Pretty Addicted

Pretty Addicted is fairly new within darker scene. However, that has not stopped them from coming in and stomping their way to being recognized. Their self-released and debut album, Filth, was recently picked up by DWA, furthering their strides and allowing them to be more known. With this in mind, I decided to have a little chit chat with lead singer, Vicious, about the project and everything in between.

Let's just begin off with a little educational history: Tell us how Pretty Addicted began.
Vicious - "It began mentally in my head years and years ago, when I'd decided I wanted to create something mad in this mundane world, but physically it began in late November 2011. I met former bandmate Ben on a social networking site- we were both part of other bands at the time- and we started working together on this after he'd remixed one of my then band's songs. From the first song we made together I knew Pretty Addicted was going to be something that was very important to me and it became my baby and, even after Ben's departure from the band (and two new live additions) it still remains as important to me as it was then, if not more important. Yes, even more important! Now here we are two years later, doing our best to make it in the world of music and who knows, maybe we'll do something awesome."

Let's go into a little more detail: Who's in your current line up, what are your goals for the project, do you prefer puppies over kittens, and do you hug or kill vegans?
Vicious - "Since Ben's departure, I have recruited two live members who have signed their souls over to me in blood, haha, joke. We have keyboardist O/D and a drummer who I will reveal later on. For the creation of further PA music I have a few people I will be choosing from to work with when the time comes to make it, but I have basically written the entire next album in my head and at the time of getting it done I will decide on the right person to help me with the technical side of that and getting the shit that is in my brain properly written. For the other questions, dogs are my biggest fear so NOT FUCKING DOGS! And vegans are harmless but not my bag. I like food too much! Give me meat, alll the meat."

And, now, let's talk about your debut release, Filth. I mean, the only reason why I discovered you guys was through DWA's bandcamp page. Before that, I never even heard of you. Would you say that being signed to such a fine label as DWA was a breakthrough for you?
Vicious - "I wouldn't say they are the sole reason for people noticing us but they definitely help. I do work my ass off on PR and social media for the band, pretty much round the clock, and go out of my way to make sure more people know who we are everyday so I would've found my way to you eventually, haha. Not to downplay the importance of being on a label like DWA, it definitely gives you a little more 'street cred' in the scene shall we say and certain perks!"

I personally enjoyed the album quite a bit, but I am just one critic amongst many; has the reception for the album been better than what you expected?
Vicious - "Definitely. Much more positive responses than negative responses which is not something I expected with an album like 'Filth'. To be honest, when we first made it we didn't know if anyone would ever give a shit but it was never and will never be about making other people happy; artists should make music that makes themselves happy."

How exactly did you get signed to DWA? Did you contact them or did they get a hold of you?
Vicious - "Through contacts. A promoter in Sheffield who had booked us for a show passed along our album, which at the time we had self-released, to DWA and the first email we ever received from DWA basically said yep, we want to sign you so we couldn't have been more happy about that!"

I saw that Pretty Addicted was described as being gender bending. Would you agree with that?
Vicious - "Absolutely. That's an issue very important to me as I don't identify myself as having one gender."

I have taken some interest in the name of your act. Is the audience supposed to be pretty addicted to your band, or is it sort of a parody against drug fiends, or is there just an entirely different meaning behind it, or none at all?
Vicious - "All of the above. Haha."

I would guess, by the titles of a lot of your songs such as "Slut Junkie" and "PCP for the Crackheads", and also by the title of your act, that addiction is a theme within the project. Why so?
Vicious - "Why not? Haha. Everyone has an addiction."

I know that a lot of the times, bands who are just beginning are a bit nervous to begin hitting the stage, but you definitely seem to be very comfortable on stage. How do you feel before, during, and after shows?
Vicious - "Like I NEED to be there! Being on stage is the time I feel most alive. I was in performing arts school from the age of 2 up until my teens so being on stage is something I have always done from a very young age and doesn't make me nervous in the slightest. On the contrary, in the build up to showtime I just have a buzz about me like GET ME THE FUCK OUT THERE! During the show it's like the best high you can possibly imagine and after the show all I want to do is go back on stage. I honestly love doing live shows."

And, speaking of live shows, do you have any plans for a tour or are you just going gig by gig?
Vicious - "We absolutely have plans for a tour. Are those plans ready yet? No. But they will be! Keep watching us, Crackheads, we will have our plans manifest into a reality at some point."

A lot of the times, I see that PA has almost a dirty appearance. Not so much in clothing choices, but with messed up make up and blackened teeth. Do you find personal appearance to be a major part of PA?
Vicious - "Absolutely. It's not even necessarily personal appearance but 'image'. It's my image. I actually look like that all the time. I find the sort of things people would class as grotesque as beautiful. Filth is sexy to me, haha."

And, speaking of styles, I absolutely adore your CUNT necklace. I sorta wish I had one for myself. Will there ever be CUNT necklace replicas up for sale as official PA merchandise?
Vicious - "Ooh, that's an idea! Who knows, maybe that's something for the future!"

In regards to your music styles, I definitely get the feel that you are into club hits and more dance floor centric songs. Are you going to stick within this genre or will there by more experimentation down the line?
Vicious - "It's not so much about club hits but I do like that people can dance to our shit. Influences for our sound have always been bands like The Prodigy and not just because they're dance-able but the gritty, dark elements of it. I have written the entire next album in my head already and though, of course, we're nowhere close to needing to put it down 'on paper'. I will say that most PA music will always remain dance-able. I don't like the term 'club hit' though, envokes images of boring 4 by 4 artists with a catchy hook and not much else."

As with most bands situated with a darker agenda, it almost seems as if you might attract controversy. Has there been anyone out there who has confronted you about your project and telling your that it's wrong?
Vicious - "Ha. Of course. Did I give a shit? Absolutely not."

How do you handle this controversy, if any? You sorta seem like the type of person who would just blow it off and shout, "FUCK YOU," to anyone who got in your face.
Vicious - "I'm the type of person to go 'Fuck off and go listen to something else then,' so, yeah, haha. I really don't give a fuck what anyone but myself thinks- about the music I make, about the way I live my life, about what they think of me as a person. Believe me there are negative comments on all three of those things but my response is that is literally their problem and it doesn't phase me in the slightest. I like my music, I like the way I live my life and I think I'm a pretty nice person, so if they want to waste their time and energy thinking negative things about my music or me then they can go for it."

Well, finally, we come to an end, of this interview. Is there anything else you would like to add, say to your fans, haters, or a general public service announcement?
Vicious - "I think the sole message we convey- that anyone who hates us needs to understand- is the belief I have that you should ALWAYS BE YOURSELF, not giving a fuck what anyone else says. I like to think that if we give people anything it's a confidence to be the person you are without worrying about who you'll upset or piss off. Life is short and you should live it honestly so whatever type of person you are, be that fucking person. To the fullest. Do we have haters? I haven't come across any so far. Someone said we were a mess live, haha, but I don't exactly think people expect us to be all prim and proper live. Sometimes I do shows pissed and sometimes I do them sober, doesn't really make a difference, I'm not trying to be the next Madonna or Michael Jackson, I'm not trying to win X-Factor by putting on a perfect performance, I think people like me a little messy. The quote was 'It was all a bit of a mess really' and I'm so tempted to use that for the next album title."