Uncle Luc
Super Fan 99 imprint boss Luke Barham presents a video trailer for the new upcoming album from his Uncle Luc solo moniker titled Sticking To the Rules available May 11. Following up 2014’s Humblebrag, Luke has created an album that serves as a prelude to the season of summer & all the sensations associated with.
Amid a busy scheduling managing releases on Super Fan, the new Uncle Luc album is a bright record full of feel good gifts that shine with the luster of the midday sun’s ray. The feeling of ascending on the up & up is illustrated on the don’t look back reiterations on “Plateau”, the sweet serenity of “Ice Cream”, the country-rock twang on “Bones of the Days”, to the introspective air that arises on “No Magic”. Vicarious wishes sail serenely on “Sophie”, the pensive creative quandaries of “Owner of the Loneliest Song”, or the subdued power pop on “Hollywood Gum” as “6 Star Hotel” sends up the cycle of dreams to last all spring & summer long.
Uncle Luc ‘Sticking To The Rules’ 11.05.18 from Super Fan TV on Vimeo.
Luke Barham, or Uncle Luc if you please, was kind enough to field our latest nagging inquiries over digital telegrams sent from across the pond:
Tell us what has been good with you, developing your own music & operating the Super Fan imprint.
In July last year I decided to take a break from running the label. I’d just put out the 51st release and hadn’t really stopped since three years prior when it all began with an Uncle Luc album. I felt I owed it to myself to take a break and try and get back to writing again. I knew the only way I could make an album would be to give it all of my time and not be distracted. Super Fan is of course now up and running once again with the recent release of The Entire Universe. My album follows next month.
Give us the goods on what the process of recording Sticking To The Rules was like.
“Plateaux” wrote itself when I was in seeing family in LA. I picked up the guitar for the first time in ages and it just sort of fell out of the sky like all good songs do. I felt it was pretty good so that gave me the confidence to try and write more. I booked some studio time with Henri Vaxby who I worked with on the first album and it just grew from there. As with the first album I made him a Spotify playlist or tracks I liked, these would be a reference for sounds and instrumentations that we’d keep coming back to. The plan for a one off single evolved in to an EP which became an album. We’d record one, I’d go away and come back with another and we kept chipping away over 6 months or so.
So the next big dumb inquiry I have is in making this record did you indeed, ‘stick to the rules?’
The title comes from me trying to do things correctly and to the best of my ability. I think I’ve cut a lot of corners in my life both artistically and with day jobs. Last year I started doing things properly and stretching myself. It’s also a reference to me sticking to my own rules as a songwriter and not being led by trends or trying to sound like whatever cool new band people are into. It’s an honest record, everything fits comfortably.
What’s good right now in the music scenes in the UK that has been under-represented in most pop culture/lifestyle press outlets?
I don’t want to sound negative about the UK or London but there hasn’t been much of interest to me. The label has only put out a few UK artists so far, I just don’t think I’m particularly in tune with what’s happening here. Grime is more exciting than anything bands are doing and probably more representative of the country right now. I think we have some of the best comedy though, This Country, Limmy’s Show, People Just Do Nothing, Cunk on Britain all worth tracking down. Podcasts too, I love Quickly Kevin which is a comedy 90s football (soccer) show, Adam Buxton, The Butterfly Effect and Fulhamish. I also can’t wait to see the Netflix series of Luke Pearson’s Hilda. His work is incredible and I’ve been a fan of the books for years.
What do you feel we need more of in the world of media, arts & aesthetics at large?
More free art. I go to a lot of art exhibitions in London and always find those spaces inspiring for lyric or video ideas and general headspace. My only wish is that they be free as I think some people can be put off by paying to see art but would be surprised how much they get out of it. Damien Hurst’s Newport St gallery is always superb and free and they encourage you to take pictures and enjoy the art as you wish. The art world shouldn’t be exclusive.
What can we expect from the future of the label Super Fan 99?
The next release is my album and I have another solo artist from LA whose album I’m excited to be releasing. Beyond that I am looking for more good artists to work with so please do send me your music and say hi.
What is next in the chapters for your outfit Uncle Luc?
We should be shooting a video in a couple of weeks which I have a good concept for, beyond that I guess I’ll dust down my favorite Lemonheads and Sonic Youth tees, form a band and start playing these songs live. If you’re in London and fancy it do get in touch. I’m going to continue to write, hopefully there will be further collaborations with Parisian Kostral One who worked on the album too.
With spring already among us, what in particular are you looking forward to for this summer?
Sitting in the park with a new Nick Lowe record in the headphones. Hopefully my team Fulham winning promotion back to the Premier League and maybe a holiday in Ibiza. I’m visiting Lithuania in June which should be interesting and I’ll try and go to End of the Road which is the best festival over here.
Uncle Luc’s new album Sticking to the Rules will be available May 11 via Super Fan 99.
