WU LYF

Thu 2nd Jun, 2011 in Features

The four members of Manchester’s WU LYF have been in a fog of mystique up until just this past week or so, when they came to Australia: when they finally let the world know who they are. The name stands for World Unite! Lucifer Youth Foundation and those last three letters refer to a group that they’ve initiated, a “non-for-profit organization anchored to the concrete truths of unconditioned youths.”

They haven’t released a whole lot of music, but there sure is a whole lot to say about them. They’ve played only a handful of live shows, they’ve released little, refused interviews, rejected the advances of record labels and created a mystique that has led to a fascinatingly unique storm of hype and a place on the Vivid LIVE lineup. In the first of their face-to-face interview they were open, honest, playful, and still fascinating.

How much do you love WU LYF?
Ellory Roberts (vocals, organ): It’s my life! And it makes me glad to be alive.

Tom McClung (bass, vocals): Me too. It’s the best job.

ER: The best job in the world.

Which part of this album, yours and coming out really soon, are you most excited about?
ER: The bass part, its got great bass. We’re excited about the level of bass on the record.

TM: Yeah, there hasn’t been an album with so much bass since, the fuck’s it called… Station to Station by David Bowie, or maybe Young Americans. Can’t remember.

TM: That’s not true… Maybe the proudest part for us is how well you can hear each part, on the album, each part is really clear.

ER: It’s a beautiful sandwich for you ears.

TM: I had the greatest sandwich for lunch. But where’s this beer?

[Beer enters]

ER & TM: Thank you!

ER: She was nice.

TM: Yeah, but she had a ring on.

ER: Someone put a ring on.

TM: The girl last night had a ring on. [laughs]

ER: Tom had his first stubborn groupie last night.

Stubborn groupie?
ER: It won’t be the last.

TM: It was my first Australian groupie.

ER: Nah, second.

TM: Shit, yeah… [laughs] fuckin hell.

One groupie each night, at this rate?
ER: For Tom it is, the rest of us are…

Flailing?
ER: Flailing.

TM: Flailing, waurggh [flails arms in a silly fashion]

ER: I was just being rude last night, no one went near me. Too rude. Tom got an interviewer’s number this morning, as well.

TM: Phone number, email…

Planning on catching up tonight?
ER: Except she was on the phone so its like the Ray Charles thing, you don’t know what she looks like, you’ll have to feel her wrists.

TM: Maybe she’s blind. She sounded sexy. We’re just trying to throw it in our manager’s face, he thinks we don’t get groupies.

ER: Yeah, he’s always taking jokes at us and giving us Elton John CDs.

On a more serious note, one of the things I’m most excited about for you guys is the sense that you have these great, life-encompassing dreams for the future. Do you feel that way for yourselves?
TM: No-one’s really picked up on that so much, but yes, for sure.

ER: There are really strong foundations there, there is a lifestyle program, and its what keeps us going.

TM: And the thing is, its initially made for us, so we can do what we want…

ER: But we want it to be for everyone.

TM: That’s right, everyone can do what they want.