Lee Dalloway chats to Rochelle of The Saturdays.
So your popularity has been growing since you guys came out a couple years ago, but I think it’s been a more gradual process. Has that given you all a bit more breathing space as your foundation’s been growing organically?
Yeah, I mean, that’s the best way to put it, that’s the easiest way of us gaining the attention and stuff because you get used to it quickly now. It kinda happened gradually and I definitely preferred it like that.
When it started did you think it’d take off as much as it has?
We always 100% believed in the band, and obviously hoped that it would, but when you believe in something so much it’s inevitable that other people are gonna share it.
Oh that’s cool, I personally got into you guys when I heard the Nokia acoustic version of ‘Issues’, that was so beautiful. Do you think that shocked a lot of media cynics? That you can actually sing and play instruments?
One of the first things that everyone said about us was ‘oh another girl band from the factory shelf’ but everyone was shocked when they saw that: ‘Oh okay, those girls can sing, they actually do loads of things, you know,’ and I think that’s why every time there’s a Radio 1 Live Lounge we always make the point to go in and do it, really to shock people I think.
Do you all have different ideas about the musical directions you want to go in or is it pretty set?
I think we all have different tastes in music and genres of music we prefer, but as The Saturdays we all know our stuff.
Have you got a favourite song that you’ve done so far?
My favourite song is a ballad, it’s called ‘Died in Your Eyes’ and an upbeat song would be ‘Higher’. I like the version featuring in FloRida.
I was at G-A-Y for your signing, it looked like you were all definitely enjoying yourselves! Are gay venues more fun to play?
Oh, definitely: we always have fun, we always feel we’re having a right old time and a dance. Gay audiences are the best.
You were being filmed by a documentary at the time, what’s that been like? Being followed 24/7 by a crew?
It’s just being followed, you know… In a way I’m pleased for a break, but it’s actually not been as bad as I thought it would be.,I thought it would be a lot more intense. I’ve been myself the whole way through, which now when I watch it back I sometimes kinda regret it because ‘why did I say that?’ But it’s been good all the same and we wanted people to see that we shouldn’t always be getting trashed, that we actually get on, that we enjoy it and have fun in the job, you know.
You all looked like you were having the time of your lives, whereas a lot of the press seemed to want to create tensions between the girls…
I just think it’s an easy angle to go for. It’s a bit rude, because we do get on well and I think other people have started to realise that. It was us that agreed to do it because we wanted to do something a little bit different, that’s why we decided to put our performances to one side because our fans were going to watch it and that’s what we were doing – we’re not reality stars, it’s just a documentary.
Have you all adopted roles, like the motherly one, or the naughty one?
Everyone always says I’m the mum, although I prefer big sister, which is kinda more flattering. The other girls always ask me for advice, whenever they’ve got a problem, they come to me first, it’s just one of those things that happens.
What are your hopes for the future of the band?
I just hope that we’re still together, still doing what we love doing, still recording and making great songs!
The Saturdays perform at G-A-Y as part of the Elton John AIDS Foundation fundraiser this Saturday 25th September at Heaven (Villiers Street, WC2N 6NG). See Musts & Maybes for venue details and door taxes.
