INTERVIEW: Lovely Assistant

Since 2017, Newcastle’s Lovely Assistant (made up of Annie on keys and vocals, Kieran on bass and vocals, Dave on guitar, and Matt on drums) have been dedicated to exploring the intricacies of songwriting and offering their perspectives on the world.

The band of self-taught musicians formed through the vibrant Newcastle music scene, starting with small gigs and writing sessions in each other’s homes. This intimate setting helped them cultivate a sparse, weary yet warm sound, characterised by tender vocals and shimmering instrumental arrangements, drawing influences from Laurel Canyon piano ballads, 1950s torch songs and 1970s country soul.

Their debut album, Greetings from the Pre-Wave, released in 2020, emerged from arranging songs that Kieran had been developing for years. However, as Matt explains, the creative dynamics on their upcoming album, Fuck Love, have evolved. “On our new album, things have changed slightly and that was instigated by us doing much of the writing together. We retreated to a remote farmhouse in the Midlands and spent an initial week just writing and demoing. We each added more of our own influences to the writing and arranging. Then we turned the farmhouse into a recording studio and tracked as much of it as possible together in single takes.”

On our new album, things have changed slightly and that was instigated by us doing much of the writing together

On the technical side of their music, Matt emphasizes the positive impact of working with producers like Will Thorneycroft, J.J. Golden, and Thom Lewis. “Will produced our debut album as well as this one and has been an instrumental part of our sound on record. We have Generator to thank for working with the others, either through funding or schemes. We were offered studio time with Thom in Blank Studio and he executive produced a few tracks off the album. There were a couple of songs that didn’t quite work at the farmhouse and needed some more arranging. Thom had a fresh set of ears and helped significantly with that. We sent the album to J.J. Golden to be mastered in California. He did a stellar job and has the perfect combination of technical and musical expertise.”

The album sounds intimate and feels relaxed, taking the listener on a velvety voyage from the loungey opener Kneehigh through to the more indie vibed soundscape of Oh Just Go, to the jazzier offering of Passengers Reminded, tender lounge tune Big Smile before finishing on the West Coast folk-rock offering of Mother Mary’s Superposition.

The band acknowledges the crucial support from organisations like Help Musicians and Generator throughout the album-making process. “Generator helped with some funding and pairing us with skilled people to get the album over the line. That was at a time when we were really running out of money and were unsure how we would finish the album. Help Musicians funded the majority of the album costs. This album really wouldn’t have happened without the help we’ve had,” Matt explains.

As Lovely Assistant looks forward to their UK tour, which will take them to village halls and petrol stations, Matt highlights a standout show in Newcastle, “Our show at Cobalt early last year stands out as a really magical night so we’re looking forward to going back for our album.”

Fuck Love is released on Friday 28th February and the band will perform a launch gig at Cobalt, Newcastle on Thursday 27th February.