What inspired you to first start making music? And how did you come to be in your current incarnation? Or if you prefer, a brief bio about you.
We actually came up with the name LegPuppy 15 years ago at a house party in the Welsh valleys. We were staying in a haunted hotel, surrounded by goat and clown worshipers. 12 years later we released our first track. (it wasn’t worth a 12 year wait but the seed was planted) It was after watching a documentary called ‘The Secret Life of Human Pups” it was fascinating. I wrote the track ‘Puppy Play’, people liked it, I wrote more, released more. Then got with a proper producer and we recorded our first proper album ‘You Should Be Paranoid’.
Provide us with some info about your latest release…
‘Non Disclosure Agreement’ it’s social commentary for our times. I like to write about contemporary issues without preaching, I think that’s important, if you preach you end up sounding like a right tosser, Bono anyone? The album contains subjects including the darker side of social media, the current farce that is British Politics, developers crushing our cultural heritage and rich business men signing NDA’s to conceal the truth. There’s also a lot of humor, ‘Twit Machine T12’ was inspired by the satirical comedy ‘Nathan Barley’, “They babble on their hand held Twit Machines” one of the most prophetic quotes of the last 15 years.
Which ones would you consider your main influences both music-wise & non-music-wise?
I think The Residents were an incredibly inspirational band. I’m a huge fan of mixing art with music. The Flaming Lips are probably the best band around for combing the two. New Order were the first band I became obsessed with. Sound wise, we don’t try to sound like anyone, we don’t really subscribe to the verse, chorus, verse chorus rules either. If it feels and sound good do it.
In what way does your sound differ from the rest genre-related artists/bands and why should we listen to your music? In other words, how would you describe your sound?
Our music isn’t for everyone, its very alternative. Some will get it, some won’t, that’s life, some people you click with, some bore the ars of you, it’s the same with music. I think we write music that everyone can relate to though. Take ‘Selfie Stick Narcissistic Prick’ We are living in a narcissistic society, we used the selfie stick as a metaphor for society.
Please name your 3 desert islands albums, movies & books…
These are my favourite kind of questions
Books
Wonderland Avenue (Danny Sugarman)
The Rise, The Fall, and the Rise (Brix Smith Smart)
Sex Slave (Sarah Forseight)
Films
Withnail & i
Enter The Void
Diving Bell & the Butterfly
Albums
Last Splash (The Breeders)
It’s Blitz (Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs)
Mirage (Josefin Ohrn & the Liberation)
Do you prefer studio or performing live and why?
Live, all day long. It’s an amazing buzz to play your tracks live, what started out as an idea becomes an anthem, watching people sing your lyrics back is humbling.
Without sounding like a tosser, we are a great live band, we have tons of fun on stage. Our clown wonders around the venue doing selfie stick pics with the audience, they love it. We did a festival in June, we went down very well, we were actually caught doing a group selfie after the gig, oh the irony, I tried to explain that the guy who tried to originally take the photo was on mushrooms and couldn’t work out how to press the button on the phone.
Is there any funny-unique story you would like to share with us, always in relation to your music ‘career’?
Our clown recently staged bombed a Sleaford Mods gig at the Roundhouse in Camden, he was on stage for a full 30 seconds, Jason Williamson just stood there and laughed, we thought he would have told him to fuck off. Its on YouTube somewhere, we got thrown out but it was a legendary stunt. Andrew actually saw us play live once, he was dancing to ‘Selfie Stick’ pissing himself, we are still waiting for a support slot!
We were also responsible for giving Black Midi their first ever gig. I curate nights the Windmill in Brixton, a brilliant hub for new talent. I heard the demo, it was very experimental, every other venue turned them down but I decided to give them a break. Now they are the most talked about new band in the world. I feel very proud of that.
Which track of your own would you point out as the most unique and why?
I’ve probably mentioned this track far too many times in this interview, but ‘Selfie Stick Narcissistic Prick’ To quote Brash Magazine “Leg Puppy’s Latest Release Holds A Selfie Stick to Our Collective Faces, and Tags Us All, #narcissiticprick” We actually call ourselves pricks when we play this live.
I’m also very proud of ‘NDA’ from the new album. I got Booby (our female vocalist) to fake an orgasm, we used to sort of date years ago, so I’m very familiar with that sound.
Would you like to share with our readers your future plans?
We’ve already started album 3. We have 8 tracks, 3 of which have already been mixed and mastered. I’m very impulsive, I get an idea, I record it. One track has features the old football scores from the 80’s.
We are touring Germany in September and recently picked up a new booker at a festival. So next year should be a big year for festivals.
What is the great comedy of all time?
Peep Show
Knowing Me, Knowing You – Alan Partridge
Nathan Barley
Curated by: Christos Doukakis
Recommended listening:
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