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CHVRCHES’ Lauren Mayberry Chats with Us About Love Is Dead, Touring, Chicago, Fans & The Future

7/30/2018

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CHVRCHES’ Lauren Mayberry Chats with Us About Love Is Dead, Touring, Chicago, Fans & The Future
Photo: Shervin Lainez
Just six years ago the Glaswegian band CHVRCHES launched their way into the digital streaming world as a faceless new trio and now they’re touring the world in support of their third studio album. Ahead of CHVRCHES’ visit to our hometown of Chicago for Lollapalooza this week, we recently caught up with lead singer Lauren Mayberry to chat about their latest album Love Is Dead, touring, Chicago, fans and the future of the band.

LOVE IS DEAD

You three have always had a knack for marrying the dualities of dark and light in your music between the lyrics and the instrumentation. Love Is Dead continuing this trend by exploring the loss of empathy in mankind, seeking answers in dark times and how we can remain positive by pushing forward. A line from the track “ii” captures this theme rather well. “The truth exists somewhere between the dark and the light”. Is this something you’re conscious of when you’re writing or does this just come naturally?

Lauren Mayberry (LM): I think it's something that has always existed in the music we make and the way I write lyrics for this band. It's more about gut instinct than trying consciously to curate something in a certain way and that's the way I write best, I think - when I'm being honest and open. The two sides exist in everything in life I think - very few things are all good or all bad - so why wouldn't that be referenced in art?

One thing we find quite fun about your lyrics Lauren is the openness to interpret the songs in our own ways as you don’t often reveal in depth meanings. We also enjoyed the hidden “Easter eggs” as you once referred to them like the hidden telephone number in the music video for “Get Out” which revealed a spooky message from you when dialed. Have fans been connecting with and interpreting the new songs as you anticipated?

LM: That was something we really enjoyed planning in the run up to the album release. So many album roll outs are quite boring or abide by a certain set of "rules", and I don't think some musicians give their fanbase enough credit. People are smart and curious and want to go on a journey with you, so why not make a song or album release something fun and mysterious? It's been really great to start playing shows and see that the new songs have connected with people. All we can really do when we're writing is make sure that we are enjoying what we're making and it feels like it connects with us, but after that you really can't be sure. You can only really know when the music is out in the world and you get to a show, and people will either know the words or they won't.


TOURING

Now that the Love Is Dead campaign is well under way how is everyone feeling on tour?

LM: We're good! The run we're on at the moment is pretty hefty but I think by the end of August we'll feel like we've achieved a lot. Often times when there's a day off on the website, it's not a day off in band life, whether that's some writing or recording or promo activities, but it's all part of the same thing. It's all about trying to get the music out there and to connect with people.

What are some of your favorite things about touring?

LM: So much of the 'business' side of being in a band is quite isolating so playing shows and experiencing music in the way you truly want to is what it's all about. So much time is spent talking about the band and the music as if they're these abstract entities, but ultimately, we all started making music because we wanted to express ourselves and connect with people and be part of a community, and you only really get that at live shows. So much of culture and entertainment is a really solitary pursuit, but live music is one of the few things that really brings people together in a communal way, and I think that's very powerful.

With all the grueling demands of touring, how do you keep motivated, healthy and pass the time while on the road?

LM: It's a constant learning process but the self-care aspect of touring is really important because if you don't take care of your brain or your body, the shows won't happen. The guys are very into Mario Kart and Fortnite at the moment, and I listen to a lot of podcasts / audiobooks and drag my little yoga mat around in my suitcase too. All that jumping around on stage is no joke...

Lauren, we really enjoyed and learned a lot from TYCI. Revisiting one of the podcast segments called Tales from Tour, what have you been listening to lately, what are you watching and what have you been reading?

LM: I love Getting Curious, Jonathan Van Ness from Queer Eye's podcast, and I have been watching The Handmaid's Tale, Pose and obviously Queer Eye. I just got Martin into Ali Wong and he has been quoting her Netflix specials a lot. I just started reading Sex and Rage by Eve Babitz and listening to the Louis Theroux audio book of The Call Of The Weird.

Lauren, we have loved watching the evolution of your stage presence from shy "awkward shuffle" as you once self-described it to a twirling, headbanging, fist pumping full on rock star! Do you do all your own choreography?

