INTERVIEW: Summerlin

summerlin_1
INTERVIEW: Summerlin

Hanging out with Summerlin backstage before their headline show at Camden Barfly, we talk about their new album, describing their own sound and what’s next.

So your album You Can’t Burn Out If You’re Not On Fire recently came out, how has the reaction been?

Ben: Quite a few comments we’ve had is that this is a lot different from our previous songs, but that just shows our progression. We’ve had our fans singing along to the new stuff so that’s great.

What’s your Favourite song off the album?

All: United Divided!

Ben: We recorded the album last year, but since then we’ve become a four-piece. I mean, obviously we all wrote and recorded the songs on our album but United Divided is the first song we’ve properly written with just us four.

You also have a new video out for You Can’t Burn Out If You’re Not On Fire, tell us how that came about?

Ben: It was shot by Tom Barnes, who’s an old friend and who we have known for ages. We are a band that likes to mess about a bit during filming, but really he is just a gentle giant.

Drew: Yeah but he will still tell us off sometimes, like “Drew, stop moving” (laughs).

How would you describe your own music?

Ben: Trashy, crunchy, pop punk?

Drew: I’d say Pop Punk with the influence of Hardcore…

Ben: Yeah that sounds about right!

You’re doing a mini tour right now, you played Nottingham last night, how was that?

Ben: Really fun.

Drew: We always get a bit nervous about the first night of the tour, but it went really well. We let off sky lanterns after, so watch out tonight.

Did you go out after?

Drew: Nottingham is close to home so we had a lot of friends there. So yeah we did, although Ben didn’t drink.

Ben: That’s because I was driving today.

Expectations for tonight?

Ben: The good thing about London is the diversity; especially at The Barfly. It’s the one place where we get to play to a variety of people, people who would never normally get the chance to listen to us, so it’s always exciting.

Who would you love to play with?

Drew: We toured with Set Your Goals last year which was fun, so I’d like to do that all over again.

Ben: The Swellers, we love those guys, Reuben, Four Years Strong, their last album was incredible. There are too many bands to name.

Who would your dream festival line-up be?

Ben: I’d probably have a pop punk stage, so obviously a band like Blink 182, Straight Lines, The Wonder Years. I’d also have Reuben playing.

Drew: Yeah and Foo Fighters.

Where would you really like to tour but haven’t had a chance to yet?

All: Japan.

Ben: We were signed in Japan so our album was released over there first before the U.K, so we would love to visit.

Drew. Yeah if we sell enough copies (laughs)

And finally what’s next after this tour?

Ben: To tour all over! We want to get out there and play as many shows as possible.