Music > Interviews
Sundara Karma
23/08/16
Formed when the four piece were just 14 years old, Sundara Karma’s unique summery indie pop has been swirling around in the ether for a few years now. Playing approx one million festivals this year and now returning to play Norwich for the fourth time this month, their debut album Youth Is Only Ever Fun In Retrospect is out early next year. I spoke to lead singer Oscar about being inspired by Berlin and needing to get their shit together.
I know you’re from near Bracknell – what was the scene like there when you were starting to play together?
There was never much happening there when I was young! When we first started off the scene was pretty dire but after club nights like our own, Thirsty, and our mate’s one, Two Step all the youngsters started crawling out of the woodwork and the scene has been pretty vibey since.
You’ve made music together since you were about 14; how has your musical style changed during that time?
We’ve been a punk band, we’ve been a folk band, we’ve been an electronic band…it’s still changing for us and I hope it always does. I’d hate to get too comfortable doing one thing.
You’ve been extremely busy the last few years have really succeeded in becoming a known name. Has it been a case of just really getting out there and playing to people?
Yeah, I think that’s just what bands have to do these days, slog it out on the road. There is no promo like a good old fashioned rawk show.
You’ve had two EP’s out – what were the differences you felt in your experience levels between recording number one and number two?
Pretty significant I guess, maybe more of a difference in mindset rather than experience though. When we did the first EP we were just messing around really and when it came to the second one suddenly we had a label and more of a ‘team' around us so I think that aspect definitely had an effect.
Your debut album is out in September – is there a particular song from the new album that you’re looking forward to playing live?
Happy Family.
What would you like people to get out of the album, or seeing you play live?
Acres of happiness.
I saw that on Facebook you gave out your mobile number, and encouraged fans to Whatsapp you at festivals you were playing and you’d meet up for drinks. Has this happened?
No, not yet because we never remember to charge the fucking phone up! We need to get our shit together.
I’d hate to get too comfortable doing one thing.
Which bands and acts have influenced your sound the most would you say?
Too many to single out a few I think. The main type of artists that we are drawn towards are the ones that give a voice to the alienated outsiders and push the boundaries of whatever medium they are focusing on.
I know you spent some time in Berlin while recording part of the album – how did you find that experience? Did the city influence the music you were making?
Yeah, for sure. We were always making Eno references whilst recording. We actually stuck a mic out of the studio window to record a passing train and it also picked up on someone speaking German in the courtyard below us. That’s how the album opens.
It seems like your single Loveblood’s doing really well – you’ve been picked up iTunes new act of the week and are on the Radio 1 playlist. Do these things spur you on or are you not bothered?
It’s always nice to be recognised, but life will always move on whatever happens.
You played loads of festivals this summer, Secret Garden Party, Blissfields, Tramlines, Bluedot, Glastonbury – what’s been the best moment thus far?
Truck Festival was mad. It’s a fairly local festie for us so all the kids there were giving it everything. Glasto was pretty outrageous too.
This will be your fourth visit to Norwich within nine months! What are your thoughts on our city and your fans here, have you been out here?
It’s a beautiful place full of beautiful people, and whenever we are there we will always think of Partridge.
Sundara Karma play The Waterfront on 28th September. Tickets are available from ueatickets.ticketabc.com