Wolf Gang is the latest project to emerge from the Neon Gold hit stable, previously home to Passion Pit and Marina & The Diamonds. The brainchild of Max McElligott, Wolf Gang couples soaring choruses with fantastically down to earth instrumentation; all drenched in a suitably post-modern pop haze. LIAM HAYNES caught up with Max to ask him a few questions about masked bouncers, smelly boys, and that ever present writer/producer relationship.
What’s it like being on a label as hip as Neon Gold, you’ve got some fantastic releases snapping at your heels.
I can’t tell you how good it is. Derek and Lizzy from Neon Gold are brilliant, it’s still a relatively young label, but their ascent to glory seems to quicken in pace every day, their reputation is growing and growing. To be part of it is thrilling.
How does the songwriting process work for you?
It pours out pretty much all at once. If I haven’t finished a song in two or three days, I know I’ll never finish it. There is a graveyard of half formed creations on my laptop because I wavered, lost momentum, and lost interest.
Explain the story behind Pieces Of You.
Pieces of You is about meeting a captivating girl at a party. When you are swing dancing in a room crammed with other people, limbs go everywhere. Hence the title.
Blur or Oasis? Why.
Blur, on the grounds that I’m still buzzing from seeing them play at Glastonbury. The songs were amazing, Graham’s solos were ridiculous, Damon Albarn cried, it was special. And also because Liam Gallagher is a cretin.
Tell me about these house parties your press releases waxes so lyrical about.
I organised one or two pretty special masked balls with my flatmates, in an amazing house I was staying in on the canal in Camden. We packed about two hundred people; in the cellar, bedrooms, roof terraces, bath tubs, everywhere. It was just the crowd that made them so great, crazy and beautiful people who would all mingle and go mad. There was live music on the piano downstairs, dj’s upstairs, and couples romancing under the stars on the roof terrace . I had no idea who half of the crowd were. We had bouncers out at the front wearing masks, carrying flaming torches and demanding passwords. All good fun.
Festival intimacy, good or bad? I can’t imagine a worse time to get “it on” with someone.
Judging on my state for the most part of Glastonbury this year, I would completely agree with you. I was sharing a tent with two other smelly boys, it wasn’t remotely sexy.
How did you first hook up with your producer Blue May?
I was put in with Blue last summer to record a couple of songs, it was something my manager arranged. We really struck a chord…….Anyway he started understanding my vision more and more, and would introduce ideas and sounds that I loved.
Wolf Gang – Pieces Of You (Disco Bloodbath Remix)
Wolf Gang – Pieces Of You (Disco Bloodbath Remix)
(top photo by Dan Wilton, featuring Ron the cat, who is currently missing.)
