Altsounds - Altsounds.com Q&A Interview - Laila Khan of Sonic Boom Six

I was waiting around for Madina Lake, but I just couldn’t hold it anymore…I had to take a bathroom break. Luckily for me, whilst jogging – pretty unattractively – to the portaloos, I saw a flash of bright red hair. I ran back out again and approached Laila Khan for an unscheduled interview in the rain.

Altsounds: So I’m with Laila K from Sonic Boom Six.
Laila K: Hello!

Altsounds: What’s your favourite joke?
Laila K: What did the 0 say to the 8?

Altsounds: Aw, I heard this one! Nice belt.
Laila K: Yeah! If you ask any musician or singer what’s their favourite joke that’s the first one that they’ll say. I’ve got some awful Michael Jackson one but I’m not going to go there.

Altsounds: Ha ha, ok, maybe leave it a couple of years!
Laila K: Ok, fair enough!

Altsounds: Do you have anything to say to our readers who might not have heard of you or your new album?
Laila K: Yeah, we are Sonic Boom Six, our album came out at the end of May called 'City of Thieves', have a listen to it, get a copy from a friend. You don’t even need to buy it, just have a listen. We’re on tour in October, come and watch us, have fun and we will look after you all.

Altsounds: Yeah, I liked when you asked for a circle pit today and you said be nice to each other or I’ll come down there!
Laila K: Oh yeah, I’ve been in circle pits, I’ve seen White Zombie and I’ve seen Sound Garden, I’ve seen bands where people are doing massive circle pits and I want girls to get involved. I want kids and older people to get involved. I don’t want anyone punching someone in the face because it’s a 'circle pit', you know what I mean? A circle pit to me is running round going 'Yeahhh!', but in a circle. That’s the only reason I said that.

Altsounds: ‘City of Thieves’ is the most exciting album I’ve heard all year, what do you feel about the album and the subsequent tours?
Laila K: Amazing, just amazing.

Altsounds: I feel like you’ve finally nailed it cos obviously you’ve got a lot of sounds going on and a lot of different vibes…
Laila K: Yeah I think with this album we went 'OK, let’s get together and write it'. It took us about 6 weeks, we rehearsed it and recorded it. It’s the first time we’ve ever done that with an album. Usually we go back and forth, back and forth, but this one we just did it. We’re so happy with it.

Altsounds: I love the werewolf song.
Laila K: Oh! ‘Strange Transformations.’ Yeah, we are going to do a Thriller-esque video to that.

Altsounds: Yeah, so it’s definitely going to be a single?
Laila K: Ehhh, errrr. Yes, no, maybe, I can’t say too much (laughs)!

Altsounds: If I wanted to go to Manchester, where should I go to rock out?
Laila K: Satan's Hollow is a great place, there’s a stage in the middle and everyone dances round it, really cool. Retro bar is a great place to watch up and coming bands. Yeah, those two places I think.

Altsounds: Anyone here you’re excited about seeing or want to see?
Laila K: Faith No More. Saw them at reading and I stood in the photography pit. Waved at Mike Pattern loads and I think he saw me once!

Altsounds: Can’t miss you with your red hair though.
Laila K: Exactly! I was kind of winking at him too.

Altsounds: Seductively, yeah?
Laila K: Oh big time!

Altsounds: Ok, so you’re very active on stage. Ever considered releasing a workout video?
Laila K: Ha ha ha, not yet...

Altsounds: But maybe?
Laila K: You should not put ideas into my mind.

Altsounds: Maybe I should, is there going to be a lot of spandex involved?
Laila K: Liam! (Calls over to SBS manager) She says ‘you’re so active on stage, have considered releasing a workout video?’ Definitely watch this space!
Altsounds: Ok, thank you very much for your time!

'City of Thieves' is out now on Rebel Alliance, and the tour runs from the 6th October through to 25th October.

www.myspace.com/sonicboomsix