Guillemots - Flying High

Kirsten Dunst, Jake Gyllenhaal, George Michael, Paul Weller, Bob Geldof, William Orbit, Carl Barat, Scary Spice. Fear not readers, Mylo isn’t planning the sequel to ‘Destroy Rock & Roll’. Better still, every single one of these names is a supporter of the Scottish/Brazilian/English/Canadian foursome Guillemots and their quest for indie-stardom. And rightly so. Gigwise met up with frontman Fyfe Dangerfield and fetchingly named lead guitarist MC Lord Magrao at a London hotel, to discuss all about Hollywood’s favourite new band…

Quintessentially English singer and sometimes pianist Fyfe Dangerfield, Brazilian guitarist MC Lord Magrao, Scottish drummer Rican Caol and Canadian double bassist Aristazabal Hawkes could be the names of forthcoming counterparts to the Power Rangers. Such a diversity of backgrounds can’t help but direct the sound of Guillemots in a variety of paths. “Inevitably because we’re from different places it affects the sound. You can’t take where you’re from out of you, however much you try,” believes Fyfe, “I think it really helps with us that we’re four people from different corners of the globe and different sexes and ages.”

Recent and impending singles ‘Trains to Brazil’ and ‘Made-Up Love Song #43‘ respectively, feature tripping rhythms, memorable melodies and the most significant aspect of all, the voice. “I just try and sing and not be self-conscious. I’ve tried not to be afraid of the mistakes in your voice because those are often the things that make it nice.” The way Dylan and Buckley ‘carelessly’ sang through vocals but still made it sound superior reflects upon the attitude and result of the Guillemots’ very own front man. “Plus it’s also really good to sing, like, chemically it releases endorphins that make you feel happy. Even if it’s the saddest song in the world it could be the most wonderful feeling to sing it” adds Fyfe, whom therefore the more he sings, the happier he becomes.
 
Even though certain sectors of the media are feeling free to claim this band as one of this year’s hottest new thangs, the band are still grounded and are unprepared to get carried away with the commotion around them. “It’s funny when people are like “You’re massive” when we could be playing the Dublin Castle in six months” feels Fyfe. MC Lord adds: “The whole point is playing music together. The ‘massive’ side to it doesn’t really matter.” But what if all the assumptions become reality? “As long as it’s it on our own terms. I’d be suicidal if we had a no. 1 that I knew we just made in order to do so” quickly replies Fyfe.

Currently in a planet where the amount of Myspace friends one has is to some just as important a competition as the World Cup and internet-catalysed record deals, Guillemots also have the internet on their ‘thank you’ list. “It’s a great way of getting people to hear your music and it’s nice to talk to people who’ve bought your records and like your music” says Fyfe, to which MC Lord swiftly agrees, “Yeah, it’s good it’s there because we try to be that something different for people who are bored of mainstream pop.”