6 Music - Music News

St Albans trio Friendly Fires have confirmed work on their new album is well underway and they have a third of it already mapped out.

Singer Ed MacFarlane updated 6 Music on progress.

"We have about four tracks done already, which is really good because we only came off the road about a month ago, so we’re really please with the way it’s panning out."

The band are riding high on the success of their self-titled debut, which went gold, and earned them a Mercury Music Prize nomination this year.

As for whether they are feeling any pressure, MacFarlane responded: "I’m trying not to think about it.

"I don’t think we’re trying to think about writing pop hits because I think as soon as you do that you’re missing the point a little bit and you’ll end up writing really bad songs, so we’re just writing whatever comes naturally."

"We're going to hopefully have all the songs finished by the end of the year, record in January and have the album ready for May time."

Ed Macfarlane

The band did an extensive year-long stint of touring the UK, Europe and far flung places around the world, in celebration of their debut.

They marked an incredible year with a homecoming gig in their hometown of St Albans back in September (Watch 6 Music’s report by clicking here).

After so much time on the road, and still with a handful of US tour dates in the diary before Christmas, the frontman said there are no tensions in the camp, they’re just happy to be back in the studio.

"We’ve known each other since we were 13 years-old and we’re pretty used to each other’s company to be honest.

"I think it’s different sleeping in a bunk next to someone on a bus to actually being in the studio and creating music. It’s not quite as intimate," he said.

As for the time frame they are working to, Macfarlane revealed: "We’re going to hopefully have all the songs finished by the end of the year, record in January and have the album ready for May time, and do some festivals around then."