Rock And Roll Mom And Dad
At Home With Amelia and Rob of Tender Trap
>>INTERVIEW BY Jackson Ellis >>PIC by alison wonderland

Though a band steadily gaining a buzz in 2006, the members of Tender Trap are veterans of the indie rock scene. Tender Trap began in 2001 with Amelia Fletcher, Rob Pursey, and an idea — to simply record two-minute songs without excessive choruses, and never to play live. Eventually, plans changed, and in 2002, Amelia and Rob’s former band mate from Marine Research, John Stanley, joined the band to help create rhythm tracks and play bass on their first album (Film Molecules) and first three singles. For their second album, Tender Trap decided to return to the sound of some proper drums, and were joined by Claudia Gonson of Magnetic Fields.

“We are primarily gooey-eyed fans of [Magnetic Fields],” explains Amelia. “But they are also friends. And now Claudia has also become an honorary member of Tender Trap, playing drums and singing backing vocals on our new album.” This latest album, Talking Backwards, was released in early 2006 on Matinée Recordings.

Amelia and Rob took the time to speak with me about the latest album, as well as the trials and joys of being “rock and roll parents.”

What is your relationship like with Magnetic Fields? How did they convince you to scrap your “no live shows” rule in 2002 to play shows with them?
Amelia: We are primarily gooey-eyed fans of theirs. But they are also friends. And now Claudia has also become an honorary member of Tender Trap, playing drums and singing backing vocals on our new single and album.
Rob: Our “no live shows” rule was conceived mainly because I was getting too lazy to carry a bass amp into a venue. And because, as proper indies, we are getting shyer as we get older. The Magnetic Fields offered to protect us and guaranteed an audience of mild and gentle people.

You’ve played in a lot of different countries—which stands out as your favorite place to play? Do you have plans to tour this summer, namely in the US?
Rob: My favorite place was Spain.
Amelia: You only like Spain because of all the delicious tiny fishes they serve as tapas.
Rob: Yes. That is true. But I am also fond of my meals being smothered and covered so I am keen on more American dates. The main problem for us is that if we play abroad we have to work out what to do with our two small children. They aren’t yet strong enough to carry bass amps, so have to be left behind. We’ll play in the US if we can find a very versatile babysitter. I’d really like to play in Portland and in New York. Those were my favorite gigs when we played there as Heavenly and Marine Research.

Is the songwriting process collaborative, or is their one primary songwriter for the band? Can you explain a bit of the songwriting process?
Amelia: It varies. In past bands I have been a bit of a songwriting dictator. But in Tender Trap it is more democratic. Sometimes it is completely collaborative, with Rob and I sharing the writing of both words and music, which is something I don’t think either of us have ever done before. But I think those songs tend to work the best.
Rob: My favorite songs are the ones where I genuinely can’t remember who worked out which bit.

How did you get involved with Matinee Recordings?
Rob: Jimmy Tassos offered us his body.
Amelia: We are still convinced that Jimmy is going to be the next president of the United States, and it seemed sensible to be in with the powerful guys.
Rob: Actually, it is because we were both in Sportique – and Jimmy released all those LPs and singles. His label is a labor of love, I think. But a very well-run labor of love. Like all the great indie labels you get a strong sense of one person wanting to make there be more good records in the world, without really caring what the rest of the world thinks
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Amelia, are you still performing with Sportique? I haven’t heard anything regarding that band in a while…
Amelia: We were both in Sportique. But we had to leave when the two small beings came along. We just don’t have enough time to work, parent, and be in more than one band.
Rob: Sportique have just started playing gigs again. In fact, we’re going to go and see them play in Brixton in a few days’ time.

Amelia and Rob, I read that you had a baby around the same time that your last single “Sperm Meets Egg…So What?” was released. How do you manage juggling your lives as parents and traveling musicians, and what do you suggest to couples who are also musicians, and may find themselves in your position?
Amelia: Find a good “rock nanny” who is happy to tour with you. And then lend her to us!
Rob: Consider contraception.
Amelia: Actually, “Sperm Meets Egg….So What” is a pretty old song. I’m still kind of hoping that our kids will never hear it, because they might feel a bit unwanted…
Rob: God, we’d better not let them read this interview either.
Amelia: We’re safe. Dora can only read “pig,” “dog,” and “Dora” so far. So as long as we don’t mention those words she won’t have any interest in this.

In an interview with UK online magazine Tasty (Dec. 2005), Rob commented that “The Film Molecules LP was nearly all recorded digitally at home.” Do you prefer the control of home recording over studio recording? What are some of the benefits of DIY recording?
Amelia: Having your cat help mix the record (by accident).
Rob: Being able to listen to your latest mix as soon as you get up in the morning. But then it’s a curse, because you fiddle with songs endlessly. That LP is probably over-fiddled with.
Amelia: In fact, the new album (6 Billion People) was mostly recorded in a studio again.
Rob: It was great to have proper drums again.

Anything you’d like to add? Summer plans, future albums, etc?
Rob: The main plan is find a way of recording all the new half-finished songs that are in our heads.
Amelia: And to eat more tapas.
Rob: And not to have any more children.

Visit Tender Trap on the web at www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~queenb/tt/