Intimacy, fragility and melodic sense. Pop will be melancholic or won't be... Have you listened to the sound of shyness sometime?. Sarah lighted the wick, but Keith and Paul were the ones who turn the feeble into vigorous, without noise, without histrionic feelings. Only with songs and sensitivity, because BLUEBOY are the point where mix well bossanova, femenine sensibility, Pet Shop Boys, Dirk Bogarde, classic arrangements, Picasso, indiepop and the rational side of masculinity. Yes, Blueboy cause that él doesn't meant him but Unisex... like Souvenir. Do you understand what I mean?

Interviewed by Juan de Ribera Berenguer

You have been recording music during five or six years. What were your ambitions at the beginning?

KEITH: Our ambition at the start was simply to release a single. So after clearer everything else... the LP's, tours, etc have been a bonus.
We never wanted to be proper pop stars. We just wanted to be as big as FANTASTIC SOMETHING.

The other day my brother saw "Unisex" CD and he aske me: "how does this band sound"? I answered: "ah, Blueboy are the Pet Shop Boys meets Bossanova,meets classical music, and meets indiepop". What do you think about my definition about Blueboy?

KEITH: Yes I suppose we're quite odd in that sense and not at all interested in stuff like mainstream pop which seems dominated by the U.S. ideals. I always felt a rapport with the Englishness of The Smiths or The Sundays or Always.

I know that you aren't gay but Blueboy always pretend to show a gay image (the gay magazines from the "Dirty Mags" sleeve, "River", your opinion about Dirk Bogarde... some lyrics). Is the gay one your favorite aesthetics? Do you think that the gay image is cool?

KEITH: I think this is a very hard question to answer... I would rather not to be specific. I suppose we're flirted with gay images but I don't think it is cool, it might be to some people but to most they'd rather see dull boring indie pop images of guitars and stars and girls.

The whole idea of Blueboy is to appeal to both boys and girls and I've always liked singers who are camp, amusingly so, Edwyn Collins, Momus, Morrissey are a few who spring to mind.

Do you think pop music needs ambiguity?.

KEITH: Yes... if it's a straight boy meets girl love song I find that so tedious. My songs are about anyone, a bit of mystery and a touch of stardust.

What does it mean pop music for you? Is it the centre of your live?

KEITH: No, it's not the centre of my live or Pauls. It's important, we try to do our best, write carefully, record the correct sound but at the end of the day pop music is only as big as pop music, which is up to each individual.
That's not say it's totally inimportant, because it can be beatiful, sad, happy and more people... which is a brilliant thing! BUT YOU HAVE TO GET THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE!!

Most of the bands hate to talk about the music that they listen and their influences. But I like to talk about records, bands, films, books... I'd like you to tell me your current favourite records because I now that your taste is exquisite and wonderful.

KEITH: I suppose Paul and I are basically pop fans we love records full stop!. We have everything from The Wake to Vivaldi. At present Paul is very keen on the Morrisey single "Alma Matters" and he's also besotted with The Cardigans.
Me, I'm into the usual nonsense Marden Hill, Popinjays, Vini Reilly, House of Love, Simon Turner, New Order, 70's disco, Girls At Our Best, Heidi Berry.
Books... books... I read sometimes very little then I'll be reading three books at once! I like biographies: Kenneth Williams, The Pet Shop Boys, film stars, etc. The last book I bought was: "Patient" by Ben Watt.
The last film I saw and enjoyed was Charlie Bubbles but I love much from the 60's, 70's... The Family Way, The Carry Ons...

Do you need to feel melancholic to write a song? A Blueboy song will be a melancholic song or won't be?

KEITH Much of the last LP was written whilst drinking too much and being too negative. The new songs for the new LP are less morose... more positive. "Unisex" was a very self indulgent LP which I regret, the new songs are much more... forward looking.

I love Arabesque too. What are the most important differences between Blueboy and Arabesque?

KEITH: Arabesque and Blueboy are two separate bands, with different band members. Arabesque is Paul, Richard, Rob and Jo. I write the lyrics and I'm obviously there at he studio and help out
Blueboy is Paul, Cath, James, Ian and me. Different bands, different labels

In "Love Yourself" Blueboy became a duo again. What happened with Harvey Williams and Gemma? Where are they now?.

KEITH: Harvey and Gemma are still doing things with Bob Wratten, as far as I know. (Paul and I recorded "Love Yourself" with Keris on keyboards). We just felt we were going in a different direction to Harvey and Gemma. We miss them through they were excellent and gifted musicians.

Could you dream a little? Blueboy are the most popular band in the world, and you can choose a productor, invite your favourites artists for collaborations and choose the record label. Who would be they ?

KEITH:
Label - Sarah or él or Factory or Cherry Red
Bands - Would Be Goods or The Cocteau Twins... or Morrisey.
Producer - Mike Alway

Which is the most terrible sentence that you've ever heard/read about Blueboy? and the most beautiful one?

KEITH: I can't remember, it's just personal taste at the end of the day... I'm amazed people actually like us to the extent they say they do. I've read beautiful things about us and horrible things... but I treasure the letters from actual Blueboy fans... who write such wonderous things... I'm humbled.

I have a single called "Remember me" by Blueboy, but I'm afraid that they aren't the Blueboy from Reading. What Do you think about this? Where is your lawyer?

KEITH: Ask Matt, I don't dislike "Remember me" though Paul hates it. I actually got it secondhand it's very up-beat but the words are rather dull: "...remember me, dig a dig a dig dig dig ..."(yawn)

Do you also think that "Never mind the truth... get on with the legend"? (Bellisimo)

KEITH: Umm... yes it you say so

Finally, tell me what these words suggest to you:

Sarah - Best record label, best support, very loyal and excellent records...

Keith (according to Paul) - Paul thinks I buy too many secondhand clothes!!

Politics - I'm socialist... I hope it's obvious

él - The best record label of the 80's. Mike Alway is a genius.
Fave él LP: London Pavillion Vol 1

Reading - Rain, work, friends, Slowdive

English weather - Michael Fish

Unisex - Flawed

Hobbies - Pop, Fashion, Art, Football

Shinkansen - Matt's new dream!

Paul - I think Paul is fab!

Spain - Siesta, football, sunshine, beaches, good wine and excellent fanzines

Souvenir - see above... excellent!