LM: We don't really choreograph the shows necessarily - it's been more about getting comfortable with how to physically express the songs and how best to communicate them with people. I love dance and movement and am obsessed with choreography videos on Instagram but it's not something I think I would ever be able to properly do, or something that really suits our music necessarily. I have learned that you'll never please people though. At the start of the band, we got absolutely crucified for my perceived lack of presence, but then when things do naturally grow and evolve, some people still don't like it. I'm never as comfortable on stage as I am when I am writing but all you can do is relax and be honest with each other and see what feels right. I think it would be boring if you never changed or evolved as a writer, a musician or a performer. They're all reflections of where you are at that moment, and it wouldn't make sense for that to stay the same.

Although the boys (Iain Cook, Martin Doherty and Jonny Scott) are unavailable at the moment maybe you could attempt to answer the following three questions we have for them.

Iain and Martin, the gear junkies, this one is for you and all the gearheads out there. What new gear are you using on stage for this campaign?

LM: The Nintendo Switch...? Haha. I am not qualified to answer this question.

Lauren Mayberry Fans (LMF): Haha! We knew the comedian in you would eventually pop out during our chat.

CHVRCHES’ debut album The Bones of What You Believe must be close to going platinum and Martin once mentioned he would get his first tattoo when that day comes. If we had to guess that day might be coming soon and during this album campaign. Lauren, what would you recommend Martin get for his first tattoo?

LM: Jonny has lots of tattoos and is really creative with it so I think his advice would probably be the most helpful. If it was CHVRCHES related, that would be really cute...

The evolution of CHVRCHES’ live show continues with the addition of live drummer Jonny Scott and we’re super excited to see this during your festival setup at Lollapalooza. Jonny, how is life on the road with your pals from CHVRCHES going, are they playing nice or have you been part of any new band member hazing rituals that we so often hear about with other bands?

LM: We are very nice to Jonny, thank you very much! He played with Iain in a band called Unwinding Hours and was also in Martin's university band, Julia Thirteen, so we've all known him for a while and also been fans of his playing. He's truly one of the most versatile, expressive drummers I have ever seen and we're really lucky he wanted to come out on the road with us. He can also play the drum part to pretty much every Smashing Pumpkins song that ever was so I feel like that will be fun when it comes to headline tour soundcheck time...

LMF: Uh-oh, it sounds like we’re in the dog house for asking that one but in our defense, we meant it in a playful manner and great to hear that Jonny is such a good fit for the band. Smashing Pumpkins are a Chicago band by the way. If you can sneak some fans in for soundcheck while in Chicago for the headlining tour we would love to hear that.

What songs off Love Is Dead that have yet to be played live do you plan to add to future set lists during this album campaign?

LM: We're making plans for the headline shows in the fall at the moment and will definitely be adding a few more but if I tell you, it will ruin the surprise, you know? For festivals we wanted to add a handful of new things but not go too far because the sets are normally shorter and you don't know if you're necessarily playing to a captive audience so it's better to keep things open.
CHVRCHES’ Lauren Mayberry Chats with Us About Love Is Dead, Touring, Chicago, Fans & The Future
Photo: Rachael Wright
CHICAGO

Chicago has been one of your most frequented touring cities. What are some your favorite places or things to do while visiting Chicago?

LM: It's a really cool city and we've been lucky enough to play there a lot. We have friends there so normally we just catch up with them but controversially I will say that deep dish pizza has been quite tricky for me to get my head around... It's like pizza-quiche.

LMF: Deep dish pizza is certainly interesting to say the least but arguably seems more geared towards our tourists in Chicago these days. When it comes to food we’re also known for our Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches, Garrett’s popcorn and the original Rainbow Cone. If you ever need any food recommendations while in town please don’t hesitate to ask us.

Rumor has it that Matt Berninger of The National might make an appearance for "My Enemy" at your Lollapalooza performance. Can this be confirmed?

LM: I haven't heard anything about this so maybe you know something I don't...!

LMF: When asked during an episode of the ID10T podcast (at 1:17:00) earlier this year if you’re doing any shows together Matt alluded to the idea of performing “My Enemy” together by saying, “there’s a thing in Chicago, you’re there the day before were there and so I might try to come early.” Here’s hoping our refresher will spark some interest to make this come true before Matt has to run over to The National’s Lollapalooza aftershow at the Metro later that evening.

