Led By Lions (Interview)

by Claire Williams on 16.04.09

Claire Williams talk with Manchester University students, Led by Lions, and finds out why they are not ashamed of the ‘pop music’ stigma.

Led by Lions are self admittedly a ‘horribly overproduced’ band, sitting on the borderline of indie and pop it could be questionable about what this band has to offer that the Ting Tings haven’t.

Well, for one the lead singer Kat Alcock, 21, can certainly hold a tune. With a pulsating bass beat and a voice saturated with aching emotion this band of Manchester students are at the edge of cutting pop. Now onto their third album the band is touring the country to get their sound out there. Most indie bands dread the stigma of being classed as another pop act but Kat wholeheartedly embraces it. She said, ‘We are totally pop music through and through and we are not ashamed of it. We are kind of electro, a bit of indie and there is even a bit folk music thrown in.’ Led by Lions are yearning for a bite of stardom. Kat doesn’t hold back on the group’s goal. She said, ‘We basically want to be pop stars – that’s the dream – we love glamour. Although we are a bit rough around the edges at the moment!’ It’s reassuring however that the glamour only come second rate to Kat, who puts the crowd’s appreciation and self satisfaction above anything else. She said, ‘We are all students at Manchester University but we would give it all up in a second if it meant we got famous – I mean REALLY famous. We live for the ripple of applause you get at gigs.’

Maybe it’s a bit of rough that will get this band attention. This music lion isn’t preened and tamed to the standards of most perky pop stars. Holding tight onto their individual and sharp style this band resists the current of mainstream. One other factor that strikes them apart from the rest, Charlie Davies, guitar and keys, suggests is the vocalist herself. He said, ‘What makes us different is we are an indie band with a female vocalist.’

Led by Lions fan base has already appointed their favorite song from their music selection. Charlie said, ‘Our latest song is called ‘The Age of Reason’ but our most popular song is called ‘Hard Pill to Swallow.’’ No wonder why this song was hand plucked by loyal followers, with electro overtones on hastening drums Kats vocals has the power to play with your heart strings.

This song is one of many that made them the right kind of stuff to support Idlewild and Boy Kill Boy. So Charlie’s rising excitement can’t be blamed when he said, ‘We feel like we are really going somewhere and I feel like we really could be the next big thing.’

Led by lions is a talented young pop group with an indie vibe, or maybe an indie band with a pop vibe. Whatever way you look at it thank god this band is led by lions and not donkeys.