Autocamper: "Looking Up at One of Your Favorite Bands of All Time With a Pint in Hand Is the Best Feeling There Is, Only Topped by Having Just Played a Blinder With Your Mate"

Characterized by their wide-eyed devotion, Autocamper's shambling pop chops and C86 revisionism is as lovable as it is easily copied. However, the group are one of the better outfits working within the jangle circuit and their fresh breeze of unschooled pop is a welcome relief to Manchester's predictable post-punk machismo. Their latest cassingle keeps the momentum going with "Summertime" b/w "Ken Hom," which rounds out their ramshackle charm with angelically pristine guitars and flesh-out arrangements that burst with adventure. To dig further, we had a quick chat drummer Arthur Robinson all about the band's origins, sharing the stage with some of his heroes, and how the new tape serves a hint to the group’s upcoming debut album coming out on Slumberland Records (US) and Safe Suburban Home (UK) next year.

For our readers unfamiliar, tell us about the origins of Autocamper. How did you all meet and decide to start making music together?

Arthur Robinson: About a month after I moved to Manchester, I met Jack at an Umbrellas gig and established he was a fan of The Chesterfields—the rest is history. As it happens I met Harry before Jack, at a radio society meeting, but only knew him as "Dean Blunt scouser" until we all got together and started making tunes.

Besides making music, what's something you love to do when you all get together?

We're all good mates. We like going to charity shops and the pub.

You've opened for some of our favorite bands over the last year and a half—Jeanines, Lewsberg, The Vaselines, Swansea Sound, and next month, The Smashing Times. What have been some of the highlights and how special and inspiring has this experience been for you?

It's a bit surreal—feels like I won't process it all properly for years to come. Looking up at one of your favorite bands of all time with a pint in hand is the best feeling there is, only topped by having just played a blinder with your mates.

Photo by Tommy Deedigan

What do you recall about recording your debut cassette release last year? Was that the first time you ever recorded as a band?

Not being able to get a coffee before recording. Everything keeps slowing down…

Earlier in the year, you released the songs "Blanche" and "Budge." Did these two tracks come from the previous sessions or were they their own thing? Tell us how these songs came about.

They were their own thing. We recorded them both with Arthur Arnold from Tigers & Flies. "Blanche" was done in Withington Public Hall in July last year, "Budge" was done in his bedroom a few months later.

What can you tell us about how your new cassingle "Summertime" b/w "Ken Hom" came about while recording in Plungington, Lancashire and their connection to the new album?

Those tracks won't be on the record or anything, but they give an idea of the change in pace, I think. They're both old songs that have gotten better over time.

Photo by Tommy Deedigan

Can you share some further details on how your latest album was recorded?

We went up to Glasgow and recorded it with Chris McCrory at Green Door. He's ace and knew exactly what we were trying to do. I think it'll be a corker.

What's the inspiration behind your artwork?

Nice old pop records and zine stuff, as far as I’m aware. Jack and Harry are the art school grads, ask them.

What are some future plans for the band? Can we ever catch you coming to America?

We're hoping to become overbearingly rich and famous after the LP. I got some unfinished business over in them states. 

"Summertime" b/w "Ken Hom" is out now on Slumberland Records.