On the 3rd February Loupe are hitting the stage here following the release of their debut album ‘Do You Ever Wonder What Comes Next?’ so we sat down and got to know ’em!
Hey Loupe! Welcome to The Bodega, how are you all feeling ahead of tour?
Lana: Thank you! We’re all super excited for what’s to come. We’re about to release a brand new single ‘Tested Waters’, followed by a show at Eurosonic and of course our UK and Germany tour, for which we are now preparing a new set, including a bunch of new songs.
Last time you visited Nottingham you were playing the iconic venue Rock City alongside Lovejoy, what was that UK tour like and have you got any stories from the city?
Lana: Our Lovejoy support tour was actually our first time touring the UK, which was a great experience by itself. Playing such big venues was kind of unreal, but most of all the crowds were really amazing. Being the support act is not always easy, but the crowds were extremely welcoming, and the Nottingham crowd was no exception.
Annemarie: Nottingham was the only venue we played that had an underground type of feel. We really enjoyed that because the overall vibe of the evening felt very different too, like we were all one group of friends. Afterwards we got kicked out because of what seemed to be an amazing clubnight <3
You recently announced you’ve got some new music on the way, has that been in the works for a while?
Abel: We have been writing in between shows mainly. We started writing new songs when Nina joined the band this summer. It feels really important to us to release music that we’ve written together in the current formation.
Lana: I think we actually finished ‘Tested Waters’ in the UK, when we booked a rehearsal studio in Cardiff.
Last summer you recently your stunning debut album ‘Do You Ever Wonder What Comes Next?’. How did it feel releasing a bigger body of work?
Lana: I always prefer releasing a full album because it feels like you have more freedom to experiment. You can put little interludes on an album, or songs that have everlasting outro’s. At the same time it’s nice to create something like a little album-sound-bubble, so that you can write all sorts of different stuff, but it will still sound like a cohesive album.
Is songwriting something that is continuous for you as a band?
Annemarie: We always feel a very welcome energy boost when we start writing songs and start recording, so we try to keep doing that. But while touring it’s not always possible, even though we have done it, as Lana just said.
Can you tell us a bit more about how the writing process works for you as a unit?
Abel: our songs usually start with either a short idea -like a riff, vocal line or chord progression from one of us, and then we all add things to it- or as a jam in our rehearsal room. We often write or refine our parts/lyrics at home and work on the song structure together.
What was the music scene like in Amsterdam as you formed the band? We’re lucky to have a really great grassroots scene here in Nottingham so hearing about other locations is really interesting.
Annemarie: Amsterdam has a lot of bands, mostly indiepop I think. There were always enough pubs and venue’s to play in, which was very nice when we just started out. And since there is a conservatory in Amsterdam you can always find musicians from all over The Netherlands to hang out with and make music with. But I must say that it’s very refreshing to visit new places and different types of bands now we’re traveling more.
We hope you have a great show! Before you go, what’s one piece of equipment you could never get rid from your live set up?
Abel: such a difficult question! I really like everything I’m using. Probably a cliche answer but I’m really attached to my guitar, a 60s Gibson ES-120 hollow body. I would have a hard (and bad) time playing Loupe’s set on another instrument because I’m so used to how it plays and sounds and I think it’s quite specific.
Lana: For me that would also definitely be my Fender Precision bass (1972). I got this bass from my great uncle, and have played it since I was 18 years old. I think I dare say that this bass has sort of formed me as a bass player, and it defined my sound. I can play without effects, or use a different amp, and still somewhat sound the same, but I’ve tried different basses, but it just never sounds as good.
Tickets for Loupe on 3rd February are on sale now!
