Clever Thing

Musicians — Brighton

01Profile

A Clever Thing Photo

03Interview

Name?
Daisy Coburn and Rich Fownes.

Where are you from?
Brighton

What do you do?
We do some songs and we do some gigs.

Briefly describe your style?
D - Lizard in a sheepskin ball-gown.
R - Conservative-magician meets eccentric-diplomat.

If you could make a record with anyone from history?
Jesus. Let’s settle the John Lennon rivalry once and for all. The track should be King Missile - 'Jesus Was Way Cool'.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
D - The Entrance Band at Sticky Mikes Frog Bar in Brighton. It was criminally not very busy, which granted me a front row place in absorbing all the magnificence and chutzpah of Guy, Paz and Derek. Paz is my queen of performance and artistry, always. It was the first time I’d ever been in the presence of something really f*cking good.
R - Blur at Glastonbury. The Great Escape record was the soundtrack to my inner revolution. To cast aside my cynicism and reserve, and be bouncing to Country House with that many people reminded me of how important and special this whole music shebang is, and without knowing it at the time, I really needed that reminder.

What British music icons inspire your sound today?
D - The Beatles.
R - With the stuff we’ve been writing recently, I think the British band we reference the most, conversationally and otherwise, is probably The Kinks - Sunny Afternoon.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
D - Harry Houdini, because he was really good at hiding his feelings. How do you do that?
R - Donald Trump. But I won’t need an hour.

Which British subculture means the most to you?
Our DIY music scene. I’m not immersed in the inner workings of other countries so have no point of comparison, but there’s always something unique and well-crafted close by. The only modern music I listen to recreationally tend towards young bands with strange ideas and nothing to lose.

If you could share the bill with any British band in history?
The Zombies. I can’t really express how important that band are to us. Technically and emotionally they’ve explored as much terrain as The Beatles, but have this natural dark funk that keeps a really sinister undertone to a lot of sweet melodic ideas. That essence is really important to what we love, and I can’t even think of another band that does that in such a profound way.

What music did you listen to growing up?
D - Madness, Nirvana and Neil Young
R - My mum had all the music taste of a 40-something, white, middle-class, suburban divorcee. Thus my childhood was a heady mix of Wet, Wet, Wet, Bryan Adams and The Bodyguard soundtrack.


Fronted by Rich Fownes (formerly of The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster) and Daisy Coburn, Brighton's Clever Thing cite influences as diverse as Billie Holiday and Black Flag, drawing comparisons to the likes of The White Stripes. Check out their latest song 'Fixer Upper' - out now'.

04Playlist Notes

What was the first song you played on repeat?
R - Nirvana changed it all for me. I watched ‘Live! Tonight! Sold Out!’ EVERY DAY after school without fail. I learned power chords from imitating his hands on that video. 'Scentless Apprentice Live' by Nirvana.

One record you would keep forever?
D - 'The Lady She Sings' by Billie Holliday. Track 'Good Morning Heartache'.

A song from your favourite album?
D - 'Up From The Skies' by Jimi Hendrix from 'Axis: Bold As Love'.
R - 'Search & Destroy' by The Stooges from 'Raw Power'.

A song you wish you had written?
D - 'It Must Be Love' by Labi Siffre.
R - 'Mr Grieves' by The Pixies.

A song that defines the teenage you?
D - 'Blue' by Joni Mitchell. 
R - 'Morning Has Broken' by The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster.

What was the last piece of music you bought?
D - 'Blue' by Joni Mitchell. 

A song lyric that inspires you?
D - “You forge your own chains”
From 'Forge Your Own Chains' by D.R Hooker.
R - “I’ve got a gun for a mouth and a bullet with your name on it”
From 'Out Of The Black' by Royal Blood. 

Is there a song you like that people wouldn’t expect?
R - 'Waterfalls' by TLC has me in fucking tears.

Best love song of all time?
D - 'It Must Be Love' by Labi Siffre.
R - 'You Really Got A Hold On Me' by Percy Sledge.

Best song to turn up loud?
D - 'How Great Thou Art' by Sensational Saints.
R - 'Daisy' by Wires On Fire.

Best song to bring people together?
D - 'Get Together' by Chet Powers (Dino Valenti).
R - 'Jump In The Line' by Harry Belafonte.

Any songs you can’t stop listening to right now?

D - 'Make Amends' by Other States
I saw them live for the first time recently, and it was totally absorbing, transcendent and effortless. I found it quite emotional, and I think I even felt my cold, dead heart do a little pump.

R - 'It’s Choade My Dear' by Connan Mockasin
Anything melancholy and hypnotic always drags me in and keeps me there forever.

