Deputy Editor Hannah Gadd chats to drummer of Pale Waves, Ciara Doran, about the band’s upcoming album and tour
As a long term Pale Waves fan I was thrilled to sit down over the phone with drummer, Ciara Doran, ahead of the release of their fourth album Smitten. The band are also set to embark on their UK headline tour in October making this an exciting time for Pale Waves. Check out the interview below:
Hi Ciara! I just wanted to say I’m a big Pale Waves fan and first saw you guys six years ago so I’m really excited to be talking to you!
Oh wow! What show was it?
Birmingham!
Ah I love playing Birmingham!
I’ve never missed a show! Moving on to the questions, Pale Waves fourth album, Smitten, comes out next week. What can you tell us about the album and the creative process?
I guess it got started straight after the third album so a bit was written in LA, a bit was written in the UK. It’s about Heather’s romantic past I think.
I actually got the opportunity to listen to the album and I think it introduces us to a sound we haven’t heard from the band before whilst also staying authentic to Pale Waves. How do you manage to keep that balance or is that something which just happens naturally?
It’s a lot to do with how Heather’s feeling at the time. I don’t know, it kind of comes naturally. I think this album reverts back to an 80s vibe.
I definitely hear that. Did you approach your part on the album in a different way this time around?
No, not really. I don’t know really, maybe a bit more laid back in parts? Kind of just going with whatever the song informs me to do and not getting in the way of the vocal and all that.
Cocteau Twins are a big part of this album but that was a band we really looked up to when writing the first one.
Did yourself, or the band as a whole, take inspiration from any artists that maybe hadn’t influenced your previous albums?
I know Cocteau Twins are a big part of this album but that was a band we really looked up to when writing the first one. I think we were just going back to our original influences mostly.
On the contrary, are there any artists that have been a staple for Pale Waves throughout all four albums?
Bands like The Cranberries and the Cocteau Twins really.
Nice! So your headline tour starts next month.
Yeah, can’t wait!
What excites you about being back on the road, especially with a brand new album?
Just excited to see how fans react to the new songs. Adding new songs into the set is always fun because obviously we’ve been playing the same ones for a long time. It’s just something new and exciting. Our headline tours are my favourite parts of the year, there’s nothing like that.
And with quite a lot of music under your belt now, it must be hard to design a setlist.
Yeah, it is actually. It’s picking the best ones from each album and putting them in an order that makes sense. A lot of thought has to go into it.
You’ve opened for some of the most popular bands in the world like The 1975 and 5 Seconds of Summer. How has that experience lent itself to performing on your own headline tours?
Obviously it’s a whole different experience because you’re playing to win people over which is another fun thing in itself but when you play headline shows everyone is there for you and knows the tunes. It’s a bit more connection-based but there’s more pressure when you get up to perform to a crowd that’s there to see an all-male band like 5SOS who are so loved. It’s an interesting atmosphere, but amazing as well. The fans really took to us which was great.
…a 3,000 cap room is loud and sweaty, there’s some kind of vibe to that.
How different is the atmosphere in arenas as opposed to smaller venues?
It’s really scary but amazing. It’s cool. Sometimes it’s a bit less vibey because it’s such a big room. Whereas a 3,000 cap room is loud and sweaty, there’s some kind of vibe to that. Arenas can be a little stale but still amazing. It depends on the room really, they’re all different.
I agree, there’s such a vibe to more intimate shows.
Exactly and when you’re on stage in an arena you’re a lot further away from the PA system so it’s a lot different there too.
Finally, what can fans expect from the album and the rest of the Smitten era?
More shows. I don’t know yet, we’ll just have to see. Hopefully going round the world like we normally do.
Smitten is out next Friday and Pale Waves play the O2 Institute on the 15th October 2024.
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