Newcastle-based French punk-pop duo, The Noise & The Naïve, are preparing to launch their new EP this month so Lee Allcock caught up with them to find out what listeners can expect.
For those of our readers who haven’t come across The Noise & The Naïve before, can you tell them a bit about you…
The only thing you need to know is “which one is the Noise”, and that’s obviously me [Anne]. We’re French and from Newcastle. Anne drums and sings and I [Pauline] play the guitar with two amps to try to find my place in this duo.
You’re set to release your new EP this month, so what can listeners expect? Can we expect more abrasive yet catchy tunes?
Expect a sound like the cut of a shark’s teeth into the tweed jacket of an elderly lady. Did you know shark’s skin is made of a matrix of tiny hard grooved teeth?
What bands and artists influence your music and why?
Mclusky for the length of the songs, Shonen Knife for the guitar solos and many many many others from French 80s pop to doom metal.
You’re heading to Cobalt Studios in Newcastle to launch the EP, so what can gig-goers expect? Will there be any surprises? And how are you preparing?
Cobalt is one of the best places to throw a party at and we have special guests joining us starting with Lonely Robot Inc. We discovered Lonely Robot at Ghost//Signals’ Christmas party last year and the tension and energy that came out of his set was amazing, so we want more people to see him. Faithfull Johannes will also be joining us. We met Faithfull when he was half of Outside Your House and their set blew our mind. In solo, Johannes delivers some barely rap music/poetry that you rarely come across – we love everything about it. RE:Peel DJs: we kept crossing paths for the past year so it’s about time we party together. Surprises? Oui! The Wheel of Misfortune is being pimped up as we speak. Preparation? Did you know Pauline was a trained Olympic Weightlifter? Watching her makes me feel really fit.
The launch event will also be used to raise awareness and funds for the Tyneside-based charity, The Comfrey Project. They do some fantastic work, don’t they…
The event is free, and all donations – including our merch sales – will go to the refugees’ program at Comfrey Project. They are a community centre in Gateshead and have a very down to earth approach to social integration through allotment gardening, cooking and artistic activities. It’s a very warm and welcoming space that was introduced to us years ago by Craig Wilson, aka singer Sheena Revolta, aka photographer Mink Jaguar, a significant cultural icon for many of us in Newcastle.
And finally, if you could play at any venue in the world, what would that venue be? And what would be on your rider?
We’re obviously a stadium-ready band – we think about it every morning when we shave.
To find out more about The Noise & The Naïve’s new EP and Cobalt date, head to thenoiseandthenaive.com.
