Founded by the Maltese-born Tim Briffa, My Drug Hell has built itself a cult following over the years, with many eagerly anticipating the band’s upcoming album. Ramona Depares interviews the singer ahead of the band’s performance in Malta.

Your music always seems to be picked up by films – how do you feel about this? Does it give you a strange feeling? Have you guys actually seen the films that you’re featured on and what do you think about them?

I love it. You never know when, or where, they’ll get shown... so it gives the songs a kind of immortality. We were used in a couple of US films that I haven’t seen and a British gangster one that I did. It’s pretty violent. We also had an Iggy Pop type track which was used in a short film, which the director reckons inspired the opening to Trainspotting (director Danny Boyle was a fan apparently). I don’t know if it’s true, but I’d like it to be.

Last we heard from you guys you were finishing off your new album, The Good Things Are All Gone. When will it be released to the public?

It’s finished and a label wants to put it out, but they have some funding issues. If necessary, we will release it ourselves.

The band went through quite a change in line-ups, but has now settled – would you say these initial changes affected the way the band was to develop?

Each line-up has it’s own vibe, depending on the personalities and how we all relate. I think these changes have shaped us over the years.

What can you tell us about the new tracks? Has there been any evolution in the style of the band?

The first album was mostly recorded live with a handful of overdubs. Since then, we’ve got more into the production side, so it’s probably a bit more textured and fuller sounding. The songwriting hasn’t changed hugely, it’s still mainly 1960s influenced and guitar based.

Spider’s Web has a deceptively upbeat feel and particularly dark lyrics – how did the song come about and what does it speak about?

It was inspired by Soho and that feeling of wanting to have an intense artistic experience, but instead you are just cold and alone. At the same time, I tried to make it as poetic as I could. I wrote most of it in a single burst ages ago, but I never liked the last verse. About 10 years later we were due to record it and the night before I wrote 16 alternative final verses, none of which felt right. I was still working on the journey to the studio and then, literally as the train pulled into the station, the whole thing came to me. I was like “yup, that’s the one I was after”.

Spider’s Web was inspired by Soho and that feeling of wanting to have an intense artistic experience, but instead you are just cold and alone

You also released this track in four languages – how come? And what was the biggest nightmare in getting the whole thing to work out?

We recorded a take and had three leftover versions that were all pretty good. It’s in 3/4 time and I told Seb Kellig, our drummer, we could do a version in French – Jacques Brel style. Seb is German and he pointed out it also fitted that Bavarian beer-fest tradition, as well as the Yiddish/gypsy style. So that’s how it started. Then I got the lyrics translated. A couple of friends helped with the French version and Seb did most of the German one, but there was a lot of to-ing and fro-ing because the lines had to scan and feel natural. Finding someone who spoke Yiddish took a while, but I, eventually, found a teacher who adapted the German version. I also had to be coached on how to sing them all and there were four complete sets of overdubs and mixes. So, yes, quite a lot of work.

My Drug Hell. Photo: Veronica Ibarra

Does the rest of the album follow in this vein?

Not really. It was just one of those slightly odd tracks that pop out occasionally. The rest are more pop/rock.

Dark lyrics are something of a trademark of the band’s – what issues/situations inspire you?

I’m not really into fully happy stuff or straight-ahead love songs. I’m more interested in what goes on underneath, the jealousies and hang-ups. Loving someone while secretly wanting to kill them – that kind of thing.

The trademark My Drug Hell sound is very typical of the 1960s – what is it about this period, music-wise, that you find attractive?

I don’t think there’s been an artistic explosion like it. At any time the chart could have the Stones, Kinks, Beatles, Elvis, Frank Sintra, James Brown, Bob Dylan, The Who, Otis Redding, the Doors, Aretha Franklin, Dusty Sprungfield, Hendrix... it was astonishing.

One area in which you’re different from a typical mid-1960s sound is the way you don’t like to overproduce your music. The focus is very much lyrics and arrangements – was this a conscious decision and what led to it?

It’s partly conscious and partly necessity. We work on eight-track tape. Once those tracks are filled there’s not much else you can do. It’s a good discipline though as it forces you to think about the arrangement and make every note and instrument count.

Yet, despite the darkness, there is also an undeniably strong element of romance. Are the My Drug Hell guys romantic? What is the ultimate definition of romance?

Our bassist Dave Preston’s probably the most romantic, I’m pretty rubbish. Pizza for two and a Dexter box set, that’s my definition of romance.

You will soon be performing in Malta. Will you be performing more tracks from the new album? What can we expect from the concert?

Some catchy tunes to bop around to, with a few dirty guitar riffs thrown in. I’m sure there’ll be some off the new album. We’re looking forward to it.

My Drug Hell performs on Sunday at Rock the South Festival at Zion Reggae Bar, Marsascala. The festival runs on Friday, Saturday and next Sunday. Tickets are available online.

https://shop.trackagescheme.com/event/

http://rock-south-2016-5th-year-anniversary/