Child Of The Parish Talk New Single, Debut Album And More

Child Of The Parish are a duo consisting of brothers Ben and Tom Vella. They have released their latest single ‘Always The Fool’, taken from their forthcoming debut album ‘Sweet Surrender’. We sat down with them to find out more about their music:

How did Child Of The Parish start? How do you find working together as brothers?

We started just before lockdown – I’d been in a band that played quite down tempo music, and fancied doing something a little more upbeat and dance influenced. Me and Tom hadn’t done music together in years, but as Tom had a background in house in seemed like a great excuse to try something. It’s been great so far! We can be honest with each other about things that maybe in some bands you can’t – we can’t have things too awkward round the dining table at Christmas!

What is your earliest musical memory? Is your family musical?

It’s actually a very musical family, our grandfather and his brothers were all professional orchestra players, so we weren’t given much of an option about music growing up! One of my earliest memories is Christmas concerts our grandmother used to put on, with everyone doing performances round her piano.

You have released the single ‘Always The Fool’. What is the story/inspiration behind the song?

Sonically we were listening to retro influenced disco – stuff like L’imperatrice, chromeo, Todd Terje etc. That mix of analog synths and live elements is really appealing. Lyrically I think it’s about unrequited love – which I seem to write about a lot! Not sure what my partner thinks of it.. I think it’s plugging into those teenage emotions of first loves, first heartbreaks. It’s cringey thinking back on that stuff in a way but they were powerful emotions at the time.

Do you have any favoured instruments, effects, pedals, microphones etc?

I have a bit of a weak point with guitar pedals! I’ve got loads but one of my favourites is my Analogman Sunface fuzz. Each one’s hand built and hand painted to order, all the circuitry is based on vintage pedals, and even the transistors are taken from old radios built in the 60’s so it’s completely authentic – I’ve got dozens of fuzz pedals but none quite does what a Sunface does.

Where did you grow up?

North London, Camden Town. Which was handy growing up for gigs. It was definitely an influence on us.

Your debut album ‘Sweet Surrender’ is released on 6th September 2024. How did you want to approach the making of the album? How does it differ from your previous releases?

It’s actually our first album, but it did come about in quite an odd way. We were going through the process of releasing singles and EPs heading towards a regular album, but we had a ton of ideas we were really excited about and there were too many of them to make it on. So it was suggested we did more of a mixtape, where you could just do lots of experimental ideas. We ended up getting completely obsessed with it, writing even more, doing instrumentals and linking tracks. By the time we finished it was obvious it had to be the album! So it was formed with quite an open mind and no pressure, which I think you can feel in the record.

Where did you record the album?

We produced it ourselves at our home studios, the final mix was done by Shuta Shinoda, who’s worked with ghost poet and hot chip. Weirdly enough he reached out to me, and much to our surprise it turns out we both live in the same tiny village in rural Hertfordshire! It must have been fate.

You are given the opportunity to write the score for a film adaptation of a novel that you enjoy. Which novel would it be and why?

I do read a lot. I’ve been a bit obsessed with Kurt Vonnegut recently, he was a very trippy, funny sci fi writer from the 60’s. His most famous book is Slaughter House Five, but I really enjoyed Sirens of Titan so I’d pick that.

Who are some of your musical influences? Do you have any recommendations/any artists you are listening to at the moment?

I guess the most obvious influences to the band are acts like MGMT, M83, Phoenix, etc. I love acts like Unknown Mortal Orchestra, khruangbin, bands like hot chip, Metronomy, crazy p etc are really important to me. There’s too many to mention really!

What Venue would you love to play in the UK?

I’m not sure there are a ton of bands who’ve played it, but I love the new theatre room in Alexandra Palace, it looks beautiful how they’ve left all the distressed walls. But growing up in Camden, if we ever headline the Roundhouse I think I can die happy.

Lastly, which music artist would you love to collaborate with?

Me and tom spent a lot of our youth listening to the Chemical Brothers, we would have an enormous geek-out doing something with them! We would be completely embarrassing fan-boys if it ever did happen!