As the cold summer slid into the mild autumn last year, the name Cherbourg began to pass the lips of a growing number of people in the know. Although they've only been together in their current form for around six months, all four members of the band are seasoned musicians and know their way around an instrument or too. With a harmony-heavy folk sound popularised by the likes of Fleet Foxes and Bon Iver in recent times, the band release their debut EP, 'Last Chapter Of Dreaming' this week on Chess Club. We caught up with the band to ask them our Same Six Questions.

Q1 How did you start out making music?
We all come from crazily different backgrounds. Davie picked up a guitar for the first time when he was about 15, started playing covers and followed the natural progression to singer-songwriter before meeting us. Phil started playing music soon after he learnt to walk, but only turned away from classical music and started writing a few years ago, after teaming up with Davie. Chris picked up the sticks around the same time Davie was born. He moved to London from his native Luxembourg to continue his drum studies, but got distracted by the professional world, playing with hip hop MC Example and many other bands before meeting the rest of Cherbourg on the Chelsea folk club circuit. Kev is the most seasoned musician and has an illustrious career behind him. He has a Masters degree in music and has played with countless other groups from a huge range of musical styles.

Q2 What inspired your latest EP?
Lots of things. The theme is "a light at the end of the tunnel" or waking from a dream (hence the title). Musically, Fleet Foxes and Bon Iver were big influences.

Q3 What process do you go through in creating a track?
It always starts with a song. Somebody writes one, usually in the middle of the night, then brings it to a rehearsal for a tentative first performance. Then we try every idea that comes into our heads and if we find one that suits the song and is within the musical style that we're going for, then that's it! Recording always adds special bits that we wouldn't have thought of without listening back.

Q4 Which artists influence your work?
There are too many varying influences to make sense on a page. The predominant ones can be heard in the music.

Q5 What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time?
Shut up and listen! No, I wouldn't say anything. A piece of art is what the observer (or in this case, listener) makes of it. If it needs explaining, it's crap.

Q6 What are your ambitions for your EP, and for the future?
We'd just like to find out what people think of 'Last Chapter Of Dreaming' and build on that. We'll be back soon with a new record!

published february 2009