Posted: Wednesday 20th August 2008

Laurel Collective is a band whose star is on the rise. The six-piece band defy genre steroetypes by mish-mashing a variety of sounds together to create rhythmic indie music with darkly humourous lyrics. The band's new single International Love Affair is due to be released in September.

We caught up with the band's co-vocalist Bob Tollast to find out more about Laurel Collective, to talk about the new single and to learn a bit more about how the band came together in the first place.

1. Tell us a little bit about yourselves.

er...6 piece band throwing in everything but the kitchen sink into old school pop songwriting and as a live band inspired by the chaotic gigs of Les Savy Fav or Iggy Pop.

2. Tell us about your new single 'International Love Affair'.

It's a slightly 80's feel melancholy pop new wavey song based on some old naive notions I had when I was younger with lots of synths and cowbells and a big chorus.

3. How did you get together?

We did various different degree courses and we're in various different bands when we decided to merge into a musical and academic tour de force. Then we dropped the academic bit and just went with the music bit. We have been poor ever since and never looked back, because we were too drunk to remember.

4. How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard of you before?

Percussive driving indie pop anthems that lurch off into bits of psyche rock??

5. Where did the name Laurel Collective come from?

Total drunkenness.

6. When can fans expect to see you live?

In London - always, every week but there is a U.K tour coming in oct/November.

7. What do you think of the current music scene in the UK?

Lurching wildly between brilliantly inspired (Eugene McGuiness, Late of the pier, Micachu, Wild Beasts) and the indie pub rock that still gets churned out or at the other end, talentless fashionistas with a drum machine, a guitar chord, 50 quid haircuts, throw in a cheep synth (at least get a decent old one if you're gonna spend that amount on your hair!) and some lyrics ripped off The Fall. But there is hope on the horizon with the mentioned bands!

8. Who were your influences growing up?

Trillions, but I suppose the cassettes that lit my fire were Hendrix, Queen and Led Zeppelin. I would love to lie and say I was listening to Can at age 4, but that would be a bit silly!

9. What's on your iPods at the moment?

I don't have an ipod!! But god knows, between us we get everything from jazz and krautrock to the Mystery Jets. Our keyboard player was listening to piano music played fast by a machine recently!

10. What are your plans for the future?

To be honest, trying to sound better as a band without getting too musical or turning into the Mars Volta. And to get the chance to continue our music career before we die of poverty.