Has Elbow’s gradual success—as opposed to a single breakout release—helped the band keep it real?
I think so. But it’s difficult to say; I don’t know what would’ve happened, for example, if we’d been a big success from the first album. All the other bands we know say that success has happened really well for us.
After the success of The Seldom Seen Kid was there a temptation to write more commercially friendly albums?
We were all quite cautious about how to follow it up. We all said we didn’t want to cash in on the success of the album. One of the nicest things about the new album [2011’s Build a Rocket, Boys!] is that most of the music press told us they were all relieved when they first heard it.
How does the band’s song writing process work?
Basically, we all pitch in with everything. I’m not solely responsible for bass, [Mark] Potter’s not entirely responsible for guitar, Guy [lead singer Guy Garvey] isn’t solely responsible for lyrics. It’s a bit of a free-for-`all, to be honest.
Elbow seems quite close knit. Do you guys ever fight?
Well, we do, but we’ve learnt to deal with it. Arguments don’t last long with us. It all starts very quickly and ends very quickly. Generally, it means we get on really well.
Elbow will close the Mosaic Musical Festival 2012 on March 18 at Esplanade Concert Hall.
