Total Leatherette is today’s guest on Tales of Psychofonia, answering some questions. Glasgow’s duo presents a hot mix of industrial extravaganza coupled with distorted psychedelia in their new release ‘Dappled Shade’.”
1. What is currently present for you right now?
Nikki ( Bass Guitar ): Scott’s ( Vocals / Beats ) in Berlin and I’m still in Glasgow – we’re in a remote worker scenario, which is kind of perfect at the moment because playing live can be so stressful. But absence most definitely makes the heart grow fonder, the itch for creation and getting together to throw ideas around and catch up makes the time when we finally link super productive and allows us to tap into an almost nubile energy of reacquainting ourselves with our craft, almost a recalibration to our journeys at the present time rather than a rehash of where we left off. As a project we have hills upon hills of material – I feel we’ll always record and create because it’s so therapeutic. Realistically, now it’s just a matter of finding someone or something that can push us into a direction where we can create comfortably without worrying about how we can afford logistics – to have that longevity or presence can cost a hell of a lot of money you might not be lucky to have.
2. Can you tell us a few things about the creation of your latest release, Dappled Shade?
N: Doing the residency in Malmö was such a blessing. Having that opportunity to travel somewhere and be in a space to explore and experiment gifted us with some truly out-there material. Having the aim to create a set from scratch (ie. the performance date ) was also a cool thing to aim for and realise. By that point we’d gotten to a physical peak where we were so in tune and comfortable with our equipment, when it was time to hook up with Ritchie to record – we just threw it out there and really caught something special. Glue factory was also just such a great space to be in too. Very DIY, very Cold, very… Caffeinated! Ritchie drank on that artisanal, cat poo roast that Tom (General Ludd) got from a great cafe he worked in that used to be on Gibson street. Every night I’d come back home feeling like I was rattling off a tenner eccie.
3. How would you describe your creative process?
N: Really honestly? It’s a little cheesy to say, but we really just plug in and let the energy take us to where it needs to be. Because our sessions are also technically hang out time too, we just vent about stuff and smoke, I like to bring snacks because, uh, duh? And everything tends to come together in between. Scott is the only musician I’ve ever collaborated with that’s come close to matching my formative years as a hip-hopper, freestyling for hours with my old crew back in the day. It’s very instant, very rejuvenative, even if we’re just pissing about, it’s amazing.We leave every and any recording session with a wealth of interesting motifs and grooves to flesh out or mess up with wild effects for someone (especially ourselves ) to enjoy without fail.
4. What challenges do you think musicians and artists might face in our current bleak era?
N: Staying true to themselves through all the noise and remaining confident through the obstacle course which the creative landscape can surprisingly be. Your people are your people, that’s all the energy you need to focus on.
5. Are there any musical references that have impacted your musical journey so far?
N: It’s interesting because technically me and Scott come from different worlds – but there’s always been an overlap here and there until we finally met. When we were younger, It turns out we’d both gone to the Cathouse Unders often ( which was and still kinda is the premier goth club in the city with an underage, early doors night ). Hang around near the Borders / GoMA area during the weekends – I always remember Enter Shikari ‘Sorry you’re not a Winner’, Shiznit ‘Gak B*tch’, Mindless Self Indulgence’ Shut me up’ – baggy corduroys, chunky DCs, spiked hair – I wanted to be Bam Margera. hah! I feel like everyone wason that Nu-Metal / Emo thing.But I think since that inevitable youth fluxus of interest, and all fellow spooky kids probably agree, that from that experience there’s always been an appreciation and gravitation for the more weirdo, otherworldly acts once there’s an awareness of things outside of the mainstream – Mikado (french pop duo ) was a really early reference we both appreciated when we first started for example.Divorce (fellow Glasgow band – RIP), Grace Jones, Chrome, Amon Duul, Eurythmics (especially In the Garden era)and Deutsch Amerikanische Freundshaft (Uh, Duh? ).
Music is our love language for sure, there’s maybe not one specific thing that FUELS us, but our minds definitely get blown a lot. I will say, I’m pretty obsessed with Alien Sex Fiend right now.
6. Do you have any future plans or upcoming collaborations?
N: We’re currently rounding up the finishing touches of another album. Then we’ll organise another session to record more when we can. I’d love it if we could link up with someone fierce like Sofie Birch (soundcloud.com/sofiebirch) or Aleksandra Slyz (soundcloud.com/aleksandra_slyz), both of which do some incredible ambient and sound design work. Getting them behind the desk and seeing what we manage to create under their counsel would be super interesting and exciting.If we’re lucky, maybe even another residency where we could expand on the durational type of thing we did at the CCA (where Sleight of the Third Eye is taken from )?
There’s some really terrible stuff going on in the world right now…I feel its the duty of any artist to give the people something to help them ignore, process or react to it all.
Buy the Album:
https://rubadub.co.uk/products/total-leatherette-dappled-shade
Soundcloud:https://soundcloud.com/totalleatherette
Bandcamp: https://totalleatherette.bandcamp.com
Tales of Psychofonia 