The Left Outsides

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The Left Outsides was formed in 2003 by former members of The Eighteenth Day Of May, Mark Nicholas and Alison Cotton, with the aim of mixing their love of Syd Barret, Nico, The Brian Jonestown Massacre and Elliot Smith. This is no easy task, but they have certainly managed to pull it off. The duo released their debut EP, 'Leaving The Frozen Butterflies Behind', in 2006, following it a year later with their debut album, 'And Colours In Between'. More recently, they released a live album called 'Live At The Drop Out' and are currently working on their second album. They release a new single, 'The Third Light', on 21 Jul.

Q1 How did you start out making music?
We started the band to contribute to a Brian Jonestown Massacre tribute album - we recorded our version of their song 'The Ballad Of Jim Jones'. Playing together seemed to work so we carried on recording and writing our own songs from then onwards.

Q2 What inspired your latest single?
Our new single 'The Third Light' was inspired by the beauty of nature, The Beatles' 'A Taste of Honey' and fictional lost Echo And The Bunnymen demo recordings.

Q3 What process do you go through in creating an album?
Our debut album 'And Colours In Between' was recorded at home, over a nine month period. We'd start out with acoustic guitar and layer instruments over the top then finish with vocals. We write songs as we go.

Q4 Which artists influence your work?
Julian Cope, Robin Hitchcock, Elliott Smith, John Cale, Syd Barrett, Six Organs Of Admittance.

Q5 What would you say to someone experiencing your music for the first time?
Wait until midnight, turn the lights off and listen on headphones under your duvet in the dark.

Q6 What are your ambitions for your latest single, and for the future?
For it to be heard by as many people as possible, and, as a lot of our music is about escapism, to go and play in remote areas where bands don't play so often.

published july 2008

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