FARIS Badwan is more than half-an-hour late to our meeting. When he does arrive, he dashes in, full of apologies and promises to talk really quickly to make up for lost time. Normally, the punctuality, or lack thereof, of a singer in a widely-acclaimed band, can be put down to the fact that they are, indeed, a singer in a widelyacclaimed band.

Badwan, however, has a more practical reason. He and musician girlfriend Rachel Zeffira – with whom he writes and records as duo Cat’s Eyes – have just moved house, and he lost track of time unpacking boxes.

“We’re putting our studio back together,” he says, catching his breath. “I’ve had worse house moves, but it’s really important to get the studio back up – it’s where we spend so much of our time.”

The band he fronts, The Horrors, are currently on tour. Since their fourth album, Luminous, was released in May, they’ve barely stopped, performing at festivals all over Europe.

“We’re not rehearsing as such,” says Kent-born Badwan, “but we are really concentrating our efforts on the production. It looks pretty cool at the moment and we’re trying new things, which is good. The last time we toured, for Skying (the band’s third album, released in 2011), some people said our light show made them feel sick, so we’re not sure what to do now.”

Since forming in 2005, the band began playing gigs whenever they could, sometimes five in a week.

“All in London, which doesn’t really seem that wise when I think back,” says Badwan, 27.

Nevertheless, it worked, and by the time their debut, Strange House, was released in 2007, their slightly wonky brand of gothic garage was the most talked-about music in the country.

It wasn’t for everyone, however, and by the time second album, Primary Colours, came about two years later, the leap in their songwriting and performance skills was clear for all to see. A similar step forward was made with Skying, which brought 1980s synthpop to the party. Reviews at the time would have you believe the band had gone through a giant transformation, but Badwan thinks the seeds of their current sound were there all along.

“I don’t think it’s been the sea of change that some people would like to believe,” he says. “It’s just exploring and discovery. I’m not frustrated about it, it is what it is. I mean, look, half the population think the Royal family are lizards, so I think we get off pretty lightly in the grand scale of misconceptions.

“You can’t ever have a clear idea of what you’re doing with your music, because you’re in it and involved, so to an extent, you do rely on other people’s opinions.”

They also pay attention to crowd reaction when they’re touring.

Despite the grand, giant scale of their more recent recordings, Badwan says their songs were always written with the express intention of playing them live in front of people, and that by the end of a tour, one might completely change from how it started out.

“For us, it’s always been capturing that spark of spontaneity, it’s essential for what makes our songs work. Sea Within A Sea, from our second album, is so different when we play it now from the original recording, it’s almost a new song. But that’s what’s exciting, and one of the best things about being in this band.”

On the future he says, “I think we are very ambitious, but I don’t think we’ve ever been willing to compromise to get there, it just doesn’t work. It’s hard enough to finish a record as it is, so trying to make it to please someone else, would make it nearly impossible.”

Away from The Horrors, Badwan paints and sketches and is currently planning another exhibition of his work. He and Zeffira have just completed what will be their second album, and the soundtrack to Peter Strickland’s forthcoming film The Beginning Of Spring.

“Hopefully next year will be a big year,” he says. “There are lots of things that I’ve been working on for a while that are coming to a head. I lost a sketchbook in a cab recently, so that set me back a bit, but I’ve been painting outside of that, and although it’s very sad I lost it, I do think, every now and again, you need to clear the decks.”

There may well be another Horrors album next year, just as soon as they play the rescheduled European and American tour dates they had to postpone this year.

“Playing in the States is one of my favourite things to do. We’ve been over seven or eight times and I would live there if I could, or certainly spend all year touring and going round in a big circle. I really love it.”

  • Thursday, September 25, West Denton Riverside, Newcastle