Discovering a potentially amazing new pop act always is a very exciting thing. As is finding artists prepared to do an interview for your site. So when we found out the new Boston duo Young London was up for a little chat with us, we were very pleased indeed. For those who have missed all of our previous raves about them: this is what their first single sounds like..

It’s a bit good. It’s actually on it’s way of becoming one of our favourite singles of the year, so we couldn’t wait to find out more about this duo.

After struggling a bit with different time zones, and neither of us properly knowing how to make Skype work, last night Matt and Sarah from Young London logged on from their studio to spend the next 90 minutes talking to us, about their music, their favourite cities and Full House..

Good afternoon Young London. Before you started talking to us, what have you been up to today?
We’re finishing some tracks in the studio!

The album’s not done yet?
Not yet! We’re putting the finishing touches on it right now.

(And they really meant ‘right now’. While Sarah did a lot of the typing, Matt couldn’t stop himself from continuing to work on the album even during the interview.)

It must be a bit nervewrecking to still have songs to finish, while the release date has already been announced. Are you confident you’ll get it done in time?
100%. We have no choice. (Laughs)
But yeah, we are just making sure it is optimally awesome right now.

In case people never heard of you before: who are Young London?
We are Matt and Sarah… we are both early twenties, but have been making Music since we were little kids! Matt is an electronic musician and producer, Sarah comes from a classically trained piano/singing background. Together we make magic.

So how did the two of you end up together?
S: I came to Matt’s studio to do guest vocals on an indie project… he freaked out about my voice (laughs) and we decided that we had to work together!

And so you decided to become Young London. How did you come up with that name? Is London your favourite city?
S: I thought of the name Young London. to us it signifies a mix of old and new. Our music is 90’s throwback, infused with current themes.

So with ‘Young’ being the new part, this implies you consider London to be ‘old’?
S: Hahaha, yeah… I guess old in the sense that they have such a cool musical history. Beatles, etcetera. But we’ve never been there!!

Any plans on changing that? Are there any plans for international promotion at the moment?
M: It’s definitely on the horizon for us. Young London plans on being very international. Soon enough we will do the second part of this interview face to face!

That sounds like an excellent idea. Had you named yourself after your favourite city instead, what group would we’ve been talking to right now?
M: Young Seattle.
S: Young Venice (laughs)

Let’s talk about your music. Your first single Let Me Go has just been released on iTunes. Did your write it yourself, and what’s the song about?
We did write it. It’s about being in a relationship where together you both bring each other down, but there’s hope in the end if you can let each other go.

Did you write that, and the other songs on your album from your own experience?
S: Definitely! Our next single is about wanting to be a celebrity. which we all fantasize about from time to time… Especially driving 10 hours in a van from show to show!

You both have pretty different and diverse musical backgrounds. Is Let Me Go a good indication of what all songs will sound like or will it be a very eclectic album?
M: Definitely the latter! Every song is different. One of my favorites is actually a ballad, where another sounds like 50’s diner music.

S: The next single is also different, but what ties everything together is the back and forth of the male/female vocals. Some songs are told from the same perspective, and then there are some where we really play off of each other, almost like acting out a scene. We loved writing that way, it makes it really fun to tell a story.

So do you both sing on all songs, or does each of you also get solo ones to shine on?
M: We both sing on all the songs. Some are more Matt, some more Sarah, but we’re both always in there.

When we first wrote about you we compared you to Cobra Starship (in hindsight not far of considering you worked with the same producer) meeting Alphabeat.. Have you heard of Alphabeat, and how do you feel about the comparison?
M: Yeah we knew them before. Alphabeat is sick. You Make Me Feel is bomb. I think we totally draw influence from tons of current stuff. But we usually have slightly more serious themes. Not too many songs about ‘gettin’ love in the club’.

When you say more serious, how serious are we talking? Do songs touch upon social matters and politics? Is the overall tone of the album quite heavy or is it still mostly upbeat?
M: It’s definitely upbeat. Politics suck. But there’s more to life than poppin’ bottles with models.

That’s very true, and sounding quite promising. We’re big fans of upbeat songs with dramatical lyrics.
S: Oooh, then we have the perfect song for you!

Are there any songs on the album you’re particularly proud of?
S: Yes, one of our favorites is called U Got Me. It’s about being there for each other. it was one of these weird songwriting moments that people talk about, when you feel like you’ve just channeled into some crazy energy and the song writes itself. It’s definitely one of our faves, very meaningful to us.

Is it about the two of you being there for each other?
S: No, I actually originally started writing that song when a friend of mine passed away. I wanted to write something hopeful for her family, because I couldn’t imagine what they were going through. So that’s where the phrase “U Got Me” came from.

We’re sorry to hear that… Is there anything else you can already spill about the album? Did you write all the songs yourselves? Will we get to hear any more of them before the album’s released? And will the album immediately be released internationally as well?
M: We did write all of it together, we will be playing a few of the songs live, and it will definitely go international too.

Great. If you can choose between your album becoming a huge seller, with some terrible reviews, or one that’s loved by the critics but doesn’t sell quite as much, what will you choose?
Trick question!! Sales aren’t the bottom line, but neither are the critics. We just want people to fall in love with our music, and for it to make them feel good.

Do you remember the moment you first fell in love with music?
S: YES!! Maybe this is kind of cheesy (laughs) but I grew up playing piano, and then Vanessa Carlton’s A Thousand Miles made it cool. I learned that song so fast and i knew I wanted to be like her someday. Matt is still thinking on his answer, haha…

(…….)

Matt gives up, hit us with the rest of your questions!

Perhaps it’s less hard to tell what you’re mostly listening to nowadays?
S: My favorites right now are Katy Perry and La Roux, they are dominating! And my all-time fave is Regina Spektor. I’ve been jamming her album Far for a good 2 years now.

M: Everything that Dr. Luke has been putting out is pretty bodacious…. but I’m a sucker for Third Eye Blind.

In your bio you say “Young London’s songs could be described as 90’s throwback—as if Danny Tanner invited Daft Punk over for dinner”. Are you big fans of Daft Punk.. and how about Danny?
(Laughs) Haha, yes, we’re huge fans of both. We grew up on Full House and all that awesome 90’s stuff. And Matt is basically obsessed with Tron.

With all respect, Danny Tanner is a bit cheesy and sacharine though, isn’t he? So what does comparing yourselves to him say about you? Are you trying to tell us your songs are cheesy?
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

..Next question then?
No!!

Are there any cheesy or tacky things you’re secretly quite fond of?
M: A lot of times after shows where other bands go out and party, we will rush back to our hotel room to watch Storage Wars..

If Danny Tanner & Daft Punk would actually have dinner together, do you think they’d have a nice night?
Totally. Danny would have the house so nice. And then Daft Punk would go into the basement after dinner and jam with Uncle Jesse and the Rippers.

Thank you very much, Young London!
Thank you! This has been our favorite interview yet! Talk to you soon!

Let Me Go is out now! The video’s being finalized, and so is the second single.
Young London’s selftitled album will be out on the 4th of october.

Young London on Facebook