Some time in the 1980s, two fashion conscious English guys set out to create a sound in their own universe and defined a genre. Fusing electronic beats with lyrical commentary on the state of the world, vocalist Neil Tennant and keyboardist Chris Lowe are, 12 years in, still one of electronic music’s most relevant duos. Yes, the industry may have changed a lot since the seminal West End Girls from 1984, but the pair, now 59 and 54 respectively, say they are still uncompromising as they were.
As they make their UAE debut at Sandance on May 9 as part of their Electric Tour, which is also the name of their 12th album released last year, Tennant and Lowe talk music, Margaret Thatcher and Madonna. Just don’t remind them how long they’ve been in the business.
Were you surprised your song Opportunities was played in montages that followed Margaret Thatcher’s death as it was played at the height of her power in the 1980s?
Neil Tennant: I was rather pleased that that simple, moronic song idea had captured the spirit of the time. It worked if you thought it was ironic and it worked if you did not.
You have just left EMI after 28 years. Do you feel freer now?
Chris Lowe: It’s very exciting having a brand like this. Once you have got your own logo you start thinking the sky’s the limit. Perfumes? Underpants? We’ve already decided we’re going into hotels. Ours will be a basic range, like The White Company, nothing fancy. But it all works.
Were you able to change direction with your last album Electric having left EMI?
Lowe: We said it would be banging and it is. It is all very fluid. You can go from talking about nothing in particular to working quite hard without noticing the difference.
What with the random “Turn It Up” shout outs on Axis, the first track on Electric?
Tennant: I was trying to be Madonna.
What is the theme to the Electric tour?
Tennant: We have tried to mine the electronic side of our music and it is surprisingly consistent across the years. It links old and new songs together really well. The theme? Basically lasers.
What costumes can we expect for the tour?
Lowe: We have to wear Minotaur heads. They weigh an absolute ton. I also wear a disco ball helmet. Thankfully is has see through panels on it. I did not think I would be able to wear it but during the show all the lasers just bounce off the hat and reflect back into the audience.
Will there be any song surprises?
Lowe: No. We have had to programme the tour so to suddenly change the set list would take up to two hours to re-programme everything. So the set list is the same for each show.
Tell us about the process of recording Electric?
Tennant: The TV was on all the time in the studio when we were recording it. I got to quite like Escape to the Country actually.
Standing there aged 59, can you still believe the pair of you are still performing?
Tennant: It’s something I never thought I would be in my life. Weirdly, I always thought I would be a pop star but I never thought it would involve doing concerts. Now I quite like them. It is the opposite of an English actor doing films and making giant demonstrative moves. You are terrified to make a tiny gesture, but in fact what works on stage is the big gesture.
What are you planning for your 60th birthday in July?
Tennant: Oh being 60 is the new 30. I am not planning a big party. I will be on stage somewhere that night anyway. So it will be with the fans.
Do you see some of your influences in today’s music?
Tennant: Listen to some of Robbie William’s work or Human by The Killers, you can hear us in there.
How good were the ’80s?
Tennant: I sort of get a bit tired of people going on about how great the ’80s were. At the same time it was probably the last creative period and original pop song writing. The ’90s were steeped in nostalgia and everything became organised. There ceased to be any underground.
Pet Shop Boys headline Sandance on May 9 at Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai. The line-up also includes Arrested Development and Scouting For Girls. Tickets are priced Dh300 (Regular) and Dh450 (VIP). Go to sandance.ae.
