Lucy Fitzgerald 
Q: Hi! So before we even get into the song — how did the two of you actually end up making music together in the first place?
A: We met in Manchester. We were both studying there at different universities and met through mutual friends. At the time, we became part of the same band, but when Covid hit, Nuno ended up moving to Portugal and the band eventually came to an end. I’d say that during the Covid period we listened to a lot of different things, and when we met again by chance in Porto (Portugal), we decided to go to a studio in Manchester (UK) to see what would come out of it. This band is the result of that first session, where we ended up making this song.
Q: When you’re starting something new, are you both the type to overthink early ideas, or do you let things be a bit messy at first?
A: Due to the way we organise ourselves (Nuno lives in Portugal and Rob in England), our writing process has to be bold and fast. We don’t get to spend much time together, so we try to be pragmatic, as time is limited and we need to be as productive as possible. So we like to throw ideas at the wall and see what sticks. We work in layers and, in the end, we do overthink things a bit more, but I’d say we lean more towards the messy side.
Q: Do you remember the moment when this track started to feel like something, not just another demo?
A: This song came together very quickly and it almost felt like it made itself. So as soon as we had drums, bass and synth, we felt like we already had a track. Maybe the synth hook was the most decisive element but once again, we tried to be fast because we started this song with only one hour of studio time left so we didn’t have much time to think about that.
Q: Where did the title come from — was it always there, or did it show up halfway through?
A: When we were making the song, we realised we were heading towards a more mysterious, maybe even ‘mischievous’ atmosphere. It was very cold in Manchester and Nuno was freezing. He thought it would be handy to have pockets on the sleeves of his jacket to keep him warm. He ended up feeling that this idea had a kind of mischievous tone to it that fit the song — like someone having a trick up their sleeve. That phrase ended up defining the concept and tone of the rest of the track.
Q: How much talking usually happens when you’re working together — are you explaining ideas in detail, or mostly reacting on instinct?
A: We’d say we’re instinctive and very much about showing each other what we have in mind. Usually, when we explain an idea to one another, the response is: “Let’s try it and see how it turns out.” We’re fans of experimenting and deleting things. We’re not very attached to ideas, and we believe that very little is sacred when we’re trying to find the best way to finish a song.
Q: When you listen back now, does the track still feel personal, or has it taken on a life of its own since finishing it?
A: We started realising that people were giving different meanings and interpretations to this song, and we like that, so we’d say the song has taken on a life of its own, which is how it should be when a song enters the world. It isn’t ours anymore.
Q: What have you both been listening to recently that’s got nothing to do with this project?
A: Rob’s been listening to a lot of Elliott Smith as always. Also this guy called LL Burns. We don’t know much about him but the few tracks he has out on Spotify are great. We’ve both been listening to a lot of Cameron Winter / Geese too and Nuno’s been listening to a lot of BC Camplight as well.
Q: Have friends or early listeners said anything about the song that caught you off guard?
A: It was the first time we didn’t show a song beforehand for some reason. So no.
Q: Now that this chapter’s started, what does the rest of this year look like for you creatively?
A: We’re continuing writing and finishing songs, ready to carry on releasing in the new year so we can start gigging as soon as possible.
Q: By the end of the year, what would make you feel like, “yeah, this project really landed where it needed to”?
A: We think that it’s already kind of happened. We are really happy with how it’s been received and the attention that it’s getting. We think it’s a good start.
We’re going into the new year with a few more songs ready to release, and to build on what we’ve achieved so far.
Listening to songs so you don’t have to! Just kidding :D, you totally should. Music blogger by day, nurse by night
