The Hair

Dark Disco

The green felt-lined bunker where The Hair will be practicing tonight in preparation for their tour with The Kaiser Chiefs is a far cry from their energetic dark disco.

I ask the lads how they get inspired in such a place. Sam informs me of the method they use for song writing, finding it most helpful to shut themselves off from the world to work on what is an evidently and incredibly effective joint effort. With influences spanning Justin Timberlake to the Beastie Boys, their sound incorporates a vast range. The band come across as a tight knit group, who recognise the need for a democratic thought process and equal amounts of heavy conviction. With singles released on their own label 4+5 The Hair exercise just the right amount of indie perfectionism, noting the flaws of independent labels, and also the positive experience they have gained from embarking of their own venture.

"We will be more critical of labels now, but also more sympathetic" mentions Sam. VJ the newest member of the band, and a drummer the rest of the lads seem extremely thrilled with suggests that, "releasing material on your own label shows how proactive you are as a band," whilst Neil adds that the label too, "generates the kind of interest that other bands don't usually receive."

This self willing attitude has clearly done the lads a lot of favours, one being their up and coming tour with The Kaiser Chiefs, and the fantastic opportunity to be the first band to play the new Carling Academy, an accreditation that will clearly secure a platform for their success. The band has already noticed the positive response off the back of the announcement of the tour, modestly admitting, with an element of surprise, that the hits on their website had increased tenfold. Upon gigging solidly for two years the culmination of this sell-out tour is clearly a result of the hard working Hair boys, but also, from the expertise of their new manager, who has been instrumental in their up and coming tour arrangements.

When asked to define the Hair's image the boys like to keep it casual but all casual together "like a uniform." Epitomised by Neil's hat, VJ's Glasses, and Sam's pin-tucked tops (if his sister obliges!), this and the extensive sweating that both Sam and VJ compete over, another product of their energetic stage presence. The Hair already have an album released in Japan, an experience that will see them well in the production of their UK debut, which the boys are keen to point out will not be ready for some time, as their patience is embedded in their faith in the evolution of song writing and so the desire to have a perfected end product as the result of an ongoing creativity towards new songs.

Sam is keen to point out the inspiration that VJ has been since he joined the band; "our sound is a lot different with him now – we want to make the album perfect". With the possibilities of indie club nights, clothing lines, a new album and inevitable world success thanks to their dedicated team, the future is much brighter for the Hair than their dark and dingy practice room in which they are working tonight.

Interview by Cara Brennan

www.hairmusic.co.uk