FANS

The FANCLVB mail box at headlining shows during the Every Open Eye tour was a hit! We realize that undertaking took loads of your time Lauren and wouldn’t be feasible to continue written replies to fans but will a previously mentioned PO Box be set up for fans to mail letters and gifts to in the future?

LM: We don't have any plans for that at the moment, no. We're going to be on the road so much in the next year or so that a PO Box wouldn't really be practical as no one would ever be there to open it!

Speaking of FANCLVB, during a recent Reddit AMA with the band it was mentioned that some fun activities and possibly a limited number of meet and greets might be planned for the future. Can you elaborate yet on those plans or what maybe in the works for fans during the upcoming headlining tour dates?

LM: It's something we've thought a lot about but there aren't specific plans at the moment. We're still adamant that any events we do are free and not paid for, whether those are through venues, radio stations, record stores, etc., but there isn't plans to re-up FANCLVB for this campaign. It was so fun but for the time being it seems like that will be something that lives as part of the Every Open Eye era.

FUTURE

It was mentioned in recent interview that some 40 songs were written during the Love Is Dead sessions. Is it possible that any of those tracks not on the album including those written with Dave Stewart could see the light of day on a vinyl B-side single or an LP extended edition in the future?

LM: We don't have any plans for new music at the moment but who knows where life will take us.

Not only do people love your original work but your cover songs are brilliant too! Any chance we might see a compilation album of your cover songs put together in the future?

LM: Most of the time those covers are things you do for radio stations or streaming services so those stations and companies have the rights to the songs, so any release would be done by them (EG: the R1 Live Lounge compilations).

A few weeks ago, both you and Martin teased in social media posts about album number four otherwise known as CHV4 for now. We realize your focus is on the current tour but have thoughts about CHV4 crossed your minds at any point and can you confirm plans to write a fourth album?

LM: We are always writing little things but there hasn't been any discussion about another album at this point.

You have had some amazing opportunities to collaborate with people like Haley Williams of Paramore and Matt Berninger of The National. If you could collaborate with anyone, who would you like to work with on a future project?

LM: We were so lucky to work with both Hayley and Matt. They are both such amazing songwriters and storytellers, and I really like that both collaborations came about in a very organic way, not something that was set up by a label to try to cross something over. Beyond that, I don't really know. My favourite people to collaborate with are Iain and Martin so I think I'll just focus on that for the time being.

Anything else coming up that you’re excited to share with your fans?

LM: We just recorded something secret that we can’t tell you about yet but it will all become clear soon. It’s fun to still get to be creative even when you’re on tour so we try to do that whenever we can, and we can't wait for you guys to hear what we made the other day...

As always, thank you very much for your time Lauren. CHVRCHES will be performing in Chicago at the Metro on Wednesday, August 1st and at Lollapalooza on Thursday, August 2nd. If you haven’t already, catch CHVRCHES on the Love Is Dead tour in a city near you during 2018-2019.
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Fun Facts with Lauren Mayberry

9/17/2015

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Fun Facts with Lauren Mayberry
Photo: Rachael Wright
With CHVRCHES preparing for their upcoming tour in support of their sophomore album Every Open Eye due out September 25th we were very fortunate to get a few minutes with Lauren Mayberry for a fun and quick interview. Since we didn’t have band mates Iain Cook and Martin Doherty along with us and instead of boring Lauren with the same repetition of pre-album interview questions we decided to mix things up with some completely different but fun questions. We got those fun questions answered that you have been dying to ask her so check out the interview below.

LMF: Favorite city to visit besides your hometown?

LAUREN: New York. There are always so many amazing cultural things to do but you can also escape to a more neighbourhoody area across the river whenever the centre of the city gets too much…

LMF: Favorite food?

LAUREN: Japanese food. I am a sucker for anything involving soy sauce.

LMF: Favorite movie?

LAUREN: Good Will Hunting. I am a sucker for something hopeful or something sad, and Robin Williams’ speeches in this are so great.

LMF: Favorite TV show?

LAUREN: At the moment it has to be Broad City – so hilarious but smart. Of all time, probably The Sopranos or The West Wing. I love me a good drawn out telly drama.

