Metronomy have been busy recently. 

The English electronic band have just announced new album Metronomy Forever. which is both a follow-up to 2016's Summer 08, and a return to touring for the band, as they didn't tour their previous record.

Upon the release of their new single Salted Caramel Ice Cream, we spoke to band founder and frontman Joseph Mount about growing older, ice-cream and evolving, both personally and musically.

First off, is Salted Caramel Ice Cream your actual favourite flavour?

It depends. If I had to pick one flavour for the rest of my life it would be chocolate. But, I like salted caramel, coffee and mint choc chip. I also like sorbet.

What’s changed, both personally and as a band, since the release of Summer 08?

I have toddlers instead of babies and I have moved away from the city and into the countryside. Oscar now lives in California, Gbenga has two kids and Michael is engaged to be married! We’ve all been busy.

Do you still feel connected to music written early on in your career, or is there more a sense of nostalgia linked with it?

Yes I feel very connected. It’s something I think everyone can relate to it; it’s like when you look at an old school photo, it feels nostalgic and awkward. But, at the same time it feels very real and important. So yeah, I get a mixture of emotions.

The name Metronomy Forever is an interesting one – has that informed the direction the music has taken, or is that a reflection of the music written for the album?

It’s more a reflection in the end. I was thinking about the process of writing, I was thinking about having a career in music and I was thinking about what the importance of Metronomy is culturally. This sounds grandiose, but everyone is welcome to think about the same thing; what do you actually do? And why should anyone care? The good news is that the answer to these questions is always actually quite positive.

The length of the album at 17 songs is one that flies in the face of the way music seems to be going in terms of how it’s consumed, was this a conscious decision or just a reflection of the material available?

I actually think it’s less unusual than you might think. At least, I think its a pretty healthy way for us to move forward in the world of steaming. I figure that people now ‘subscribe’ to music rather than buy it. So, maybe it’s nice if musicians start prescribing music rather than just selling it. In my opinion, people need 17 new Metronomy tracks…so here they are. 

Following on from that, as a band that’s been around for so long – has the way the music industry has evolved around you made things easier or harder for you? 

I think we’re lucky to have built a fanbase during the ‘good old days’. I’ve found it fascinating to see how things have changed over the past 10 years (or more). But, as with every change, the results are both positive and negative.

We now reach corners of the world with our music that previously would have almost been impossible to reach! But, at the same time, we rely solely on gigs to make our living…which means less time to write music and see our families. But hey! If it was a massive problem we’d stop I guess.

The Salted Caramel Ice Cream video was designed as a homage to ice cream parlours – can you describe how you went about directing that, especially as you had such a connection to the music whereas normally music video directors might not?           

Well, I like to think the video is about the gentrification of ‘stuff’. Just how graphic design can change what something is by appealing to different people. I hope that makes sense. I liked the idea of turning the song into a video quite literally, so that’s where I started. I think it’s a really strong and funny video.

What are the plans post-album release, and are there plans to visit Australia among them?

Touring and touring. We would LOVE to come back to Australia and of course that is part of the plan, so we will see you soon.

If Metronomy had an ice-cream flavour that was designed by the band, what would be in it and what would it be called?

Probably Roquefort and Basil!

Metronomy's new album, Metronomy Forever, will be out September 13th.