Interview by Rare FM's Kate Lamble with Andrew Mitchell, lead vocalist and guitarist from The Hazey Janes, (RFM = Rare FM), (AHZ = Andrew, Hazey Janes):

RFM: Lets see if this works, right can you introduce yourself, describe your sound, who you are, what you do etc.?

AHZ: I'm Andrew from The Hazey Janes, how would you describe our sound? Erm, melodic guitar pop very generally, I suppose you could describe it as that.

RFM: Your bio. describes you as a combination of Nick Drake and The Magic Numbers; good description?

AHZ: Not a very accurate description, does it really say that?

RFM: It does really say that.

AHZ: (examines the bio.) That's absolute drivel, no, we don't sound like Nick Drake, we named ourselves after a Nick Drake song because we're big Nick Drake fans, we were listening to a lot of Nick Drake and Fairport Convention at the time we were picking the band name and it just seemed to stand out as two words that went well together. The Magic Numbers reference is kinda an obvious one because it's a current pigeonhole, I suppose; but we're influenced by everything really from folk music, country music to guitar pop.

RFM: If the band was a type of food what would it be?

AHZ: Probably some sort of spread that you don't use very often but when you do use it you go och, (transcription of Scottish exclamation guessed at by interviewer), I forgot how brilliant that was.

RFM: Like Nutella?

AHZ: Maybe not Nutella - more a mustardy mayonnaise type thing, you know?

RFM: Alrighty, fair enough. You were at south by southwest earlier this year how was that? Meet anyone?

AHZ: That was great, it was amazing, we met a bunch of people I don't know if any of your listeners would know, we were singing with Susannah Hobbs and Matthew Streep, she was on after us in our official showcase thing and her band for the evening were the guys from Velvet Crush who we're really big fans of so we got to meet them and that was just incredible, they're so genuine and kind and nice. But you know we did like five shows and after every gig we were dying to get down to the town and go and watch all the bands that were on, it was just incredible.

RFM: So what are your favourite festivals then?

AHZ: Probably not the mainstream ones they've begun to lose their appeal the past few years probably the smaller intimate kinda festivals that cater for families more, not that that's what I'm into, its just that there's more attention to detail and they still have really good acts and in general a better atmosphere, a more welcoming homely atmosphere.

RFM: So do you have an ideal festival line up or anyone you're dying to see live?

AHZ: I wouldn't mind seeing Guided By Voices live, but that's too late they're sadly no longer going, God, there are lots - get back to me on that one.

RFM: Ok, you recorded the new record in Spain how was that, different from over here?

AHZ: Well obviously it was Spain and not Scotland, but yeah it was great we were in south west Spain on the outskirts of el Puerto de Santa Maria we were working with a guy called Paco Loco who has done hundreds of indie bands in Spain and he's done the new Josh Rouse album the Golden Smog album loads of others as well. It was a really concentrated effort we were there for two, three weeks and recorded fifteen songs in eleven days, it was just a great experience, we got to work with John Agnello who came over from New York and mixed it; he's done stuff like Dinosaur Jr., The Kills, Iggy Pop again loads and loads of different people so that was great to meet him as well.

RFM: If you were on Ready Steady Cook would you be a green pepper or a red tomato?

AHZ: Green pepper.

RFM: Any particular reason?

AHZ: I prefer peppers; I prefer the yellow pepper though. I am a bit of a pepper addict actually.

RFM: Your opinions on the worst facial hair in pop? We were thinking The Fratellis were quite good at the moment.
AHZ: Actually I'm a fan of facial hair I mean I can't really grow any properly but I am quite a fan of the handlebar moustache. In general any facial hair is ok with me but (thinks) who's got a really bad tash? I dunno, I guess the worst tash in history has to be Adolf Hitler's coz of the nature of the man I suppose.

RFM: This is your third tour this year are you tired of it or loving it?

AHZ: It's good and we're visiting new places as well which is good.

RFM: Any favourite places?

AHZ: Shetland was good, London and I loved Manchester.

RFM: We recently read an article saying Will Young was the president of pop; who would you have as the rest of the cabinet?

AHZ: He's the president of pop?

RFM: According to this article.

AHZ: Wow. Well if we're scraping the bottom of the barrel with Will Young then probably people like Shakira. Beyonce would definitely have to be in there coz she's definitely better than any of the feeble cretins of pop.

RFM: Would she have any particular position?

AHZ: She would just be in charge of them all I think and eventually fire them. It would probably be her Kylie, Rachel Stevens, Jamelia, the Sugababes and there wouldn't be a guitar in sight.

RFM: So what are your plans for the rest of the year; new singles coming out?

AHZ: Well we've got a demo single that's out on Monday has a couple of interesting B sides you should check that out, we wrap up the tour then we go and open our Christmas presents to find coal and then we're gonna work on a new record at the start of next year.

RFM: Are you coming back to London if people like you can they come and see you?

AHZ: Yes they can see us very soon, they can see us at The Borderline on the 18th and at Club Metro on the 2nd - come along to that I've no idea what it'll be like but we'll be there doing our thing.

Rare FM would like to thank The Hazey Janes for their time.