Interviews: Charlie Simpson

How’s it feel to be performing on Hollyoaks
Cool man, I must say I haven’t really seen Hollyoaks in a long while so it’s kinda weird being here. The most bizarre thing is seeing a full set, I’ve never seen a TV studio where the whole area is a set, where you see a school next to a police station. It’s really cool to see.

Is it the strangest place you’ve ever had to perform?
Oh without doubt, I’ve been to some small venues and gigs but outside a fake juice bar would probably top that list.

Where does the album title come from?
I was trying to come up with names for a record label and I was talking to my brother about it and he said “Young Pilgrim” which is a bit of a nod to The Shins, who have a song on their first record called “Young Pilgrims” so I nicked it as I decided I loved it as an album name.

How much influence did you have over the video for Down, Down, Down?
I had the same directors for Down, Down, Down and Parachutes, we sat down and started chucking ideas about, they had an idea about having this couple in a wood and I said ‘how about make it subtitled with like a twist in the end’

The album sends you in a different direction to what we are used to from Charlie Simpson, have bands like Mumford & Sons opened the door for that kind of stuff?
Yeah I think they’ve certainly opened a door, but for me I was more influenced by the people that influenced them, like The Eagles, Crosby, Stills and Nash and The Beach Boys, the big sort of harmony stuff I used to listen to because of my dad when I was little.

They have probably opened the door for it to become more massive to a younger audience.

However I’d say I was listening to more of the 70s sort of stuff when I was making the record.

Speaking of audiences, do you think you’ll bring some of the Fightstar fans over to this record?
I think so, there’s an element of them who will come with me, most of the feedback I’ve had from Fightstar fans has been great. Perhaps a lot of the Fightstar fans are into more heavy sort of stuff but I think it is the kind of music that will cross into a few different demographics as it a lot lighter and more melody driven.

What else is Charlie Simpson currently listening to?
Bon Iver, I love that new album it is amazing, I’m still listening to Phoenix; Wolfgang Amadeus. There’s this Scottish band I love at the minute called Twin Atlantic. I watched the Foo Fighters documentary and it was so good, it really got me in the mood to listen to that album, I haven’t liked the Foo’s stuff as much in the last couple of albums but after watching that DVD I will be listening to that album.

You mentioned Scottish Bands before and I was reminded of Frightened Rabbit a bit for your single, have you heard of them?
Oh my god, I absolutely love Frightened Rabbit, there last record is probably the best album in the last five years.

What item of clothing won’t you leave the house without?
My boxers, I need good nice clean boxers.