Dinner for two, loading the dishwasher, unwinding in front of the telly – commonplace activities for most typical married couples on a midweek evening. Not for Sarah and Sam Gotley, who front London-based alternative indie band Blue Violet. They are the ultimate rockstar couple, and prefer to spend their Wednesdays supporting the iconic Britpop legends Echobelly on their UK tour.
Prior to their set, I had the privilege of speaking to Sarah and Sam about their sound, touring, and the future of Blue Violet. Undoubtedly, they both oozed a shiny star-quality, whilst remaining friendly, and clearly grounded by their love for the music that they create together.
Sarah beamed from the backseat of their van which they had invited me to speak with them in: “I just have the need to thrash around as much as possible [onstage]”. This sentiment reigned true as the band opened with “Undercover” from their first album Late Night Calls. Sarah was electric onstage, unafraid to strut about, commanding the room with her strong presence, and calling for everyone to come closer to preserve warmth on the cold December evening.
The set felt sultry and vampirish at times, the chemistry of the band was undeniable – you could feel both a sensuality and a passionate love between the front pair. Sam anchored the performance with impressive guitar and husky vocals, a perfect complimentary addition to Sarah’s unbridled movements and passionate voice. Softer moments amongst the smoke were interspersed with heavier rocky guitar solos and dramatic bursts when the two voices came together.
Self-proclaimed to be inspired by the likes of Mazzy Star, St. Vincent and Nick Cave, Blue Violet’s sound has seamlessly developed from the previous Americana twang of their first album to a rockier and certainly sexier sound. I would describe them as Cocteau Twins meets a sort of mature Wolf Alice or modern Fleetwood Mac. Irrespectively, however, completely their own, timeless sound. An act you could very much imagine capable of captivating a crowd at Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage.
When asked what their favourite aspect of touring was, both Sarah and Sam said that the human element; connecting with an audience and getting the chance to meet people is what reminds them of why they love to make music so much. Sarah stayed behind at the merch stand, speaking to members of the audience that wanted to enter their giveaway to win a vinyl of Blue Violet’s second album Faux Animaux, which comes out on 24 January. The band will also be hosting a release party at The Grace in London on the 25th. Judging by the queues to speak to Sarah, it was plain to see that Blue Violet had gained some new fans from Sheffield, and the future of the band looks incredibly bright.
Image credit: Luke Lebihan
