Alberteen talk to us about inventing their own genre and their mixed emotions over The Beatles [EXCLUSIVE]
After more than a decade together Alberteen have just released their fourth album, Lowenva via their own label, ‘Rhythm and Noir’. It’s the band’s first release in nearly two years and follows Alberteen vs Comma Period, a two track release from March 2019. Lowenva was written and recorded by the three original members John Rose, Phil Shaw and Ade Berry between March and October of 2020 and incorporates the use of clarinets, saxophones and even theremin into their familiar “retro chic” mix. The new nine track album is a positive move on from 2015’s Miss World and comes more than thirteen years after the band’s debut album, ‘It Felt Like Forever’. Contact Music caught up with them following the release of their new record.
Alberteen. Photo credit – Square Space.
For those who may be new to your music, how best would you describe your sound?
Well we pretentiously invented our own genre as we got bored with trying to explain it! Rhythm and Noir – 60s R and B beat influences with 21st century cinematic sounds, that sums us up.
What challenges have you faced in the music industry so far?
Not getting the gigs, not getting as much airplay as we’d like, not getting paid, mediocre bands getting more attention than us… the usual.
How difficult would you say this career path is in terms of making a name for yourself?
We are lucky in that we all have other jobs so it’s never been full time, but it’s difficult without a huge PR budget, is what we know. We have been together as Alberteen for ten years now and find it hard to maintain the exposure, so people might occasionally forget us.
How important is it for you to have creative control over the work you produce?
Totally, and it’s never a question. It’s why we set up our own label.
Where do you draw influence and inspiration from for your work?
Nature, art, society, politics, we once said ‘births, weddings and funerals’ – all of life’s rich tapestry. Music obviously but try not to replicate our influences.
If you could collaborate with anybody going forward, who would you choose and why?
We would all have different answers. One of us hates The Beatles and two of us love them! Let’s say…Serge Gainsbourg crossed with Prince, soundtracked by John Barry.
Tell us a random, funny fact about you that not many people know.
We went to the same school, and formed a band on a single bed with a guitar, drum machine, bass and Casio mini keyboard. We played a gig at a miner’s welfare social club to loads of blokes who’d probably expected stand-up comedy, and also in a public toilet. Oh, and under a nuclear power station.
Do you have definitive aims or goals for your career?
To not take another 5 years to release our next album…we have another 10 songs ready to go, so expect more soon.
Where do you hope to be this time next year?
Alive. In a pub. Together.
What should we expect from you in the coming weeks and months?
Probably no gigs alas. Not going down the lockdown stream thing either as we are all over the country. A new album though. Yes definitely. It’s been a creative time despite everything, got us through a lot together.