03Interview

Name?
Daisy Coburn and Rich Fownes.

Where are you from?
Brighton

What do you do?
We do some songs and we do some gigs.

Briefly describe your style?
D - Lizard in a sheepskin ball-gown.
R - Conservative-magician meets eccentric-diplomat.

If you could make a record with anyone from history?
Jesus. Let’s settle the John Lennon rivalry once and for all. The track should be King Missile - 'Jesus Was Way Cool'.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
D - The Entrance Band at Sticky Mikes Frog Bar in Brighton. It was criminally not very busy, which granted me a front row place in absorbing all the magnificence and chutzpah of Guy, Paz and Derek. Paz is my queen of performance and artistry, always. It was the first time I’d ever been in the presence of something really f*cking good.
R - Blur at Glastonbury. The Great Escape record was the soundtrack to my inner revolution. To cast aside my cynicism and reserve, and be bouncing to Country House with that many people reminded me of how important and special this whole music shebang is, and without knowing it at the time, I really needed that reminder.

What British music icons inspire your sound today?
D - The Beatles.
R - With the stuff we’ve been writing recently, I think the British band we reference the most, conversationally and otherwise, is probably The Kinks - Sunny Afternoon.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
D - Harry Houdini, because he was really good at hiding his feelings. How do you do that?
R - Donald Trump. But I won’t need an hour.

Which British subculture means the most to you?
Our DIY music scene. I’m not immersed in the inner workings of other countries so have no point of comparison, but there’s always something unique and well-crafted close by. The only modern music I listen to recreationally tend towards young bands with strange ideas and nothing to lose.

If you could share the bill with any British band in history?
The Zombies. I can’t really express how important that band are to us. Technically and emotionally they’ve explored as much terrain as The Beatles, but have this natural dark funk that keeps a really sinister undertone to a lot of sweet melodic ideas. That essence is really important to what we love, and I can’t even think of another band that does that in such a profound way.

What music did you listen to growing up?
D - Madness, Nirvana and Neil Young
R - My mum had all the music taste of a 40-something, white, middle-class, suburban divorcee. Thus my childhood was a heady mix of Wet, Wet, Wet, Bryan Adams and The Bodyguard soundtrack.


Fronted by Rich Fownes (formerly of The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster) and Daisy Coburn, Brighton's Clever Thing cite influences as diverse as Billie Holiday and Black Flag, drawing comparisons to the likes of The White Stripes. Check out their latest song 'Fixer Upper' - out now'.

04Playlist Notes

What was the first song you played on repeat?
R - Nirvana changed it all for me. I watched ‘Live! Tonight! Sold Out!’ EVERY DAY after school without fail. I learned power chords from imitating his hands on that video. 'Scentless Apprentice Live' by Nirvana.

One record you would keep forever?
D - 'The Lady She Sings' by Billie Holliday. Track 'Good Morning Heartache'.

A song from your favourite album?
D - 'Up From The Skies' by Jimi Hendrix from 'Axis: Bold As Love'.
R - 'Search & Destroy' by The Stooges from 'Raw Power'.

A song you wish you had written?
D - 'It Must Be Love' by Labi Siffre.
R - 'Mr Grieves' by The Pixies.

A song that defines the teenage you?
D - 'Blue' by Joni Mitchell. 
R - 'Morning Has Broken' by The Eighties Matchbox B-Line Disaster.

What was the last piece of music you bought?
D - 'Blue' by Joni Mitchell. 

A song lyric that inspires you?
D - “You forge your own chains”
From 'Forge Your Own Chains' by D.R Hooker.
R - “I’ve got a gun for a mouth and a bullet with your name on it”
From 'Out Of The Black' by Royal Blood. 

Is there a song you like that people wouldn’t expect?
R - 'Waterfalls' by TLC has me in fucking tears.

Best love song of all time?
D - 'It Must Be Love' by Labi Siffre.
R - 'You Really Got A Hold On Me' by Percy Sledge.

Best song to turn up loud?
D - 'How Great Thou Art' by Sensational Saints.
R - 'Daisy' by Wires On Fire.

Best song to bring people together?
D - 'Get Together' by Chet Powers (Dino Valenti).
R - 'Jump In The Line' by Harry Belafonte.

Any songs you can’t stop listening to right now?

D - 'Make Amends' by Other States
I saw them live for the first time recently, and it was totally absorbing, transcendent and effortless. I found it quite emotional, and I think I even felt my cold, dead heart do a little pump.

R - 'It’s Choade My Dear' by Connan Mockasin
Anything melancholy and hypnotic always drags me in and keeps me there forever.

 

05Videos

Clever Thing - 'Fixer Upper'