They’re young, loud, in your face and you’d better believe they are coming for you!

They are of course Rolo Tomassi.

Hailing from Sheffield and led by firecracker frontwoman Eva Spence, the band is set to take 2010 by storm, starting with a tour throughout January and February and a new album set for April; you'd better watch out because, much like a natural disaster, Rolo Tomassi will roll into your town, shake you up and leave you wondering what the fuck just happened.

I had a chance to field some questions to keyboard player James Spence to find out more about what is sure to be one of 2010’s band to watch.

Altsounds: You self-released a lot of your early recordings … When it came to releasing the album, did you seek out the label or did they approach you?

James: After we’d released a bunch of things we were approached by Holy Roar to put something out. We already knew Alex and Ellen as we played a show in their living room. Following the release of the EP we were then contacted by Hassle, who wanted to release our album. There was only so much we could do with self releasing our music, so we thought it was a necessary step to take the band forward.

Altsounds: You incorporate a lot of different styles into your music. What inspires and influences you?

James: At the start it was bands like At The Drive-In and The Dillinger Escape Plan that we were all into. Now everyone has their own influences musically and lyrically, there are a range of authors me and Eva draw influence and inspiration from. I’d say currently we were more influenced by bands like Messhugah, Mew, Goblin and M83 when it comes to writing music.


Altsounds: You’ve toured with Gallows, Every Time I Die and The Bronx; you've also played Download, Sonisphere and SXSW in Texas: is there one particular show that stands out for you?

James: We were recently discussing our favourite gigs and there are a few standouts. For me, our set at Offset Festival last year was amazing. A great peak to an incredible summer. Another show that comes to mind is this house show we did in Brighton after playing at The Great Escape. Not so much for how we played, but just the sheer ridiculousness of the whole situation. Download 2008 was our first major festival and is certainly a highlight in our bands gigography.

Altsounds: You’re gearing up album number two for an April release; anything you can tell us about the album?

James: It’s called "Cosmology". We recorded it in LA in October last year and we’re all happy with how it turned out. Sonically, it’s a natural progression from what we did with our debut "Hysterics", but everything sounds a lot bigger. We’re keen to get it released and start playing it all live!

Altsounds: Do you ever encounter closed minded behaviour or hostility over having a female vocalist?

James: There have been occasions in the past where we’ve had a few cave men shout from the crowd but recently it hasn’t been so much of an issue.

Altsounds: There's a real DIY ethos behind the way you built Rolo Tomassi; do you think it made you stronger as a band?

James: Absolutely. There was a point where we did everything ourselves, and it's not like we aren’t involved with what goes on now. I think having the experience of booking our own tours, releasing our own music and generally managing ourselves in the past has given us a good base to work well as a unit.

Altsounds: Do you feel like you fit in with any musical genre or are you happy being indefinable?

James: I’m happy for our band to remain unlabelled in terms of genre. It allows us to do anything we like.

Altsounds: How do feel when the media try to pigeonhole you?

James: We apparently have this eternal youth that has meant our ages are permanently fixed at 16. I’m now 21.

Altsounds: What was your mission statement when writing the new album?

James: To continue to make exciting and interesting technical music that was accessible to more people without losing any of our bands intensity.

Altsounds: Do you think you have staying power as a band? Will you still be doing this in 20 years?

James: It's impossible for me to say. So much can change in a short space of time! When we started out 5 years ago, if someone told me we’d be where we’re at now I wouldn’t have believed them. Obviously we’d all love to do this for as long as possible but if the fun ever stops, so will we.

Altsounds: Did you ever imagine when you were playing pubs and dingy clubs that you would be playing festivals and big tours?

James: I sort of answered that in the last question: not in the slightest. When we started out our ambition was to play as much as possible, wherever we could but on a much smaller scale. I think our aims are still the same but it’s changed from national to global!

Altsounds: With the new album on the horizon, a tour currently in place and a slot at the Soundwave Festival, is it safe to say 2010 will be a busy year for Rolo Tomassi?

James: Absolutely. We want to be on the road as much as possible. We’ve already toured the UK twice this year as well as Australia once. We have a headline tour of UK and Europe coming up, a slot supporting Biffy Clyro and a few forthcoming festival appearances and that only takes us up to May!

Altsounds: Do you have a message for anyone that's coming to check you out on tour?

James: Have fun, dance hard.