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BY GEMMA BROSNAN
AMBASSADORS OF MOROCCO have already developed a cult following, defying genres and crossing boundaries with their unique brand of indie pop.
Peppered with grunge, Brit-pop and rock with influences ranging from classical to funk, their fresh, bold sound and dynamic live shows attract interest and audiences all over the country.
After supporting Reef/Basement Jaxx's new project Them Is Me @ Monto Water Rats last year, they are about to take on Islington’s O2 Academy.
We caught up with Beni Pri, Joe Young and Sven Mundorf from AMBASSADORS OF MOROCCO to find out more.
Gemma: Ambassadors of Morocco. You’ve rocked venues across the country and are about to play Islington’s O2 Academy on Tuesday. How did it all start?
Beni (Vocals, Guitar): Ben and I (lead guitarist) went to Uni together and studied music in Uxbridge. We all went travelling afterwards and then I got a phone call when I got back asking if I wanted to be in a band. It started off with me on the cello, Ben and his friend on guitar and then I picked up the guitar as I had experience of writing songs and we just took it from there.
Gemma: Who came up with the name and is there any meaning behind it?
Beni: Our old studio used to be next to a shoesmith and Ambassadors of Morocco is an old slang phase from Victorian times which basically means shoemaker because morocco is a type of leather.
Gemma: So you are The Shoemakers?
Joe (Bass): In a sense, yeah.
Gemma: Favourite brand of shoes?
Joe: We are an eclectic mix of shoes. We don’t like to define ourselves in one genre of shoe and prefer to branch out.
Gemma: So you have an open mind when it comes to shoes?
Beni: It’s more about the music than the shoes. And I’m going to Morocco for the first time in May.
Gemma: Have you ever impressed a woman with an imaginary collection of camels?
Beni: I have never exchanged camels for a woman, but it’s something I would consider in the future.
Joe: We have to see how many camels we got for our first album deal. Shoe and animal fetishes is what it’s all about.
Gemma: You have been described in the past as an indie pop/rock/grunge fusion. How would you describe your sound?
Beni: Our influences are very varied as I have a classical background, Joe is very much an indie boy...
Joe: I think rather than defining our sound, it works backwards in that we’ll do something and people will compare us to Bloc Party or The Cure and bands like that, as opposed to us working towards sounding like something already out there. It’s the same with genres, we don’t set out to be indie, alternative or whatever, we just set out to play music and then labels get put on it such as alternative rock.
Beni: It’s just art and it’s not art until someone can use it, interpret it and give their opinion on it.
Gemma: Have you had the opportunity to work with any of your heroes yet?
Joe: Up until the last album, I would have loved to have gone on tour with Kings of Leon, but I wasn’t a huge fan of the last one. My favourite album is the first one as it’s very raw.
Gemma: Any major influences?
Beni: We had heavy and varied influences growing up, from Brit pop to Green Day.
Sven (drums): I was into everything from jazz, punk, mental, rock, piano, Smashing Pumpkins and The Police.
Gemma: Do you feel that the diversity of your backgrounds helps or hinders the band’s progress?
Beni: It definitely helps because we can be so much more experimental. Our music is about four people finding a niche sound and finding a place where everyone likes what they are doing individually but are creating an overall sound that naturally gels.
Joe: We all write songs independently and with the band together, so I have found that the Ambassadors of Morocco definitely have their own unique sound - that a song sounds like an Ambassadors of Morocco song - so my song-writing has been channelled in this direction.
Beni: There are so many ideas brought to the room at any one time, you’ve got to be prepared for trial and error and to comprise to create the best sound for the band.
Gemma: Which track defines the spirit of Ambassadors of Morocco and what you guys are about?
Joe & Beni: ‘Chattin’ Biscuits’
Gemma: Why?
Joe: Because there is so much energy.
Gemma: Is your song 'Miss Mischievous' in reference to anyone in particular?
Beni: It’s about Lady Luck but I decided to call Lady Luck, ‘Miss Mischievous’, which is a reference to fate.
Gemma: You supported Reef/Basement Jaxx's new project, ‘Them Is Me’ @ Monto Water Rats last year. How was it?
Joe: It was great and the venue was packed, all we could see was a sea of heads. The promoters told us it was the busiest night the venue had ever had and we got residency on the back of it.
Gemma: You’ve been praised for the raw, electric energy of your live shows. What would you describe as your best gig so far?
Joe: It’s always great to play in London and we've had some really good shows, but going on tour last year was awesome - having the crowd singing back your lyrics is a pretty good feeling!
Gemma: And your worst?
Joe: We did a secret gig once at the Hope and Anchor which we didn’t post on our website or promote in anyway. Needless to say we played in front of about three people, and we got a parking ticket and flat tyre on the van...but at least the set was tight!
Gemma: What would be your ultimate venue?
Joe: I've always fancied being the first band to play on Virgin Galactic, but failing that a worldwide tour would do.
Gemma: Which up and coming bands do you most admire?
Joe: We've played with Olympus Mons, they're great guys and their sound is really tight.
Gemma: Any recording plans in the pipeline?
Joe: We've just finished recording our debut album, ‘Never Imagine This’ and are planning a launch at Proud Galleries in Camden in July.
Gemma: Best of luck with the album and looking forward to the gig on Tuesday.
Ambassadors of Morocco: See you there.
Ambassadors of Morocco play the O2 Academy, Islington, Tuesday April 14 20.00
For more information and tickets check out http://www.myspace.com/ambassadorsofmorocco photo credit: Michael Ashton
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