Pale Waves: On being groomed for greatness

Throughout the decades of Hot Press predicting the latest next big thing, few acts have seemed as certain to make a massive impact in the mainstream as Manchester’s Pale Waves.

Groomed for greatness by The 1975’s Matt Healy (he co-produced their first two singles, directed their video for ‘Television Romance’, and took them out on a global tour), loved by pretty much everyone – even former Man City manager Peter Reid rather randomly tweeted his adoration for the four-piece recently – and now in the top five of the BBC’s Sound Of 2018 poll, the alt-pop bunch are making all the right tongues wag. When we met up with the band’s singer/guitarist/all round star in waiting Heather Baron-Gracie, she tells us that she’s trying to take all the acclaim in her stride.

“You can get a bit overwhelmed by it all,” she offers. “It’s hard not to feel pressure, as the likes of the Sound Of 2018 is such a big deal.” Currently in full-on promo mode for the March-released EP All The Things I Never Said, Heather tells us to expect lots of new music from the band in 2018.

“We just stopped recording for our debut album about two days ago, so everything’s very fresh,” she notes. “I’ve not really held anything back on the new stuff, and I’ve covered a lot of issues and subjects I’ve haven’t touched on before.”

Pencilled in for an August release date, we ask Heather if she had any second thoughts about being so open with her lyrics.

“It’s sort of like a diary that you’re giving someone else to read, isn’t it? I normally don’t like talking about things... music for me is my way to escape and run away from problems. It is quite terrifying laying myself bare. You’re pouring out your heart, but you’re not just pouring it out for somebody else – you’re pouring it out for the whole world to be able to listen to, and that’s scary. As I said earlier though, I don’t dwell on it too much, as I’ll go out of my mind!”

Luckily for Heather, she’s got a famous friend in the form of Matt Healy to confide in when the pressure of being in a promising band gets all too much. She tells us she’d love Pale Waves to match the success of The 1975.

“I’d love for us to match or better their success!” she enthuses. “I want us to be the biggest we can be; we want to seep into everybody’s hearts. I’ve always said we’re a pop band, I don’t mind that label. If you don’t like pop then there’s something wrong with you.

“Matt is very similar to me in terms of enthusiasm. It’s been great becoming friends with him, because we share similar interests and aims to be the biggest band in the world.”

World domination has already started for Pale Waves, as anyone who has witnessed the growing army of Heather lookalikes at their gigs last year will attest. How does she feel about people adopting her goth and metal-informed look?

“It’s a bit strange for me looking into the audience and seeing little mini-Heathers, but it’s very sweet,” she replies. “It kinda feels like a cult, almost. It’s like the Pale Waves cult, full of little goth girls and boys!”

The cult is sure to grow on Irish soil too, with the band shortly to arrive on these shores.

“I wish I was Irish, I’m very jealous of your accent,” says Heather, who is apparently quite the charmer. “It is the best accent though, isn’t it? I’m actually half-Scottish, so my dad’s gonna be like ‘EXCUSE ME?’ when he reads this (laughs). We can’t wait to come back over!”
Pale Waves play The Grand Social, Dublin on January 31.