Christmas is a time for relaxing with friends, for escaping the thoughts and worries that occupy everyday life.
Sparked by a conversation earlier this year, Editors frontman Tom Smith and Andy Burrows (once of Razorlight, now solo) set about recording a series of Christmas related material earlier this year.
Expanding to include some of their hidden influences, ‘Funny Looking Angels’ is a warm, affectionate piece that has a touch of the festive about it. On the phone to Tom Smith, ClashMusic chose to throw a few Christmas related questions at him – read on to find out his thoughts on Brussel sprouts, festive socks and when it’s best to kick off the Christmas shopping…
– – –
What was your favourite Christmas present as a kid?
I do remember getting my first, proper mountain bike. I remember that being hugely exciting! Then I went round and round the garden for the rest of the afternoon. Mountain bikes were the coolest thing in the world, weren’t they? That’s one.
How many gears did it have?
I think – I think – it was 21.
Wolf whistles.
Yeah. Pretty full on stuff. It was a Peugeot one as well which I liked because I thought that made it even cooler.
Were there any stinkers?
Yeah I dunno… even like the crappy socks and bad jumpers that your Gran would always get you… There was a time when Gran gave up actually giving presents and gave us a tenner – she realised that we were fed up with knitwear, I guess. I even quite like those, in a way, I’ve got quite fond memories of even the bad presents. There was a time when she gave up and just gave us a tenner each!
There’s a lot to be said for the Christmas jumper.
Absolutely! Yeah! And you do need socks.
You’re on tour now and that’s notorious for wearing out socks.
Absolutely. Andy’s taking to not wearing shoes onstage – he’s just wearing these enormous Christmas socks with his jeans tucked inside. He’s kind of embraced it and run with it.
Who cooks at home?
Well this year is the first time that people are coming to us so this will be the first time that the responsibility lays on me and my other half, really. Normally we’re at my parents or her parents. This year – yeah, it lies on me and Edith. We’ll probably share it to be honest, since it’s our first time hosting Christmas.
Have you had a dry run yet?
That’s a fucking good idea actually! Just have a run through, a dress rehearsal as it were. With this, I’m pretty busy. So yeah: fingers crossed.
How many people are coming round?
It’s kind of spread over a few days – it’s not all in one. Christmas day will be a small affair, so we’ll just have about four or five people.
Brussell sprouts – food heaven or food hell?
I’m into Brussell Sprouts actually – so heaven. Especially when they’re done up with a little bit of bacon. So heaven, I’m a believer.
A lot of people leave them on the boil for too long.
Yeah. That’s obviously sloppy and horrible. But done well, I’m a believer.
Smith & Burrows ‘Funny Looking Angels’ album by PIAS Entertainment
Did you ever believe in Santa Claus?
No I did believe, yeah. I definitely did. I remember looking out the window late at night, hoping to catch a glimpse of something flying through the sky. I did believe, yeah. I don’t really remember the time when it clicked, when the truth dawned on me. But I do remember believing.
Have you told your son about Santa?
Yeah absolutely. He’s two and a half so this year is the first time he’s been able to understand and get excited. He gets it a little bit more. Definitely. You also use Santa – not as a threat.. But if he’s misbehaving Santa won’t come.
He could get a lump of coal in his stocking.
That is a threat actually, what I’ve just said. I use Santa as a threat!
Were you ever in a nativity play?
I don’t think I did actually. I don’t remember. Maybe I was in another starring role but I can’t remember being in a nativity play at all!
Did you ever do carol singing?
Yeah. When I was a kid I used to play the trumpet. I played the trumpet until I was 15, from about the age of 7 or 8. I was always the guy accompanying the singers in the village where I lived. That was a yearly thing. So I didn’t really sing – I was the hornist!
When did you get into vocals?
Vocals just kind of came along later when I started learning the guitar. When Britpop happened, I was 14 or 15, I put down the trumpet, picked up the guitar and started writing songs.
Have you got a favourite Christmas carol?
I like ‘In The Bleak Midwinter’ – which we’ve got on our record actually. That’s one of our favourites. It’s just a beautiful melody really, it’s one of those things that feels engrained in my being.
They can be quite beautiful.
It’s beautifully bleak as well, to be honest with it. It’s a beautiful thing.
Have you got a favourite Christmas song?
My favourite is The Pogues. It kind of always has been and always will be. I can hear that anytime of the year – it’s one of my favourite songs, really. It just does that thing of… the best Christmas songs show the cracks as well as that communal Christmas cheer. That drunken fight, two people that love each other – I’m a big fan of that song for lots of reasons.
Any others?
I do quite like The Darkness one. I thought that was quite good actually. I do like the theme from the Snowman – it’s wicked but it gets played quite a lot. The Pretenders have got one…
(Andy Burrows in the background) ‘2000 Miles!’.
That’s a great one – good shout Andy!
Have you bought Andy a Christmas present?
I’ve not bought him a Christmas present, no. (To Andy) Have you bought me a Christmas present yet?
(Andy shouts) Yeah!
He’s lying. I’m gonna go with Christmas socks. He’s just brought me a sausage and egg muffin so that’s my Christmas present.
Is it wrapped?
No. I’ve not bought him anything yet. Who knows? Maybe some more socks.
Have you bought the guys in Editors anything?
No. Guys generally don’t buy each other presents, do they? It seems to me that guys don’t do that much. I won’t see them until January now anyway, so no.
Have you got an anniversary? Maybe the anniversary of your first show?
I could do that.
How organised are you with Christmas shopping?
I’m the dude that stresses about it. I’ve been for a preliminary walk around the shops – Regent Street, Oxford Street. I’m the guy who always leaves it too late and worries about it. It annoys me that I can’t get on top of it. What with this, I haven’t had the time anyway. So no, not yet.
Do you get excited by New Year?
I don’t look forward to it. Even if I have gone for a big one, like go to a party or whatever, it’s never as good as you thought it might be. It’s got to the stage now where it’s not something that I look forward to now, really. I’m totally fine staying in and watching telly, to be honest. And it’s fucking hard to get a babysitter too!
– – –
‘Funny Looking Angels’ is out now.
