MILES KANE’S AUNTY RUINED CHRISTMAS

Words: Louisa Wright

The Last Shadow Puppets’ Miles Kane has gone solo and it’s got everyone excited. After touring with Kasabian, Miles will be heading over to Australia to play the Lorne Falls Festival and support the Arctic Monkeys, fronted by Last Shadow Puppets co-front man Alex Turner. Between putting together his first solo album and touring, it’s been a hectic year for Miles but he found the time to talk to SPOOK about his debut album Colour of the Trap, finding out Santa isn’t real, and a Premier League dream team that includes Beyonce and Katy Perry.

SPOOK: Hi Miles, how are you?
Miles: How are you doing? I’m good, good yeah. We just did a great gig in Newcastle.

SPOOK: How’s the tour been going?
Miles: It’s amazing, Kasabian are just fucking breaking England and we’re just here in England, it’s the best night of rock and roll you’ll see and it’s very special you know, it’s a crazy thing, it’s like we go on and then the crowds are fucking having it and then for them as well, the audience is worn out, I think, by the end, you know, it’s perfect. It’s great. And we just did Newcastle tonight so I’m back in the hotel now ‘cause I had to speak to you, so here we go.

SPOOK: You worked with Dan the Automator on your new album who’s also worked with Kasabian, how was that?
Miles: Yeah, that’s right. You know, on Colour of the Trap he did some additional production things and he’s a great guy, you know, he had me work on closer to my range, I left the notes there since then and done some new songs and yeah all is good man, you know.

SPOOK: What’s it like going solo compared to being in bands like The Rascals and Last Shadow Puppets?
Miles: Well it’s been a complete change really, you’ve found who you are, you’ve found what music you want to make and where you want to go and this record means the world to me, Colour of the Trap, and it’s the best year of your life. It feels so good, it’s so exciting to be here in Europe and we’ve been to Brazil, Japan, and the buzz is just growing around the world and we’re lucky to come over there [Australia] with the Arctic Monkeys and I’ll fucking tear it up in Australia and I just can’t wait to get over there and show you what it’s about. It’s very exciting times. And live as well, a live show, playing these songs, you know, it’s the best thing ever and that’s what’s been building up and yeah, we’re on fire at the minute and it’s just so exciting, it’s all real and it’s like, you know, we’re bringing a vibe to the gigs you know.

SPOOK: Are you excited to be coming to Australia?
Miles: Very excited you know, I mean it’s a new experience for me. I’ve never been, I’m just going to come over there, playing great rock ‘n’ roll, have a great time, work hard, and get the word out there, you know.

SPOOK: And you’re playing the Falls Festival?
Miles: Is that the New Year’s Eve one? Are you coming to that?

SPOOK: I am, I’m very excited to see you play.
Miles: Are you very excited are you, yeah? Do you like the songs and that do you?

SPOOK: I love them, your album’s really, really good.
Miles: What’s your favourite song?

SPOOK: My favourite one’s probably Kingcrawler.
Miles: Kingcrawler, wow. Yeah, I tell you what, live that’s one of the biggest and we extend it a bit and the “ayayayayayay” it’s a bit of a moment that, yeah.

SPOOK: Do you prefer smaller gigs or festivals?
Miles: Well the festival’s on New Year’s Eve so it’s going to be fucking massive isn’t it? We’re going to fucking rip it up. This year’s been so busy, you sort of forget about what’s to come, you know, you think about the next day or where you are tomorrow but thinking about it now it’s going to be fucking insane isn’t it? Going to Australia with our tunes, with our vibe, playing rock and roll. I hope you’re ready for it, are you ready?

SPOOK: It will be amazing. Is there anything else you want to do while you’re in Australia?
Miles: Find Bridget Bardot. Yeah, I don’t know, just enjoy it. I’m coming over there early to chill out for a bit before we do the festival.

SPOOK: And then you’re supporting the Arctic Monkeys sideshows?
Miles: That’s right, we’ve got a great sound going and we’ve fucking got each other’s backs. We’re going to come over there, like in England now, it’s going to be a great night of great music. We’re just going to play our songs and have a great time. The gigs that we do together, it’s just going to be like a party. Each night you’re going to come and see great music and great young rock and roll of the future, and that’s it, you know what I mean?

SPOOK: Do you think the Arctic Monkeys fan base is the audience you music is aimed towards?
Miles: I don’t really know really because over here in Europe you’ve created your own vibe, it’s your own thing, and obviously there’s an opportunity to get over there, to do gigs, you get the record out there. Who knows, if people dig it, we’ll come back and do our own thing. That’s actually the aim of it.

SPOOK: How do you think the music scene has changed in Liverpool since you first started?
Miles: There are a lot of different things coming in and out with its highs and lows but I don’t live there anymore, so I don’t know what the local scene is. We did two gigs in Liverpool last week and there was a lot of love there and it’s great to go back and it felt really positive and exciting. It’s a great feeling. There’s always a great scene in Liverpool. It’s a great city, it’s a beautiful city. There are rows of great bands rocking about and kids coming to fucking take the crown but at the moment I want the crown, you know (laughs).

SPOOK: So, does that mean you support Liverpool in the Premier League?
Miles: Yes, it does. Correct.

SPOOK: Who would be on your dream team? No sports people allowed.
Miles: Liam Gallagher, Myself, Janelle Monae, Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Britney Spears and Katy Perry (laughs).

SPOOK: Who would be your goalie?
Miles: Bruno Mars.

SPOOK: Can you remember when you found out that Father Christmas wasn’t real?
Miles: Yeah, when I saw my aunty dropping off my presents in my bedroom and I woke up (laughs).

Miles will be playing Falls Festival (28th Dec – Jan 1st) and Southbound (7th and 8th January), as well as supporting Arctic Monkeys on the following dates:

Tues 3rd Jan – Festival Hall, Melbourne, VIC

Fri 6th Jan – Belvoir Amphitheatre, Perth, WA

Tue 10th Jan – Entertainment Centre, Adelaide, SA

Thu 12th Jan – Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, NSW

Sat 14th Jan – Riverstage, Brisbane, QLD

 

MILES KANE’S DEBUT ALBUM ‘COLOUR OF THE TRAP’ IS OUT NOW THROUGH SONY