Thanks again to Mark D for the interview! A week or so ago we were chatting about the superb Fat Tulips and I asked if he was keen on answering a few more questions about other bands he had been in. He said YES! and so here is the second interview with Mark, this time about the fantastic duo Confetti who I had written about on the blog some time ago. Enjoy!

++ Hi Mark! Thanks so much for being up for another interview! How are you? I see Peterborough United is fifth in League One, do you think there’s a chance to get to the Championship?

I think automatic promotion chance has gone but hopefully will make the play offs.

++ This time around I’d love to chat a bit about Confetti. I do have the records but I definitely know less details about the band compared to Fat Tulips. My first question though, is why did you call yourself David in this band?

I wanted to distance myself from the Fat Tulips so used my middle name instead. Simple as that!

++ How did the duo start? Where did you and Julie meet?

I was going out with Julie (aka Virginia) and we just ended up jamming and coming up with tunes. We were both fans of the Young Marble Giants and felt that nobody else had tried to do that restrained choked guitar sound since them so made that our sound.

++ Who chose the name Confetti for the band? Is there a story behind the name?

Can’t remember where name came from – probably Julie came up with it?

++ And why did you decide to be a duo? Why not a full band?

Wasn’t any need – wanted a minimal sound so less band members the better.

++ I have met Julie quite a few times thanks to the fact that she was on The Sunbathers as of late. She was previously in The Artisans too, a fantastic band. Wondering though, was Confetti the first band she was in?

I believe so.

++ And music-wise were you both on the same wavelength? Did you like the same bands? Or were there any disagreements?

No we were very much aligned with musical tastes

++ Something that I am curious about is that both Fat Tulips and Confetti were around the same time. Wondering about how you pick which songs would work on each band? Or perhaps there were some Confetti songs that ended up being played by Fat Tulips and vice versa?

No always kept them separate – all Confetti songs were restrained but could do what I wanted with Fat Tulips.

++ All of your songs were recorded at Sideways Sound in Attenborough. You had used this studio for some Fat Tulips releases as well. Wondering what you like about this studio in particular and if it was the one you liked the most?

Confetti only did two recording sessions ever. The studio was local and cheap and we knew the engineer well!

++ Confetti would find home in the same labels that the Fat Tulips released, Heaven, Sunday, Marineville and Vinyl Japan. Last time we talked about most of them but Marineville Records. Wondering how you started working with Andy Parker and how was your relationship with this label?

Never met Andy personally but did correspondence with him – was simply a case if he asked if we would do a record , we agreed a budget , we recorded it and sent him the tapes and he released it! Very simple!

++ With Confetti you also did quite a few covers. You did Josef K, Au Pairs and the Wedding Present. Were there more covers you used to play perhaps live?

I don’t think so – all bar one song was recorded . That was called Hardly and was set to be the next single but never got recorded.

++ Curious about the photos that appear on the artwork of the 7″s and the compilation. Where do they come from?

Matt from Fat Tulips took them I think – mostly around Nottingham station!

++ The band also appeared on many compilations during its time. You were on the legendary “The Waaaaaah! CD ‘ or the “123456 Road Runner” tape that included tons of terrific bands of the time. Wondering then, in the UK, which bands other than the Heaven bands, did you feel close to. Were there any bands you would have loved to play a gig with that you didn’t?

Heavenly were lovely and we played with them a couple of times. We also liked the band Earwig who we felt were closest to our sound.

++ Then there’s a song, “Who’s Big and Clever Now?” (Live)”, which I believe only appears on the “Teeny Poppers” tape on the French label Anorak Records. Where was this song recorded?

No idea!  Not even aware of that release!

++ Why did you gave the retrospective compilation the name “RetrospectivelE.P.” as it is clearly not an EP?

We just wanted to follow up on all the EP name themes and as it was a retrospective of our short career it kind of made sense

++ This compilation came out in 1994 on Vinyl Japan, the band was over by then. It includes 15 tracks. But I do wonder, if there are any other recordings or unreleased songs by Confetti?

No

++ Confetti didn’t play many gigs. Just five. And four of them were with The Fat Tulips. Do you remember where these five gigs happen?

A couple in Nottingham, and think one in Oxford? Maybe at the Fountain in London as well

++ And the one you played without the Fat Tulips, who did you support or supported you?  

Think was the Artisans?

++ Why was the band so short-lived? What happened? Why did you call it a day?

Me and Julie split up as a relationship and that was it

++ Did you and Julie collaborate ever again? Are you still in touch?

Only spoke to Julie a couple of times briefly after splitting- not spoken in 30 years now.

++ Your bands were quite involved with fanzines, but wondering if you ever got a chance to be featured on the music press?

Don’t believe Confetti ever did

++ Let’s start wrapping the interview. What would you say was the biggest highlight for Confetti?

Still think the first single is a minor classic- the second one was our attempt to be the Marine Girls !

++ And I forgot to ask that last time, what about the biggest highlight for you with the Fat Tulips?

I guess playing with Throw That Beat on tour in Germany

++ One last question, I have visited Nottingham a few times, but just for a day, kind of quickly… but I would love to go and explore more someday. Wondering as a local what you would recommend checking out? Any sights? Record stores? Any local foods or drinks that one shouldn’t miss?

Record shop wise Rough Trade easily the best. Nottingham Castle is great as is Djanogly Gallery at the University

++ Thanks again for everything! Anything else you’d like to add?