Music > Interviews
Interview with The Nightingales
29/09/11
I really can’t do the math, but Fliss Kitson would have been, well, younger, wouldn’t she (?!) when British alt-punk band The Nightingales released their first single. I’m tempted to implicate twinkles and such like in her father’s eye. We know music to have no ‘not ripe before’ or ‘sell by date’ however, and so it came to pass that Norwich’s very own Fliss Kitson, of much loved and now disbanded Violet Violet seemed to always have been etched into the band’s timeline, and joined as their drummer. Fliss had gone heavyweight with a band who retained all of the credit of their impeccable songwriting through a 20-year plus career, without any of the trappings of commerciality. This, this is where she was always meant to be.
How did you come to join The Nightingales? I toured supporting The Nightingales for years with my band Violet Violet. We had a great relationship with the band and both me and their previous drummer had very similar styles of drumming. Over a year ago the drummer had other commitments and I was honoured when they asked me to become a Nightingale....
I know you to be a very creative person, who took on every aspect of Violet Violet - joining an already established band, what are your creative outlets? The drumming... this is the most work / thought / energy / muscles / skill / creativity I have ever put into drumming. It was extremely difficult to replace such an individual drummer... I have learnt so much. It may not appear it but The Nightingales are pretty comical with their music and it's fun to come up with the weird parts to fit into it.
Even though there's a priceless back catalogue to choose from, the band is still is creating mode, with a new album written and released in 2009. Were you in the band for that process? I was drumming with them, but I didn't record the 2009 release with them.
Are there plans for new material currently? There is indeed. We have just signed a deal with Cooking Vinyl and I have been taking trips to the Midlands to write music with them regularly. Plans to record in Germany in December and release next Spring. Next year is going to be the year of The Nightingales!
The Nightingales have always seen a line-up in flux - what do you think the each member of the current incarnation brings to the floor? Well, Robert LLoyd has always been a Gale, he is an amazing man and I am so honoured and proud to be a part of his band. He leads us and knows what he wants. His lyrics are superb. Alan – guitarist - had been a Gale for a long time and was also in The Prefects with Mr Lloyd... he's the riff writer and has been so wonderful with me learning the parts. Andi the German bassist – it’s such a nice feeling to play with a bassist who knows what they're doing... and then there's young Matt - just watch him and you'll understand.
Robert Lloyd has obviously been at the epicentre of the band, and is lauded with much credit as a songwriter - does he take it all in his stride?He really does. He never talks about his lyrics and he doesn't enjoy giving interviews. There's a man from Birmingham, who Robert has never met, who has published two Nightingale lyric books, which is quite amazing.
The Nightingales the first time round came from a generation where people actually bought music! A time when John Peel was alive, a man who was able to direct attention their way. Do the band see those as the halcyon days of the music industry, or are they embracing the changes, do you think?I don't think the Nightingales would say they ever fitted in to what was going on at the time... they wouldn't say it was better then than now. John Peel did so much for the Gales and really brought them to light but they're still doing it, which is a testament to the fact they just really love what they do.
Where has your touring taken you with the band already? I started with 4 pretty intense dates in Germany. I had only 2 days of practice with them before I had to play the shows. In April we did a two-week tour where I was officially a Nightingale and they were some of the best shows I have ever played. Following the Gales for 4-5years now, the response from that tour was something quite new and special; as MOJO put it "The return of The Nightingales".
The Norwich date is part of an extensive tour, but is the Norwich date one that you have a special mark in your diary for? Of course. Norwich is my hometown and it'll be a big show for me.
Will you feel proud to be bringing the band here? I am so proud to be in this band and to bring them to Norwich is what I really wanted for this tour.
You get to see Norwich represented at the Norwich gig, with BROTHERS in support too. Did you select them?Rob likes to pick all the support for the shows. As you'll see we always tour with comedian Ted Chippington. I think I suggested Fever Fever to Rob and he contacted them but they put forward their new project BROTHERS, which will be cool and bring a different (younger!) crowd along.
You're quite the musical harlot Fliss - you're in Broken Seas as well. Tell us a little about this musical adventure...Well, The Broken Seas is my other band - quite new - but I am super dedicated to it alongside the Gales. It's the kind of music I have always wanted to play and we are all very involved in the writing process. We're playing a few gigs in October too but hopefully we'll play Norwich soon as well. Super excited about things to come with The Broken Seas...
