The Clean Bandit member visits Florence and talks to LVR about the band, their journey, and her inspirations.
How did Clean Bandit start out?
When I first formed the group there were 7 people, a full string quartet and a lead singer and Luke (drums) and Jack (keys). The string quartet played a lot of classical concerts (Mozart, Shostakovich, Beethoven), and Jack recorded us to take little bits and loop them, adding beats and bass. We were studying together at Cambridge University. Our lead singer (Love Ssega) was at the time doing a big science degree and did not have time for the band, so we opened it into a kind of collective where we invite guest singers for every song, including him. It works really well and has made us very creatively free, calling on different voices for the right sounds.
How have you guys changed throughout the years?
We haven’t really changed but our lifestyles have changed a lot: some of the songs have been very successful across the world, and winning the Grammys and having so much success meant that we are able to travel to amazing places all the time.
What is your creative process like?
Jack is a fountain of crazy ideas always, then I try to hone and help find the best ones and structure together.
You play cello and percussions for Clean Bandit…. Do you play anything else?
Piano, a bit.
What’s the inspiration behind Symphony?
It is about longing to be with someone and that painful feeling of being on the outside but also it’s about music, and art, and how it affects you in different ways depending on your situation and the people in your life.
You do a lot of collaborations, who would you like to collaborate with next? Can you give us a teaser?
I’d love to collaborate with Lana del Rey. Or Bruno Mars. Or Miles Cyrus.
What’s behind the name, Clean Bandit?
Jack and I used to live in Moscow, and our Russian friend was talking about my sister in Russian and said: “ona chistaya banditka” It means she’s a total bandit. We found it funny and took the phrase for our band name.
Who are your musical influences?
Ace of Base, Spice Girls, Mozart, Beethoven, Frank Zappa, Radiohead.
Last Five songs you listened to?
Dua Lipa – New Rules
Whitney Houston – Greatest Love of All
Christina Aguilera – Fighter
Christina Aguilera – Walk Away
Sugarbabes – Stronger
(Yes, I am going through a breakup!)
Favorite song to perform live?
Rockabye. I love dancing to it at the same time and it is a political song about a mother in poverty so it is important to me.
Best Performance you remember and why?
Glastonbury this summer. The atmosphere was crazy. And brad Pitt was watching on the side of the stage!
Tell us three things you always take with you on tour:
A feminist book, silk pajamas, and a frisbee
Heels or Sneakers?
I can’t possibly say
Favorite take-out?
Chinese
Best Hangover Cure?
Sleep
Instagram or Snapchat?
Instagram
Texting or Calling?
Texting but I’m trying to change
Motto for life?
Always live on the good side of life!
Photographer: Raffaele Grosso
Hair & Makeup: Giovanna Fucciolo
Location: Villa Cora
Special thanks to Grace Chatto
