Interviewing is rough for me given my severe social anxiety and my crippling shyness. It has always bugged me. I love talking to people at shows but as soon as you put that formal “interview” word on it, I freak out. The one plus to the ongoing pandemic is that in-person interviews are not really an option so I’m able to do everything via e-mail. I’m hoping this will help me get more comfortable with in-person interviews when the time comes but, for now, it has been so much fun learning so much about bands that I’m both familiar with and that are completely foreign to me.

Fondness falls into that category of being completely foreign to me. I know nothing about them but woke up to an email from them asking for some coverage on their new EP. Of course, I said yes but also took them up on their offer for an interview. I thought it would be fun to do the interview before even taking a listen to the EP so here you have it. Some random questions with Tom Darwent of the UK-based Fondness!

Everyone says that every crowd is their favorite but, what city/country has the best audience and why is it Minneapolis?
I hope my answer can be Minneapolis someday; but for now I can only speak from experience so at the moment I’ll say our hometown: Sheffield in the UK.

Fondness are yet to play a show as of yet, though. Hopefully, that differs with the ease of lockdown, but we’ll see.

What’s a new hobby you have taken up during quarantine? If no hobby, is there a random TV show that you binged/ have a very strong opinion on?
I’ve often meandered. I’ve done lots of silly sketches. At the start of it all, I got a bit lovestruck with thick-cut marmalade but after a tumultuous couple of weeks, we decided to go our separate ways for a bit – I guess since then I’ve been trying to fill a preservative shaped hole in my life (and with stinkin’ luck!)

What’s your go-to coffee order?
Without doubt, a flat white from Tamper in Sheffield; preferably served by the marvelous Bob with the fantastic hair.

If you could compare yourself to an animal, what would it be and why?  
I’m not sure… something fairly harmless. Maybe a Sheep or something? I can think of worse things to do than stand in a woolen coat in the middle of the countryside with your only intention being to graze.

Are you okay with unconventional interview questions? (too late!)
Yeah!

Did Matt Skiba help or hurt Blink 182? Or, if you have no opinion, that’s fine too (although I’ll absolutely be judging you)!
I don’t envy the man who’s tasked with replicating Tom DeLonge’s nasally groans, but as it goes, I think they could’ve done worse than Matt.

I’ll go with helped, but I still maintain that Tom DeLonge is blessed with the most iconic voice in pop-punk and that Enema Of The State is a bonified classic.

Worst show experience ever?
As a goer, I saw riot grrl legends The Slits support The Cribs about 10 years ago. The crowd, full of dicks, boo-ed and threw projectiles from the getgo – it was shit! They still managed to squeeze ‘Typical Girls’ in amongst the ruckus, though, so I can’t complain too much.

Favorite lyrics of all time? (it can be a full song, a phrase, etc. just please let me know who it is and what song!)
Very difficult, but the first song to spring to mind is ‘Outdoor Miner’ by Wire, so I’ll go with that one.

If you were to rob a bank, what would be the song playing in the getaway car as you escape?  
Born To Be Wild by Steppenwolf, of course!

What’s the point in robbing a bank if that’s not on the stereo as you’re speeding away?

What’s your favorite frozen pizza?
Sainsbury’s margarita. Everyone blasts on about Dr. Oetker’s Ristorane pizzas but the cheese to tomato sauce ratio is way off. Trust me, I know, I’m an expert on this.

What is your dream concert line-up on a show where you guys would play but you can’t have any bands in the same genre on the bill with you?
In no particular order: Amenra, The Carpenters, African Headcharge, and The Mahavishnu Orchestra.

We’d be on first, obviously.

What’s one thing I should know before listening to ‘Western Approaches’?  
We’re already working on EP2! 

So, not only do I now have to go to the UK to try out Sainsbury’s margarita pizza and grab a coffee from Bob at Tamper (and check out his marvelous hair), I also am super excited to check out ‘Western Approaches’ from Fondness. If you don’t want to wait until I pull it together and get a review done, feel free to check out this new EP with the links below and make sure to show Fondness some love while you’re doing so!

Check out the first single from ‘Western Approaches’ HERE!

Check out Fondness on Facebook HERE!

Check out Fondness on Instagram HERE!

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