Music > Interviews

Rat Boy

26/04/16

Rat Boy is worthy of the title Most Likely To Muck About.  Notorious for his lively gigs and cheeky songs like Sign On and Neighbourhood Watch, he’s now working on his debut album. He’s been lauded by the likes of the NME and BBC, and plays the Waterfront this month. I caught up with him on his way to the studio.

How come you’re called Rat Boy?

I was called it at primary school, and it just stuck.

What was the first step towards your career?

When the first person replied to one of my emails! They actually answered me! I had created a lot of art to go along with my music, and it got passed around to other music blogs which get my name out there.

I wondered what your songwriting process is?

I always have a little notebook with me to jot things down in. I’ve got one with me now in fact. Every day things inspire me.

You’re playing Reading & Leeds Festival this year; how dos it feel to see your name on the same bill as massive acts like the Chili Peppers?

Really weird! I never expected that kind of thing to happen so it’s a bit bizarre. Having spent ages trying to get my music heard and then all of a sudden I’m playing Reading..it’s so weird!

Your most recent single Move definitely has a Beastie Boys sound to it. What’s the song mean to you?

I’m more interested in the beat in that song than the lyrics. Sometimes I do focus on my lyrics but that one was driven more by the backing behind it. It was a track that I thought would have a real energy to it when played live.

I believe you’re busy writing and recording your new album. How’s that going?

Yeah it’s going alright, I’m working on it now, finishing off the new single. I keep writing new stuff rather than finishing what I’ve already got! There’re about 100 tracks on my Soundcloud and I keep going through them and trying to work out what and what not to use.

You were named as the NME’s Best New Artist and also were on the BBC Sound of 2016 long list. Accolades like that are wonderful but does it put more pressure on you as an artist?

I don’t feel any pressure, I just get on with making music and art which I love to do. If people like it, they like it.

Who have you been listening to recently?

Loads of Kanye West, hip hop, late 80’s reggae and King Krule!

How did you go about finding the members of your band?

They’re all mates really. I’ve skated with my drummer since I was 11 or 12 and the others I met at college. We all fight but we’re also best friends. I wouldn’t want to be on tour with anyone else.

Your music has been described as the sound of disaffected youth; I wondered if you feel like your music might change as you age?

I dunno really..people like putting you in boxes but I’m just here to make music. I think that all my singles except for Move have been very lyrically driven, but when people hear the album they’ll hear more of the beats side of my music and weird intervals and stuff. The whole album will hopefully make people understand my music a little bit more; there’s a lot more gone into it than just the 3 minute singles. I’m excited for people to hear how it all works together.

You’ve signed with Parlophone. How does it work with them, does it help to be given more of a structure or is it harder?

They’re really good, more like a family. They’ve let me do all my own artwork and I’ve had the final say in everything. That was written into my contract because I like to do the artwork and produce my own music. They just let me get on with it, I don’t have to dress differently or anything, I’m just myself. It’s cool that the label has given me the chance to make music every day; I would never have had that chance otherwise.

Who would you say are the best frontmen in the music business?

I would say Beck; he jumps around and has loads of equipment.

You played the Radio 6 Festival in Bristol not long ago. How was that?

It was alright, it was a different sort of crowd than I usually have but when those sort of gigs happy it’s great because if there’s no one jumping onstage we can play really tight. At the end of the show I jumped on the drum kit and fell off the back of the stage.

Rat Boy plays the Waterfront on 4th May. Tickets available from ueaticketbookings.co.uk