Ladies and gentleman. Welcome to another night on Late Late Live, with me, Craig Ferguson. I'm expecting some guests on tonight's show from over the pond, back home in the UK. It makes a bit of a change, I normally interview Hollywood film stars and popstars from America, so you'll probably find me dropping the chic chat tonight and discussing the horrible weather over cup of tea. It's what we like to do in Britain. We're not happy unless we're having a good bloody moan about something we cn do nothing about.
Anyway, let's get the show underway eh? Please welcome my first guests for tonight, all the way from London, England, Aaron Simpson and Lauren England from the pop band CrushCrushCrush!(Wooping and cheering as Aaron and Lauren walk onto the set, smiling and waving. Lauren looks nervous as she brushes hair out of her face. They sit on the sofa in front of the desk.)
Wow...CrushCrushCrush! I'm looking at you two with all your youthful exuberance and stuff, being all smiley, makes me feel like a right old man. Look how bright and smiley you are!Lauren: It's nerves. Believe me. I've never been on TV before! (She laughs nervously).
Ah, you'll be fine, I'll look after you both. Brits stick with Brits eh? Anyway, welcome to the show, Lauren and Aaron. How are you? Enjoying things stateside?Aaron: Thanks Craig. Yeah, we're doing pretty well out here at the moment. It's actually the first time I've ever been in America. It's quite fascinating to see the differences and stuff compared to back home.
Lauren: I've been before. Loads of times, but even I still find it awesome and surreal every time I come over here, you know?
Of course yeah. You had your little bit of fame with your old band, Big Light Show, right?Lauren: I wouldn't call it fame really. We grafted hard, we worked and worked and we really did try our best to try to make it, but in the end, we just never got those breaks that you need in music. Things always wen't wrong you know?
It was like, we had the chance to tour, but then the main bands would pull out. Then we brought in Cassie Summers, and she got pregnant. And then we got signed, and the record label owner got killed.
I guess it was just never really meant to be.
Aaron: Worked out pretty well for me though to be honest. I was floundering music wise. I've done a few little projects and stuff over the past few years, but nothing that would get me noticed.
Try us, we might have heard them before.Aaron: (laughs) Nah, trust me, you won't have. I did a few jingles and stuff for TV ads, just me really playing around with the different sounds on a keyboard and stuff, and I also played guitar on the album of some Japanese pop duet called Jo Ko Jo! It was really the most obscure thing I've ever been involved with. It was even a little embarassing.
So, when my old school friend became available, I just knew I had to hit her up, and try to get something started. Obviously, I had seen her talents with BLS, and I knew I could...well I hoped I could, work well with her and stuff.
And has it worked out that way? Did it all work out how you planned?Aaron: Absolutely. I mean, I've worked with loads of musicians before, and it has never been as easy as working with Lauz. She's a great girl and has so many ideas which I could barely ever live up to.
Lauren: I think it's cute how he calls me a musician. All I do is tand at the front of the stage airing my vocal chords and he's still polite enough to call me a musician.
Aaron: You are a musician. Don't sell yourself short. Most of the ideas on the album came from the roots of stuff you suggested.
Lauren: Awww....thanks Aaronius!
Now, you mention the album there, that's the reason you've come to the States this week right?Lauren: Well, yeah. We need to try to build up some hype according to our label, so we thought we'd just hop over the pond and try to get ourselves out there a bit, see what was going on in the land of pop-punk, and try to wedge our way in there.
Aaron: Yeah, we managed to build up massive hype back home through our PR stunt with the flash mobs and stuff...which was amazing. But we decided to come over here and be little more conventional with what we are doing to promote ourselves. So we're hitting a few malls to play songs, doing interviews like this and just trying to get our name out there.
Nice, nice. So, what should we expect from the debut album?Aaron: You should expect something that is what it is, essentially. We're trying to be as unpretentious as we can be with our career, because we feel that there are too many people in the industry who totlly over sell themselves. What I mean by that, is that people make you think they are reinventing the wheel with some amazing new style of music...and then it's not. So yeah, our album is just a mix of straight up pop-punk and rock. There's no bells and whistles, and no innovations, but we think it sounds amazing.
Lauren: I agree. I mean, I've released a few EPs and singles now, and I don't think I've ever felt as proud as I do of this one. Aaron and I had great fun writing it, and as a band we all had an amazing time recording it, so it's just so refreshing when you hear it all at the end, and it sounds the way that you wanted it to, you know?
If you could choose, who's footsteps would you like to follow in?Lauren: (Looks at Aaron) Can I start? You know my answer anyway. (Turns back to Craig) For me, it would have to be Amy Meyer. She isn't just my idol, but she is actually my favourite person on earth. Everything she has done with her career, and how she has led Riot! to where they are, is just amazing to me, and if I could do even a tenth of what she has done with my own career, then I'll be able to die happy.
Aaron: You see? This is the sort of crazy I get to work with every day,
Lauren: Shut up! It's your turn.
Aaron: My answer will probably sound as conceited and false as it's possible for any answer to sound, but I promise it's true. I have two heros if you will in music, and my dream would be to bridge that gap between them, and it is a sizeable gap, to be honest. But genuinely, I love Jason Smith, and I love Ryan Ross Hernandez. They are both very different artists, but also both are just such geniuses, and I'd love to be the one to bring together the sort of stuff I have loved from them both into one epic sound.
Lauren: He's such a drama queen dahling!
(They both laugh)
I have to say, the chemistry between you two is just marvellous. I can see why you must enjoy being in a band together. Is there anything else going on there?(Lauren looks at Aaron and they both start laughing).
Aaron: No no...honestly there definitely is not. This one is already engaged to Matt from Suburban Sunrise..or whatever they're called now, and I've recently started dating Jen Armstrong.
Lauren: Yeh and he always blushes when she texts him!
Aaron: Shhhhhhhhh! I'm trying to be an uber cool rock star here!
Lauren: Yup...and I'm trying to be Kim Jong-Il...we're both failing miserably!
(Craig laughs)
Alright alright kids, simmer down. So, if you could plan out your own fate, what would be your aim for this year? What would you like to see the album do? Number one?Lauren: Honestly, and I'm not just saying this, I don't think we need a number one as a band. As long as our fans like it and stuff, thenI'll be happy if it hits the top 20. We aren't in this for any sort of commercial gain or cultural significance. All we want to do is to make some kids smile when they hear our songs.
Aaron: But a massive load of money and some trophies wouldn't go amiss either! Nah, I jest. Lauren's totally right. We made this album as us, with our fans in mind, and as long as some people like it and appreciate the work we put into it then that will be more than enough for us. We don't need to be craving chart toppers and awards to be happy really. Although I wouldn't say no. (laughs).
And what does the rest of this year have lined up for CrushCrushCrush!?Lauren: A lot actually (laughs). We have the album coming out on March 11th, which is gonna be huge for us, and then we'll be hitting the road with Suburban Sunrise and a couple of other bands, which will be awesome.
After that, it's going to be a case of just keeping at the promo, maybe hitting up a tour of our own and just generally enjoying ourselves. I personally can't wait.
Alright. Well you guys better go off and get ready, thanks for blessing me with your presence tonight. It has been wonderful.
Ladies and gents, please do come back after the break, when you can catch CrushCrushCrush! performing a brand new unheard song. Don't go anywhere! 