2014 has been a hectic year for London lads Childhood. After Ben Romans-Hopcraft and Leo Dobsen founded the band at the University of Nottingham in 2010, there’s been nothing but stratospheric ascension. An 8/10 review for their debut album Lacuna from the notoriously harsh NME, shows at almost every major UK festival including Bestival, Latitude, Parklife Weekender and Field Day, and slots at festivals around the world all spell success.
Hopkins himself recognised the ‘pinch me’ factor involved in playing such big shows abroad. “Summer Sonic in Japan was definitely a high point. We were expecting this tiny crowd and suddenly we were performing to thousands of fans who had actually made the effort to come and see our show, which was crazy. To be that far away from the UK yet to still have people supporting the music was insane, and really made it all seem worthwhile. It hit home then, you know? The positive reception to the album, how good summer had been, it all just got summed up over there.”
And he was right about debut album Lacuna silencing any cynics who had dismissed Childhood as ‘just another London indie band’ with no staying power, because the group now have fans in very high places, from Guardian editors to musical aristocracy by the names of Marr and Gallagher. According to Spotify figures, singles ‘Blue Velvet’ and ‘As I Am’ are two of the most streamed singles in the Rock and Indie chart of 2014. The album’s mix of shoegaze and dreamy indie-pop is thanks to their influences:“We listened to bands like Deerhunter, the Cocteau Twins, Slowdive, the most when thinking about and actually making the album, but there was such a wide variant of stuff we got into. Once the album had started coming along it became less about influences and bands we ourselves enjoyed listening to and more about creating something new other people would hopefully love.”
“there’s this energy that comes from being a student place in the North- everyone’s so up for a good time, all the time.”
Our interview takes place a few hours before a show that means big things for the band; the final night of a tour that equaled a support slot with The Smith’s guitarist and ‘Godlike Genius’ Johnny Marr. The show is bound to be crazy, I say, with the excitement that comes from finishing up such a long stretch, especially in a city as wild as Leeds- the crowd are guaranteed to be prone to a touch of wild leaping and attempts at some sort of hybrid swaying two-step.
Dobsen agrees, “The first time we played Leeds was a few years back as support for The Maccabees, and we’ve played shows here like four times since then. It’s such a great city to perform in because there’s this energy that comes from being a student place in the North- everyone’s so up for a good time, all the time. Plus tonight’s the final night of the tour with Johnny, so it’s definitely gonna be a big one.”
The band haven’t let their new position as the darlings of the UK indie scene go to their heads. Their dressing room is sparse, the fridge being filled with a few beers and cans of Coca-Cola rather than magnums of JD and gin; empty humous containers litter the sides instead of ashtrays, and Hopcroft even takes the time to guide me to the door after the interview finishes in the fear that I’ll get lost in the maze that is Leeds O2 Academy. The show itself is majestic, with Hopcroft’s euphoric vocals ringing out over the steady hum of Dobsen’s guitar and Salamon’s bass. The crowd are enraptured as expected, and I even overhear one, dare I say it, older fella, comment on how he’s been pleasantly surprised by Childhood’s show. The next steps for the band are definitely beamingly bright, with an immediate gig supporting Bombay Bicycle Club on their extensive European tour. It’s exciting to imagine where the band will be this time next year: a headline tour of their own, perhaps, and if that doesn’t materialise, an almost definite stint at virtually every summer music festival. It looks as if next year will be at least as busy as the last.
Poppie Platt
photos: fashionsoundtrack.com, clubnme.com.br