WU LYF (pronounced “Woo Life”) are the latest band to spring from that well of British indie music talent, Manchester. Vocalist Ellery Roberts chats to Patrick Benjamin ahead of the band’s appearance at Laneway 2012.

For the uninitiated, describe WU LYF in three words.
Kill Your Friends.

Your debut album, Go Tell Fire To The Mountain, was recorded in an abandoned church. How was the recording process?
It was all about passion because not many would have braved the harsh, freezing environment in that huge church during October and November. All we could do was drink whisky and make music.

How did you come up with that gruff, Tom Waits-esque vocal style?
An accident. I really don’t know how to sing, it’s only through playing more gigs that I’m learning how to.

Demystify what WU LYF’s heavy pop is all about…
It’s quite simple actually; we came up with a bunch of songs that connects the notion of heaviness with pop sensibilities.

How’s the second album coming along?
Well, we are structuring it around a road movie and have already worked on three songs. It should be out April next year.

Finally, what the hell is Ronaldo in a Barca shirt doing on the band’s website?
He’s always been my all-time favorite footballer but it also explains what we’re trying to do with the LYF membership is similar to FC Barcelona’s concept of socios.

Catch WU LYF alongside 13 other indie acts at the second edition of St Jerome’s Laneway on February 12. Tickets are now on sale at $135 from Sistic.

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