Posted on September 7, 2009 - by Mark Zonda

Miserable Rich

Indie pop is definetly out of any business. It’s not a rewarding mission, is a blind lip into faith. That’s why everyone of us (I’m talking to YOU, songrabber!) should be thankful to our fellow musicians and bow down to their art, expecially when it’s soulful and cleaver. Lads & Gents come nearer and get to know one of these rogue little modern time prophet and storyteller: James de Malplaquet from “The Miserable Rich”.

Mark Zonda: Being an indie band… that makes you more misareble or rich?

James: Well, as you know, indie bands aren’t generally known for their wealth. One of most parents’ worst nightmares is when their beautiful daughter comes home and says “Mum, Dad, i’m getting married – he’s a musician”. In these days of file-sharing, with 90% of the money having left the business, it’s even more  difficult to make a living. But we’re not complaining. Nobody says “Be a musician – you’ll make a fortune!”.
We’re doing it cause we love it and feel compelled to do it. And despite the name, we think our music is far from miserable.

Mark Zonda: How did you blokes decided to start a band? What do your remember of your first times practicing songs?

James: The main thing i remember from rehearsals is how relaxing it was. Even with a terrible hangover ( we all drink far more than we should), when you get violin, cello, double bass and classical guitar together in a room with a wooden floor- well, if played right, it just sounds lovely. Usually, getting together with a band when you feel rough is terrible – but i used to look forward to going down to the lounge and playing with the boys. There was ONE time when i was so, er, “tired and emotional” from being out all night that i just fell asleep in the lounge leaving the band out in the rain. I just didn’t hear them, and they panicked a little. Not too much though – they didn’t call the police, they just went to the pub.

Mark Zonda: What do you guys usually drink?

James:  Wine appeals to us. Cocktails make us happy. We enjoy champagne. We like beer. Some of us love cider. We are stimulated by spirits. Other than that, not much.

Mark Zonda:  “Early Morning” is such a wonderful song. How do you come to write such brilliant arrangements? I mean… violins, armonies and all that stuff, perfectly fitted together. It’s a slowly evolution of the track where any of you contributes or it’s more like cold fusion from a single brain?

James: Wow! “Cold fusion from a single brain”! I’m stealing THAT for my autobiography! Early Mourning is about a couple fighting through the courts, and the tabloids, over a frozen test tube baby. The first verse is her friends, the second his. The idea was of mourning something that doesn’t really exist yet, and the inevitable confusion and insensitivity that occurs when we take sides on issues we may have read about in the papers, but don’t really know anything about. The music was written by an earlier incarnation of the band – The Grape Authority – which was a kind of loose fitting indie rock band influenced in sound by Broken Social Scene. i love that band. so, definitely a team effort there.

Mark Zonda: Do you frequently play in churches or libraries?

James: People seem to think that we should play in churches a lot. We have played in some notable ones – Union Chapel in London supporting Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan stands out. All the same, we decided long ago that we should play any and everywhere – so we’ve played in some pretty ugly punk clubs too -
and loved every moment.

Mark Zonda: Talking ’bout and over Isobel Campbell… does she still love fishing and drink a lot?

James: She never told us about fishing, but she sure didn’t seem to drink like we do.

Mark Zonda: “Pisshead”. It’s brilliant since it’s start. Was this song born from the title or there’s something else? How did you get inspired and, most of all, would Sir Paul McCartney would be proud of that?

James: ‘Pisshead’ was the first song i wrote on guitar. I put some chords together, and a shuffling rhythm,
and then thought it would be more fun if i chose a swearword as the title. The word pisshead is a very British word meaning someone who drinks too much and ruins things. So i chose that and built a story about it.
It’s is the story of a drunk on the street. These people often seem aggressive and confrontational at first, only to show a much softer side as conversation progresses. I wanted to get that feeling of softening and understanding, after a cocky beginning. The middle eight couplet is what they call ‘a moment of clarity’.
I’m not so sure Sir Paul is keen on songs with swearwords. Wanker (tee hee!).

Mark Zonda: Well.. Paul used “Get ready for my budygun” on “Hi Hi Hi” and “Fuckin it up for everyone” in “Big Boys Bickering”. Would “Pisshead” turn out to be dedicated to Isobel Campbell in the end?

James: We couldn’t! She’s a lady…

The Miserable Rich -  “Early mourning”

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