PALMA Violets are a fourpiece band from London consisting of Alexander ‘Chilli’ Jesson, Samuel Thomas Fryer, Jeffrey Peter and William Martin Doyle.

Your Entertainment chats to singer and bassist Chilli about the group’s recent travels and successes ahead of their Isle of Wight Festival appearance this summer.

YOUR LIVE PERFORMANCES HAVE BEEN PRAISED SINCE YOU FIRST GOT TOGETHER. IS PERFORMING SOMETHING YOU CONCENTRATE ON?

It’s all we’ve ever wanted to do, I think that’s why we’re good at it.

We only formed in 2011, but as soon as we had three or four songs, we just did some gigs.

There was nothing else to do, and everyone was always going to gigs in pubs where you’d get kicked out after 11.30pm, so we decided to put on parties in our studio.

WHEN DID YOU WRITE ALL THE SONGS FOR THE ALBUM?

We had the last one done about two weeks before we started recording.

We really wanted to capture a moment in time, so we wanted to get it done quickly. We’ve not moved on from it, we’re only just settling into them.

Lots of bands will have their songs for five or six years before they record, and we’ve only had two, so I think everyone who has been there from the beginning will recognise how much we’ve come on as a band.

YOU’RE SIGNED TO ROUGH TRADE, HOME OF THE LIBERTINES, THE STROKES AND THE SMITHS, BANDS YOU CITE AS INFLUENCES. WAS IT A BIG DEAL FOR YOU TO SIGN TO ROUGH TRADE?

It’s always been my favourite label so it was a very special thing to happen to us.

The people that run the label are very hands on too, they’re at all our shows, I speak to them daily.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU KNOWN EACH OTHER?

The rest of the band all went to school together, and I met Sam, who I write with, at Reading Festival in 2010.

It was amazing to meet someone that had so many shared interests, and we’d just go to gigs and swap records.

I loved Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds; Sam loved punk, and we just swapped ideas. A match made in heaven.

HAD YOU BEEN IN OTHER BANDS?

No. Palma Violets is all of our first band, which is rare.

It’s been a bit of a ride, learning everything, but it’s a special thing.

I’ve always dreamed about it but it never seemed a reality.

I thought I might do something in music but that I’d be a roadie. I didn’t think I’d be in a band.

I helped a friend out being a roadie before and quite liked it.

YOUR ALBUM CHARTED AT NO. 11.

WERE YOU SURPRISED?

I couldn’t believe it, it was incredible considering we didn’t have that much promo.

We made this decision to tour instead and played all over the place; small towns and places not many bands seem to reach out to.

They were some of the best shows we played, and we’re really glad we did it.

We just wanted to have a good time, so we’d just go out with everyone after the gig. It’s brilliant.”

ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO THE SUMMER?

We’re really excited for our debut appearance at the Isle of Wight Festival.

We’ve had a great year so far and the summer is only going to get better!

l Palma Violets appear on the Main Stage of Isle of Wight Festival on Friday, June 14 in a bill topped by The Stone Roses.

For tickets, visit isleofwightfestival.

com.