Hello Sunshines: The Return of Los Campesinos!

Greetings Los Campesinos! We've learnt to spell your name now finally, you'll be glad to know. So how was Spain?

Spain was wonderful thank you, we felt very privileged to be able to record an album in the same place Shakira had once laid down some tracks. It was an absolutely beautiful location as well, all sun dappled leaves and flowery walks, we utilised the countryside by sitting on our bottoms a lot, either tracking songs in dark rooms or lazing about with the occasional game of table tennis.

It was, as ever, a joy to work with John Goodmanson again, one of the nicest men in music as well as being an exceptionally talented producer.

Hello Sadness by Los Campesinos!

Did you occasionally stop recording to take a siesta?

There was a lot of general sitting around when we weren't recording, lots of fannying around on the internet, sunbathing and watching the Masterchef final... but we did work in between all that! Well, John Goodmanson (producer) and Tom did pretty much non stop, although we all liked going for little swims and walks every now and again.

We all also ate a lot of food and Jason and Neil prepared increasingly impressive meals one night, which was topped by Robs attempts to cook a lobster.

What did you learn about the Spanish character while you were in Girona?

We learnt the food is much better then our own, which we may have suspected anyway...we worked with two lovely studio engineers who were incredibly relaxed and friendly, but other then that we didnt have much time to get out and integrate ourselves within the community, although I did get offered a lift in a tractor one morning by a local farmer. I politely declined.

The record is called Hello Sadness, which sounds like a reflection of SFA's Hello Sunshine. Either way - is it a melancholy record?

I guess it is, but as with most records there is a whole mixture of emotions on display. There are of course moments of melancholy, but at the same time there are moments of bitterness, anger etc... It documents the break up of a relationship so kind of reflects the whole smorgasbord of emotions that go along with that, which as anyone can attest to our multiple, varying and ever changing.

What do you think is the greatest sad song of all time?

I have a soft spot for Tina Turners "What's Love Got to Do With It." She's a pretty amazing lady.



We thought Heat Rash 1 was a great idea, and a fun read too. Where did the idea come from to create a zine and what are you trying to achieve with it?

Thank you! The idea came from our collective brains. There are quite a few of us in the band (many journalists have pointed this out) and its difficult to fit everyone's varying talents within the template/confines of the band format so it seemed like a good idea to utilise these abilities to give a little extra something to do the fans.

Basically we wanted to take advantage of Robs artistic skills, and make something which was a little different, a little special and people could look fondly back on in years to come.

HELLO SADNESS IS OUT ON 14 NOVEMBER

LOS CAMPESINOS! ON TOUR:

NOVEMBER //

7 // LONDON, Kings College - SOLD OUT
8 // BRIGHTON, The Haunt
9 // CARDIFF, The Globe (16+)
10 // GLASGOW, Oran Mor
11 // LEEDS, The Cockpit
16 // NEW YORK, Bowery Ballroom
17 // BROOKLYN, Music Hall Of Williamsburg
18 // PHILADELPHIA, Union Transfer
19 // WASHINGTON DC, Black Cat
24 // TOKYO ,Unit Daikanyama