Scarlet Soho

Scarlet Soho are a bright young band to emerge from the UK. They have an amazing sound which has modern sounds infused with sounds reminiscent of electronica sounds from the 80’s with that modern twist. Their new EP Scarlet KO is due to be released on 26^th October and they have tour dates throughout Europe as we speak. Wicked Spins Radio got chance to catch up with Scarlet Soho and here is how it went.

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WSR – Thank you very much for giving Wicked Spins Radio this interview, can w

e start by you telling our readers a little bit about yourselves?

Scarlet – I’m Scarlet, I play bass guitar and bass synth in the electro band Scarlet Soho. James sings and plays guitar, Stu plays synth.

WSR – So how did you all meet and what is the inspiration behind your name of Scarlet Soho?

James – Scarlet and I met at Reading festival. My previous band had split up suddenly, I was just trying to enjoy the summer and forget about it. I was looking for someone new to collaborate with and start this fresh project. Stu joined the band a little later. He was the DJ at our local club and he would play the most eclectic sets. It only seemed natural he should join us and complete the line-up.

WSR – What is exciting you most about the release of Solo KO?

James – Solo KO is exciting me because it’s the kind song we’ve always wanted to release. I’m not saying it’s the start of a huge directional change for the band, but every band needs some light and shade. Unless it’s the Ramones of course, they can get away without it!

WSR – You are touring soon but the dates are all mainland Europe, any dates coming up on the UK?

James – We are planning some UK support shows with a band we can’t name just yet in late November. Then there are going to be two Christmas shows in December. One in London at the Underbelly (15th) and one in our hometown of Winchester (14th). We always try to play there every Christmas and have a bit of a party. All info on those can be found at www.scarletsoho.com

WSR – What are your musical influences?

James – We’re always being influenced by new stuff. I know it sounds quite vague, but I like good singers with good songs and good production. But I don’t really limit that to any specific genre. One day I will listen to Johnny Cash, next it’s some Boney M , maybe some Grafton Primary or Boytronic, Giorgio Moroder, Dio, Flashworx, Kate Bush, Robyn…

WSR – I have seen you have been described as Hospital Cleanliness With A Pulse, what is the best and worst things that have been said to you or about you so far?

Scarlet – Ha! Yes, that was a long time ago! Although to be fair, that’s not actually a bad description. It sounds a bit weird, but we’ve not really had many bad reviews! I seem to remember a live review that seemed to make far too much of a personal comment on James than was entirely necessary. Maybe his girlfriend had a wandering eye. We did some shows in Germany a while back supporting another band, after our first show together we wandered backstage sweaty and rather pleased with ourselves to find the frontman of aforementioned headline band looking rather forlorn and repeating “You’re just… too strong… TOO STRONG…”

WSR – In a world where we see so much bad news and the economic climate is bad, what is there at the moment that brings a smile to your face?

Scarlet – I like the fact that James left this question to me, with me being the misery-guts of the band! I try to avoid the television, radio and newspapers for that exact reason – bad news. I realise it’s the equivalent of being an ostrich with its head in the sand, but I find it a little easier to manage day-to-day life with less of a media intrusion!

I have been a Dog Smiler for some time. It’s something that usually comes to the surface quite a lot on tour. If you are walking around a city on a day-off, a little worse for wear and you see a dog (I’m a particular fan of a bull-terrier, or anything beefy really… or small… or any dog really) it’s common practice to smile at it, point, and if the owner lets you – give it a little hug and get a photo with it. Dog Smiling – cures all ills.

WSR – As a child I had a crush on Blondie, who was your childhood crush?

James – Well it’s not musical unfortunately. Hard to think of one really. There was a character called Sophie Simpson in Home and Away when I was about 8 or so! Will she do?

Scarlet – I always had a thing for Ace from Doctor Who..?

WSR – Your music to me carries sounds of 80s electronica, when electronica was at it’s best. How would you choose to describe the music you make?

James – I think most of the recordings from that time are a joy to listen to. I think it’s the era where technology and music meshed together well and it peaked. That’s what I like about it. It’s not someone trying to push everything into the red and make it too loud like some artists like to. With that in mind, I think we are a tonally correct, alternative, synth band! True to what sounds good, not what sounds loud

WSR – Social media can be a good thing especially for reaching the masses with your music. What do you feel are the good and bad things to come from the invent of social media?

James – I think social media will always be a necessary evil for bands. The death of Myspace proved that. Artists need to invest a lot of time into social media just to exist these days. The only problem is when that social media becomes out dated, and the public move onto something else. I think facebook could benefit from charging artists to use it. To give the user some rights in return and not burden people with these unexpected changes from time to time. All I hear these days are people complaining about facebook alterations.

WSR – You have toured with many great bands, what has been your best memory from the tours you have done?

Scarlet – Touring with I Am X and having a prolonged conversation with Chris without mentioning he had a huge blob of egg mayonnaise on his face has always been pretty memorable. Also, James accidentally kicking a girl in the front-row in the head at a particularly raucous show we did in Nottingham supporting Delays sticks in my mind (she was fine). In fact the Delays tour we did was loads of fun – there is some footage on Youtube of me corpsing onstage at a joke James made at the expense of a “get a move on!” heckle whilst we were tuning up. I’ve always liked supporting other bands, there is less pressure and less faffing than if you are headlining. And that underdog feeling is something I enjoy.

You’re only as good as your last gig though – and our last gig was a festival in Southampton, and we were bloody brilliant 😉

WSR – Where do you do shop for your clothes?

Scarlet – Charity shops? Sales? Market stalls? Anywhere really. Not the internet though. Got to try shit on. I’ve customised a few gig dresses. Most of them, come to think of it. I’m quite small.

WSR – What is on the cards next for you?

James – We’ll complete all the dates and promo for Solo KO in the coming months, then we need to finish the album over Christmas. 2013 could end up pretty busy, and we’re already planning some debut shows in Sweden for the start of the year. Which we’re really looking forward to.

WSR – Thank you so much for giving Wicked Spins Radio this interview, is there anything you would like to add?

Scarlet Soho – Just thank you! Keep up the good work.

Solo KO physical copies and download available from: http://scarletsohoshop.bigcartel.com/