Georgia Anderson strolled down to the Roundhouse last week (May 28 2010 to be precise) to check out the 8 piece big-band-meets-hip-hop crew Lazy Habits, who despite lack of management and record labels are currently making waves throughout the land, pioneering a new genre of live urban music.
The Hackney hailing, instrument clutching collective; complete with percussion, horns, bass and DJ; were kitted out in dappa suits and joined by singer Babysol, who’s soulful lyrics bought the distinctly UK underground sound into a more pop friendly arena. They hyped-up the venue with a fresh energy and their tongue-in-cheek British lyrics against a funky backdrop and were noticeably better well-received than the limb-flinging, swing-core band; the Correspondants, who were on earlier in the evening.
Here’s what founding member Jaimie and singer Babysol had to say after the show…
You’re fresh off stage, how do you think tonight at the Roundhouse went?
L: Big! Amazing! Roundhouse crowd was heavy, great show, great night and brilliant space.
Babysol how long have you been singing with the guys?
B: I’ve know the boys for a while and fell in love with them pretty much straight away. I was a massive fan and we sporadically kept in touch, and eventually it got to the point where we were gonna collaborate one day! I feel like I’ve been singing with them forever but its probably only been about four years, they’ve always been so loving and supportive and I just used to jump on the stage at shows.
Must be nice change having a girl around in your all male line-up too right?
L: She can be the girliest girl or the mannliest man – which is what you need. She looks after us but parties like a trooper.
How long have Lazy Habits been together for?
L: About 6 years in total actually, we met Babysol at the first or second show that we did when she was working with Jnay. I started it with a few people and it took me a few years to get the band together. We lost a drummer to the Klaxtons, another to a west end musical, and another to meningitis, so yeah a few ‘Spinal Tap’ issues there on the drummer front. As we are now we’re probably about two years old.
You just finished supporting Mos Def, how was that? Any pearls of wisdom he shared with you guys?
L: It was big! Amazing! Mos Def was big, the shows were big, venues were big, sound was big! The crowds were amazing. He’s pretty elusive though.
B: We did not see him, can I tell her the pee story?!
L: Say what you want!
B: Basically we’re on tour on the last night about to go watch him, Robin (MC Skin horse) needed the loo, I look up and its Mos Def coming out! I wished him good luck and was absolutely ecstatic at talking to him- was basically the greatest experience of our lives!
You toured with Charli 2na of Jurassic 5 too, how was that?
L: Charli was just giving me advice on my tattoos being really fatherly and looking after me he’s got some mad tattoos. He was a really calm guy and it was a great to see someone thats been doing his thing for so long and is still so humble and interested in the newer bands, we hung out with him a lot and he was lovely.
Not to mention Ty and the Specials who’s been your favourite so far?
L: Neville Staples (The Specials) is a great guy, for the celebrity status and buzz its gotta be Mos Def and for how well we got on- Ty. He’s such a good guy to play with love playing with him and Charli. We’ve made friends with a lot of local crews as well, the Correspondents tonight are good friends of ours too.
What are you guys saying label-wise?
L: We started off doing the whole independent thing which was the best thing to do, putting out our own tunes in our own time and building a situation around it. We wanted to come through the underground first and not to do the PR thing. We wanted to do it off our own back, to earn it and for people to not be able to ignore us, we do all the mailing list, websites and videos ourselves and I think it’s a really good way of showing that hard work really pays off. Eventually people will start taking note if you’re good enough.
Whats the future plans for Lazy Habits?
L: Album! We’re putting the finishing touches to that which we’re looking to put out in the autumn, maybe a single before that. Playing Koko on the 21st of July and the Barbican, Glastonbury and Secret Garden so we’ll be about all summer basically.
Finally, these guys bill themselves as very well mannered in their press release, would you agree Babysol?
B: Oh they’re beautiful! Proper gentlemen until like 10.30…Nah, when you’re doing hip-hop people expect something and they’re just who they are doing what they do very well.
Lazy habits single Memory Banks featuring Babysol, is released Monday 31 May.
Interview by Georgia Anderson
Twitter: @georgia_la
Twitter: @LiamTootill
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