Interview: Violet Youth

STOCKPORT – best known for its hat museum, being the birth place of Fred Perry…and Brett Angell.

They may now be fondly locked away in the Stockport consciousness, but the town is also home to rugged guitar pop foursome Violet Youth – an act charmingly proud of its northern roots and influences.
There’s no reason why this hotly-tipped outfit – who’ve already supported the likes of Nine Black Alps, Detroit Social Club and Sham 69 – cannot become your new favourite band.

Their energetic take on raw garage guitar pop evokes those glorious, hazy memories of sweaty nights in dingy indie clubs, savouring each note while gripped in the warming euphoric clench of cheap rum and coke.
Violet Youth – a named spawned from a packet of Parma Violets - consist of vocalist and guitarist Andrew Schofield, guitarist Phil Higgins, bassist Joe Naber and drummer Ben Bibby.

Taking time out with Luminous Plectrum, Schofield said: “Me and Phil met while we were both playing acoustic gigs. We decided that we should team up and write songs together and it all took off from there really.”
As with most features on bands from the north-west, it’s difficult not to compare acts with their regional counterparts and predecessors. Manchester and the region was responsible for some of the most integral British acts of all time and it’s clear, judging by the superb material Violet Youth have uploaded onto their Soundcloud page, that this group takes their history seriously.

The feisty 'Together' conjures thrilling surges of nostalgia by lashing a new coat of paint over Wire’s classic Mercy – Naber’s catchy bass breakdown riff throughout is similar to Graham Lewis’ – and captures the rising tension the art-punk legends were so renowned for.
The kitchen sink drama of 'Carla’s Song' exhibits Schofield’s unmistakable northern tongue through intelligent stream of consciousness verses in the ilk of Mark E Smith before closing with a striking plea for reassurance in love - “hold me closer and tell me you love me, and hold me closer and tell me you care.”
Musically, Violet Youth sound as if they were put into a tumble drier with bits of The Fall, Magazine, Carter USM, and Wire – but emerging tighter and as fresh as a summer’s day.

“I think The Fall showed me that lyrically you could go anywhere and it could still work, that aspect is kind of there”, explains Schofield.
“I’d never really heard Carter USM before we started. People kept telling us that we sounded like them and nobody in our band knew what they sounded like – they clearly had a time machine and stole our material.”

We’ve branched on who’ve influenced Violet Youth, but who are they into at the moment?
Schofield said: “We’re big fans of Young British Artists, Brown Brogues, Driver Drive Faster – those bands form our scene are just the coolest of bands and nice peeps.
“Also a bit of The Veils and Los Campesinos!”
But Schofield also had damning words for the darker side of the Manchester scene, exclaiming: “I loved The Fall and The Smiths but my love of Manchester bands has been sadly destroyed by watching 500+ Oasis bands in Manchester pubs.
“We don’t want to emulate any of them put people will always compare us to Magazine and such – not so bad.”

Violet Youth are currently unsigned but with a tour in Germany, sell-out shows in Manchester, a gig at the Etihad Stadium and London appearances, it won’t be too long until they sign on the dotted line.
“I think we’ve finally found our sound and how well we all work together. That being said, it’s taken us a long time so we’re not gigging as much, mainly writing at the moment which is nice.
“We released Carla’s Song last year, which was fun and gave us a good insight on how to do everything. I don’t know about any interested labels at the moment – we’re just happy writing the best songs we ever have done and making new music.”

IF you would like your band featured on Luminous Plectrum, e-mail luminous_plectrum@hotmail.co.uk or get in touch on Twitter by following @luminousplectrm

Listen to Violet Youth below:

Delays by Violet Youth

Together by Violet Youth

Carlas Song - Violet Youth by Violet Youth