Last updated 11:24, Thursday, 23 October 2008

THEY’RE the moody, brooding rockers whose band has spawned a million haircuts.

Funeral for a friend

They dress like they’re in mourning, singing songs with names like Into Oblivion and Roses For The Dead. In fact, you might assume, Funeral For A Friend are not the cheeriest of folk.

But get him on his own, and singer Matt Davies has a positively sunny disposition. Currently touring to promote his new record, he’s come a long way since his school days in Wales.

Released on October 13, Memory and Humanity is the band’s fourth studio album and their first on their own label, Join Us.

On the phone from Hull University, where he played on Monday night, Matt’s gentle Welsh voice is full of enthusiasm.

“The tour’s pretty hectic, and it’s pretty long,” he says. “But I really do prefer touring at this time of year – there’s something about it that’s conducive to good gigs. It’s quite fresh, it makes you feel alive.”

Of course, life on the road is hardly unusual for FFAF. The band spend almost 10 months a year on tour, notching up exotic travel destinations from Gothenburg to Vienna.

He adds: “We’ll play anywhere that will have us, really. We especially like going to places we haven’t played before – we try to encourage that.”

And tonight (THU) he’ll be doing just that, when he performs for the first time at Whitehaven Civic Centre. He’s not sure what to expect, but he’ll be bringing his camera with him.

He says: “I’m a bit of a photography geek. Wherever we haven’t been before, I like to take a few photos to record the experience.”

But after seven years in the business, his photo albums are starting to fill up. And with a new label under their belt, the band are now masters of their own destiny.

“I think we’re a lot more aware of the situation we’re in – we’re not as naive as when we started out. All the things we’ve done over the past few years have had their impact on our songs, and we’re a lot more educated as a band,” he says.

To keep things in perspective, he spends as much time as he can in his native Wales. In spite of his success, he says, things haven’t changed much between him and his childhood friends.

He says: “I learned very early on not to let the lifestyle swallow me up. I’m a very personal person – I’m all about my friends, my family and my community.

“I like that feeling of insignificance when I’m at home. I like to feel like I’m just an average Joe.”

But unlike many Welsh bands, Funeral For A Friend don’t have much time for patriotism. Far from draping himself in the flag, Matt prefers to be a citizen of the world.

“I don’t adhere to that idea of nationalism that some people do. I’m proud of the history and culture element of my country, but as far as taking it further, it’s not really my cup of tea,” he says.

Instead, he relies on music for an outlet and a sense of belonging. He picked up the habit from his bass player dad, as a way of dealing with his awkward teenage years.

He says: “I came from a very working class background, and we were never the popular kids in school. I don’t know who I’d be without music – I’m boring now, so god help me if I didn’t have that.”

Writing most of his songs from his own experience, it’s often been the hardest times that inspired the best music.

“I think it’s easier to write songs about hardship and trials and the things you have to overcome. It does give rich material to draw upon – for me anyway,” he says.

He describes FFAF as a rock band, but the ‘emo’ tag has been floating about since they started. But after years of dealing with the media, Matt accepts a bit of labelling as inevitable.

What does get him annoyed is the idea that emo bands glamorise depression and self-harm.

He says: “It’s not about that and it never has been, never will be. Obviously I can’t speak for people who do suffer from depression, but it doesn’t reinforce it.

“It’s a way of letting out your emotions and sharing them with other people who share your love of music.”

Funeral For A Friend play Whitehaven Civic Hall tonight from 7.30pm. Call 01946 514960. Visit www.ffaf.co.uk for more information.