Like all good rock bands, The Noisettes have spent 2007 practicing what they preach. With their new album, What"s the Time Mr Wolf?, and a frantic touring schedule, it might have appeared inevitable that this would be the year they scratched their name – ever so skillfully – into the fabric of the modern music psyche.

These fruits, however, are the result of hard labor and a lot of raw talent (with more than a dash of attitude to truly complete the package). The band spent many hours with their collective noses to the grindstone, pouring their natural impulse, aggression and energy into music, in an attempt to make sense of the convoluted mess of this modern, material world.

The Noisettes provide us with the anthems of today; anthems of longing, change and a zealous desire to make an impact on the world. ACED Magazine joined guitarist Dan Smith in this quest for meaning, discussing dreams, music and the crazy blur that is life.

In an industry where fame and success can arrive overnight, and dissipate just as quickly, it is encouraging to hear that Smith has achieved much of what he set out to accomplish. “My goal was to travel lots, especially in America; release an album and play on big stages. We've definitely achieved that!”

As their thrill-a-minute music would suggest, however, this is not the end of the story. “The dream now has a quiet part two. When we get older, we want to become a jazz trio and travel around mainland Europe, playing in sultry, dark bistros and cellars.”

The idea of a ‘quiet’ – as Smith puts it – future for the band may surprise fans, as it seems at odds with their unabashed, almost abrasive energy. Still, with the rigors of recording and touring, it is easy to see the temptation of such an uncomplicated existence.

  Whether the venue is a sultry European bistro or a packed ballroom in New York City, the joys of touring are never lost on The Noisettes. Looking back, Smith even bemoans the fact he didn’t focus on the touring side of music sooner. “[Knowing what I do now] I'd set my sights on touring from an earlier point in our career.”

The highs of the live performance, and the very personal connection it allows with fans, make touring an addictive drug for all performers. With the highs, however, there are always lows. “There is no best gig yet – wait until one of us is dead and then you can go through the memories and the bootlegs (or not!)."

And the worst, dare we ask? “The worst show was probably Escobar in Wakefield, because Gigsy our tour manager made us all drink Tequila before the show as some sort of 'Experiment’.”

According to Smith, The Noisettes are a combination of “opposites and a desire for perfection and extremity”. Consisting of Shingai Shoniwa (vocals & bass), Dan Smith (guitar) and Jamie Morrison (drums), they are undoubtedly one of the most inventive and unconventional outfits to hit the music scene in recent years.

With a sound born out of opposition, extremity and desires for perfection, every member’s passion and drive is essential to the band’s success. So where does Smith’s musical inspiration come from? “Jimmy Page made me play the guitar. I was in Croydon at a school that I wasn’t really happy in. I had dabbled with guitar but wasn’t as keen on it as I was on my Super NES. Then one day the SNES broke (I stamped on it because I have A TEMPER), and my dad came home from a Jam session and told me he'd played with Jimmy Page.”

The idea of jamming with Jimmy Page – something which must surely have been the dream of scores of boys – seems wonderful in retrospect, but Smith admits that at first he didn’t know who Page was. “When I became aware, I falsely figured that if I learned how to play guitar REALLY well, the next time he came back to the jam session, he would be so impressed that he'd use every resource he had to make me into a Rock Star and get me out of Croydon.”

So was there a fairytale ending? As with most things, the reality rarely lives up to the dream. But while Smith may have missed this opportunity to kick start his career, he does not harbor any regrets; he has made his own luck, and carved out his own success without having any doors opened for him. “I’m kind of glad it (the dream of meeting Jimmy Page) didn’t happen, otherwise I wouldn’t be where I am now.” And, as Smith wryly adds, “only a psycho would come up with an idea like that anyway!”

With the success of What’s the Time Mr Wolf? continuing to grow, the major focus of the band is on their touring schedule. As to any future projects, however, Smith remains tight-lipped. “Oh hell, I don't know. That's something that I keep to myself. When I declare my real aims to people, usually in the back of their minds they think what a deluded retard!" Well, at least that's what I think they think. So... yeah.”

With such a genuine, unassuming take on life, Smith is certainly not deluded – no matter what he might think! The passion and creativity of the band show no bounds, and fans look likely to see a lot more of The Noisettes in the months and years to come!

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kjones   |2007-10-02 13:57:09 They certainly do. Saw them at Siren Fest @ Coney Island this past summer and my photog friend scored points with the lead songstress and snapped some awesome photos of her. Mr Photog on Flicker.com. Reply 0   0

Shane   |2007-10-01 11:43:34 The Noisettes rock! Reply 0   0

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."