aaamusic | On 30, Nov 2010

AAAMusic: Before this record you have mostly been involved in bands, such as The Last. What made you decide to go it alone?

Francis Neve: I have never felt like I’ve ever gone totally alone but I definitely gave up on the band thing for a while. It seemed to happen as I was spending more and more time in my studio working on tracks rather than in a rehearsal room. Eventually I stopped relying on other people to write and perform. I got my head around the technology and was able to achieve good results on my own. I still got people in for the final takes and bounced ideas around with the friends that I work with.

AAAMusic: You have been compared to Radiohead; do you think that’s a fair comparison and how would you describe your sound?

FN: They are amazing songwriters! They have covered so much ground in their music and draw on so many genres. Their sound always evolves and changes and you can never quite pin them down. Therefore it can be hard sometimes to say something musically that they already haven’t. My sound is a bit more Lofi and has a rougher edge to it. The songs and definitely the lyrics are very different. We have some similar textures and sounds though in “the second time we first met”.

AAAMusic: ‘The Second Time We First Met’ has been getting some fantastic reviews; that must feel pretty special?

FN: Its good to know that some people are feeling it. I try not to read them too much though!

AAAMusic: We recently reviewed the lead single from your mini album ‘I won’t make you better’ and said it was a track that gets everything right. What, for you, is the most important thing in the song writing process to ensure this level of perfection?

FN: Well its hard to know from the outset how it’s going to end up. Sometimes songs surprise you. IWMYB was one of these songs. I try and follow a few simple rules.  Keep it simple but interesting. Familiar and unique at the same time. To ensure perfection? I’m not sure ill ever feel a song is finished to perfection but  if someone else thinks it is then im very happy.

AAAMusic: What made you decide to make a mini album rather than a full length?

FN: It wasn’t a decision taken early. It developed with just the 7 songs taking precedence. I had about 18 songs in all but when it came to it the 7 tracks you hear tell the story. I didn’t want to inflate it too much with songs that I didn’t think really complimented the others.

AAAMusic: There are so many new ways of accessing music at the minute that there is no limit to the number of new artists someone can be introduced to; what do you think makes you different to the other artists out there?

FN: Well for a start I am me and they are them! The differences between people (artists) that you don’t know well can seem small. Its when you get to know “this thing” better or get deeper in to “their art” that you find things you can identify with or sentiments that you can’t relate to. I think its a perspective thing.

AAAMusic: Have you any plans of a UK tour in the near future?

FN: I am working on it but it’s so expensive to do it on your own. We are still building a fan base up at this time so until we have the demand we will stick to one off’s. Ideally I’d like to start out with a support slot on the right tour.

AAAMusic: Where do you see the future for Francis Neve?

FN: Making the next record is the next big priority for me.

Author: Josie Payne