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You were lumbered with the 'Britpop' label after your last album. What kind of response are you expecting to get with the new one, Lustra?
Nobody's had the same opinion - it's amazing the different reactions we've been getting. As far as Britpop goes, half the bands that are big now started out with that tag. From Oasis to Blur, from Echobelly to Elastica...If people are truly honest, it's nothing to be ashamed of. I think it's a real disease in this country - to use something then dismiss it just because it's embarrassing.
So what else sets you apart form all those bands?
We are totally unique. I can say that without smiling because we are. No one gets the reaction we get on stage. A hundred guys shouting , "Sonya, we love you!" so loud you can't hear yourself. It's almost like a football chant.
Sounds pretty scary...
It's not frightening at all. It's very humbling. I can see the front row singing back to me and crying their eyes out. It's totally inspiring. I mean, to be able to make someone cry? You can't buy that for love or money.
You must get the odd weirdo popping up...
There's this one Scottish guy who keeps sending me letters. Some of the things he wants to do are pretty, you know...well, nothing to do with friendship. He's getting closer and closer, so I'm keeping the letters just in case anything happens.
You've had an ambivalent realationship with the press too.
That's a very polite way of putting it. I'm a bit of a character on stage - you know; I large it up a bit. So when we played Reading, I was swearing, having a laugh, vibing with the crowd and they were loving it. Then we say this review saying how awful it was that I swore. What, so boys are allowed to do it and girls aren't? Get a life! And there was the time I wore a schoolgirl outfit on stage - stuck my hair in pigtails, put DM's on - I fot so much sh*t for that. That was a laugh and this, lest we forget, is rock'n'roll. I'll do whatever I want to do and wear whatever I want to wear.
Speaking of which, you've managed to resist the lure of kit-off magazine covers - has anyone ever tried to get you posing naked?
Loaded asked me to do something in my underwear and they go a striaht "F**k off". Earlier on in our career, I did a cover for ID's rock'n'roll issue - this photographer asked me to undo my top and I was so nervous about it...I undid it a little bit, and I just remember thinking "Oooh, what's my mum going to say?" [Winces] Oh God, I just remembered...
Yes, go on then...
There was this Czech photographer who wanted to put me in a chastity belt..."No way." I said. "I'm sorry, but I'm not going to be remembered as the girl who wore that."
Echobelly's brand spanking new album Lustra is in the stores now. See press for tour details.
LINKS:
INSOMNIA: AN ECHOBELLY HOMEPAGE
WHY NOT FIND ECHOBELLY ON THE ULTIMATE BAND LIST?
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