Open Your Ears with New Young Pony Club

mFEST caught up for a scoop with NYPC guitarist Andy Spence....

mFEST: Good morning Andy, Trust you're looking forward to mFEST! You were selected by the festival young programming team. Generally speaking Do you have a big U18s following in the UK?

Andy: Hello, yes of course! Well we used to have lots of U18 fans but I think some of them may be a bit older now. hopefully we've gained some new ones from this album.

mFEST: You released and produced 'The Optimist' yourselves: Was there a particular reason behind how this experience differed from previously working with Modular?

Andy: We weren't happy with the way things went on Modular so when they told us they didn't have any money left we decided to do it ourselves. It was much harder work than we expected but we don't regret it cos we get to do things all our own way.

mFEST: Widely regarded as your bonafide hit, ‘Ice Cream’ was a slice of Disco brilliance. Do you ever 'do a Nirvana' and just not bother playing it?

Andy: Yes the hit that never charted but everyone knows! Weird. We have left it off a coupel of times but it still stands up as a great song so it's crazy not to indulge.

mFEST: Who are you looking forward to seeing at mFEST?

Andy: Darwin Deez is really fun to watch. I think it's a great debut he's made.

mFEST: If you had a message for young people trying to get forward with a career in music, what would it be and why?

Andy: Careers are for people with real jobs. Music should be enjoyed and if you can live off it too then you've done very well.

mFEST: You have the keys to a time machine. You can go back in time and perform on stage at a venue with an artist of your choice. Who and where would it be and why?

Andy: Chic in 1979 at Studio 54. Possibly the best Disco band of all time in possibly the best Disco of all time.

New Young Pony Club Play the Albert Halls on Friday 30 July with Hadouken!, Darwin Deez and Unicorn Kid.