Rubberband Girl Talk New Album, Album Recording Sessions And More

Rubberband Girl’s debut album ‘Profiterole Vision’ is out now. We wanted to learn more so we spoke to her about the new album and more:

When did you begin songwriting?

My earliest memory of songwriting is rewriting and adding my own stuff like harmonies or extra verses to Disney songs when I was about 6. I wrote a lot of poems as a kid and those morphed into lyrics as I became a teenager.

What is your earliest musical memory?

Probably my mother singing to me.

Your new debut album ‘Profiterole Vision’ is out now. How did you want to approach the making of the album?

It felt like a quiet rebellion. We really took our time and had fun, and that allowed the project to develop and take shape naturally.

Where did you record the album and who produced it?

It was recorded at Rak Studios, but written all over London. Jonathon Quarmby, co-founder of Rubberband Girl executive-produced the album and other awesome producers involved include Future Cut, Raf Riley and Jamie Haj. My mate and drummer David Dyson can be heard all over it too, we’ve been working together for like 8 years now.

Do you have any interesting, funny or memorable stories from the album recording sessions?

Too many to count, we’re all friends and a little wonky in the head so there have been many laughs as well as trials. During the finishing stages of the album I knitted a scarf and gifted it to Jon to say thank you for putting up with me.

Did you use any particular instruments, microphones, recording equipment to help you get a particular sound/tone for the record?

We did use utilise an array of different mics, including one which I refer to as “Clean up on aisle 2”. It’s on a stick, with the button, you know the ones I mean? Doing that gave the BVs interesting and retro textures. We used live instruments as opposed to midi as much as possible, so the strings, flugelhorn, it’s all real and flawed in a subtle, human way.

Was it a difficult album to write?

Overall, it came naturally. I think I needed the outlet. Finishing it was probably the most stressful part, I kept finding one more thing and then one more thing to tweak.

One of the tracks is ‘Supercynical’. What was the story/inspiration behind the song?

I wrote it around the start of the war in Ukraine, which really rocked me mentally, watching it unfold online. Supercynical is about how in this modern life, overloaded with information, we can so easily slip into apathy or cynicism, but we really must remain hopeful and open.

Which of your new album tracks hear you at your a) happiest, b) angriest and c) most reflective?

a) Happiest- probably Summer Forever, that was written about the summer of 2020 which felt like it lasted a year. I was happy and in love when I wrote that. I wanted to freeze time, even despite the pandemic.
b) Angriest- In Hell, for obvious reasons. I’m not typically an angry person, so that’s probably about as close as it gets on this album.
c) Reflective- Weeds, no doubt. It’s a meditation.

What two things do you hope to have achieved once you have left the stage?

Creative fulfilment and human connection.

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

Only that I rarely wear in-ears, so onstage I always like to have a wedge speaker pointed at me so I can monitor my vocals over all the music and noise.

How do you look after your voice?

Not as well as I ought to, honestly.

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?

Neuromancer by William Gibson. I’m a big sci-fi fan and I’d have a lot of fun blending orchestral and futuristic sounds.

Who are some of your musical influences? Do you have any recommendations?

I have so many. Right now I’m loving Crowded House, Mk.gee and Soft Hair.

 Do you have any live dates planned in the UK/Europe in 2024/2025?

Yes we have our first gig on October 10th at Green Note, and lots more on the horizon.

What makes Rubberband Girl happy and what makes you unhappy?

Happy; dancing. Unhappy; wasted potential.