If you need the perfect soundtrack for the summers transition into autumn, well, here it is: The Dew Lasts An Hour by Ballet School. The Berlin based trio – consisting of singer and frontwoman Rosie Blair, guitarist Michel Collet and drummer Louis McGuire – got together three years ago bonding over a mutual love of Cocteau Twins. After their debut EP “Boys Again” the band released their first full-length album a few weeks ago via Bella Union. Fusing together fundamental pop melodies with some darker tunes by drawing influence from everything from punk rock to 80‘s new wave and bands such as Siouxie, Simple Minds and Cocteau Twins, Ballet School create a fashionable taking synthpop sound. Please don‘t miss this charming band performing live at the Viennese Waves Festival on October 4th and our talk with the band below.
[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Speaking of bandmates. How are the band dynamics? Are there moments where you wish there would be another woman in the band, Rosie?
Rosie: Sometimes we all wish for another girl, however our personalities combined have a healthy ying and yang balance. 3 is a magic number.
The title of your debut album is „The Dew Lasts An Hour“. Should we be more aware of the transitoriness of all things?
Michel: Oh, enjoy it while it lasts. Berlin, where we all live now, is dirty and it’s still relatively cheap to live. I’ve been five years there and to be honest nowadays I just chill and make music at home. In the summer it’s quite nice to hang by the canal in Kreuzberg.
How important is visual identity in your work? How do you approach this? Who‘s in charge of the aesthetics of Ballet School?
Michel: It’s important to dress your message accordingly to get it across. Like going to a date. Rosie went to Saint Martins in London. She and her mate Nova Dando have the eye.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]If you could work with any artist outside the electronic music world who would you like to work with and why?
Michel: Johnny Marr. He wrote and arranged pearls like ‘Well I wonder’ and ‘Asleep’. He’s an elegant master that knows how to ‘serve’ a song to what it wants to become.
What‘s the best piece of advice anyone has ever given to you?
Michel: Stay jaunty.
What’s coming up for the rest of this year for you besides the Waves Festival?
Michel: US & UK tour start October and goes until the end of the year. We’re also playing Icelandic Airwaves in between that. We’re super excited!
Interview by Katja Schifferegger
Image by Tonje Thielsen
www.facebook.com/balletschoolband[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
