youlikewelike.com:

Growing up and enduring his teens in sleepy Northamptonshire, Twisted Charm singer/guitarist/pin-up Nathan Doom yearned for something new, exciting and dangerous. Once the idea of a band became a reality (brother Dominic played drums and Luke Georgiou picked up saxophone) the three trooped down to London for what Nathan describes as a "mixture of parties, music and University." Before long they met bassist John Garley and Twisted Charm were all set.

Bringing together gritty post-punk, nagging pop hooks and unconventional sex appeal,Twisted Charm left a mark on their new city surroundings within months. Slowly building up a sharply-dressed, music-obsessed young following with the help of indie Alt Delete (the label which arguably kick started the new wave of indie/dance with their Digital Penetration compilation last year) Twisted Charm released their debut album, Real Fictional, on buzz imprint Because Music.

Doom talks quietly and somewhat nervously about himself and his band, but he's clearly a young man who has the essence of punk rock etched into his skin. Whether it's the awkward Wire-esque guitar melodies, Sonic Youth energy, biting vocals of The Fall or the freak-out saxophone that harks back to post-punk pioneer James Chance, Twisted Charm absorb their influences to create a unique, addictive sound.

The frontman admits to enjoying the anonymity that London provides, a far cry from his upbringing, where "everyone knew everyone else's business" and drugs were rife in his family's neighbourhood.

"The album wasn't intentionally meant to be a critique of London life from the eyes of an outsider; the songs are just from a different perspective. London was how we expected it to be. I love the architecture and the dirt. It can be ugly and beautiful at the same time.

"Songs like London Scene aren't necessarily about London, they could be about anywhere. My lyrics are mainly observational, while some of the songs on the album are about personal relationships. There's a mixture of themes."

On the single Cinema, Doom pleads "Take me to the cinema, so I can see again",
before name-checking Russian director Kieslowski in one of the verses. A self-confessed
film addict, Nathan takes influence from the narratives of different continental
directors.

"European films, especially French, Italian and Russian are generally really stylish and romantic, but I've discovered Iranian cinema which is much more low budget and gritty. European films have bigger budgets and are more abstract - watching Kieslowski is like looking at a painting, whereas Iranian ones are so authentic and more built around human
characters."

Recorded in Wales, Real Fictional took a measly two weeks to get down on tape. Doom had written and recorded each song on an eight-track over a year-long period in his London bed-sit.

"The studio was in the middle of nowhere, but we went in knowing exactly what we wanted from the recordings. I love being in the studio. Live gigs are great, but I enjoy making music more than anything.

"We once played a clothes shop in New Cross which was crazy. There were only 40 or 50 people there and it probably sounded terrible but it was lots of fun.We had people jumping at us onto the stage."

The band knows how to please large crowds too, having opened for Klaxons in Italy and France. Playing to sell out venues,Twisted Charm proved quite a hit with European audiences, and the plan is to do Europe again.

"Compared with London and a lot of big cities in the UK, not that many bands play in France, so the crowds are much more receptive. In London everyone's sick of watching bands."

Talk turns to musical influences, and Doom picks out veteran avant-garders Blonde Redhead as particularly important for him personally.

"I like them because their music is so unique and elegant. It's magical, moody and full of dark melodies. While they're not a big influence on the sound of Twisted Charm, I really admire them."

While they're unlikely to do a Klaxons just yet,Twisted Charm are doing all the
right things in all the right places (punk legend John Robb wrote their sprawling album
biography, for example); appealing to both scene kids and moody post-punkers put off
by The Rapture's new disco route.

words: Fran Donnelly

download PDF/print

myspace.com/twistedcharm 

Robert Reich + Shack + José González + Four Tet + Matix + Canon Blue + Remi Nicole + Biker Gangs +
X Factor Jungle + Kyte + Fareshare + American Apparel + Fair Trials Abroad + Kissaway Trail + Asghar Bukhari + London Gangs + Ava Leigh +
Queer Advertising + Emmy The Great + Honour Killings + Sideshow + Private Armies + Gloria
Cycles + Kate, Leonardo & Sam

Robyn Hitchcock interview...

Singer-songwriter Robyn Hitchcock (previously of The Soft Boys...more

South Coast interviews...

Packed full of great tunes, stories, graff', eccentric characters and dazzling live performances...more