Interviews
Rob Coombes from Supergrass talks to Britsound
The Road Less Traveled: Supergrass is Back, and Sadder than Ever
Interview by Gina Pantone
Supergrass have become hermits. The jovial trio-turned-quartet secluded themselves in a house in Normandy, France, to record their somber side. Their fifth album, "Road to Rouen" has proven to encapsulate a variety of personal hardships and maturing musicianship. While still residing under the radar to most Americans, they remain steadfast and are in the midst of a well-received tour that celebrates the British love for cheap motels and never-ending roadways. Their newest member Rob Coombes, keyboardist and brother of singer/guitarist Gaz, spoke to Britsound about their new mindsets and admiration for processed cuisine.
Britsound: It seems to be the trend—after years of recording by all the rules of clean, almost commercial production, to just say "f**k all", move to an isolated location and start fresh. Has this move been a long time coming for Supergrass?
Rob Coombes: I think it's been overdue. We've certainly spent quite a bit on albums previously, with the final bit of an album taking a disproportionate amount of time and money to complete—it felt natural. A lot of studios in England seem to be going bankrupt at the moment, there is to be a lot of gear around to buy. It seemed like the perfect thing, to buy some stuff secondhand. There are a few of nice premises that we have access to, like particularly this place in Normandy—which is really cool. In doing that, it took a whole lot of pressure off that thousand pound-a-day writing lyrics bulls**t that you end up doing; which can really put a record into the realm of expensive. It was really good, I think it made us a lot more natural and relaxed.
B: To you think you'll remain in Europe for recording in the future then?
RC: Yes. Definitely. Also, there is the whole thing of being able to do it again. Once you have the gear, we don't have to go back to Normandy—we go to Spain next time, or just stay at home in our bedrooms and do it.
B: There is no denying the change in sound here—this record is almost an homage to classic rock. Long jam sessions have replaced the verse/chorus/verse abruptness of your earlier work. Do you feel your contributions to the band diversify Supergrass' sound a bit?
RC: Hopefully, it always has. It's not about individuals, it's about the band. The songs aren't being written by anyone but the band—even if they are being written by someone.
B: You've been a part of Supergrass for quite some time, what finally made you sign on full time?
RC: I wasn't given a choice, really. I was kind of forced into it. No, I don't know, I was bribed. Also, I sort of got fed up with all the questions of why I wasn't on the cover of the album, or why I was off the stage playing in the dressing room (laughs). It was just a natural thing, to join the band.
B: How do you feel about the current state of British music? How does Supergrass fit in—now that you've proved your staying power?
RC: Hopefully we don't fit in to what's going on in any particular way. I think what's going on in England is quite good, actually. I'd like to think that we're not part of any particular genre. People talk about when we started and the whole Brit Pop thing was around—which we've always thought of ourselves to not be a part of. We've always been out to write in a new genre. If you listen to our albums, although we have a reputation in England for being quite poppy because of our singles, they are quite diverse. We try out a lot of different music styles.
B: How did you go about selecting the order of the tracks on "Road to Rouen"? They sort of seem randomly placed.
RC: "Coffee and the Pot" was supposed to be an intermission, a sort of flip-over-the record kind of song. It was supposed to be a journey of sorts. "St. Petersburg" is a classic journey kind of song to me; it feels like you're on your way somewhere.
B: Was keeping the first take of "St. Petersburg" a conscious choice? Do you prefer to record everything live, or do you enjoy the control of track-by-track recording?
RC: I think we did a lot more of that [live recording] because of where we were and what we were doing. It was a lot more natural. Obviously, we always want to record everything in just one take, it's what we are always out to do. As a band, we prefer to do things live. Me, personally, I sometimes like to mess around with things and make myself sound better than I am, but I'm not really out to do that in the band—I have to go by the rules.
B: This record is a lot more exposed. Do you feel more vulnerable without the comfort of distortion and effects?
RC: With the acoustic stuff it has been like that. We've done acoustic tours in the UK and semi-acoustic tours when we go out there [the States], which will essentially be electric by the end of the set. In England, we've done acoustic tours where every single note is right out there, right loud, and it does make me feel quite exposed. You just have to get into the music to make sure you stay into it.
B: With everything that has happened personally in the last years (Gaz becoming a father, the loss of your mother) do you feel emotionally exposed?
RC: Not emotionally. We're a lot more vulnerable in other ways. As the life of any band goes on you become vulnerable—it's only natural. I think as you get older you learn to deal with a lot more stuff.
B: How do you feel about touring in America? Is it a completely different scene given your varying receptions in different countries?
RC: I love touring in America, actually. It's an experience. It's kind of routine, but it's very soothing. There's a definite feel to touring in America. I think the comfort comes from the amount of restaurants you have per mile of road. Also, when you arrive in any town, there is an amazing variety of things to do. That's the amazing thing about America. In England everyone goes to London, because that's where everything is, but in America you have cities all over the place. It's just an experience—and a good experience.
B: So you equate food and recreation with comfort?
RC: That's pretty much what I go for in life.
