Summer 2014 is set to be busier than ever for Young Wonder. Having been picked by The Irish Times as ‘one to watch’ this year, an appearance at Body & Soul Festival this month and new material imminent, it’s been non-stop for the Cork duo, Rachel Pixie and Ian Ring. Rachel sat down with GoldenPlec recently to talk all things Young Wonder.
“We really enjoy playing festivals,” singer Rachel said on Body & Soul. The transition from playing small venues to festival slots hasn’t proved challenging for them. “I think our sound really suits festivals, and the larger sets are great to play on.”
She counts playing Electric Picnic as the band’s highlight so far. “We were scheduled at the same time as Bjork, and she’s amazing, but our tent was full so people made the choice to come see us over Bjork. Pretty amazing!”
“Everybody loves a festival, and it’s great to play people who may never come to a Young Wonder gig. It’s a great way of building a fan base.”
Having supported acts such as Le Galaxie, Alt-J and Toro Y Moi, success has come quickly for the pair. Rachel attributes their meteoric rise to their online presence, as well as hometown support.
“The internet has been the most important aspect in getting our music out there. I’m not sure it matters where a band is from any longer, as long as they have a good internet presence which pushes the music out there.”
On playing in Cork, she said, “I think the live scene down here is good. You will always know somebody at a gig and it’s just a friendlier, more familiar environment to play.”
It would be hard to top the list of quality acts the band have supported over the past two years. However, Rachel said she wouldn’t turn down the opportunity to play with Wild Beasts.
“I’m obsessed with them at the moment.” she said.
Writing material for their follow-up to 2013’s ‘Show Your Teeth’ EP has been going well. However, Rachel acknowledges that their is a certain pressure facing them now that they have established themselves as a group.
“There are always expectations to be bigger and better but I think the biggest pressure has been the pressure we put on ourselves to make something amazing. I think we’ve learned to go with the flow a little more and enjoy the process.
“I definitely think it’s easier the less people there is to please in the band. Because it’s only the two of us, we kind of go away and work on our own, and then come back and show what we have worked on.”
Are they conscious of their image as a whole, when it comes to making music videos? “Music videos are a powerful thing if you want them to be,” she said, “naturally we want our sound to correlate with the visuals.”
On the new album, Rachel told us what we can expect. “A really catchy, dynamic album – something that will catch your ear, with emotive, visual songs.”
“I think our new material is a whole lot stronger,” she said. “I think we all feel we have developed our skills during the last two EPs and we have found our sound.”
Young Wonder play Body & Soul Festival, which takes place June 20 – 22 at Ballinlough Castle.