Music > Interviews

Black Honey

13/10/18

Hailing from the musical mixing pot that is Brighton, glam-meets-garage rock bunch Black Honey are one of the hottest emerging acts you can see right now. In their short life, they’ve released a string of unfathomably cool EPs, opened for such juggernauts as Royal Blood, and taken their formidable live experience to audiences worldwide. Their debut album landed in September, and in October they’re dropping by Norwich Arts Centre to show it off. Ahead of the gig, band leader Izzy B. Phillips gave us some quick-fire lines about music, movies, and more.

What have been some of the biggest milestones for you in the past few years?

Deffo putting out our first record this week, it’s so surreal! We also loved touring Japan and Korea, as well as the big European tour with Royal Blood.

As well as that tour, you also worked with frontman Mike on your track Into the Nightmare. What was it like creating a song together?
We have known each other for a while, I knew Ben first because he was always at this night in Brighton we used to go to. Writing with Mike is incredible, he has such a purist ethos and understands exactly how to make something the best and purest version of itself.
 
It’s mostly new stuff on the record. How come a lot of the ‘classics’ didn’t make the cut? 
We decided to make a record that felt really new, because an album without surprises is boring! We do still play them live, sometimes.

You used to describe your music as being very ‘lo-fi’. Do you think that label still fits?

Yeah maybe not, though I think our ethos is still pretty lo-fi. And I think Taylor Swift would probably argue that we are lo-fi.

At Latitude this year there were hordes of kids waiting to meet you after your set. How does it feel becoming a revered indie icon?

I don’t feel like an icon yet. Come and ask me again in 10 years.
 
There are so many references to vintage art and movie culture on the record. What is it you find so enjoyable about these references?
To me they are sincere. They’re things that are made with craft or stories that hold their own without depending on CGI effects and big blockbuster surround sound.

On that note, is the album cover’s teeth and lips imagery inspired by The Rolling Stones?
No, the inspiration behind it came from Andy Warhol, The Velvet Underground, Blondie and the whole Factory scene.

Do you ever plan on moving into film – acting or directing?
Yes, I really want to become a director. I would act if I loved the character and felt like I enjoyed collaborating with the people making it.

Somehow, we’re almost at the end of 2018. Who have been your favourite artists to listen to this year?
We love a band called Viagra Boys because of their song Sports, which is brilliant. We also love Boy Azooga, Dream Wife and The Magic Gang.

What have Black Honey got planned for the future? And will your lost mascot Jerry the Flamingo ever return?
We have so much coming up! We’re doing a full tour of the UK and Europe, including our biggest ever headline show at the Electric Ballroom in London. Hopefully next year we’ll get to explore new territories around the world we haven’t yet been to, as well as new releases! It’s all pretty hush hush but watch this space. And yeah I think Jerry is long gone, we last saw him in a hot tub in Butlin’s.

Black Honey play Norwich Arts Centre on Tuesday 16th October with support from PINS and Russo.

For more information and tickets, visit norwichartscentre.co.uk