Adult DVD On Debut Album And Leaning Even Further Into Dance Music

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We chat to Adult DVD frontman Harry Hanson as he runs through several tracks from their debut self-titled album, out this Friday

Ahead of their upcoming Autumn album tour, we sat down with Harry from Adult DVD to discuss all things lighting, Aldi and cowboys.

Their new album is ordinary concepts and frustrations moulded into fantasy, combined with the Leeds electro-boom and excessively indulgent sets that have rubbed off on the band. Audiences should look forward to catching a set on their Autumn tour, cowboy hats optional.

Below, Harry talks us through some of the tracks from their self-titled debut album, out on Friday 25th September via Fat Possum Records.

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So talk me through the new album, out on September 25th.

We wrote the album over a year while we were on the road playing shows, meaning we got to test stuff out pretty quickly. Then we produced everything and recorded ourselves in two weeks. Mainly tracking the drums and the vocals, so most of the time we used to mess about with production stuff and really push our skills.

Did you experience any bias with self-producing?

It goes back to the studio process – by the time we got into the studio we knew what we were aiming for, so we got to be clever in the final record. Danny (guitar, synths) works at Nave studios and mixed some, Jake (synths) mixed half as well – they smashed it. It was nice to watch them work on it, and they didn’t have many arguments. The EP that came before (‘Next Day Shipping’) was also recorded there. Before that it was tracking in someone’s flat’s basement – the neighbours were not happy.

Is there an order to the twelve tracks?

We wanted the album to reflect the live set, starting off guitar-leaning and indie, by the end transitioning into full dance music mode. We’ve only ever done singles or EPs, so it was nice to lean into the dance side and explore those boundaries.

Will the venues reflect the transition to more club focused music?

Yes, and the set will change too. We’re more conscious now of lighting, I’ve watched videos back of previous sets and it’s like the big lights on – pretty lifeless. So we’ll definitely build up the set design more in our October/November tour in the UK and Europe. Hopefully we’ll be able to bring a lighting engineer for some shows. Before it was all running on luck, now we can take our time and plan.

What are some of the highlights from your busy summer season?

Green Man was one of our favourite shows, it was so busy and it felt like a big click. We’re looking forward to playing Scala in London, then Copenhagen in November. It’s places like that which we all wanted to go on holiday to anyway! Cheaper this way.

Let’s take a deep dive into some of the songs featured on the new album. What’s the story behind ‘Cowboy on Aisle Three’?

The whole album is made up stories, about people we know, though they’d never figure it out. We’re not very confrontational – we want to slag them off in the songs. The song came from being in Aldi up the road, I couldn’t be assed doing the big shop, I thought “God, if only I was a cowboy I wouldn’t have to do this.“

And track ‘Jesus Christ Supercar’?

That’s the opposite of an older song ‘Do Something’, which was about wanting to try everything just to do it. Whereas the new one is about someone who always makes excuses instead of accepting help and being proactive. Definitely written from a place of frustration.

What about the final track ‘Rolling Face’?

It’s about a guy that works in recruitment. In my head he’s mid-twenties and goes on a night out, loses his mates and ends up in a casino on drugs. Losing his mind and his money. Again, no idea where it comes from but it just pops into my head. My notes app is full to the brim of similar ideas. I think I’d get sectioned if people read it. Greg (synth, vocals) does it too. It’s just mundane life, not much happens in Leeds, so it’s easy to live in a sketch show in your head.

Leeds does however have some great grassroots venues – do you have any favourites?

Brudenell is the best venue in the world, there’s no place like it. Cheap as well.

Debut album ‘Adult DVD’ is out on 25th September via Fat Possum Records.

Listen to the singles here:

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Catch Adult DVD at the following:

OCT 
3 – UK, Darwen – Neotribe, Sunbird Records 
13 – UK, Cardiff, Club Ifor Bach !
14 – UK, Bristol, Thekla !
16 – UK, Sheffield, Crookes Social Club ^
17 – UK, Birmingham, Future Days Festival 
18 – UK, Cambridge, Mash ^
19 – UK, Oxford, Bullingdon ^
22 – UK, Nottingham, Rescue Rooms *
23 – UK, Glasgow, King Tuts *
24 – UK, Newcastle, The Grove *
27 – UK, Brighton, Chalk ^
28 – UK, London, Scala ~ *
30 – UK, Leeds, Project House % ~ *
31 – UK, Manchester, Gorilla ^

NOV
5 – Iceland, Reykjavic – Iceland Airwaves Festival
6 – France, Paris – Le Chinois
8 – France, Lille – Aeronef
10 – Belgium, Brussels – Botanique
11 – Haldern Pop Bar, Haldern, Germany
12 – Netherlands, Amsterdam – Tolhuistuin
13 – German, Hamburg – Betty
14 – Denmark, Copenhagen – Loppen
16 – Cafe V Lese, Prague, Czech
17 – Germany, Berlin – Kantine Am Berghain
19 – Merlin, Nijmegen, Netherlands
20 – Vera, Groningen, Netherlands
25 – Ireland, Dublin – The Grand Social
26 – Ireland, Ulster, – Sports Club
27 – Ireland, Galway – Róisín Dubh
29 – Ireland, Limerick – Dolans

Supports 
! Turnspit
^ Lttl Mort
* Kiosk
~  Group A.D.
% Silverwingkiller

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