“We’re definitely influenced by the 60’s girl groups – The Shirelles, the Shangri-La’s and the Marvellettes, and things like that, right through to groups, like ABBA, and the 80’s sound”.
So says Gwenno, one third of all-girl outfit THE PIPETTES, who are currently touring the UK and abroad. They’ve just arrived in Glasgow, and glad they are to be back, on the back of a tour that has seen them received like the goddesses of pop that they are.
It’s an obvious answer; the only possible response to my rather run of the mill opening question, but one that does cite the ‘pure pop’ agenda that is the key to this Brighton-based group. A series of singles released to enthusiastic responses over the past 12 months have been like breath of fresh air to music’s increasingly world-weary mainstream. Their stated mission? To 'turn back the clock to a time before The Beatles ruined everything.'
My next predictable question? How did the Fab Four manage to do that?
“Popular music is a formula that starts with The Beatles” Gwenno explains: “Though there were a lot of other things going on at the same time, that was the point where everything changed”.
Rhythm & Blues was massive at that time, is that a factor?
“Sort of. A lot of things that happened in America at that time happened in the UK at the same time. There is that element of, in the way it was commercialised – I’d definitely say that it’s a pop influence - it’s sort of RnB gone pop, maybe”
Brighton seems like an ideal place for anything gone pop.
“I don’t think the Pipettes could have happened in any other town than Brighton” she agrees.
“I saw them in my home town, Cardiff about a year and a half ago, and thought ‘That’s the band for me’”.
Was the group really formed at a beach party?
“Sort of (laughs). Everybody’s had some kind of background in music or theatre. I’m from a professional dancing background.”
Is that tied in with a conscious move away from the brooding, serious-minded approach?
“Well, exactly. I think that alienates a lot of people. What I find annoying, is that the fun is all gone. There are so many bands that are documenting the mundane, the dullness of what life’s about, but real life’s not like that”. Her tone is disparaging, exasperated.
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Is there a slight tongue-in-cheek element then?
“There is…You can’t ever take yourself too seriously” she states.
Though there is a sense that there is a formula being worked to, it’s still essential to understand it. Gwenno is frank about this. A little modest:
“We’re not the best singers or the best dancers, but to make a pop band, you have to have a brand in order to market yourselves” she continues:
“You’ve got to have all of that. Otherwise, people are gonna try and manipulate you into what they think you should be, There’s always the danger of becoming a pastiche, but we have a very strong mindset, and we know what we’re doing”.
“I don’t think we’ll ever have a ceiling on what we do” she adds: “We’re just ourselves”.
What’s next for the Pipettes?
“We’re going to release another single, and our album comes out on Monday, which we’re excited about”.
Where was that recorded?
“It was recorded in Exo studios in Old Street in two weeks with Andy Dragazis (Blue States) and Gareth Parton (The Go! Team)”.
“It was a breeze, but I think that’s because it was quite clear what we were gonna do with the songs. We’ve also got a few more songs that we really need to think about before we go back on tour in September. We want to put on a good show”
The album ‘We Are The Pipettes’ is available from July 17th
Final score: Pipettes 7 Mabs 2
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