Forget Them Wendy
Words by Glenn Sargeant
Feature Image Photo Credit: Supplied By LPR Agency
Forget Them Wendy are an indie pop/grunge duo made up of Newcastle-based songwriter Laura James, and Edinburgh-born producer and guitarist Oliver Price, now living in London. The band take their name from a line in J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan: “Forget them, Wendy. Forget them all. Come with me where you’ll never, never have to worry about grown up things again.”
Who is in Forget Them Wendy, how did you meet and what do you play?
We are Laura and Olly, we met through our mutual music pal Lewis Fieldhouse, Laura and Lewis were wearing the same outfit, oh how we laughed, and bonded!
What is your earliest musical memory?
Being force fed The Beatles on long car journeys… I appreciate it now. Laura sings with the Sheffield Beatles Project now so we’ve come full circle!
When did you begin songwriting?
As long as I can remember, I remember taking apart those Beatles songs in my head and thinking ‘ah – so that’s what the drums do’ and ‘I think I could try doing that…’
You have your single ‘Apple Pie’ out now. What was the story/inspiration behind the track?
It’s pretty much about lazy summer afternoons stretching on forever, and the illusion it gives you that life is long and limitless. It’s actually short and perilous of course, hence the abrupt ending of the song and the reference to Paul Bowles’s The Sheltering Sky, a novel about chaos and the brevity of life.
Where did you record the track and who produced it?
We recorded it in Olly’s studio, and produced it ourselves.
Do you have any interesting, funny or memorable stories from the recording sessions?
No, Olly is very boring, and makes you do everything 20 times until you get it right. Only joking, it was quite funny when Lewis and I turned up wearing the exact same thing.
Did you use any particular instruments, microphones, recording equipment to help you get a particular sound/tone for the record?
Olly- This song has my old Silvertone guitar all over it. I like shonky guitars that make you work hard to make them sound good. I love the sound of pretty chords and melodies played on broken instruments. I also love my Fender Duosonic. It’s from the 60’s and sounds wonky as anything. I’ve tried ‘better’ guitars but I always go back to these two for the character.
Which of your tracks hear you at your a) happiest, b) angriest and c) most reflective?
a) Probably our next single Next Big Thing, though when we sound happy we are usually being sarcastic, and when we sound miserable we are usually also laughing at ourselves like on
c) Overthinker – think lots of people can relate to this one!
As for b) hmmmm. We are not really so angry but probably come closest on Tell Me It’s Alright. At least the guitars sound angry!
Was it a difficult track to write?
Our most difficult track to write was Firework. We kept getting the drums wrong but were determined to finish it. Not sure it ever became what was in our heads, but maybe you’ll like it all the same?
Is the track accompanied by a visualiser?
Close your eyes and imagine fireworks, that’ll do!
Where is your hometown and could you please describe it in five words?
Laura – Newcastle – Canny, Victorian, Cold, Wet & Wild
Olly – Edinburgh – Braw pure dead brilliant shite
How do you look after your voices?
Know when to stop! Do the shouty bits last in the studio so you aren’t pushing on a strained voice. Take it easy on yourself – that’s the really hard bit.
Do you have any live dates planned in the UK/Europe in 2026/2027?
Not YET! But watch this space.
Do you have any further music releases planned?
Our single Next Big Thing is out in October, and the album drops in January!!
What two things do you hope to have achieved once you have left the stage?
To have had a good time, and for the audience too! Whether that be catharsis or a good old dance, maybe a bit of both…
Do you have any favoured stage instruments, effects, pedals, microphones etc?
Can’t beat a good old sm58! You know what – I prefer crappy monitoring and dodgy sound, otherwise you can hear yourself too well and get self critical.
You are given the opportunity to write the score for a film adaptation of a novel that you enjoy. Which novel is it and why?
Oooh – someone should make a remake of Empire Records, we’d love to contribute to THAT soundtrack! Except they’d all have to work in an Apple Store or something, and it wasn’t a novel first was it?
Who are some of your musical influences? Do you have any recommendations?
The Cranberries, Smashing Pumpkins, Soccer Mommy, we love that 90’s guitar sound, you can probably tell. Check out ‘Cannon Ball’ by The Breeders or ‘Drown’ by Smashing Pumpkins. Both have nice melodies and are quite pretty but have that rough, slightly shambolic aesthetic.
What makes Forget Them Wendy happy and what makes you unhappy?
When the dog bites, when the bee stings, I simply remember a few of my favourite things…. Like Silvertones and Duosonics.
Feature Image Photo Credit: Supplied By LPR Agency
Forget Them Wendy’s new single ‘Apple Pie’ is out now.
