Pretty Little Thing is the title of Indian Queens’ latest single. Following the success of I Get No Rest championed by the likes of John
Kennedy (Radio X) and added to Burberry’s emerging playlist on Apple Music, the
Hackney group once again takes us on another exploratory creative journey led by vocalist and life drawing artist Jennifer O’Neill and her sister bassist and vocalist Catherine O'Neill.
Do you want to talk about the process of
writing and recording Pretty Little Thing, it is a great tune
“It started with the verse from a jam. The chorus I wrote on
an acoustic guitar in my bedroom.”
“The lyrics are about a memory. A place that
makes me feel safe that I wouldn’t rather be.”
Are you happy about its
reception so far? You have been getting some radio support, how much does that
mean in terms of exposure nowadays?
“It seems to be going well. It is hard to
gauge exposure on radio these days as so many people listen on Spotify and
Apple Music etc. It is just nice to know that DJs are enjoying playing our
music too.”
Where do you record and
rehearse?
“We have our own studio we share with a
couple of other musicians in Limehouse. We rehearse, write and record there.”
I am guessing an album
might also be on its way? What can we expect from it?
“We have lots of exciting things currently in
the pipeline. So yes, an album is on the way but we will keep it secret for
now. Expect an album to be played after dark.”
How would you describe your
musical and creative journey so far?
“We have been playing
on some level together forever.
It also creates a bond that is not quite like
anyone else’s. I mean it is literally blood deep. We can almost predict what
the other will play before it has happened. That happens all the time with our
harmonies. It makes writing together easier when we agree.”
You are playing the
Meltdown Festival today, how excited are you?
“We are still in shock! It is a real honour
to be asked by someone like Robert Smith and to play his festival. We are
supporting an amazing band called Joycut too that I can’t wait to see live
again. It just is incredible to be part of a legendary line up.”
You are signed to Cool
Thing Records, what has your experience with them been like so far?
“They are the nicest guys ever who work so
hard, I don’t know how they have the hours in a day to do what they do. It is
like a family being part of Cool Thing which is a breath of fresh air from a
label.”
When did you first come
across the label?
“Way back when we were all in different
bands, my old band Bleech went on tour with Michael’s (Cool Thing) previous
band Baddies supporting The Joy Formidable.
Was a fun two weeks!”
What contemporary bands do
you admire?
“We love bands like Warpaint who just do and
write how they feel. I think it really comes through in their music and lyrics.”
What are your plans and
aspirations? What do you see as some of the biggest challenges when it comes to
making it in music today?
“Step by step but at the moment we have a
bunch of new songs we are working on and demoing at the moment that we are
having so much fun with. We would love to tour them and play them to people.”
“Being in a band is hard work these days as
the money does not filter down to the bottom. So for small bands you are
juggling full time work too. As a creative mind that can be hard alone. Between
art and music I feel I need a minimum amount to feed my soul lol. It feels like
therapy and I am sure a lot of people can relate to that.”
Pretty Little Things is out now on Cool Thing Records