Superfood

From the people who brought us breakthrough acts Alt-J and Drenge, Superfood are the latest guitar offering from London’s Infectious Music.

A young Birmingham four piece, consisting of singer and guitarist Dom Ganderton, lead guitarist Ryan Malcolm, bassist Emily Baker and drummer Carl Griffin, what we’ve heard so far in the newly released MAM EP is entirely fresh faced and energetic. Featuring the angsty, yet upbeat single “TV”, the band jolts together retro vibes and catchy hooks to make contagious indie.

With a debut album in the works and a lengthy list of tour dates underway with the likes of Wolf Alice and We Are Scientists, things are lining up for a promising year for the band. Whilst on route to a show in Oxford, we caught up with lead singer Dom to discuss house gigs, Birmingham and their upcoming album.

Hi Dom. How did Superfood came about?

Basically through friends of friends, and all of us meeting at Rainbow in Birmingham. Ryan and me got together and then got Carl and Emily in. Once we were all together we just started writing some songs. “Superfood” was the first song we wrote, we had a few dodgy names for the band but in the end we choose that as a name as it was just lingering around. The others were terrible, like Baby 100 and Junnk… awful.

Your music has been described as being like Brit-pop, do you think that’s an accurate description?

Not really, it’s quite annoying actually. I guess that comes from the first four songs that we got together and did, but when people hear the album it’ll be good. It’s actually got a more hip hop influence in the drums. It’s still kind of classic song-writing, but I think the sounds we use in the rhythm and blues section, especially on the album, are a bit different from the bog standard mic’d drum kit.

Do you think it’s important to try out different sounds as a band?

Yeah totally, we’ve only been together a year so the songs that we put out on the EP and the even the album are still in their infant stages I think. I think it’s important to hone it down into something that’s yours.

You come from the same local Birmingham scene as Peace and Swim Deep, do you think there is any reason why you are all doing well at the moment?

I think everyone has seen everyone else do it and because we’re all mates, we’re all sticking it out. It’ll all work out if you put enough effort in. Were not going to form a superband though, although it would be great though, wouldn’t it?

Are there any other acts from there that we should listen out for?

My girlfriend’s band EKKAH is really good. They’ve just started up and played at Birthdays in Dalston the other day. They’re really cool, like a disco Blondie.

Do you think Birmingham has influenced your songwriting at all?

Yeah I guess. I think it’s the same for anyone; where you are from and everything around you influences what you write. Although I don’t think our songs are directly about Birmingham. It’s more about where you’ve live and grown up that influence you.

You’ve been known to throw a few house party gigs, is this still something you do?

We’re still definitely up for it. On the Wolf Alice tour in May it is something that has been raised, whilst we were with them the other week. There might be a few cheeky ones. It’s just fun isn’t it? They’re complete chaos. The ones we did in Brighton were so good. We asked this guy to sort us out a place to play or to play at his house. He got back to us and when we went around he’d put cardboard all over the carpet. His house got trashed. We said we’d pay for some cleaners to come around the next day if we played at his house as we didn’t know anyone in Brighton and they came around but everyone was still asleep so they missed the boat. They had to clean it themselves. I felt really bad about it.

You are signed to Infectious Music who look after acts like Alt-J, Drenge and The Temper Trap. What’s it like being part of that family?

It’s good. It’s wicked, as there aren’t loads of people that work there so we know everyone and have direct contact of who to go to. Yeah it’s wicked – we see Drenge all the time.

Your MAM EP is out now, how do you feel it’s gone down?

Yeah it seems to be going well. All the vinyls have gone from Rough Trade so they’ve had to restock which is well good. It’s all very focused on the album at the moment though, so looking forward to that.

How has the album making process been?

We’ve got all the instruments down now. We always knew there would be lots of messing around in the studio and to have it all take shape. We’ve had a week in London so far and that’s it, because we’ve had to come on tour. It’s a bit inconvenient for us, as we’ve just got to keep going back in between days to keep finishing things. It’s taking shape and sounding really good.

Have you got a release date for it?

The guy at Infectious was just like, really broadly, saying summer so I don’t know really. It could be any time couldn’t it?

And is it going to be all new material?

Totally new songs. All new stuff.

You’re about to do two UK support slots with We Are Scientists and Wolf Alice, how does it feel to be sharing bills with those kind of acts?

It’s going to be really good. I haven’t had time to process it. I’ve thought about the Wolf Alice one loads. That’s going to be great as I know them and see them quite a bit but as we’ve in the studio, the more this We Are Scientists one has come out of the blue. So we’re just driving to the venue now and I’ve only just kind of started getting excited about it. I think it is going to be a good gig. They are really funny guys as well. It’s going to be a good laugh.

It looks like you’re in for a busy summer of festivals as well, which ones are you most looking forward to?

Secret Garden Party probably. I went there a few years ago and it was amazing. I can’t wait to be going back and actually be playing it. Have you seen the stage? The stage made out of wood? It’s Where The Wild Things Are. It’s looks amazing.

Are you enjoying being on the road together as a band?

We’re doing pretty well together to be honest. When we were at the studio last week, it was like two weeks of intense in the same room and we didn’t have an argument or rip each other’s heads off so it’s good. We’re all very comfortable spending hours and hours of time together to be honest.

Have you got anything in particular you’d like to achieve in the next year?

I’d always like headline shows in either Birmingham or London but double the capacity and sell it out. In Birmingham would be pretty cool. To get the album out and have good reception to it, that would be nice.

The MAM EP is out now on Infectious Music.