10 Questions with ... Grace Chatto

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/cleanbandit
Twitter: @cleanbandit
Instagram: @cleanbandit
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/cleanbandit/videos
Soundcloud:https://soundcloud.com/cleanbandit

In 2015, Clean Bandit won the Grammy Award for "Best Dance Recording" for their chart-topping song "Rather Be". The track was a collaboration with Jess Glynne, remained at the top of the chart for four weeks.

Their recent song, "Rockabye", featuring Sean Paul and Anne-Marie, became their second #1 hit in the U.K. Clean Bandit is currently on tour to support the title track to their new album "Symphony".

Enjoy the following interview with Clean Bandit's Grace Chatto:

1. How did the four of you first meet? Can you remember the moment when you all decided to start this group?

Neil Amin-Smith and I met playing in classical orchestras when we were children. We are from the same area of London. We met Jack Patterson when we were studying at Cambridge University, and decided to start the band together. It started as a live band to begin with, classical string quartet performances and then later electronic elements that Jack introduced and worked around the strings. Then he introduced Luke Patterson to us, his younger brother, who is a wizard on the drums! We've been playing together about seven years now.

2. How did you come up with your band name? What exactly is a 'Clean Bandit'?

A 'Clean Bandit' is a total bastard! A Russian friend of ours used the phrase ('chistaya banditka' in Russian) to describe my sister and we found it funny and took it for our band name!

3. Clean Bandit is unique in that you don't have a lead singer. Is there a reason for that?

We find it very interesting to call upon different voices as though they were different instruments.

4. The band is known for blending classical and electronic music. What are some of the challenges you face in making sure you get the right mix in a given song?

We don't really think about it in a formulaic way, we just use the different styles as and when it feels right.

5. You have collaborated with Jess Glynne, Sean Paul, Anne-Marie, Zara Larrson and others. Since you do a lot of collaborations, are there any musicians whom you'd like to work with in the future?

James Blake, Bjork, Frank Ocean, Rihanna, Drake and many others.

6. What bands have consistently inspired you and your music?

Radiohead and Ace of Base.

7. What do you think is the reason that your song "Rather Be" connected so well with your fans?

It's very hard to say what has made us connect so much. I think it might be the fact that it is such an ostentatiously happy song about being content with the person you're with, but it also has a melancholy undertone somehow, so there is a tension there.

8. Has it been hard to be away from all your families when you are touring?

Yes, we have been in the states for six weeks right now and I miss my family a bit at the moment.

9. Have you already begun writing new material?

Yes, we have loads of new material already. We can't wait to record it and get it out.

10. Do you have a fun/crazy show experience you can share?

We had an amazingly fun gig at Coachella. It was special because it is such a beautiful festival but also we performed our song "Stronger" with Alex Newell, who has an incredible voice. AND, we performed "Disconnect" with Marina and the Diamonds for the first time ever!! It was exciting!

Thank you to Leah Adams-Brunghardt for conducting this interview.