Q&A: Les Lullies

Les Lullies are a garage rock/punk band founded in Montpellier, France in 2016. The group were formed by Roméo and Manu, former members of Les Grys-Grys, a 60s inspired R&B act reminiscent of The Pretty Things – definitely another band worth checking out if you prefer a more surf-rock sound – fellow fuzz guitar fans will love their cover of “Got Love If You Want It”, along with T.Boy from punk band Flying Over. These musicians wanted to start a band for fun, not knowing where it would take them, just going with the flow, but they found success. They released their debut EP, Don’t Look Twice, in 2017, starting their discography with a bang with energetic rock music reminiscent of bands like The Ramones, MC5, and The New York Dolls. They released their self-titled debut in 2018 and since then have played shows not only in Europe, but also in the US and Canada. Five years later, on May 26th of this year, they’re releasing their follow up album Mauvaise Foi, which translates to Bad Faith – with most of the songs being in their native French, as opposed to much of their earlier work in English. The album is also being released on limited edition yellow vinyl, but don’t worry CD collectors, it’s also being released on CD. A single from the album, “Zéro Ambition” is out for streaming now on Spotify:

Les Lullies have tour dates coming up this May and in the summer in Spain, Portugal, France, Switzerland, and Belgium. We’re lucky to have T.Boy and Roméo here on the blog with us for a Q&A:

Angie: How would you describe your music to a new listener?

T.Boy: Straight forward rock’n’roll forged in punk and power pop. 

Roméo: Rock’n’roll music…

Angie: How did the band get started?

T.Boy: Roméo (lead guitar and vocals) and myself (bass and backing vocals) started to play together in 2016. He played guitar on one track of my former band, we know each other for a long time. It was unclear what we were doing at the time, then Manu joined on drums and François on guitar and vocals. We recorded 4 songs and a small but cool spanish label, Discos Meteoro, put them out…

Angie: What is the music scene like in Montpellier? 

T.Boy: Montpellier is dead now, but The Silly Walks are a good garage band, Unspkble also in a post punk vibe. Venues downtown are closed, it sucks, even if some places like KJBI or Secret Place still resist.

Angie: Who are your favourite French musicians, old and new?

T.Boy: As bands, I love Dogs, Fixed Up, Kid Pharaon, Bad Brains (yes, a french band from the early 80’s), Olivensteins, and Asphalt for nowadays bands. 

Roméo: Little Bob Story is great too. About nowadays, Flathead, Pogy et les Kefars…

Angie: How did you get into rock music of the 60s and 70s?

T.Boy: Around 11, I started to listen to AC/DC non stop, i was obsessed with High Voltage and Highway to Hell, those were my dad’s records. Then I started diggin’ all the rest, first Motorhead, then everything you can imagine. I discovered the Ramones when I was 14, and punk changed everything of course, I got into 60’s garage at the same time.

Roméo: My dad used to play in rock’n’roll bands in the 80’s, 90’s and still does today. Check Les Crooners, they have a song called “Lonely Soul” I uploaded on youtube, haha, I grew up with it, thanks dad!

Angie: What albums had the most impact on you musically?

T.Boy: Certainly Highway to Hell, Raw Power, and Fun House

Roméo: Shake Some Action, the Red Star Real Kids album, Labour of Lust from Nick Lowe, and many more…

Angie: What was writing and recording “Zero Ambition” like?

T.Boy: Well, due to the pandemic it happened in a very strange time. But it was exciting, François wrote the music, I brought the lyrics, and the whole band worked together to make the song, that’s how we usually do. The recording with Maxime Smadja was amazing, he has great ideas, gives the band a great sound.

Angie: You sing songs in both French and English, what do you like about singing songs in both languages?

T.Boy: We started in English, but now we switched to French and I think we all enjoy it more. It’s more natural, even if the rythym of the language is not as easy as English when it comes to [singing] rock’n’roll. 

Angie: If you could tour with any band, who would you like to tour with and why?

T.Boy: Right now, i’d love to tour with Aborted Tortoise, this band rules!

Roméo: Slander Tongue, sick r’n’r band from Berlin, check them out.

Angie: How do you think your music has evolved since your debut in 2017?

T.Boy: Hum I’m not sure, but I guess the 90’s garage punk side of it has been put away now (kind of…), we pay more attention to the melody, give more space for the music by playing a bit less fast.

Angie: What are your live shows like?

T. Boy: The live shows are raw, fast and tight, no time to take your breath, that’s how we like it. 

Roméo: Come to the show and find out.

Angie: What are your goals for the year?

T.Boy: Tour everywhere! 

Roméo: Writing new stuff, playing new places, party.

You can follow Les Lullies on Facebook, Instagram, Bandcamp, and their website.

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