listen live

• playlist
• schedule
• podcasts

Launch mi-Xfm - personalised radio

• on air
• artists
• music news
• gigs & tickets
• xfm+
• uploaded

• latest news
• gig news
• releases
• xfm news
• competitions
• uk news
• weather

X-clusive: Thirteen Senses Shatter Expectations

added 02 March 2004 at 11.15

Life can be tough for a 21-year old rock star. After a fierce A&R bidding war, with a trip to Texas planned and a new single 'Thru The Glass' released this week, Xfm Online caught up with singer Will South of Brit hopefuls Thirteen Senses for an exclusive chat.

"'Thru The Glass' is one of our rockier numbers, but across the album I'm pretty much split 50/50 between the piano and the guitar. To be honest, even the piano based songs have a lot of guitars in them - Tom [Welham, guitar] likes to do his thing…

"It's basically like a Britpop tune, but with a bit of a kick up the arse. Britpop was the first scene that I really got into, and the first scene I really felt a part of."

The Cornish four-piece recently signed to Mercury Records imprint Vertigo after a record company battle that saw over fifty A&R men descend on a showcase show at Truro's Bunters Bar. A daunting experience, as you may imagine.

"The show in Truro was really nerve-racking. We'd just had a two-week holiday in France, and it was while we were away that the buzz had started, so we were absolutely shitting ourselves. It was nice of them all to come though."

Currently recording with producer Danton Supple (Elbow, Electric Soft Parade and Coldplay), South isn't afraid to talk about the way his band falls into the current crop of UK hopefuls. In fact, he positively welcomes the competition.

"I don't think we mind all being grouped together with the latest 'Britpack' - we'd rather have some company than be out there at the front on our own.

"We've got an edge, that's all I'm saying. We like to experiment with song structures and mess about a bit." South explains "The songwriting stays central in it all, but we enjoy shaking things up a bit. We just want our album to make an impact on someone."

Completed by bassist Adam Wilson and drummer Brendon James, the band will put the finishing touches to their debut album before heading out to play the annual South by South-West festival in Austin, Texas, flying the flag for British new music. 

"All I know about SxSW is that it's in Texas and it's gonna be a lot of fun. We're playing on an all British bill with The Cooper Temple Clause, Athlete and The Electric Soft Parade which will be great."

"I'm not the best of fliers though, so coupled with the booze it could be an interesting trip. I've just turned 21, so I'm not worried about the booze laws," South smiles "but Tom and Bernard are still 20 so they might have some trouble."

Thirteen Senses release the single 'Thru The Glass' this week.

Tagged as Thirteen Senses, archive

• send to a friend