London band Average Sex will release their debut EP Ice Cream on December 1st through Tim Burgess’ (The Charlatans) OGenesis Recordings. The band recently released the first track from the EP “Ugly Strangers.” The artwork for the EP was designed by the band’s vocalist and illustrator Laetitia Bocquet and will be released on 12” transparent vinyl.

“I got a call from Finn, the drummer in my solo band, who told me he’d just joined a brilliant band that I needed to listen to” says Tim Burgess about how he discovered the band. “Within a minute he’d sent a link and within 2 minutes I’d heard everything they’d recorded and they were my new favourite band. They have the pop sensibilities and the hooks and melodies that never leave your head.”

Interview by Tim Burgess with Average Sex vocalist Laetitia Bocquet and guitarist Sam O Donovan:

Where do you live?
Laetitia: Homerton, East London
Sam: Seven Sisters, London

Where did you meet?
L: Sam and I met at the Victoria through Finn, who later joined Average Sex on drums.
S: We first properly met at a Yummy Fur gig at The Victoria

What are your lyrics about?
L: ‘Ice Cream’ and ‘Hey Boy’ are about unrequited love and frustration. We’re done is about failed relationships. And “Ugly Strangers” is about using alcohol to escape your real problems.

You mentioned that The Victoria (pub in Dalston) was an important place in the story of the band – how come?

L: When I wrote “Ugly Strangers” I was having serious mental health issues and I was partying a lot to get away from myself until getting treatment. My friends worked at the Victoria so I was drinking there almost every night. When writing the song, I had a very vivid image of the Victoria in my head. The chorus is about all these nights there. The rest of the song is basically about life being shit, hence drinking to ‘be happy’.

Where did we meet?
L: I think that I first met you when we supported the Charlatans at the Hippodrome!
S: I first met you properly at Tim Peaks Isle of Wight 2014

Who cuts your hair?
L: My mum or myself
S: Me

Who are your favourite bands?
L: Most influential for me on this project would be Garbage, Young Marble Giants and 1960s French Yé-yé babe Jacqueline Taieb.
S: REM, Weezer and the Ramones (mostly).

Average Sex tour

29 November – Nottingham, Rock City
30 November – Sheffield, 02 Academy
1 December – Wolverhampton, Civic Hall
2 December – Manchester, 02 Apollo
4 December – Glasgow, 02 Academy 1
5 December – Newcastle, 02 Academy 1
7 December – Leeds, 02 Academy
8 December – Cardiff, University Great Hall
9 December – London, 02 Academy Brixton

All dates supporting The Charlatans

Average Sex are:
Laetitia Bocquet – Vocals // Sam O Donovan – Guitar // Louise Earwaker – Guitar
// Finnigan Kidd – Drums // Jamie Graeme – Bass