With all the cockiness and swagger of a wheeler-dealer in an East-end boozer, The Rakes emerged in 2004 to critical acclaim with their indie/rock/punk incarnations. Building a reputation for themselves on lyrics that the ‘kids’ can relate to - subjects including boozing, wenching and working in the dead-end nine-to-five - the East-London four-piece have found a niche close to the hearts of disillusioned youth nationwide. The Rakes are unafraid to vent spleen; highly-opinionated, arrogant and confident in their ability. Nobody is safe from singer Alan Donohoe, whose tongue’s as sharp as a Ramsey steak-knife; whether it’s rival bands, legendary poet laureates or Irish heart-throb Colin Farrell; the man attacks like a lion after one too many Nelson’s. On the subject of heat-throbs and kings of the jungle, Donohoe sees himself as king of the swingers and a jungle VIP, who’s reached the top in both his profession and when it comes to pulling the ladies. The Rakes frontman caught-up with Planet Notion to talk asthmatic singers, romantic drunks and drinking tea. Ladies, down please! Words: Dave Dryden
You explore themes associated with the mundanity of life and escapism from the nine-to-five. Do you think such angst is a subject that people can relate to through music?
I think that when you write something it ought to have a certain honesty in it, so that people know that there’s something there that you mean. No BS. I find it grating when there are lyrics that try to be so profound and in the end don’t mean anything, just the writer trying to be deep or live up to some expectation that he or she has imagined. Just keep it real maaaan...
You’re rumoured to be influenced by various literature… Are books such as George Orwell’s Down and Out in Paris and London and authors such as Charles Bukowski, an influence on your music, and do you think that kind of literature is as important and relative as it was when it first came out?
I’ve read a fair bit of George Orwell, but only excerpts of “down and out...” and I’ve never touched Bukowski. I found the whole “I’m-an-outsider-and-no-one-understands-me” theme a load of crap. Leave that to the asthmatic Johnny Borell. I prefer Richard Dawkins and James Joyce. And I fucking hate LA.
I think that the slave to the wage theme goes beyond that, that people get fucked and have a laugh, live a life of booze, bets and women, to forget about another days graft… would you agree with that statement and do you think it represents the attitude of society’s youth?
It might represent an attitude that most people have but grow out of, as you can’t really keep it up for too long before you decompose, inside out. Then you realise that living in a hangover for a few years isn’t as good an idea as the romantic drunks would have you believe. It’s far more satisfying to have your head screwed on and do something productive. I read that Colin Farrell has “Carpe Diem” tattooed on his arm. What a cock.
Okay, but do you still relate to those topics, that slant that comes across in your lyrics given the fact that your 
music has taken you beyond the whole theme explored in many of your songs… beyond the nine-to-five day job?
I can still relate to them to a degree; I still get up in the morning, drink tea, and have stuff to do, but no longer feel the desperation of earning little money in a job that makes you feel like a lobotomised Jack Nicholson.
You’re regarded as strongly for your fashion sense as for your music… How would you respond to those that believe donning brand-name clothing is against the grain of what your music stands for?
I know what it’s like to earn just enough to pay the rent and bills, so if someone offers you work that means wearing a top you wore anyway for what was three months wages not so long ago, and you can sit there looking beautiful, then of course I’m gonna do it. We don’t all have the luxury of having millionaire parents to pay our bills, and now I can boast that I’m a rockstar aaaaannnnd a model. Ladies, down please! Our music doesn’t stand for anything, it’s just sound. Leave that to Rage Against The Machine. You get paid to do a festival, and you get paid to wear a top - give a shit.
What can we expect lyrically from your next album? Will the same themes be discussed as on previous albums, and if you’re branching out to discuss new topics where has the inspiration come from?
I don’t know… We’ve written about three or four songs already and they’re mostly about sex.
Tell us about your live performances… pretty manic affairs. Some bands prefer the studio-work to performing live and see it as a chore. What’s your feeling towards playing live and recording in the studio, and any tales of debauchery to tell?
You get bored of both (touring and recording) after a while. Tales of debauchery? One time, I ate three bananas in a row - before midday!
Pretty hardcore… What about the download boom that seems to be spreading it’s tentacles around the world at the moment - what do you make of it? Do you think that vinyl and CD are ever going to die a death?
Brendan Lynch, producer extraordinaire, has a theory that the musical purists will stick with vinyl, as it’s an analogue representation of the real recording -the closest you’re ever going to get to really being there, and MP3’s will proliferate due to their convenience and because everyone’s got an iPod. But, I mean, a Sony Walkman and CD’s will disappear.
Radiohead releasing ‘In Rainbows’ in the manner they did was a pretty bold statement. What do you make of rumours that record companies will become a disposable commodity?
Funnily enough, our record company just got pulverised by a Goliath major record company and we’ll be moving home onto a smaller “independent” label soon. I think even if you have the technical ability to record music yourself and know how to publicise it so you can let a lot of people know of your stuff, you still need a record company; If only to take you out for the odd free drink and meal. I’d be interested to know the last time Radiohead all got taken out for a free meal. It’s likely that they have people sorting out the whole project, which in a sense is like having a record company. I doubt Mr. Yorke coded the whole website and engineered everything; band’s need to focus on the music and delegate the boring stuff to a lower 
minion. It’s likely that only a band as big as Radiohead could get away with releasing their album like that.
Finally, any plans for the future and anything you want to add?
Our plans are to release a third album, tour Australia, learn “Fur Elise” on piano and insult more bands.
The Rakes are currently promoting walkmanproject.com – a new interactive site which lets you collaborate with musical talent from across the world, by mixing up different musical components to create your very own multi-instrumental track, which you can then download for free.
