 Posted on Interviews, Music
Interview with Codeine Velvet Club
By Pete Reid
Codeine Velvet Club will be playing in Bucharest tomorrow and head to Japan later this summer for what will likely be their last gig. Still, the band fronted by Scotland's Most Eligible Lady Lou Hickey and Jon Fratelli went down a storm at SXSW and Lou recently spoke to us about that experience and more:
Lou Hickey recently confirmed that these shows will be among the last Codeine Velvet Club performances as Jon pursues a solo career, but Lou will also be showcasing her debut solo album at ABC2 in Glasgow on June 24th. Details here and on Lou's myspace and twitter. CVC dates are below.
Interview with Lou Hickey, Codeine Velvet Club
by The Dear
Dear Scotland: Where are you now and what did you do last night?
Lou Hickey, Codeine Velvet Club: I'm at home finishing t-shirt designs. Last night I went to a Vivienne Westwood event in Glasgow. Managed not to buy another pair of her amazing shoes!
Codeine Velvet – Vanity Kills
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYfMYU-3GvY
DS: Paul McCartney said he got into music to avoid a job – and get lots of girls. What made you get into music?
Lou Hickey, Codeine Velvet Club: I really had no choice. I'd been making music from a young age. It's my passion. If I didn't do it in some shape or form I'd be really unhappy.
DS: What is your favourite Codeine Velvet Club song to play right now?
Lou Hickey, Codeine Velvet Club: I love 'Time'. 'I Would Send You Roses' is a lot of fun live as well.
Codeine Velvet Club – 'Time'
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=smnZx1dj7vg
DS: Have you been working on any new covers too?
Lou Hickey, Codeine Velvet Club: Not for CVC, but I have for my own band. Currently working on something for my gig in Glasgow next month.
DS: What is your favourite youtube clip?
Lou Hickey, Codeine Velvet Club: I like the drunk squirrel! Poor wee thing!
Drunk Squirrel Tries to Climb Tree
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0so5er4X3dc
DS: You're off to Romania this week and then Japan in August, are there any other places outside the UK that you'd like to play?
Lou Hickey, Codeine Velvet Club: I'd love to play everywhere! Would really like to get to Europe and the USA with my own band! I think they'd like the "gay" jazz!
Lou Hickey – One Man Tango
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayP7KWgzXMc
DS: Do you feel more Scottish when you are abroad, or do you adapt well to new places? Anything you miss about Scotland?
Lou Hickey, Codeine Velvet Club: I do feel a bit more Scottish when I'm away. My accent becomes a lot clearer though and I speak slower, or at least try to! Im pretty friendly so I generally get on well where ever I go. And I love learning about new places and different cultures. I really miss potato scones when I'm away, and tea!
DS: Are there any Scottish musicians, past or present, that have influenced you?
Lou Hickey, Codeine Velvet Club: Eddi Reader was a big inspiration, and I recently got to do a show with her which was amazing.
Eddi Reader – Allelujah
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1M4QxV0VoI
DS: CVC were definitely one of the buzz bands at SXSW this year. What was your favourite memory of that week?
Lou Hickey, Codeine Velvet Club: The show at Rusty Spurs was amazing! One of the best show's we've ever done! Then I headed off to a party with my good friend Justin Sane (Anti-Flag) that his friend Tom Morello was throwing, which was rather surreal, but everyone was super nice.
DS: What should the Scottish national anthem be?
Lou Hickey, Codeine Velvet Club: Caledonia
Frankie Miller – Caledonia
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TX9h558Tz1E
DS: What is the best after-show experience you've had?
Lou Hickey, Codeine Velvet Club: Well put it this way, I've never had a bad one! Glasgow's always good though, seeing friends and family.
DS: And finally, many many years from now, when you finish your farewell world tour, is there one place to where you would like to retire?
Lou Hickey, Codeine Velvet Club: South of France! Would love to own my own vineyard.
www.codeinevelvetclub.com
www.myspace.com/louhickey
Buy Codeine Velvet Club here:
Photo Credit: Carl Pocket
 Archived in Interviews, Music and tagged Caledonia, Codeine Velvet Club, Eddi Reader, Japan, Lou Hickey, Romania, Scotland, Scottish, video. Bookmark the permalink.
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