London Grammar: ‘We still don’t get recognised in public’

Band tell NME they can remain anonymous despite headlining festivals

London Grammar have revealed that they don’t get recognised in public, despite the success of their debut album ‘If You Wait’.

Since its release in 2013, ‘If You Wait’ has reached No 2 in the UK and been certified platinum, while the Nottingham band have been nominated for British Breakthrough at the 2014 Brit Awards and won the Best Song Musically And Lyrically prize at the Ivor Novello Awards for their single ‘Strong’.

The trio also headline Festival No 6 this weekend (September 5-7) alongside Pet Shop Boys and Beck, but say they are able to be left alone in public.

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Singer Hannah Reid told NME: “We don’t get recognised. We’re not a band in the spotlight. I’m glad of that, because I get terrible stage fright about singing in public.”

Reid explained she was slowly getting more used to playing live, adding: “I’m so much better than I was about being on stage, but my legs still turn to jelly before I go up there. I think it has a beneficial impact, because it pushes me into trying to be as perfect as I can be at every show.”

The singer also said she is becoming more confident as a lyricist as the band prepare their second album. Reid said: “My new lyrics will be less introverted than on ‘If You Wait’. I’ve become more confident, and that will be reflected in the new songs.”

Reid went on: “The album hasn’t really got started yet, as we’re on the road so much. We need to be in a room together to really get going on it. All I can say about the new songs is that they’ll involve some singing, some guitar and some production. It’s around that ballpark.”

The band spoke to NME after winning the Independent Breakthrough and PPL Most Played Independent New Act prizes at the 2014 AIM Awards last night (September 2). Guitarist Dan Rothman said: “Being independent is really important for us. Ministry Of Sound is obviously a large label by independent standards, but they allow us to make the music we want. There’s less pressure than if we were signed to a major. Indie labels put the time and care in to develop artists, and you could see that at the awards.”

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