Meet Ambiere. They’re a band in the business of “fairytale grunge”.
They share their hometown of Mossley with modern day punks Cabbage – they know each other well – but the similarities end there.
Reminiscent of The xx and early Florence + The Machine, they’ve honed their wares discreetly to date, crafting magnetic sounds imprinted with floaty vocals, synths, and celestial symphonies.
It’s dream pop at its ethereal best, as vocalist Amber Lane-McIvor sparkles alongside Jake Blythe and Oliver “Lamy” Lamb, and so we couldn’t be more excited that their debut EP is finally on the way.
Tree of Life is out on 11 February, and will be accompanied by the band’s first UK tour.
We decided to lift the lid on the elusive trio, visiting Mossley for an exclusive chat.
Read on to learn all about Ambiere, from the “utter nonsense” behind their favourite track, to tales of singing at funerals, the Manchester scene and Goldie Lookin Chain.
So, Ambiere, thanks for meeting up with FEISTY today! How’s the first two weeks of 2017 been for you?
Amber: “It’s been hilarious, because we’ve got this tour coming up, and it’s only just hit us that we’ve got this tour! It’s come so quick.”
Jake: “It’s been pretty busy so far, hasn’t it? We’ve just been cracking on with the EP.”
We’ve spent a lot of time outside today in the middle of winter. Is it fair to say you have quite an affinity for nature and the outdoors?
Amber: “I do like nature! I mean, I’m freezing my tits off, but I do like nature.”
Jake: “I like climbing trees, more than anything in the world.”
Amber: “You like getting stuck in trees!”
Going back to basics, what is your backstory as a band? How did Ambiere first come together?
Amber: “I started university on a vocal course, and Jake was on a guitar course. I’d written loads of songs, so I wanted to make a new band and I saw this guy with dreads come into my class and decided I had to be his friend. He was actually really nice, and we just clicked, didn’t we?”
Jake: “We sat in Amber’s bedroom for about two weeks, just drinking red wine and writing songs.”
Amber: “Then we had a really good idea and needed someone with octopus fingers to join the band, so we got Lamy. We found him, and stole him.”
You’ve been in a band before Ambiere too?
Amber: “I was in a couple of mad indie bands when I was younger. I didn’t really sound like I do now, I put on a weird voice, but it was good. We played Academy 3 in Manchester, I can’t remember what we were called. Start Point, or something?”
So Start Point was your first band?
Amber: “Start Point! Yeah, I think it was Start Point. It was good, because everyone used to come to Manchester for the gigs from Mossley.”
Didn’t you almost support Goldie Lookin Chain as part of that?
Amber: “When I was like 15 or 16. I really don’t know how that happened! I’d like them to see me now, see if I look any older. Maybe they’d like us, can you ask them if you see them? Say we’re available!”
I’ll see what I can do! Are your separate musical backgrounds quite diverse?
Lamy: “Yeah, I started off playing classical piano, and three or four years ago I switched to synths. It’s a completely different background to Jake.”
Jake: “I got into a rock band early in high school, and stuck with that for five years until politics made it fall apart. Ambiere is great because it’s so open-ended compared to that.”
Amber: “I’ve gone from theatre, to indie wannabe rock star, to funeral singer. Singing at funerals, I still do.”
I didn’t know that was a thing!
Amber: “It sounds really beautiful in churches. So, I’m also available for funerals, if anyone’s interested.”
If you check out Ambiere on Facebook your music is described as having a “jellybean peanut butter finish”. Why?
Amber: “We were trying to describe what our music was, but we never knew what we wanted to do. One minute I was like, ‘I really like this native American style music’. After that, ‘You know what, I want to be dirty dubstep!’ But I liked those words and Lamy agreed, plus it’s fun to say.”
Lammy: “We’ve got that sort of sugary finish.”
So how would you say other bands taste?
Jake: “Ooh. That’s a good question. It depends on the other band? Some of them are creamy?”
Everyone laughs
Jake: “Creamy, I’d say Rick Astley.”
Amber: “Or you get sort of Kinder Bueno, with a bit of a crunch in the middle.”
Speaking of other bands, which would you say you most admire?
Amber: “Everything. I do, I love everything.”
Jake: “Yeah, to be honest, she’s kind of right.”
Amber: “Florence + The Machine is brilliant. Really ethereal.”
Lamy: “We love trip-hop stuff as well, minimalistic things.”
Jake: “I think no matter what sort of phase I’m going through, Pink Floyd will always have a special place.”
Your own music, though, isn’t quite like any of those. Without using food if possible, how would you describe it?
Amber: “Fairytale grunge!”
OK! What is fairytale grunge?
Amber: “We try to be cool, but we’re like fairies.”
Lamy: “It’s orchestral, with nice vocals on top, just floating over it.”
Amber: “Like film music.”
Jake: “We’ve got this The xx kind of sound going on.”
Oliver: “It’s pretty spacey.”
