Making The Headlines - Editors

It’s fair to say there’ll be no chirpy moments on the album then. Although Smith says that may be an idea for the future, he agrees there’s no upbeat frivolities on their immediate agenda: “Yeah, there’s no ‘Shiny Happy People’ on there. I do like the way The Talking Heads recorded quite upbeat pop but still remained cool… At some point I suppose we’d like to make a happy record that’s still cool”. He adds: “A lot of our songs have optimism wrapped in sadness; it’s the kind of music I grew up listening to.” 

Indeed, due to their gloomy, potent sound Editors’ influences are pretty easy to pinpoint. Refreshingly, Smith does not shy away from any parallels, whole-heartedly agreeing the band draws upon an array of eminent artists: “Obviously, we’re dark and moody so yeah we build on the sound of the likes of Joy Division, Echo and the Bunnymen and The Chameleons… Obviously we were too young when these bands came out, so it’s only more recently that we discovered them.” He also sees Editors as kindred spirits with a host of recent bands including Elbow, Doves and The Longcut.  Thankfully, Smith distances the band from the dim-witted name calling of a certain pair of bands on the other side of the pond: “I wouldn’t say there are any bands we don’t like at the moment but I just hate the way The Bravery and The killers are acting. To be honest I wouldn’t mind if they just wiped each other out.”

Looking to the future and fortunately Smith states the Editors are here to stay. A point confirmed by their decision to sign for the minuscule Newcastle-based label: “Kitchenware just felt the most comfortable, they had long-term plans. A lot of these big labels throw loads of money at bands and if they don’t sell ‘x’ amount of albums, the band are in big trouble. There’s a risk of them being a flash in the pan.” In fact he believes the label will be no hindrance on the band becoming big: “I think Franz Ferdinand and Bloc Party have proved that bands can cross over and appeal to the mainstream and remain on an independent label.” Truly, if Editors make as big an impact as either of these bands then the music world will be a much better place.