7

If i wasn't a musician i would be?

NICK: Without any direction whatsoever and most likely, very, very sad.

ALEX: unhappy.

Q.8

My idea of happiness is?

NICK: A DFA party in New York.

ALEX: All my friends.

Q.9

The best place i have been this year?

NICK: Home.

ALEX: on tour with lcd.

Q.10

My guilty pleasure song right now is?

NICK: I honestly can't think of any songs I'm ashamed of liking.

ALEX: yeah, nick's got what they call "good taste." i like shutterbug by big boi. but thats not guilty, its just mainstream, which i have no guild about. dam, now i feel guilty for not answering your question. im jewish though, so guilt is constant.

Holy Ghost will be playing around UK this summer see their myspace for more info!

www.myspace.com/holyghostnyc

Johnny Flynn

Johnny Flynn's new album 'Been Listening' which features guest collaborations with Laura Marling and Anna Calvi, is out now on Transgressive Records. Johnny Flynn has toured all over the world with his band as well as being part of the Shakesperan Theater Company Propeller. He also recently did the whole score for forthcoming movie 'A Bag Of Hammers' starring Rebecca Hall.

I caught up with him the other day to talk Gnocchi, chroes and lying!

- Last Thing You Ate....

Gnocchi

- Last Chore You Did.....

A huge pile of tour washing. And watered the flowers.

- Last Person You Called...

Bea- my girlfriend.

- Last Gig You Went To...

Los chinchas.

- Last Play You Saw...

'The White Guard' at the national theatre

- Last Piece of Good Advice Someone Gave You...

Pull yourself towards yourself

- Last Time You Said I Love You to someone...

About an hour ago

- Last Record You Bought....

Ali and Toumani

- Last Film You Watched...

Cocksucker blues on YouTube.

- Last Time You Lied...

Sunday. Sort of. It's complicated.

Peggy From Pains Of Being Pure At Heart

New York band Pains of Being Pure At Heart return this summer with new single 'Say No To Love,' which they describe as a ''perfect summertime single full of fuzz and feelings!"

If you didn't catch theirphenomenaly successful self-titled debut album (number 15 in NME's Top 50 Albums Of 2009, number 19 in Pitchfork's list, number 5 in Rough Trade's albums of the year) you must of been living in a cave! I caught up with the only female in the band, Peggy to talk friendship, teenage love and touring!

Hi Peggy, how's it going?

Good, good. Drinking rose champagne in Amsterdam. It doesn't get much better than that.

You have toured all over the world with your band (The Pains Of Being Pure At Heart), where

has your most memorable gig been?

I would have to say the Manchester gig at the Chorlton Irish Center. If I've ever been "high on life" it would have been at that show. It was a bunch of sweaty kids moshing to "Teenager in Love" and it just felt so surreal, like I was in a parallel universe, where people think wussy songs about love are actually kind of punk. Afterwards, we sold our merch out the back of our van in a big parking lot, and all these kids were hanging around. I just felt really happy to be contributing to such a quintessential teen moment, when your curfew's been half an hour extended and you're just enjoying the finer things in life, like sitting on the hood of a car and pretending to be bored.

You are the only girl in the band, do you enjoy being the only girl or sometimes do the boys

all get a bit much?!

Well, the guys in my band aren't super typical "dudes" so I think we get on pretty good. Honestly, I enjoy their senses of humor and gender differences aren't something that cross my mind that often. If they were like, leering at girls or doing really immature stuff, I don't know if I could deal with that. But thankfully, I think we're on the same level and treat each other with mutual respect. I really don't mind being the only girl at all, but that's not saying I wouldn't enjoy having another girl around to like, go shopping with sometimes.

What's the quality you most admire in a friend?

To me, reliability really means a lot. I'm not going to hound anyone or give ultimatums if someone doesn't want to hang out with me, so once someone exhibits any flakiness, I know to stop putting effort in. I also really value a person that I can appreciate on a jokey, fun, humor level as well as a serious level. I can't be funny and light-hearted all the time. When someone has a similar sense of cynicism, humor, and sarcasm, but I can also talk to them seriously about true life, misery, etc, that's when I know that they're special.

Do you remember the first tv show/movie/band that impacted your style and identity

That's tough to choose just one. I really worshipped Anna Chlumsky in the movie My Girl, and also Clarissa from Clarissa Explains it All. But maybe my first ever style inspiration was Claudia Kishi from the book series, The Babysitters Club. I had a weird complex about being Asian because I grew up in a city where there were literally none. I felt like no boy would ever like me, and that everyone probably thought I was weird-looking and gross. But Claudia was like, a really cool Asian, especially in a time when there weren't any on television or in movies. She was like the female antithesis to Long Duck Dong.

Kip says your new single is ''about a girl telling an emo boy to go grow a pair."!

I think "Say No to Love" has a message about independence, which I can relate to despite being partial to really pathetic love songs most of the time. It's the sort of message I want to send to someone who's in a codependent, or even just super pointless relationship. People are afraid of being alone, but just settling for anyone to complete you is really unhealthy to me. I think it's actually the most romantic thing ever to enjoy being alone until the right thing comes along, almost in a can't-help-myself sort of way.

If you could meet your teenage self, what would you say to her / him?

I'd say, "Man, I've really devolved ever since I left you. It's cool that you like, care about stuff."

- Do you have a guilty pleasure song right now?

I have too many to name, specifically from the '90s. But lately I've really been enjoying "In Too Deep" by Sum 41.