Fat White Family Interview

In a time of oppressive government, music always fights back. Fat White Family are a band leading that would be revolution. On their debut album Champagne Holocaust they brought a new mood to music, they became the flag bearers for this new wave of music that has since emerged. After releasing their second album Songs for our Mothers last year I spoke to Lias from the band to see whats happening next.


Q: Fat White Family have a reputation for being overly eccentric and wild during live performances, do you feel a level of pressure from fans to put on an eventful life show?

A: It depends entirely on the setting, mood, relevant level of exhaustion with regards to how long we've been touring and what carry on went on the night before, but generally, I find it extremely cathartic to perform in said manner. You spend along time waiting for an audience, once one finally shows up theres always a way of tucking into the energy they bring with them.

Fat Whites have became infamous for their energetic live performances

Q: Do you find it easy to put across the energy from your live shows when you're in the studio recording?

A: Our studio practice has always been somewhat removed from what we do live, in my opinion sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. They are two separate mediums in so many ways, all the ritualistic elements of a live gathering are stripped bare, there are however a lot more knobs to play with in the studio. It's a work in progress.


Q: Does your level of success as a band surprise you considering the content of your material and the sometimes taboo subjects your songs are about?

A: Now that I see a flurry of bands creeping out of the woodwork, signing proper deals, bands that seem to riff on what we were trying to achieve it doesn't surprise me as much as it used to. Things were ready for a bit of a shake up, that seems pretty clear. That being said I wouldn't mind a few more quid in my pocket for all the hassle it's been dragging our corpses band and forth across the globe.


Q: Are there any Fat Whites songs you particularly love or hate to play live?

A: I love performing all of our songs, I couldn't do it if it bored me.

Fat Whites debut album

Q: I know you've got stuff with the Moonlandingz coming up but whats next for Fat Whites?

A: We have just signed a new record deal with Domino and are moving to Sheffield to begin work on the third album, expect industrial pop, psychobilly, celtic balladry and lounge.