The songs I've heard have a delicious injection of blues. Is this a new exploration for you? It is to play; the drumming is pretty different for me, a lot heavier, more of a groove. I have been teaching myself a lot of new techniques since joining the Nightingales as it's all got a little bit more serious. I've always listened to that style of music - Black Keys, Von Bondies etc. and like I said, I have always wanted to play in that style.
Those vocals stand up effortlessly next to the likes of Alison Mosshart / Liela Moss - who do they belong to and where did you find them?Alex is our amazing vocalist. She does her own solo thing - Alex Hill - and I've always adored her voice, it's fantastic and has a real twang. Me and her both wanted to do something completely different and talked about it for months before we got Matt (guitar) involved.
Is there a grand-plan for the band? Not really, we've actually had a fair bit of interest considering we have only played three shows – the third being Dockville Festival in Germany. So it's pretty exciting; we're dedicated and passionate about the music.
Finally - you know violet violet were my fave Norwich band. Would you and Cheri ever unite? Ha, that's sweet! I had the most amazing time with Cheri in Violet Violet. I adore her and that band, so who knows…
Emma Garwood
The Nightingales play the Norwich Arts Centre on Monday 24thOctober. For tickets and info, go to www.norwichartscentre.co.uk. You can find Fliss at twitter.com/FlissKitson and more Nightingales info at www.thenightingales.co.uk
Where has your touring taken you with the band already? I started with 4 pretty intense dates in Germany. I had only 2 days of practice with them before I had to play the shows. In April we did a two-week tour where I was officially a Nightingale and they were some of the best shows I have ever played. Following the Gales for 4-5years now, the response from that tour was something quite new and special; as MOJO put it "The return of The Nightingales".
The Norwich date is part of an extensive tour, but is the Norwich date one that you have a special mark in your diary for? Of course. Norwich is my hometown and it'll be a big show for me.
Will you feel proud to be bringing the band here? I am so proud to be in this band and to bring them to Norwich is what I really wanted for this tour.
You get to see Norwich represented at the Norwich gig, with BROTHERS in support too. Did you select them?Rob likes to pick all the support for the shows. As you'll see we always tour with comedian Ted Chippington. I think I suggested Fever Fever to Rob and he contacted them but they put forward their new project BROTHERS, which will be cool and bring a different (younger!) crowd along.
You're quite the musical harlot Fliss - you're in Broken Seas as well. Tell us a little about this musical adventure...Well, The Broken Seas is my other band - quite new - but I am super dedicated to it alongside the Gales. It's the kind of music I have always wanted to play and we are all very involved in the writing process. We're playing a few gigs in October too but hopefully we'll play Norwich soon as well. Super excited about things to come with The Broken Seas...
The songs I've heard have a delicious injection of blues. Is this a new exploration for you? It is to play; the drumming is pretty different for me, a lot heavier, more of a groove. I have been teaching myself a lot of new techniques since joining the Nightingales as it's all got a little bit more serious. I've always listened to that style of music - Black Keys, Von Bondies etc. and like I said, I have always wanted to play in that style.
Those vocals stand up effortlessly next to the likes of Alison Mosshart / Liela Moss - who do they belong to and where did you find them?Alex is our amazing vocalist. She does her own solo thing - Alex Hill - and I've always adored her voice, it's fantastic and has a real twang. Me and her both wanted to do something completely different and talked about it for months before we got Matt (guitar) involved.
Is there a grand-plan for the band? Not really, we've actually had a fair bit of interest considering we have only played three shows – the third being Dockville Festival in Germany. So it's pretty exciting; we're dedicated and passionate about the music.
Finally - you know violet violet were my fave Norwich band. Would you and Cheri ever unite? Ha, that's sweet! I had the most amazing time with Cheri in Violet Violet. I adore her and that band, so who knows…
Emma Garwood
The Nightingales play the Norwich Arts Centre on Monday 24thOctober. For tickets and info, go towww.norwichartscentre.co.uk. You can find Fliss at twitter.com/FlissKitson and more Nightingales info atwww.thenightingales.co.uk