Remove Your Veils

Finn Andrews is the only founding member of The Veils that remains, the new formation (Finn Andrews, Sophia Burn, Dan Raishbrook, Henning Dietz) have been kicking it since 2005 albeit with a minor reshuffle. The last album, Nux Vomica was a quiet success, gaining a respectable underground following, however failing to grab a huge amount of mainstream recognition.  The Kiwi/British quartet are gearing to unleash new material with their album ‘Sun Gangs’ unleashing on the 9th April 2009. On the eve of their anticipated UK tour, Dazed Digital quizzes Sophia and Finn on the band's identity and hopes for the future.

Dazed Digital: For those who aren’t familiar, please describe The Veils
Finn Andrews: I read a review recently that described us as sounding "Like a swan being gently stroked with a chainsaw". That'll do nicely I thought.
 
DD: And where did the name come from?
FA: It came to me in a dream, actually. John Kennedy was making a public address on the radio and a blind kid was dancing. "I simply can't get that Veils song out of my head" was the line that stuck.
 
DD: You (Finn & Sophia) went to school together, did you get on? Any romance or fighting in the playground…?
FA: We were in English and Drama class together. There are plenty of stories. Um. Soph? Help?
Sophia Burn: We were sitting down the back of the rugby field once, drinking Ribena and possibly smoking, when Finn turned to me and said 'I don't know what the big deal with backwash is.... I mean, surely it's just...like.... more Ribena!'
That was genuinely the first story that came to mind. We used to go over to Finn's house because he had all the good DVDs.

DD: What’s it like being the only girl in the band?
SB: Probably less awkward than being the only boy in a largely female band. I like it; you get to be in on man secrets. I'm not really female to the others anymore though I don't think. A sort of pleasingly sexless beast.

DD: Nux Vomica is a great album, yet it didn’t receive as much attention in the UK as elsewhere, why do you think that is?
FA: I think it's just had to get noticed in England unless you're endorsed by either Radio 1 or the NME, neither of which we've ever seemed to make a great deal of sense to. I'm a firm believer in the 'If You Build It They Will Come' ethos though, and our shows in London went great so I'm confident it will happen for us eventually.
 
DD: What does the new album have to offer - what is it about?
FA: It's about the shit that makes you nuts. That's as great an insight as I'm capable of with it I think.
 
DD: In your opinion is it better than Nux?
FA: No, it's just different. To use a Bob Dylan analogy, this album is the Blood On The Tracks to his Street Legal.
 
DD: How popular are you in NZ - is there a good scene?
FA: The scene there was non-existent when I was growing up, but it's all changed in the last few years. It's such a young country it's really our generation who are creating the identity of the place. It's a really exciting place to work and live these days I'm told, and some of the bands coming out of there at the moment are fucking incredible.
 
DD: How important is having a strong image to match the music?
FA: Oh I don't know about all that. Just pull the twigs out of your hair and try and smile is our sole policy towards public image really.
 
DD: Fashion-wise who inspires you?
FA: The only fashion purchase I don't feel hideously guilty about is shoes. I only ever own one pair of shoes at a time so I try and make sure they look ok. Alexander McQueen, Costume National, all that jazz. Crane Brothers and Kate Sylvester are a couple of Kiwi designers we really love.
 
DD: Where do you want your new album 'Sun Gangs' to take you?
FA: My dream is the day it comes out I turn on the radio and there is calm female voice saying "DON'T WORRY BUNNIES, IT'S ALL GOING TO BE OK FROM NOW ON...HERE'S THE VEILS." I'd also like to make another album. That'd suit me just fine.

Album "Sun Gangs" out 9th April and The Veils will be touring the UK in April.