MusicRadar

Band Of Skulls (Matt Hayward, Emma Richardson and Russell Marsden) release their sophomore album, Sweet Sour, next February. Wait for it!

"The first time I heard about us being a 'buzz band' was when you mentioned it to me for that first MusicRadar interview," says Band Of Skulls singer-guitarist Russell Marsden.

"That was a strange time, actually. It was nice to know that people were talking about us rather quickly, but I really can't get caught up in hype. It starts messing you up. You start thinking about the wrong things. We've been this little band for a while now, and we like having our bubble where we can be happy. We try not to let a lot of other stuff in that can burst that bubble."

Dressed in black and sporting sunglasses, Marsden certainly looks the part of a rock star - as do his similarly attired bandmates, co-singer and bassist Emma Richardson and drummer Matt Hayward. The Southampton trio sit in the lounge of New York City's Standard Hotel, going through a couple of rounds of Pils as they discuss Sweet Sour, their raging new record (due out 21 February) that makes good on all of the fiery promises put forth on the group's 2009 debut, Darling Baby Doll Face Honey.

"I think we put a few new wrinkles on this whole rock 'n' roll thing," says Hayward. "Obviously, so much has been done already. Being original...that's a pretty sizable order in this day and age. But we've got our own sound, and it seems to work for people. I think we can stretch things out pretty far if Sweet Sour does well."

And with that, almost on cue, all three band members simultaneously knock their knuckles on the wooden table, laughing at their matched reactions.

The concept of artist development is a vanishing one. Labels don't make long-term investments in bands anymore. How do you guys feel about the position you're in right now?

Matt Hayward: "Obviously, we're grateful. To have had the opportunity to make our first record is pretty remarkable, and now we've got our second album coming out – even more incredible. As they say, you only get one chance to make your first album, but the same is true for your second. There's no guidebook to tell you how to do any of this. But luckily, we're figuring it out."

Russell Marsden: "As friends and musicians, we've been together a lot longer than this incarnation. The Band Of Skulls part of things is still relatively new. We've always been in bands and played music, so we know how it feels to struggle and be under the radar, if you will. [laughs]

"Sure, we do feel lucky about where things are at for us. The industry doesn't operate as it used to where bands would make four or five albums before they broke big. The main thing to remember is that we've put in a lot of years getting to where we are. This didn't happen overnight at all. A lot of people in bands do forget that. They want shortcuts, and usually there aren't any."

Emma Richardson: "We try not to take anything for granted. But we want to enjoy all that's happening, too. It's a great privilege to have made a second album. Hopefully, we'll get to make a third and maybe a fourth. We'll see how it all goes."

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