Discourse: Fat White Family's Lias Saoudi Discusses Survival Strategies, Industry Issues, and the Album Forgiveness Is Yours
In the ever-evolving landscape of the music industry, Fat White Family, the notorious British band known for their raw and provocative sound, are navigating a complex set of circumstances. As grassroots venues close and arena shows multiply, the band finds themselves grappling with the industry's changing dynamics.
Lias Saoudi, the band's charismatic frontman, has been vocal about the industry's unfair treatment of artists. He believes that the music industry is in a catastrophic state, particularly for grassroots artists, a sentiment echoed by many in the industry.
The departure of Saul Adamczewski, a key member of Fat White Family, has left its mark on the band. Despite this, Saoudi expresses surprise that their fourth album, "Forgiveness Is Yours," was completed. The departure caused significant interpersonal issues within the band, and it remains to be seen how the band will adjust their creative process and approach to the industry without him.
Saoudi's new album is more intimate and lyrical, but not expected to be a worldwide smash. He does not think about the band in terms of commercial success like Arctic Monkeys and Wet Leg. Instead, he yearns for stability, normal relationships, and a place to live, suggesting that the band's lifestyle may be a young person's game.
Saoudi sees the current music industry as a period that could once cultivate artists capable of scaling incredible heights, but now finds banality smothering everything. He compares it to a time when artists like Dave Berman could afford a house through record sales, a contrast to the current reality where the band's income is not sufficient to live comfortably, even with 4,000 ticket sales in London.
Despite these challenges, Saoudi maintains a positive outlook. He views the band as more of an experiential, running art project. He finds the karmic redistribution in the musical landscape, as represented by Domino co-founder Laurence Bell, intriguing.
As Fat White Family continue their journey, they join a long line of bands from the indie generation that have faced similar struggles. Bands like The Wombats and The Kooks, who preceded them, are still active, offering a glimmer of hope for the future.
In the end, the band's evolution post-Saul remains a fascinating mystery, one that can only be unravelled through interviews, statements from the band members themselves, and analyses from music critics and fans. The future of Fat White Family in this catastrophic music industry is uncertain, but one thing is clear: they are a band that refuses to be silenced.
In the realm of various industries, including finance and entertainment, Fat White Family's struggle within the music industry resonates with artists in other sectors who believe that the industry, especially for grassroots artists, is in a state of crisis. Lias Saoudi, the band's frontman, asserts that their income is insufficient to live comfortably, even with 4,000 ticket sales in London, comparing it to a time when artists like Dave Berman could afford a house through record sales.