LMF: Favorite sports team?

LAUREN: I don’t really follow sports so don’t think I could pick a favourite…

LMF: Favorite quote?

LAUREN: Maya Angelou: “You may not control all the events that happen to you but you can decide not to be reduced by them.” and Gandhi: “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”

LMF: Childhood celebrity crush?

LAUREN: Ethan Hawk.

LMF: If you could grab a pint with any musician dead or alive who would it be and where would you go?

LAUREN: I would love to go to a random dive bar with Patti Smith and just hear what she had to say about everything. She is such an incredible artist and her perspective on the world seems very unique.

LMF: If you could have dinner with any one person dead or alive who would it be and why?

LAUREN: Maya Angelou or Jessica Valenti. Both incredible women whose brains I would like to pick as we seem to agree on most things.

LMF: If you were reincarnated as an animal, what would you be?

LAUREN: A cat. I like sleeping, being warm and talking to people on my own terms…?


LMF: Who is your favorite super hero?

LAUREN: I don’t know if I really have one. The Power Puff Girls?

LMF: If you could have one super power what would it be?

LAUREN: The ability to make people have more empathy for each other, whatever that would be called.

LMF: What is something most people don’t know about you?

LAUREN: I can ride horses but haven’t done so for about 15 years. In an emergency, though, I think I could do it.

LMF: Do you have any other hidden talents?

LAUREN: I like to think I am quite good at cooking…

LMF: If you were not a musician what occupation would you be working in?

LAUREN: Something involving writing or film / television. I like stories and creativity, but am also pretty good at administration so working behind the scenes to create something was always fine with me.

LMF: How do you enjoy your free time?

LAUREN: Reading, watching films or TV shows, eating tasty foods or working on things for the TYCI collective. The admin never ends for that one…


Thank you very much for your time Lauren and we look forward to seeing CHVRCHES on the upcoming tour.

Lauren along with her band mates Iain Cook and Martin Doherty make up the band CHVRCHES who also operate their own music label Goodbye Records. She is also the founder of TYCI, a collective run by women.

Pre-order Every Open Eye at: http://chvrch.es/

Get tickets for CHVRCHES upcoming tour at: http://chvrch.es/shows/
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Lauren Mayberry Reflects on Chvrches' Past and What's Coming Next

5/22/2015

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Lauren Mayberry Reflects on Chvrches' Past and What's Coming Next
Photo: Enrique Fabela
With CHVRCHES back in the studio for their sophomore album we were honored to get a few minutes with Lauren Mayberry to take a look back at their experiences from their explosive debut album The Bones of What You Believe and hear what is next from the lovely trio from Glasgow, Scotland. Without further ado let’s hear what Lauren had to share with us.

A LOOK BACK

LMF: How did Chvrches form as a band for those who may not know your story?

LAUREN: I met Iain in September 2011 when he was producing an EP for my old band, Blue Sky Archives, at Chem 19, outside Glasgow. After that weekend of recording, he asked if I would like to come do some backing vocals for a project he was working on with Martin, and from there we started to write together as a three-piece and CHVRCHES began. Iain and Martin met on the Applied Music course at Strathclyde University. Martin played session keyboards for Aereogramme, Iain’s old band, and they had always talked about writing together but it didn’t happen for quite a while.

LMF: Who are your musical influences?

LAUREN: Musically, I grew up on a healthy diet of things like Sleater-Kinney and Death Cab For Cutie, as well as CHVRCHES’ more common musical influences like Cyndi Lauper, Depeche Mode and Cocteau Twins.

LMF: What were some of your most memorable experiences from The Bones of What You Believe tour?

LAUREN: We toured the album pretty extensively so were lucky enough to play lots of different places and meet lots of different people. Playing festivals like Glastonbury and Coachella were really big moments for us as we never thought we would get to do things like that, but I always enjoy the shows in towns we’ve never been to before, far away from home. When people turn up to those gigs, it means an awful lot.

LMF: Can you recall any crazy, funny or memorable fan interactions from The Bones of What You Believe tour?

