Out of hibernation: You Want Fox is Back!

For LeftLion readers who aren’t yet foxy fans, could you tell us more about the band, how and when you formed, and your musical influences?

Colette: We are a two-piece band - bass and drums - formed in 2015, with catchy vocal hooks and melodies that WILL get stuck in your head. 
Natalie: We have a ton of musical influences between us and we often write songs as a result of something that has inspired us - such as a film, a chant, something someone shouted in the street… The ideas come from all over!
C: Just lately I’ve been listening to a lot of Ice Nine Kills and Saint Agnes so maybe that’ll influence the next song we write. 
N: I’ve recently been listening to a lot of soul music by Otis Redding, O.V. Wright, and Labi Siffre. That said, I’ve had CRANK by Slayyyter on repeat, and Fiona Apple is never far from my playlist.

You’ve played together since long before You Want Fox formed… How has your musical history together helped you navigate today’s music scene? 

C: Our aim is always to have fun and enjoy ourselves, which happens anyway as we always have a great laugh whenever we get together. 
N: I think having a positive attitude to life and making sure you’re doing the things you love is what helps us all navigate through most things. 

After your all-girl punk group, The Smears, disbanded, what inspired you both to keep making music? 

C: We weren't ready to stop making music! 
N: We both had a mutual love of quirky pop and electro bands (and similar guilty pleasure bands and artists…) so we decided to form a band where we could draw on some of those influences - but put our own grungy-punk, distorted spin on it. 
C: And that’s how You Want Fox was born!

Around 2019 you both toured in LA. What was that like? How did California crowds compare to Notts ones? 

C: They were great - but so are our Notts crowds! 
N: The gigs over there are always well attended - people who make sure to support their local scene.
C: We think, more than anything, they just wanted to hear our accents, haha! 

You’ve been on hiatus for a while, is your dynamic as a band any different since coming back together? 

C: We don’t think it ever really changed - we’re best friends outside of the band, so we’re always in touch and catching up.
N: We always know what the other is thinking when we’re in a practice room or on stage. And we’ve always said that we will only do this for as long as we are enjoying it and it’s making us happy. So we’re here because we love it and we always have a laugh, which has always been our dynamic. 

What can we expect from your comeback performance – songs inspired by your punk-rock roots? A rediscovery of your electro-pop style? Or something different?

C: The new songs we have written so far are unmistakably You Want Fox…
N: They still have all the catchy vocal hooks and harmonies. 

When LeftLion spoke with you both back in 2016, Colette’s ultimate ‘bad girl’ icon was Gwen Stefani, and Natalie’s was M.I.A. – nowadays, who is your favourite Notts-based ‘bad girl’ icon?

C: Anna Wheelhouse is doing some pretty badass murals around Nottingham! She’s basically prettying up the place with the most incredible art work and just at a glance you can tell that it is her work. That’s pretty ‘bad girl’ if you ask me… (I still love Gwen I.D.S.T.)
N: Sophie Johnson-Hill founded Sojo Animation. My son attended her online workshop that taught him to design and animate his own character - he loved it! I also adore the illustrations by Emily Catherine; I love watching her videos from the start of a piece, to the finish.

Which of your songs do you think is most unapologetic, and really ‘sticks it to the man’?

C: That’s gotta be Ex-Boyfriend!
N: If you’ve been to any of our shows, you’ll know there are some extra lyrics that are sung live to that track - and with lots of help from the audience, which is amazing! But I won’t say them here, in case kiddies are reading this…

With streaming, A.I, and other factors, making things difficult for grassroots artists today, how do you guys see the importance of supporting live and local gigs?

C: It is sooooo important! A lot of time, money and effort goes into being in a band.

N: Then there’s the promoters putting on the gigs, putting in their time and effort - and sometimes their own money as well!
C: And we can’t forget the venues - there are too many amazing venues closing down across the country, week in week out, due to financial pressures and the huge cost of living at the moment.
N: We all need to support our local scene wherever we can, otherwise we’ll lose it and the world would be a very dull and sad place without live music.

Pre-gig, or post-performance, what women-owned spots in Notts are you most excited to hit up?

C: Recently I went to La Fleur on Bridlesmith Gate and had the best chocolate orange cake - I definitely recommend it!
N: I would have to agree!

After all this excitement, we’re all wanting more Fox! Is there anything upcoming for the band you’d like to mention?

C: Our next gig is upstairs at Billy Bootleggers on International Women’s Day.
N: We’re playing alongside Hystamine and there will also be a fierce femme-rock cabaret and burlesque performance by Widow’s Rock n Rollium, so it’s gonna be a fun night! 

Catch the show by You Want Fox at Widow’s Rock n Rollium on Sunday 8 March at Billy Bootleggers

@YouWantFox