From left to right: George, Jonny, Nick, Will and Joe
Back in March, Gold Teeth were just whispers in the ears of youthful fans, gradually appearing in the sidelines of NME, and consistently coined as the “A British Vampire Weekend”. Quickly and surely, SUPERSWEET fell for their afro-pop jangles and named them 2009 winners of our MySpace New Band Competition, quenching our thirst to showcase an upcoming band at our annual gig. After three months the band has tamed their trademark wild hair and raw talent into a collective polished act, supporting the likes of Esser and indie-giants Athlete, readily shaking off any traces of adolescent insecurity behind. Returning to play our SUPERSWEET ME! gig, they are confident to represent who they are and set the public straight, they are not afro beat and nor is their music middle class. But while serious with their music, they are quipped with dry humour and boyish jests happily to run around with the truth....
SS: As a band you’ve managed to get press through your individual efforts, in diversified interests, with guitarist Nick Rowson appearing in the upcoming Ian Dury biopic and Johnny Tams (samplers) working within the industry, but what draws you all together to make music as Gold Teeth?
Joe de Costa (vocals, guitar): Simple. Just a love of music.
Johnny: George (Longworth, bass) just wants to make the money.
Joe: Well we all went to the same school and we were all in bands before but we all liked each other, and we wanted to get a project together, so we poached people from different bands, and got street buskers playing solo on the street, like George (band laughs).
SS: I hear that your main following is from the ladies, have you had many crazy interactions with new fans?
Joe: I signed a pair of pants yesterday in Norwich!
SS: Ha! Was she drunk...?
Joe: No! Not at all. Of course she was a discerning young lady...who obviously knows what she likes.
SS: So is the touring eventful? Have you found the audience to differ?
Joe: Touring. Is. Amazing.
Johnny: It really varies, there can be a big crowd, to then just like 5 people, like maybe tonight...
SS: (Shocked) You can’t say that!!
Joe: There’ll be 6 billion people!
SS: The label “afro-beat” has been used to capture your style of music is the genre of music to consider your music to be, or are you tired of the label yet?
Johnny: It’s not afro beat. Afro-beat is a something we really can’t do! We don’t have the instrumentation or the vocals...we don’t have ten black women singing in the choir! We are more of an afro-vibe, not an afro beat, which we do like.
Joe: Ah wait, that was a lot of answers. We. Are. Afro-beat. (Band Laughs)
Will: But really, we take the afro from the beat and make Gold Teeth.
SS: Obviously influenced by Steely Dan, can you each name a musical influence that has affected you as a group the most?
Will Ritson (drums): We all like Jimi Hendrix
Joe: ...Stevie Wonder. But nothing really...
SS: (Johnny is shaking his head): Johnny’s saying no!
Johnny: I think we all love different music...that’s what unites us
Joe: Except George, he just wants the money.
SS: What has been your biggest challenge as a band? Have you been able to overcome that challenge?
(The band starts to fire answers)
Will: Surviving! Completely, in tiny cars.
Joe: Getting to gigs…as a south London band, that’s been the biggest challenge!
Will: Eating, having money!
Joe: Making sure we are getting places and that our equipment doesn’t break…which happens a lot.
SS: So you’ve been around touring and recording for just over a year, what’s the ultimate direction for your band? Are you really seeking fame and fortune George?
Johnny: (Band laughs) Probably five solo projects…
Joe: Make one amazing life changing album and some “whatever” ones after that. Just to keep George satisfied on the money front.
SS: With the band touring a lot more, you are spending a lot of time together, how does this fair on your relationship with each other, have any annoyances arisen yet?
Joe: (Dryly) Had a fight with George in Edinburgh. I had to put him in his place.
Johnny: He had a fight with people in the street...people who had nothing to do with it.
Joe: I used my street fighting tactics to bring George down...
Johnny: Actually I think we like each other a little bit more than we used to...
Joe: Touring has definitely bonded the band.
SS: And has touring encouraged any habitual rituals?
Will: We burn something before we get on tour, for good luck
Nick: But didn’t really work out...we did that at Norwich, and George left his bass there.
Joe: It worked, because it was a stella gig, we obviously ran out of juice for the sacrificing, maybe do it before and after the gig and we’ll be fine.
Johnny: It’s a rocky road, basically we know that we are all just going to die!
SS: Any last words about the attention you are receiving? Good or Bad?
Joe: I’m the middle child so I enjoy the attention. And lastly. Alastair, you don’t know what you are talking about.
Johnny: Alastair? he’s not even here...
Joe: I just want him to know, that Alastair, doesn’t know what he is talking about.
Words: Gemma Dempster
Photography: Burak Cingi