With summer – supposedly – around the corner, a new soundtrack is most definitely required. Luckily, Anteros are here and more than capable of filling any musical void. This female-fronted, upbeat four-piece are a shiny slice of Brit Pop 2.0, and set for mighty big things. Seamlessly straddling a line between the feisty familiarity of Garbage, The Cardigans and The Cure, and the kick and speed of modern riffs – their sound is as infectious as it is intelligent. As they prepare to open the Other stage at Glastonbury Festival next weekend, we caught up with Laura, Josh, Harry and Charles to discuss ’90s nostalgia, style and eggs…

You’ve said that your name – Anteros – was inspired by the namesake statue in the middle of Piccadilly Circus. Do you define your sound as a particularly British one?
We’d like to think there’s elements of British sound. But with Laura being half Spanish (she grew up in Spain) and Charles being French, it was never going to be purely British.

Bands such as The Cure, The Cardigans and Blur have been mentioned as favourites of yours before – what is it about those artists that you love and draw from?
We love the balance of happy and sad in The Cure’s songs. When it comes to Blur, we love their intensity, attitude and honesty. We find The Cardigans’ ’90s aesthetic is spot on, especially for a female-fronted band.

Your sound has a distinctly ’90s feel – was that a conscious decision? As that’s obviously a key trend in both music and fashion right now?
It was never intentional! Being children of the ’90s, I guess it’s just been a big part of who we are.

Is style an important part of your band image?
Laura: It’s a necessary consideration for anyone (last we checked on stage nudity is still frowned upon). In terms of video, I’m often more flamboyant – but I still like to juxtapose stylised shots with more honest, natural tints. In terms of the live show – we focus our performance towards the delivery – and that leaves me no time to worry about tripping over cables in 10-inch heels… So I avoid them and go for whatever allows me to perform freely.

How would you describe what you wear to perform? Does it differ to every day life?
Laura: Definitely not for the guys (as much as they’d like to wear PJs on stage). I’m still finding my feet and I’m having fun experimenting with different outfits. Each gig/venue kind of inspires different outfits, so essentially it comes down to just dressing for the occasion. The one thing I always stand by is a big jacket, as it is important to feel strong and comfortable before we go on stage. I want the focus to be on music and lyrics…not on my stage outfits.

Would you say you look to the past, present or future for the majority of your references?
We love listening to – as well as supporting – new music. This said, the majority of our references come from the past. We imagine what they would sound like if they were to be released in this day and age. We aim to be a part of the sound of the future – not copycats of the present.

What was the first album you ever bought?
Josh: ‘OK Computer’ – Radiohead
Laura: ‘Spice’ – Spice Girls
Harry: ‘Stadium Arcadium’ – Red Hot Chilli Peppers
Charles: ‘Meteora’ – Linkin Park

When did you decide that making music was going to be your proper job?
Josh: At around 18, when everything else that I ever tried made me feel flat and uninspired.
Laura: I’d been longing for it since before I can even remember, but I don’t think it was until we signed our publishing deal that it felt like a reality.
Charles: I decided when I was about 15 or 16. I’d just seen MJ’s ‘This Is It’, and I’d made it to the final round of an international guitar contest.
Harry: I can’t remember ever wanting to do anything else, but when I started studying it full time when I was 16 I began to learn that it was a possibility and how I would go about it

Are there any aspects of working in the music industry that surprised you? Good or bad?
If you operate with a sense of expectancy, you always get burnt at some point. Music is very demanding of time, energy and emotion. It requires pretty much every bit of yourself that you have or are willing to offer. There are so many different stages to it. If you make music, it’s gotta be because of how it makes you feel – and these days, you’ve got to be willing to get involved in every step of the process.

Laura, which other front women do you admire?
There are so many I admire, past & present. From Chrissie Hynde, Stevie Nicks, Patti Smith and Janis Joplin – to Alison Mosshart, Kim Gordon, Annie Lennox & Gwen Stefani – to Ellie Roswell and Hannah Reid. The list is endless.

Is there ever any differential treatment between Laura and the rest of the band? Pressure to be sexy for example?
Laura: Not more than other bands. I like to think we’re at a point where sexiness is not demanded of you just because you’re a woman. Yeah, I’m a girl, and yeah – I’m a front woman. But I get the same treatment – we all share rooms on tour, everyone helps, and nobody feels like anyone is treated any differently. Everyone has the same level of respect and trust with each other, regardless of gender. In our videos, any “sexiness” is not a statement of eroticism – but one of expectations, society, and freedom of expression.

You recently changed labels – was there a particular reason for that?
Labels have given us the means to distribute our music to a broader audience, and Regal were happy to release our first EP. It’s still early days, so single deals seem like the way forward until it’s time to think about an album.

Your video for ‘Breakfast’ is a wonderfully kitsch experience – how was the process of making it?
I sent an inspiration image of this girl laying on the kitchen floor (she was covered in eggs), and it all kind of spiralled from there. We were so lucky to find an awesome team in Fainche McCardle and directors James & James – who helped make the vision a reality.

What’s your favourite music video of all time?
Josh: ‘The Scientist’ – Coldplay
Laura: ‘Coffee & TV’ – Blur
Harry: ‘Lonely Boy’ – Black Keys
Charles: ‘Rock My World’ – MJ

What should fans expect from your performances this summer?
Full of energy – we just want to give the crowd a good time.

When can we expect an album?
Expect another single before we start discussing an album.

For further info on releases, tour dates and the band themselves visit Anterosofficial.com

Tags: Anteros, Blur, Glastonbury, The Cardigans, The Cure