Following the glut of bands flowing from Brooklyn during the past few years, it would be easy to overlook some of the more substantial prospects, so it is more than a happy coincidence that garage-pop trio Vivian Girls have managed to successfully surf the wave of their own hype. Since their arrival in 2007, the all-female trio has produced three fine records, the latest of which, Share the Joy,is their most accomplished yet.
They arrive in Manchester on what must be one of the grimmest July days on record. Apparently, they were stuck in traffic on their way up from Brighton, although they seem to be in good spirits. For a relatively young band, they are veterans of the circuit. A whirlwind of touring has seen them go through three drummers - including new recruit Fiona Campbell - and play over 500 shows in just four years. “We’ve been to the UK a million times,” drawls chief songwriter Cassie Ramone, with more than a hint of weariness. “When we first started we played in Brooklyn about three times a week, but now it’s, like, twice a year tops”. So you never get homesick for Brooklyn? “Not particularly. Only for my boyfriend,” says Fiona Campbell, quietly perched on a table. “I live in LA,” adds bassist “Kickball Katy” Goodman, quite matter-of-factly.
This has all come as something of a surprise. The gushing endorsement of their supposed home base is not offered readily. Cassie explains, “I think ever since ‘cool hipsters’ have lived in Brooklyn there have been a lot of bands. The scene is always changing, which is really exciting and cool. I think the trends change, but the whole general vibe of Brooklyn has been the same ever since I’ve lived there”. Perhaps dropping some big names into the conversation will pick things up. The Walkmen? The National? “Who are The National? I’ve never heard them,” says Katy, quite innocently. Never mind then.
A grilling on Brooklyn seems to have run its course, so on to other things. Their new record, Share the Joy isa haunting collection of off-kilter pop songs: a more stripped back, hi-fi version of their previous output. The record itself is named after a Burt Bacharach song - not an artist that immediately springs to mind in terms of influences. “Well, I was reading a book about Burt Bacharach around the time we were recording and writing the album,” says Cassie with a spark of enthusiasm, “and there’s a list in the back of the book where the author talks about every song Burt Bacharach has ever written. [The book] said [‘Share the Joy’] was one of Burt Bacharach’s saddest songs, and I thought that was interesting”. Was a change of sound always on the cards? Cassie: “I think when we first started out, we had this kind of sound aesthetic in our heads where we wanted everything to be fast and short, you know. But now, I’ve sort of let go of that. It’s not like we’re trying to forget our roots or turn into a completely different band or anything. I think we want to expand our sound rather than completely change it”.
Though their updated sound can be quite dark, with songs like ‘Take It As It Comes’ - a ‘60s girl group pastiche - they still show that they have a sense of levity. “Take it as it Comes was inspired by a book called The Rules [a controversial dating book published in 1995] that my mom gave to me,” says Cassie, who plays the role of the wise friend. “Although some of the advice is quite outdated, I think it’s still a very good book”. “A lot of the things in the book are pretty awful,” adds Katy, every bit the naïve schoolgirl, “but then a lot of things in the book are really good. It kind of focuses on ‘if you really wanna win a man, you have to be your own person’”. So it’s Katy that’s usually looking for love advice from Cassie? “No comment!”
Inevitably, the discussion turns to the recent sway towards female artists. With bands like Best Coast, Dum Dum Girls and Warpaint in their ascendency, do they feel pigeon-holed? “We were just listening to Warpaint today,” says Cassie. “We’re from totally separate scenes and I was noticing, in the UK press, people were saying ‘you and Warpaint’, but we’ve never actually played with them and the first time I ever heard them was like a week ago, and I think they’re great”. “Female is a genre to the press,” adds Katy in a mock-pretentious voice, “even though we don’t really sound alike. But, you know, there are a lot of all male bands getting a lot of press right now”. Touché! Clearly this is a topic that they are used to fending off.
Vivian Girls’ mix of sugary melodies and distorted noise often draws comparisons to another quintessentially New York band: The Velvet Underground. “We’re influenced by all kinds of different music,” says Cassie, “but not really The Velvet Underground”. After a thoughtful pause, Katy expands: “They’re one of the most inspiring bands of all time, but you can’t really say that you’re influenced by every [seminal] band”. So you wouldn’t name-check The Beatles? “No, we do! We love the Beatles!” shouts Katy, giddily. “If you don’t like The Beatles then you’re just being difficult”.