The New Victorians are a homely duo who have been active on the island since 2011. They’ve accumulated quite an audience, performing at events such as the BMAs, and the upcoming Rock the South event in April. Victoria-Melita Zammit sat down with the sisters for a few minutes to speak to them about their career and their dynamic.
What’s it like working with your sister? Do you ever feel like maybe it’s too close to home?
Philippa: It’s…interesting. It’s fun because we understand each other, we’re on the same page. I’d just be able to give her a look and know like "Mmm…I don’t feel it’, but we fight about everything. I wouldn’t change it though, it’s the only way I’d have it. We have moments were we’d be practicing and I’d just go "No?’ and she’d say "No’ and I’d just go "No’ as well. Our brains are like in sync, so as much as our band members and neighbours think we’re psychotic, it works.
How did you start up the duo in the first place?
Philippa: First, we played for our cousin’s wedding. At first we were like "What? We don’t do weddings.’ I was thirteen at the time, and we did it because they insisted. The whole place really responded and people kept asking us why we’d never done it before, and our answer was "Because we’re not so great!’ And then it just happened. When Bettina was in first year at University she signed up for a song writing competition, and I was too young to enter but I snuck in with her anyway. We came second and it showed us that the whole thing kind of works. A year later we signed up for a song writing competition in America, as a joke. The judges promised that they’d hear our song whether we win or not. We forgot about it, and during my exams at Sixth Form, we got an email telling us "If you could fly up in a week, you placed in the Top Ten’. So we woke up our parents screaming at one in the morning, but my parents showed us that they really believed in it, because my father, sister and I went up. We came first in the youth division. We’re still in contact with the judges, actually. When we came back to Malta we ended up on Xarrabank and on the news, and we met our producer-managed. We changed our name, recorded a few songs, and now we have an album coming out in May.
Bettina: We’re sisters. It came naturally after playing together a few times, actually.
Where did the idea for your name come from?
Philippa: We started off as Phillis and Bertie, and when we met Howard Keith Debono (our producer-manager), he said "You’re great but your name won’t make people take you seriously’. We needed a proper image if we wanted to be artists. We came up with some really rubbish names but we settled on The New Victorians because it’s about keeping with our style. But it’s also about the Victorian Era being all about change and innovation, and we want to be the new change, something new.
What instruments do you both play?
Philippa: A selection. I actually play the guitar, but my mother taught me when I was six and then I played around. I play the banjo, the harmonica (kind of). I believe I can play the drums. I’ve tried to learn the piano, but it’s not very successful currently. But Bettina’s the musical genius: she plays the piano and she has a degree in music. She’s quite the legend.
Bettina: I play the piano, melodica, and a bit of guitar.
Does one of you do certain tasks more than the other — such as song writing?
Philippa: The song writing process is very varied. Very often, Betting comes up with a big chunk of it, and we’d take it to the garage and rip it to pieces — edit it and play around. Or else, one of us comes up with a full proper version, and we’d see how to build it musically. Sometimes we’d also write out of necessity, like the album would be lacking a fun song and we’d try to write it. So it’s quite varied, yeah.
Bettina: The work is quite evenly shared and we’re both good at different things, so.
So far, what has been your most memorable experience together as a duo?
Philippa: Probably America. It was when everything kicked off and people took an interest. But even now, building the album has been really fun and cool to watch. Bettina: Most memorable? I think entering the studio, going to America, playing at festivals this summer…
Are you excited for Rock the South? Do you expect anything from it?
Philippa: We’re super excited to be playing at the third edition of Rock the South! We’ve heard some amazing comments about previous years and can’t wait to be a part of it. I think the festival really caters for all sorts of people — there’s a great mix of genres of both local and foreign artists so that should be really cool and really bring all music lovers together.
Bettina: It’s cool to be part of Rock the South and that they’ve included a folk/acoustic stage. Super exciting!
Do you have a favourite original song or favourite cover that you like to play together?
Philippa: I think it’s more according to our mood and what we’re feeling at that moment or week. I don’t think there’s really one particular one. Bettina: Really though, we always enjoy L.O.V.E.
Be honest, which one of you is more "out there’?Philippa: "Out there’?! Well…I’m louder! If you by "out there’ you mean louder and more "in your face’ then me. Bettina: More "out there’? Is this a trick question about whose nose is bigger??
Do you have any other gigs lined up after Rock the South?
Earth Garden will supposedly be a big event. Beer Fest too. Then we have our launch — stay tuned! — which should be around May.
Their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/thenewvictoriansmusic
The Rock the South event: https://www.facebook.com/events/837805339582460/
Photograph: Malcolm Debono