I don’t know what it is about Brighton but the amount of talent that just comes oozing out into the London music scene is fucking amazing. Maybe its the whole living by the seaside and having that fresh sea air unclog the minds that produces these amazing bands, i.e. Theo Verney, The Wytches and now MORNING SMOKE. With what started off as just a fun project for friends Milo(lead singer) and Max (guitar)slowly turned into a full four piece. They released their EP Euphoria via Stray Cat Records nearly two years ago. Milo’s, vocals are echoingly deep in tracks such as ‘Melancholy’. The 6 track EP catches your attention from start to finish as it builds momentum and slows down and then gets you right back into it with the noise pop track ‘Loathed’.
I sat down with the guys before their gig at The Social in central to find out more about them as a band and to see whats next for them.
You guys have been gaining quite a bit of hype recently since the release of your debut EP Euphoria. How does it feel to be such a young band with recognition?
All: Its nice!
Milo: I think we are more excited now to release some new stuff as this is back from two years ago.
You were a two piece before what made you switch it up for the new album?
Milo:Yeah it was me and Max, we were like a bedroom band.
Max: We Just wanted to do it live!
How did you guys meet?
Milo: We go to a music college in Brighton and we just met each other through our classes.
How was the recording process?
Max: We went to Ford Lane Studios recorded three tracks, then a couple of months recorded two more and then a few more.
Milo: It was quite easy
Isaac: Bashing them out!
Your album ‘Euphoria’ has only 6 tracks on it but each one is different from the other, You start off noisy on the opening track ‘DYWD’, and then slowly transition into a more mellow sound, was that the purpose of it?
Milo: I don’t think that was the purpose of it. It was more of a mixture of noise and melodies so some are going to be more melodic and others are going to be noisy and loud. And just came together like that.
Isaac: I think the sound has changed as well, the new stuff has more darkness to it.
What was the influence?
Milo: We listen to a lot of bands like Diiv, Eliot Smith, Sun Ra, and Isaac loves Tame Impala!
Are you signed to a label at the moment?
No. But we released through Stray Cat.
Dream label to be apart off?
All: Captured tracks!
Yesterdays show was quite funny [the band played a home show in Brighton with Joel Gion and the set was cut short due to string malfunctions] …Milo do you always break your strings?
Milo: Yeah I developed a habit of breaking strings, I used to be really shy on stage, still am, but became less shy and seem to break a lot of strings…I brought two guitars today although, I wouldn’t be surprised if I broke both too.
All: TOUCH WOOD.
Whats been your favourite show to play so far? Weirdest?
All: Great Escape!
Milo: Its been the best show we’ve ever played as band. Weirdest has been at one of our shows when the lead singer of the band playing beforehand who was also pregnant started throwing out condoms to the crowd.
Do you prefer to play home shows or outside shows?
Isaac: We really love playing London!
Milo: But hate carrying gear.
Who have you been listening to recently?
Cheetahs , Tigerclub, Mac Demarco, Warpaint
Isaac: The bass player in Warpaint shes smokin’ hot!!!
You can catch Morning Smoke play a FREE show at The Lock Tavern on the 11th of September.
