Ali Love talks Late Night Session

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We caught up with disco-king Ali Love on his support tour with Just Jack.

You performed at Rock City before Just Jack on Wednesday. How was that and how’s the tour going as a whole for you?

Yeah, it’s really good, you know. Jack’s an old mate. On that level it’s just brilliant. I’ve never been on such a mellow tour in my life. There’s no kinda friction between the band. It’s just like “happy days” basically.

How are you finding it compared to your gigs at YOYO in Notting Hill where you had your residency?

Yeah, I mean that was kinda much more like a hip-hop club, like underground, with very London-ey crowds. It was much more like a basement jam, which was great. It’s a totally different thing though. I like both things, y’know. It’s just when you get on a big stage you have to jump around a bit more.

YOYO’s quite an intimate venue compared to Rock City, isn’t it?

I really liked it, and I really like Rock City. It’s a really cool place y’know, I love those kinda places. Rock ‘n’ roll...

You released Late Night Session this Monday (1st October 2007); what’s the response been like from the radio networks and fans?

It’s really funny people like Terry Wogan playing it over on Radio 2 and stuff. Chris Evans, Steve Wright and all those lot. Apparently they all really like it over there, and that’s hilarious ‘cos the song's got hidden lyrics that are quite naughty. But you wouldn’t hear it ‘cos it sounds so poppy. So it’s funny that they all play it over there, and it’s been played on Radio 1 and all that stuff. I’m happy with what’s been happening on the airwaves!

Tell us more about these naughty lyrics...

The subject matter of what the song’s about is about when I used to run these nights called Nightfly. We used to run them at the club that I actually live above at the moment called On The Rocks. The actual Nightfly parties were probably the most debauched parties I’ve ever been to in my life. It’s just funny that I’ve written a Kool and the Gang-style pop-funk track about it. The actual parties were all kinda like electro/darkness kinda vibes.

How did the track Late Night Session come about?

I just woke up in the morning – think I’d had quite a big night – and put on Earth, Wind and Fire. I think I probably played that track from back in the 70s.

*Ali sings*

Did you find it hard, personally, trying to get your music heard in the early days?

I dunno, the first single just ended up being an underground anthem. It’s like a little naughty boy song. I dunno really. At that time I didn’t really know what was going on. I’ve kinda taken stock of where I am and what I’m doing at the moment. When I look back at some of the things I have done I get the fear, you know? I can only really talk about now. I don’t know about the past, it’s all a blur.

There’s a marked change in the way you deliver Secret Sunday Lover and Late Night Session. Was that a conscious effort to go more poppy/mainstream?

No, those songs were written pretty much at the same time. I just write things that just come to me. I’ve got this little twelve-track, and while I was writing them I was recording them, or recording the demos of them anyway. It’s a very strange thing to do. You just kinda much around for a day and at the end of the day you’ve got a song. So they’re two different days, but it’s the same period of time I wrote K-Hole and Late Night Session. I don’t care about styles and whether things are different or not.

You’re releasing your debut album in November; do you have high hopes for that, and how did that come about?

I’ve got so many different songs...it just fell into place bit-by-bit. I could have written a folk or full-on dance album. I know it sounds a bit silly to say, but it’s true. Sometimes you do things in life and it’s not really you doing it. You’re just on cruise control, it’s not really conscious. Songs usually write themselves for me if they mean anything.

Next Friday 12th October you begin supporting Mark Ronson at Liverpool Academy. Is that something you’re quite looking forward to?

Yeah, I think Mark Ronson’s cool. I’ve been checking out his album and I really like it. I like what he’s done: bringing back that kinda Motown-style of production, especially with the Amy Winehouse stuff. I think that’s fresh. I haven’t actually met him but we shared the same label. I’ll step up to that one – thrash it, that’s what I’ll do!

We’ve talked about the album, but what’s next for Ali Love? Is there anything exciting coming up or are you busy promoting your album at the moment?

To be honest, I live a day at a time and don’t really look into the future that much. When I look into the future all I see is the Apocalypse, Brother...

Speaking of the Apocalypse, apparently you met Cilla Black, didn’t you? Was it a special moment for you?

I blagged it into a Ronnie Wood party. It was meant to be kind of “dressed like gypsies” party. But me and the friends I went with dressed like pikies, so we all went in tracksuits with fake gold teeth; all the girls went with fake babies. So I was looking pretty dodgy when I met her to be honest.

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Artist: Ali Love Title: Love Songs Released: 26/10/1992 Buy Now \| View Details	Artist: Ali Love Title: Big Love Released: 05/06/1995 Buy Now \| View Details

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Ali Love talks Late Night Session
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Ali Love's website
http://www.alilove.co.uk/

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