Interviews

October 2003

Having got no further than his voicemail the previous few days, I was at the stage of being paranoid that Ains didn’t want to talk to me… so when I dialled once again, fully expecting to get the same response, imagine my surprise when a very snuffly sounding Ainslie not only answered, but said: "I was just thinking of phoning you…"

He sounded so terrible that I suggested that we leave it until another day, but he said was happy to go ahead if I didn’t mind the sound of him snotting in my ear! Ains told me that he was feeling really awful, and as well as having a stinking cold: "I was stuck in Kingston at 5am this morning, with no tubes, buses or taxis, and didn’t get home until 7am."

I decided not to beat about the bush, and asked if there was any truth in the rumours that Mercury aren’t going to release the album… he told me that as far as he is aware they are happy with the album, but even if they did decide they didn’t want to release it, he would find another record company who would.

So, what about the new tracks he’s going to be recording?

"I’m going to go back into the studio with Mark and Saul, and I’m going to try stuff with other people too," Ainslie replied, adding: "It’s more for my own sanity and to keep busy than anything." He confirmed that it’s not because the album’s not up to scratch.

One thing he has lined up is working with dance producers: "Writing new tracks… beat orientated, with guitars and vocals." Ains added that he’s really keen to go down that route, which seemed the opportune moment to mention that some fans were concerned about the dance element of the album, and ask if he would elaborate to put their minds at rest… "It’s good dance… think Leftfield, Daft Punk and Groove Armada… don’t worry, it won’t be anything like DJ Sammy!" I told him that was just as well as I’d disown him if it was!

The title of the album has still to be decided, as is the next single… "Every track on the album has been short listed at some point," he revealed, adding that it changes almost weekly. I said that it was a very good sign that they felt every track was strong enough to be a single. He agreed, but surprisingly hadn’t thought of it like that before.

I asked Ains what the track Any Other Way was about, as in our last interview he’d only described the sound of the song: "Lust… it’s about lust, how it can overcome, overtake and confuse."

It’s still too soon for tour plans, but Ainslie is as keen to get out there performing as we are to go and see him.

What future does he see in Suburbia after the reunion in September? "I don’t think we’ll reform," he replied: "They’re all doing their own thing… we’re good mates and will always help each other out, but I can’t see the band reforming."

I then mentioned that we heard a while back that he did a photo shoot for the album, with a ‘hanging’ theme, and asked if he could confirm this, and whether there are still plans to go with that theme… "There were loads of photos taken, the photographer was…" Ains explained, pausing for thought: "I can’t remember the name of the photographer… it was done in a disused warehouse with loads of rope and me hanging all over the place." He’s not sure whether or not the pics will still be used for the album artwork.

As the subject has been brought up on the forums in the past, I asked Ainslie what he keeps in his bag… "A Charles Bukowski book and a diary," was his initial reply, but when I suggested it was a big bag for a book and a diary, he elaborated further: " A Charles Bukowski book, a diary, wallet, cigarettes… lots of inane shit that I don’t need, but collect… receipts, things I don’t need… I think it’s like a security blanket, I like having it with me all the time."

Next I asked whether he’d heard Lemar’s solo version of Lullaby and what he thinks of it… "I have, and I think it’s pretty. I’m really pleased, it’s a great song and beats the version on the Fame Academy album," adding:

"We’ve recorded an acoustic version… just me, Lemar and an acoustic guitar… (laughs) see that? That rhymes… me, Lemar and an acoustic guitar! It’s going to be a b-side on Lemar’s single, and it’s really pretty. He’s releasing two versions of the single, and that will be on one of them."

Finally, what’s this we hear about him shaving off his hair and wearing glasses again? "I’m unrecognisable!" he laughed: "I walk down the street and no-one recognises me, and when they do they say ‘fucking hell, you look different!’ I’ve also been wearing thick black rimmed glasses… I’m unrecognisable!"