In Conversation With #188 - Honeyglaze
South London based Honeyglaze have had quite a whirlwind few months - having been on the road with Wet Leg and gained support from Steve Lamacq, the band have just released their debut self-titled album via Speedy Wunderground.
Born out of lead songwriter Sokolow’s un-desire to be a solo-act, the group met officially at their first ever rehearsal, just three days ahead of what was to become a near-residency at their favoured ‘The Windmill’, Brixton. Forming a mere five-months ahead of a subsequent five-months of mandatory solitude, Honeyglaze, at first appearance, are a group who play with chance, time, and synergetic fate, in a manner few others are able to do.
A thirty-minute YouTube live session recorded in the garage of their close pal Fran for ‘FarmFest 2020’ pricked the ears of seminal producer Dan Carey and his team of meticulous taste-makers Speedy Wunderground (Tiña, Squid, Black Country New Road).
They took a moment to talk to us about how the album came together.
Hey there Honeyglaze, how are you? So your new album is out now, how does it feel to have it out there in the world?
It’s a very nice feeling. We’ve been sitting on it for a while, and have been writing since recording so having this record out now makes us feel excited for what’s to come next!
It was produced by Dan Carey - who has worked with the likes of Kae Tempest and Black Midi. What was it like working with him? What did Dan bring to the album?
He is the nicest dude, we love him to bits. Dan brought confidence to the album and encouraged us to really push the climaxes in our songs further sonically by simply introducing overdrives to us. Up until recording, we never really had pedals for live shows so Dan guiding us into this territory completely changed our sound.
Where was it recorded? Any behind the scenes stories from the creative process?
It was recorded at Dan’s studio in Streatham. I think when we recorded the first track Start in one take in pitch black with smoke and lasers was a moment to remember, and it really works in the sense of immersing yourself in the sound.
What are the key themes and influences on the album?
I guess the key themes lyrically would be about personal experiences and vignettes of day to day life, influences like Fiona Apple. Sound wise there wasn’t much vision except to maintain a raw, live essence to it.
Do you have a favorite lyric on the album? If so, which one and why?
“What do I do with all this time” from Deep Murky Water. It’s a very simple expression of the feeling you get when you’re suddenly alone, either after a relationship or at the end of a really busy time - even right now, all the days off tour feel like that.
If your album could be the soundtrack to any film - which one and why?
Titanic, because then Celine Dion wouldn’t have written “My Heart Will Go On”.
Now the album is out there - what next for you?
This is just the beginning. Honeyglaze will gradually phase out its human components, replacing each member with an animated dog. We will then declare war on Gorillaz.
