White Rose Movement: InvadingAustralia

Tue 4th Sep, 2007 in Features

On the eve of their first ever Australian tour supporting industrial rock icons Nine Inch Nails, The White Rose Movement are a hot topic. made up up of frontman Finn Vine and his bandmates Jasper Milton (guitar), Owen Dyke (bass) Erica ‘Taxxi’ MacArthur (keyboard) and Edward Harper (drums), the band have been said to follow the now clichéd path of making ‘music for girls (and boys) to dance to’. However, this electro outfit never seemed to seek validation from their peers or there critics, either lyrically or musically. With abstract, biting lyrics that wrapped around propulsive rhythms and dreamy yet danceable guitars, 2006’s Kick held a swaggering first impression.

“We went on tour with Placebo, it was great their fans were really perceptive to us.” Finn proves to be quite the conversationalist. No doubt well accustomed to media commitments, he is both chatty and excited about his first ever shows down under. “The shows with Nine Inch Nails are going to be different!” Explains Vine. “I have heard that Nine Inch Nails fans are quiet hoity, and that there quiet rude to the support bands; as they only really like Nine Inch Nails don’t have much respect for the bands that support them.

“Playing some one else’s gig you have something to prove, you have a shorter set, you have to go out there and make a an impact, at our own club shows, the fans will get some new songs – get a little taste of what’s to come, why not!”

They’ve already got one brilliant single to their name, the jerky headlong rush of Love Is A Number, and they had the pedigree of producer de jour Paul Epworth on board for their debut album. And for well over 12 months now, the dance floors in clubs worldwide have been subjected to the band’s catchy lead single. “I think - œLove Is A Number’ is about looking after number one. It’s about numbers, having more wanting more. Its about star status and one being a lucky number”

It would seem that an impressive song, matched with style and a charismatic lead singer, has generated its fair share of media attention. “I like reading good reviews, not such a fan of reading the bad ones. I take it all as a huge pinch of salt,” he says. “I have been to see gigs that I thought were amazing, then you read what a shitty journo write something about it, and it doesn’t coincide with you interpretation of the gig. My advice would be to go and experience music and find out for yourself!”

The core four members of this movement – Jasper Milton, Owen Dyke Ed Harper and Finn – all grew up together in a not altogether run of the mill corner of Norfolk, England. “It was quite a strange set-up really”, Finn admits. “We all grew up in a commune in a little village in Norfolk. It was teaming with adolescents, punks, waifs and strays and people in bands.”

Needless to say, the environment had quite an effect on the boys’ musical development. “When I was 8 or 9 I was always hanging round young people in bands,” Finn says, “listening to what they were listening to and watching them getting blitzed. Very creative people – and others who mixed with very creative people surrounded us.”

“I used to go to raves when I in my early teens, get trashed and have a good time” a story that is leads itself to Vine’s millennium celebrations spent in Sydney; where after a big night out with Australian born guitarist Jasper, ended up at Jason Donovan’s pad. “I got very trashed and somehow ended up in Jason Donavan’s [of Neighbours fame] apartment which was very strange indeed, and I remember him being on telly, and then coming face to face with him in the early hours of the morning…. Was strange really. I can’t really remember it but I’m sure he was nice.

“Being in a band together for so long, we must get sick of each other a little bit, but we have reached a serene plateau where we co-exist pretty well, it gets heated some times… Just like any other band.”

On paper, White Rose Movement do so much right it’s difficult to understand how they could be anything less then thoroughly wonderful. Kick proves to be a holistic release that is in no way top ended, and has proved itself as a debut album of substance. “I’m a lot more selfish when it comes to writing – it satisfies me – that’s the criteria really, it has to please us and if other people get it they get it, if not, they wont. Its for our benefit mostly”

Stand out track on the album “Girls In The Back highlights a sensitive subject layered with a fantastic melody and gripping chorus; “The premise of Girls in the back, well, is about a kind of touchy subject i It deals with individuals who were systematically abused. No one knew about it, and then there were horrific replications for the people involved. It’s the most despicable form of abuse, ruin peoples lives in the form of pleasure. It’s a weird song in its context.”

Vine insists that he’s proud of Kick and the bands achievements to date. “Before the band was formed I had no idea what was going to happen, I had dreams; some of have come true and now I have more dreams that need to come true.” When asked what dreams are next in line to become reality, Vine insists ‘sexual perversions,’ however, aside from the sexual ambiguity his band, Vine then explains his overall vision for his movement…

“I want the band to be bigger, I want to play bigger shows by ourselves, I want to have a bigger fan base, I want to connect more people and I want to create more music that I’m really proud of!”

“There has been certain gigs we have sold out in London, that’s really something when you realize all those people are there to see you. It’s a buzz ya know”

Despite the bands success thus far, TWRM will not be intimidated to get back in the studio and best news of all Its going to be in next year. “We just started recording bits now, so its not going to be any time that soon however we are looking at next year.”

TWRM consist of determination, a gang-like mentality, songs of substance and now a loyal fanbase which makes them far more deserving of acclaim than most, White Rose Movement could well turn out to be the kind of band who people get very excited about. Join the Australian White Rose Movement at the following shows:

Supporting Nine Inch Nails:
Saturday 15th September: Sydney, Big Top Luna Park
Sunday 16th September: Sydney Hordern Pavilion

White Rose Movement Club Shows
Tuesday 18th September: Sydney, Candys Apartment
Thursday 20th September: Melbourne, Next