Interview... Editors

Editors

Interview with Russell Leetch

Words: Ashley Marie Sansotta

Hailing from Birmingham, UK, the Editors (formerly known as Snowfield)

released their first album, The Back Room, in 2005 to universal acclaim.

But, it was a during their 2006 barn burning tour throughout the States,

the band skyrocketed to Bloc Party levels of popularity. The tipping

point being the Editors’ intense live performances, headlined by the

spastic, Ian Curtis-like, movements of their frontman, Tom Smith; a

comparison to Joy Division that would dog them for the following year.

And like Joy Division, this band does not skimp on gloom and doom.

Familiarize yourself with the Editors’ lyrics and you hear tales of death,

dying, and hospital waiting rooms. Their new LP, An End Has A Start, only

confirms how dark the Editors can be, a trait often masked through clever

hooks and guitar riffs. During a break from the band’s European tour,

bassist Russell Leetch, touched on some of these sensitive subjects, and,

of course, all those dreaded Joy Division/Interpol comparisons.

REAX: How do you think An End Has A Start compares/contrasts to your

first album?

Russell Leetch: I think it’s just a natural progression onwards. We

didn’t want make the same sounding record as the last. We wanted to

advance the songs. And a more textured sounding record was made.

REAX: How was it like working with Garrett ‘Jacknife’ Lee again?

RL: It was very brilliant. We’ve worked with him quite a few times now,

since the new record. We actually worked with him on some stuff just a

few days ago. He’s just a big lover of music, and he’s so eager to

discover new things, and that’s what you want from a producer.

REAX: “Well Worn Hand” is an interesting song to end the record with. I

understand it was recorded in one take, too.

RL: Yes, it was.

REAX: What’s the meaning behind that song and does it have a significance

in being the last song on the record?

RL: Yes, it’s the darkest song we’ve ever written and put down on a

record. And it’s about the murder of a friend of Tom’s, and his thoughts

and feelings when he heard the news about that person. It’s quite dark,

and I don’t know exactly where else (on the record) it could be, but last.

REAX: I first saw you guys play at a music festival in San Diego and I

know a lot of people were introduced to you guys the same way. What is it

that draws you to the fests?

RL: A lot of people go to festivals, and you’ll find lots of people who

don’t necessarily know your music, which is a good thing. Sometimes it’s

a little tricky – with a larger crowd – to impress people, and sometimes

those shows can turn out to be the best gigs ever.

REAX: You are notorious for your relentless touring. Why is this so

important to the band?

RL: We just like people to come out and watch us. We want to put on a

good show every night – no matter how big or small it is. And that’s the

best way to have a fan base, because they are there with you.

REAX: What’s the craziest thing to ever happen to you on tour?

RL: Well, we’re pretty good. I think we describe ourselves as being “the

most punctual band in the world.” It’s quite annoying sometimes because

we’re always first. Yeah... we can be a bit boring. Hmmm... that’s not

very exciting is it? (laughs)

REAX: What’s the first thing that runs through your mind when someone

compares you to Joy Division or Interpol?

RL: Well, I can’t really say much anymore. People still think that we

really sound like them - and they can write about that. But, we really

think that the differences are very dramatic.

REAX: What about comparisons to Echo and the Bunnymen? I hear you play

them sometimes before you go on stage.

RL: Yeah we do! We’re big fans of Echo and the Bunnymen... much more than

Joy Division or Interpol. (laughs)

REAX: Do you see yourselves tagged as the gloomy, pop band that some

people make you out to be?

RL: I think that it’s a good way to be. We don’t want to be a “happy”

pop band. (laughs)

REAX: What is the biggest influence on you when it comes to your music?

RL: As a musician, I have a spiritualized approach: Making simple things

big. And thoughts of just getting a good groove going, and forming it back

to a song. You know, they have that saying, “minimum is maximum?” I

couldn’t agree with that more.