LAUREN: We are really privileged to have had such a supportive fan base so early on and our fans are really cool and respectful. We get some great presents sometimes – a toy ‘cat lady’ action figure was pretty random, and I got some birthday cupcakes with little cats on them last year. I think I am getting the reputation for being a cat person but I do honestly like all the animals…

LMF: What are your must have items when on the road touring?

LAUREN: Headphones, notebook, yoga mat, books, a laptop, films and TV shows, a phone to communicate with everyone back home, and earplugs to block out the incessant tour bus snoring.

LMF: Who is the practical joker of the group? Any good pranks you have played on each other that you can share with us?

LAUREN: Martin is probably the best at this. He once convinced Iain and our friend James (The Range) that Harry Styles had been in touch with our manager because he wanted to go on a weird date with me in Miami. It was completely fabricated but Dok was very convincing, and the others are pretty gullible…

LMF: Since the release of your article for The Guardian have you had a generally positive reaction from fans and the music industry?

LAUREN: The response we got from fans and other musicians was really positive. The only negative responses we got, I think, just served to reinforce the points we made in the first place. I also think it has helped us shape the conversation about our band a little more as most journalists now know about that article so tend to ask us about that rather than more clichéd questions often leveled at female musicians.

LMF: What has been your biggest challenge as a band to date?

LAUREN: I think we’ve worked hard to adapt to spending so much time on the road. When you see another person that much and your work life, personal life and physical space are all always so completely entwined, it’s really important to communicate well and be sensitive to what other people need as well as yourself. For now, our challenge is to write another album that we feel good about. And we’re working on that.

LMF: Regarding your lengthy first tour, what did you take away from that? Personally or professionally, what will you carry forward and what will you leave behind or do differently?

LAUREN: Although this is the first time we have toured at such a frequency, we had all done a reasonable amount of touring in our other bands at a much lesser level of comfort so this was so much better. It’s hard to not have a solid base but it’s almost as if you have to start to find that within yourself rather than in a physical place, and that can be difficult at times but seems like an important skill to learn.


WHAT’S NEXT FOR CHVRCHES

LMF: How is the new album coming along?

LAUREN: We are writing and recording in Glasgow at the moment. We feel good about our progress but still have a lot of work to do so don’t have a release date in mind as yet.

LMF: Is there a title for your sophomore album yet?

LAUREN: Not as yet. That will likely come once we are further down the road with lyrics.

LMF: Will we hear Martin on lead vocals for a couple of songs again and will he have a new dance to add to his repertoire to go along with them?

LAUREN: We don’t know at the moment who will be singing what but there is every chance there will be more male vocals on this album – it just depends on the song. And regarding his dance moves, I’m sure those will continue to evolve over time. Can't put baby in the corner.

LMF: Do you think these new songs have a certain theme that is running through them?

LAUREN: Lyrically, it’s hard to say at this point because we are still quite early in the process. I never sit down with a certain theme in mind to write but sometimes in retrospect you can see patterns within the lyrical content. That’s certainly what happened when we looked back at the first album but I wasn’t aware of it at the time.

LMF: What bands are currently playing on your iPod or other music streaming devices?

LAUREN: I am still really enjoying the Hannah Lou Clark EP from last year and also the new Bjork album.

LMF: Will we hear any news songs at any of the festivals you’re playing this summer and autumn?

LAUREN: Potentially! We are still recording so haven't started live rehearsals yet but are hoping to expand the set list a little...

LMF: What bands would you like to collaborate with or cover in the future?

LAUREN: Every time we say we’re done with covers, another radio station makes us do one so maybe it will never end… Collaboration wise, it seems more likely that we would work with producers or engineers rather than featuring certain artists, but for the time being, we’re pretty happy doing everything between ourselves and our studio engineer David Simpson in Glasgow.

LMF: Anything else you would like to share with your fans?

LAUREN: Thank you guys for being so supportive and taking time out of your lives to feed into this fan community. It means a lot to us and we hope to see you all again in person soon.

Thank you to Lauren Mayberry, Iain Cook and Martin Doherty for being such an inspiration to many including us. And special thanks to Lauren for taking time away from your busy schedule to speak with us and to CHVRCHES manager Campbell McNeil for making this interview possible. I think we can all agree everyone is eagerly awaiting the return of CHVRCHES!
Chvrches back in the studio for album two.
Photo: Chvrches
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