Jamal thinks he's found a way to make this coming autumn more summery...
August hasn’t been particularly summery but hopefully we’re due an unusually sunny autumn with the emergence of Summer Camp. The duo is comprised of singer-songwriter Jeremy Warmsley and actress-cum-magazine-editor-cum-synth-pop-star, Elizabeth Sankey. Male/female duos are well established in the contemporary musical stratosphere. We’ve got the garage rock combos of The Kills and The White Stripes, the indie pop of Blood Red Shoes and the twee goodness of Slow Club. Blogsphere hype would have you believe that Summer Camp are about to enter that realm of X+Y= success and we’re inclined to agree. One listen of their – originally anonymous – nostalgic, chillwave synth and you can tell that this partnership have forged themselves a cosy little niche in a corner of pop. I caught up with them before they’re exposed to the world at this weekend’s Reading and Leeds Festival.
How did you guys meet and how did the musical partnership come together?
We'd known each other for a few years but we never intended to be in a band together. We recorded a cover of 'Only Have Eyes For You' for our own personal entertainment when we were bored one weekend and set up a fake MySpace for fun. We thought no one would ever find it and we'd return to it in ten years time and cringe. Someone did find it though, and 24 hours later we were on blogs, and everyone was referencing the fake information we'd put on the MySpace. It was very surreal.
Is this a permanent set-up or are you both just enjoying a break from your individual work?
It took us a while to get used to the idea of doing this full-time, because it was such a happy accident. We were both involved in other projects but gradually this demanded more and more of our time so now it's what we're doing most days. We both do other things on the side though, to help us keep sane in this crazy world of musak. Urgh hate the word musak.
How does the writing process work? Does one of you take the lead or is it an equal collaborative effort?
We collaborate on everything. Generally one of us will have an idea for a hook or lyrics and then we'll work together to build it up into a sound we're both happy with.
Elizabeth, how have you found the transition from actress to magazine editor to synth pop star? And which is your favourite of these things to do?
Elizabeth: Quite baffling really. In the space of a year and a half I've wandered into several different career paths. I'd sort of cultivated this mindset from an early age that I was going to be an actress, and I'd keep trying until I got somewhere and if I didn't get somewhere, then I'd die miserable and penniless and that would be fine because at least I'd tried. Then I got a bit bored of that and started writing, then I was doing the magazine full-time – which was great – but then I started doing this with Jeremy and it was also great. I feel really lucky to have quite a few things I like doing. I still write and act while doing the band, and I think they tie in together really nicely. But yeah, there have been some "What the hell is going on? Who am I?" deep emo moments because of it.
Your songs seem to be based on a platform of teenage angst movies – does this influence come from one of you in particular and what is it, do you think that, is so appealing about those films? Any favourites?
We both love John Hughes' films. Not necessarily just for their teenage angst, but for the aesthetic, humour and escapism they offer as well.
Elizabeth: It remains a sore point with me that I never got to go to High School in America in the eighties. I don't know why but there's just something so compelling about that world for me. But I think that's the same for any teenage existence really – it's just I discovered those films at a time when I was basically a human sponge for pop culture and really loved them. So I've always had a big connection to them. But any coming of age story is a winner; it's such a crucial time in our lives, when everything feels so important and dramatic and REAL. MAN. But it's not; you've just never fancied someone before.
Jeremy, you seem to have taken a back seat in terms of vocals. Was that a conscious decision to do with the sound you guys wanted for the band or did it just work out that way?
Jeremy: Just how it worked out, really. Elizabeth's got such a great voice and I really enjoy doing the backing vocal stuff. It's nice to take the lead on a couple of songs too like the new single.
How has it been touring with each other? Are there any annoying – not too personal – habits either one of you have?
If we told you, we'd have to kill you. We love touring because it's basically a holiday for us, like the ones you'd go on with school when you were a kid. "Here's your itinerary, here's your map and compass. You've got half an hour to wonder round the town and buy fudge, just fill in this factsheet as you go. And please do some brass rubbings". God it would be so cool if tour managers arranged factsheets for bands on tour.
Click here for info on Summer Camp's gig at The Lexington on October 1
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