The fast rising indie rock band from Merthyr Tydfil played the Market Stage at Truck Festival last Saturday. When the four cheeky teenagers first started playing together they had no idea they were going to blow up into one of Britain’s most promising bands. After releasing their EP Cave Song they got signed onto Virgin Records and have now played all over the country and even travelled to play in places such as Japan. At Truck Fest we got the chance to catch up with them, and once we finished discussing how Elliot’s orange was far more yellow than orange we got around to interviewing the boys from Pretty Vicious.
THE INDIEPENDENT: Okay so firstly, it can take a lot of time to build up a fanbase type thing on but you just kind of stuck Cave Song on and then Boom. What do you credit that quick movement being down too?
The music being really good?
*Everyone Laughs*
Seriously though, when we just stuck it up we weren’t what happened to happen. We just put it up because we had three songs recorded at the time and that was the shortest. We thought you’ve got to stick something up and so we stuck that up and all of a sudden Zane Lowe is playing it on Radio One.
And you know, when we started out we wanted to get our songs out there so if we were to play a venue or a club or anything then we could be like well here’s our stuff and here’s what we sound like, and then it all kicked off and here we are!
Yeah people like David Owens from Wales Online and Adam Walton from BBC Wales and we were getting played on the radio and on podcasts and stuff and then the record labels started knocking around and next thing you now we’re playing Truck festival!
THE INDIEPENDENT: It’s crazy. So you guys played in Maida Vale a few months ago?
Oh the future sounds thing? [BBCs Future Festival, Jan 20th 2016]
THE INDIEPENDENT: Yeah! So what music do you prefer? The live music or more studio type stuff?
*All four chorus ‘Live’*
We’re definitely a live band. The entire reason we’re a band is to play live. We’re always in full element when we’re playing live.
THE INDIEPENDENT: So how did you guys actually become a band?
PV : Well we went to school together but Elliot was two years younger. We were already in a band and one night we were all out on the piss in our hometown and were camping and then we decided to make a side project. And then we were much better so we were like fuck it lets leave. This band was a lot better than all other bands we were and six months later we put out Cave Song and then happy days.
THE INDIEPENDENT: And here we are! So you’re supporting Madness. How are we feeling about that?
Yeah greatl. It’ll be cool, I mean we chose to do it because we haven’t played in Merthyr since our first two shows ever and there’s no other place to play there other than the Pandy Field so we thought yeah.
THE INDIEPENDENT: And Madness is pretty solid band to support.
I’ve seen Madness a couple of times… Well once but they were pretty cool.
THE INDIEPENDENT: Could you just imagine five years ago someone turning around and telling you that you’d be supporting Madness?
No! (Laughs) It’s weird isn’t it?
THE INDIEPENDENT: So you guys are big on festivals, you’ve played Glastonbury and now you’re at Truck. What is it that makes a festival good for you lot?
It’s the vibes isn’t it? You can always feel the vibes at a festival, it’s all about the atmosphere. You know when people come to gigs sometimes they turn up just for something to do but when you pay money for a festival you’re there for the music. It’s that feel good sort of thing. Everyone’s there for a party! You’ve made the effort and you want to come.
THE INDIEPENDENT: So how different is it playing in other countries?
Well in the UK you play with a familiar crowd and they know you and you’re a bit alien in like a European country. Like Japan was really weird because when you finish a song or whatever the crowd goes dead quiet and it’s weird because here it’s all cheers and clapping and stuff. But it’s just dead quiet.
You’re like a bigger deal when you go to other countrie as well, if you go to another country they assume that you’re really big because you’re going to another country. Whereas in Britain everyone is like yeah cool you jumped into a tour van, just some welsh boys playing music.
THE INDIEPENDENT: So one last question, what is it like being quite a new band on such as massive label?
Well you know Virgin are great, best label we could have chosen really.
THE INDIEPENDENT: How did you chose Virgin over your other offers?
Well after Cave Song went up and everything started happening we had a load of records come to see us. Basically every record label in Britain was after us and Virgin were the best one for us. We all agreed that Virgin were the best for our music and they were the most into the music if you know what I mean? When it comes down to things like this you just need to pick what’s best for you.
Pretty Vicious are touring UK in September 2016 and will also be releasing an album.
[Interview conducted by Megan Bakewell]