The Wombats

Musician — Liverpool

01Profile

A The Wombats Photo

03Interview

Name, where are you from?
Daniel Joseph Haggis, Birthplace: Liverpool.

Describe your style in three words?
Technicolour Polaroid Pop.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
I saw Bon Iver in Edinburgh recently, and it blew me away. He’s one of my favourite artists, and it was my first time seeing him. I had goosebumps for the first four songs, his voice, the songs and his band were just phenomenal. Hard to pick one song but I’ll go for ‘Holocene’.

If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
We are actually going on tour with Weezer and Pixies across the USA this summer, so I’ll pick them. I used to go to a rock club in Liverpool called The Krazy House and every weekend I’d dance wildly to 'Buddy Holly' by Weezer and 'Debaser' by Pixies. If you’d have told me then that one day I’d be touring with them I would’ve just laughed!

Which subcultures have influenced you?
I suppose the main two were metal and folk. I got really into nu-metal and rock from the age of 13-18 and would wear really baggy jeans, a dog chain and band t-shirts. I then went on a folk discovery from 19-21 and started wearing more checkered shirts and played acoustic guitar in a folk trio.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Charles Dickens. A guy with an imagination like his and from that time period would make for a very interesting hour I reckon. Favourite book: A Tale Of Two Cities.

Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
The Sydney Opera House. We did two sold-out shows there last summer, and it was mind-blowing. It’s such an iconic building and somehow we, The Wombats from Liverpool, were playing there. It was a ‘pinch yourself’ moment. We wore smart James Bond style suits to mark the occasion, and there was a grand piano backstage which I warmed up on overlooking the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Dave Grohl. He was the reason 13-year-old me wanted to play drums and start a band. Track: ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ - Nirvana.


The Wombats broke onto the scene in 2007 with their album 'A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation' and its hit single 'Let's Dance To Joy Division', which understandably became a dancefloor filler throughout the country's indie clubs. The Liverpool band return in 2018 with Their new album 'Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life' (out February 9th) and a sold-out UK tour in March.

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
Probably a song from a Disney film but apart from that I remember playing ‘Summer of 69’ by Bryan Adams over and over again with my sister, it’s still our karaoke song!

A song that defines the teenage you?
'Paranoid Android' by Radiohead.

One record you would keep forever?
Probably a weird choice but… my last solo album, so many memories attached to those songs that I want to listen to when I’m old. Dan The Man - Circadian Circus. Track: ‘K-O’d’.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
"How many times can a man turn his head and pretend that he just doesn’t see?'" - Blowin’ in the Wind by Bob Dylan.

A song you wished you had written?
‘Gypsy’ by Fleetwood Mac.

Best song to turn up loud?
‘Friends’ by Francis and the Lights (Feat. Bon Iver)

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
‘Tecumseh Valley’ by Townes Van Zandt.

Best song to end an all-nighter?
‘Define Dancing’ by Thomas Newman from the Wall-E soundtrack. Ensures the most peaceful of sleeps and colourful dreams.

03Interview

Name, where are you from?
Daniel Joseph Haggis, Birthplace: Liverpool.

Describe your style in three words?
Technicolour Polaroid Pop.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
I saw Bon Iver in Edinburgh recently, and it blew me away. He’s one of my favourite artists, and it was my first time seeing him. I had goosebumps for the first four songs, his voice, the songs and his band were just phenomenal. Hard to pick one song but I’ll go for ‘Holocene’.

If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
We are actually going on tour with Weezer and Pixies across the USA this summer, so I’ll pick them. I used to go to a rock club in Liverpool called The Krazy House and every weekend I’d dance wildly to 'Buddy Holly' by Weezer and 'Debaser' by Pixies. If you’d have told me then that one day I’d be touring with them I would’ve just laughed!

Which subcultures have influenced you?
I suppose the main two were metal and folk. I got really into nu-metal and rock from the age of 13-18 and would wear really baggy jeans, a dog chain and band t-shirts. I then went on a folk discovery from 19-21 and started wearing more checkered shirts and played acoustic guitar in a folk trio.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Charles Dickens. A guy with an imagination like his and from that time period would make for a very interesting hour I reckon. Favourite book: A Tale Of Two Cities.

Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
The Sydney Opera House. We did two sold-out shows there last summer, and it was mind-blowing. It’s such an iconic building and somehow we, The Wombats from Liverpool, were playing there. It was a ‘pinch yourself’ moment. We wore smart James Bond style suits to mark the occasion, and there was a grand piano backstage which I warmed up on overlooking the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Dave Grohl. He was the reason 13-year-old me wanted to play drums and start a band. Track: ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ - Nirvana.


The Wombats broke onto the scene in 2007 with their album 'A Guide to Love, Loss & Desperation' and its hit single 'Let's Dance To Joy Division', which understandably became a dancefloor filler throughout the country's indie clubs. The Liverpool band return in 2018 with Their new album 'Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life' (out February 9th) and a sold-out UK tour in March.

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
Probably a song from a Disney film but apart from that I remember playing ‘Summer of 69’ by Bryan Adams over and over again with my sister, it’s still our karaoke song!

A song that defines the teenage you?
'Paranoid Android' by Radiohead.

One record you would keep forever?
Probably a weird choice but… my last solo album, so many memories attached to those songs that I want to listen to when I’m old. Dan The Man - Circadian Circus. Track: ‘K-O’d’.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
"How many times can a man turn his head and pretend that he just doesn’t see?'" - Blowin’ in the Wind by Bob Dylan.

A song you wished you had written?
‘Gypsy’ by Fleetwood Mac.

Best song to turn up loud?
‘Friends’ by Francis and the Lights (Feat. Bon Iver)

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
‘Tecumseh Valley’ by Townes Van Zandt.

Best song to end an all-nighter?
‘Define Dancing’ by Thomas Newman from the Wall-E soundtrack. Ensures the most peaceful of sleeps and colourful dreams.

 

05Videos

The Wombats - 'Turn'

The Wombats - 'Let's Dance To Joy Division'