For our third instalment of artist interviews celebrating M's Great Escape Week 2011, we caught up with The Leisure Society frontman Nick Hemming.
He has been a permanent fixture in the British indie scene since the early 90s, having been part of shoegaze band The Telescopes, and also the lead guitarist in Midlands outfit She Talks To Angels, alongside director Shane Meadows and actor Paddy Considine.
Hemming has also composed music for two of Meadows' films; A Room For Romeo Brass and the epic Western-style feature Dead Man's Shoes, set in the north Midlands.
The Leisure Society formed in 2006 when Hemming relocated to London and hooked up with multi-instrumentalist and producer Christian Hardy. The band has swelled to include eight members, and their music is regularly likened to US folk band Fleet Foxes and alt-rock outfit Grizzly Bear.
The band, which first played at The Great Escape last year, craft nostalgic alt-rock songs with winsome melodies and delicate orchestration, and are adept at winning over audiences with their charm and ease on stage.
Describe the Great Escape in three words...
Industry-on-sea.
What was the highlight of your trip down there last year?
Playing to a heaving, sweaty, rowdy crowd at Komedia was great fun.
What difference did it make to your profile at home and overseas?
We developed a small fan base in Latvia after doing an interview with a radio station down there. As a result, we’ve been over to play the lovely Positivus festival in Riga twice now.
How does the Great Escape differ from other industry showcases?
It’s the only one we’ve ever played! Brighton is our spiritual home so it’s always nice to play there.
Do you have any tips for building up a following for your band?
Keep a mailing list on your merch table. We’ve been playing together for three years now and I think we remembered to do it twice!
What is your favourite song to play live and why?
A Matter Of Time always gets the crowd singing and clapping along, which is a joyful thing to behold.
You get to curate a showcase at this year’s Great Escape. Which three acts/bands do you choose?
Department Of Eagles, White Denim and Sufjan Stevens. I’m gutted that we’re going to miss Sufjan this year as we’ll be in Holland.
The Leisure Society released their second album Into The Murky Water this month through Full Time Hobby.
Watch the video for current single This Phantom Life, starring Green Wing comedy actor Mark Heap, here.
He has been a permanent fixture in the British indie scene since the early 90s, having been part of shoegaze band The Telescopes, and also the lead guitarist in Midlands outfit She Talks To Angels, alongside director Shane Meadows and actor Paddy Considine.
Hemming has also composed music for two of Meadows' films; A Room For Romeo Brass and the epic Western-style feature Dead Man's Shoes, set in the north Midlands.
The Leisure Society formed in 2006 when Hemming relocated to London and hooked up with multi-instrumentalist and producer Christian Hardy. The band has swelled to include eight members, and their music is regularly likened to US folk band Fleet Foxes and alt-rock outfit Grizzly Bear.
The band, which first played at The Great Escape last year, craft nostalgic alt-rock songs with winsome melodies and delicate orchestration, and are adept at winning over audiences with their charm and ease on stage.
Describe the Great Escape in three words...
Industry-on-sea.
What was the highlight of your trip down there last year?
Playing to a heaving, sweaty, rowdy crowd at Komedia was great fun.
What difference did it make to your profile at home and overseas?
We developed a small fan base in Latvia after doing an interview with a radio station down there. As a result, we’ve been over to play the lovely Positivus festival in Riga twice now.
How does the Great Escape differ from other industry showcases?
It’s the only one we’ve ever played! Brighton is our spiritual home so it’s always nice to play there.
Do you have any tips for building up a following for your band?
Keep a mailing list on your merch table. We’ve been playing together for three years now and I think we remembered to do it twice!
What is your favourite song to play live and why?
A Matter Of Time always gets the crowd singing and clapping along, which is a joyful thing to behold.
You get to curate a showcase at this year’s Great Escape. Which three acts/bands do you choose?
Department Of Eagles, White Denim and Sufjan Stevens. I’m gutted that we’re going to miss Sufjan this year as we’ll be in Holland.
The Leisure Society released their second album Into The Murky Water this month through Full Time Hobby.
Watch the video for current single This Phantom Life, starring Green Wing comedy actor Mark Heap, here.