You’re from near Manchester. It’s a city commonly known for the Madchester scene, Britpop, furious indie rock and stuff like that. Is it hard for you, doing the music you’re doing, in this area?
Lamy: “I don’t think so. There’s enough variety for us to be able to dip in to a couple of different scenes. There’s so many in Manchester at the moment, even hip-hop, and the dance scene is massive.”
Jake: “I once saw a gig at The Castle Hotel, where a guy just had a xylophone on stage and rolled around for his entire act. So it’s not just Oasis!”
Amber: “I’d like to try that.”
I imagine he’s broken big! You’re releasing your first EP soon, I imagine it’s quite an exciting time?
Amber: “It’s very exciting!”
Lamy: “I’m looking forward to getting it out there, getting some reviews.”
Amber: “It’s just amazing to have everything that you’ve had in your head actually right in front of you. For about a year we’ve had all of these ideas, and it’s all been put into this EP.”
It’s out on 11 February, but until now you’ve not revealed much. We now know it’s called Tree of Life, what else can you reveal to us today?
Lamy: “There’s five tracks that are all fairly different genres, but with a similar theme.”
Amber: “Tree of Life, Conscience, Unsteady, Intelligence and Sparkly Marmalade.”
Jake: “The EP goes to a lot of different destinations.”
Two of those tracks are already out there. Tree of Life particularly, that’s been a popular demo. What’s the story behind the song?
Amber: “It isn’t about one specific thing. Tree of Life was written about relationships, running away to a happier place. Others that have listened to it feel it is about loss and I can see that too. Everyone interprets songs differently.
“The meaning changes depending on your own feelings at the time. I love that about music! Every single situation is a story needing to be told, life is a collection of short stories. We are all about light and shade, it makes life more interesting.”
Which new song are you most excited to reveal?
Amber and Lamy: “Sparkly Marmalade!”
Lamy: “Full of twists and turns.”
Amber: “It’s complete and utter nonsense, complete and utter nonsense.”
In what way?
Amber: “Well, my mum came in my work one day and she was eating toast, and asked if we had any marmalade. Then I just sat and watched her, and I kid you not, I thought, ‘Oh, she’s really sparkly!’
“So, I wrote Sparkly Marmalade in my order notes and put them in my pocket, and got them out when I was writing the song. When I first wrote the lyrics I got really excited because Lamy could sit down and do some weird beats, and Jake could do an amazing guitar riff. I’ve got a tattoo of it on my arm now.”
So you have a tattoo of Sparkly Marmalade?
Amber: I do. It’s a lovely backstory, isn’t it? So indie.
Was it difficult to put together and record the EP? What sort of challenges did you face?
Lamy: “Well, it’s not a common setup, with guitar, vocals and electronics.”
Jake: “We write as guitar and vocals first, a sort of acoustic thing, and then bring it to Lamy and put all of the electronic stuff on afterwards. I guess the challenge is finding that balance between the electronic and acoustic aspects.”
Where will fans of the EP be able to check it out live this year?
Lamy: “We’re playing in London, Leeds, Newcastle and Manchester between the 8th and 12th of February.”
You haven’t played a headline show before, have you?
Lamy: “Not really, not our own. We’ve headlined a few other people’s nights, but there’s never been a dedicated Ambiere gig.”
Amber: “Please get a ticket!”
I should point out that Amber is speaking at the phone like it’s an audience!
Amber: “I’ve never had a phone like that before, I’ve got a Nokia!”
What are your hopes and aspirations for Ambiere?
Amber: “Just to have fun, and travel, and be able to get a nice studio apartment with a dog. A few more tattoos? And to not be too serious.”
Lamy: “Some festivals would be great.”
Amber: “Yes! We’re available for bookings.”
I’ve noticed you’re available for a lot of bookings: Funerals, Goldie Lookin Chain gigs, and festivals! Is there anything else?
Amber: “Yeah! We can also do contemporary dance, instead of singing, if you want that.”
Jake: “I make a good brew.”
Amber: “Yeah, he does, but it’s green tea. He’s too indie for normal tea.”
To close, would you like to add anything? Maybe a bold statement?
Jake: “High contrast sports jackets aren’t cool. That’s a bold statement.”
Amber: “Just to please buy the EP. We’ll beg, like a charity video.”
Lamy: “Give us some money, we need petrol.”
Amber: “Lamy’s car’s just been for an MOT, and also we’re going on tour, so it’d be good if people came along to that. What’s Lamy’s car called?”
Lamy: “Oh, it’s Percy! Percy the Peugeot passed his MOT.”
Amber: “Percy the Peugeot passed his MOT! That’s all we wanted to tell you really. Yeah, thanks!”
Lamy: “Buy the EP!”
Tree of Life is released on 11 February. Ambiere are on Facebook, and will be playing the following dates next month:
February 8 – Lending Rooms – Leeds, UK
February 9 – New Cross Inn – London, UK
February 11 – The Castle Hotel – Manchester, UK
February 12 – The Tyne Bar – Newcastle, UK
