Q&A: Post War Glamour Girls

HAVING released their second album at the end of last month, Leeds’s Post War Glamour Girls are currently in the midst of a UK tour to promote the critically-acclaimed ‘Feeling Strange’.
Post War Glamour Girls: The Leeds band play The Fulford Arms in York on Tuesday, November 17 and Headrow House in Leeds the following night.Post War Glamour Girls: The Leeds band play The Fulford Arms in York on Tuesday, November 17 and Headrow House in Leeds the following night.
Post War Glamour Girls: The Leeds band play The Fulford Arms in York on Tuesday, November 17 and Headrow House in Leeds the following night.

Their second offering has cemented their reputation as one of the most exciting and inventive new acts on the music scene, being lauded by music critics and fans alike - much like last year’s debut album, ‘Pink Fur’.

Having played Barnsley’s Rock and Blues Bar on Saturday night, the band head to The Fulford Arms in York on Tuesday night (Nov 17) before playing Leeds’s Headrow House on Wednesday (Nov 18).

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We had a few questions for PWGG’s James Smith, who kindly took time out from a busy schedule to answer them.

For more information on the band visit their website HERE

Congratulations on the second album, ‘Feeling Strange’ - how long has it been in the making?

Thank you! It was written pretty much straight after we released Pink Fur. It was recorded over a ten day period at Greenmount Studios in Armley during November. Another winter record.

Your quoted as saying “It’s a record about feeling guilt and shame for things we are not personally responsible for, and of almost admitting defeat” - what are you referring to exactly there? UK Government policies?

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Yes, but it isn’t exclusive to the UK. I left the internet and social media for a year because all it did was depress me reading about innocent children being bombed in a country I know very little about, or homeless people freezing to death on our streets. I had to tune out for a while, I had to pretend it wasn’t there for my own well being. So, I was selfish and I ignored it, and it made me happier. The media is so harrowing, and the government is so invasive. You want to help human beings, because most of us are compassionate and caring people, but you feel so helpless and the second you start thinking about how to solve the big issues, you go down the rabbit hole and your eyes look like saucers and they’re always brimming with tears. Sometimes it’s better to just to succumb to the white noise and tune out.

You’re in the middle of a UK tour promoting the album, what do you like most about life on the road?

Stopping at the services with a Waitrose or a Marks and Sparks and buying posh crisps and eating them all.

You’re playing Headrow House on Wednesday night, it’s a new venue - how different, if at all, is it for you playing in front of a ‘home’ crowd?

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I think we get a warmer reception in Leeds, but we wouldn’t approach it differently to any other show we do ever.

There was a very positive reaction to ‘Pink Fur’ and it seems it will be the same for this album - how hectic has the last 18 months or so been? Has any of it taken you by surprise at all?

It’s not been too hectic really. We’ve played some amazing shows and had mostly great reviews. It’s not really taken me by surprise, very little has changed in terms of how we function as a band. We write relentlessly and we practice twice a week. We can afford to take time off work and tour twice a year.

I want to play bigger shows, and be in the music press more purely so we can sell more records and make more money to invest back into the band. To record more, pay for artwork, music videos that stuff... I think we’ve grown up a lot in the last two years, it certainly feels easier taking everything in our stride. We’re realists, we know the score.

What is in the pipeline for next year - back in the studio?

Indeed! we’re off to Thurso on the North Coast of Scotland to record album number 3 in June.

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