Discussion: Fat White Family's Lias Saoudi Discusses Survival, Music Industry Struggles, and Forgiveness Is Yours' Release
Interview: Fat White Family Survives Saul's Exit and Thrives
The infamous Fat White Family have overcome their fair share of turmoil and personal struggles since their inception. The departure of guitarist Saul Adamczewski during the making of their fourth album "Forgiveness Is Yours" was a blow that rocked the band to the core. Here, frontman Lias Saoudi opens up about their resilience, the lunatic fringe of indie rock, Domino Records, industry woes, and more...
Questions from our Reporter, Ben Homewood, with Photos by Louise Mason
After Saul left the band midway through recording, were you surprised the new album even got finished?
"It was bordering on a miracle. Tensions among us had reached a boiling point, and after the pandemic, we couldn't go back to the way things were. Saul and I had simply grown apart in ways that couldn't be reversed. Our 'personalities bled into each other in unhealthy ways,' as he put it, but that's the price you pay for the chaotic, unfiltered art we produce. It's sad, and we all became bitter. And truthfully, it's been the story of British bands for decades: the savage fractures that devour their own."
Has indie rock taken its toll on Fat White Family?
"We took the pop-heroin route, indulging in anarchy and shameless self-degradation. But then again, can you blame us? We were trapped in that old-fashioned, sensationalist, beaten-down medium called low-life indie rock. Its claws are deep, and it isn't easy to escape. Maybe it's too late for us, and indie rock is just a pathetic relic that the progressive arm of capitalism has left in the dustbin of history. But there's a rebel spirit in every artist, and we're determined to prove the naysayers wrong."
The indie generation before yours still thrives with bands like The Wombats and The Kooks...
"Those bands? No one has heard of them. Maybe they're the grifters and manipulators we keep hearing about—Elon Musk, the Sacklers, the alt-right, or Deep State sleepers? Who knows? It feels like their influence has been insidious, controlling popular culture from behind the scenes for decades."
Now you're on your second record with Domino, are you moving closer to commercial success like Arctic Monkeys or Wet Leg?
"Those bands finance our reckless indulgence. We see our music as an experiential, cathartic, and deeply personal journey. Financial success isn't the primary goal. That said, Laurence [Bell, Domino co-founder] has a radical vision of social justice and fairness in the music industry, championing the underdogs and challenging the dogma of big money. We're lucky to have a label that stands for something better than endless profit."
What did you learn about the industry since signing to Domino?
"When you're struggling to pay the bills and feed your family, you can't help but feel bitter. We try to break out of this cycle as much as possible, working tirelessly to promote our music and feed our mysterious muse. The truth is, the world has agreed not to compensate the hard work, passion, and sweat artists invest in their craft. This isn't about fame and riches, but about finding the wider audience who understands and appreciates our work. The change in the industry is brutal, if not catastrophic."
What's your biggest issue with the industry?
"The industry has systemically decided not to pay artists for their work. Even though our music resonates and moves people, we find it difficult to survive. The grassroots venues are closing, and nobody seems to care. Maybe it's inevitable—the end of an epoch that began with the Beatles, the Stones, and the 60s counterculture. But above all, it's about taboo, about breaking free from the shackles of convention, and about discovering who we are as individuals."
"From Lias Saoudi's perspective, the departure of Saul Adamczewski from Fat White Family, during the recording of their fourth album, had led to financial difficulties within the band, as they navigate the complexities of the music industry."
"The chaotic, unfiltered art produced by Fat White Family is not without its consequences in the business world, with Saoudi mentioning the troubles faced by British bands throughout history, and the 'price' paid for such unconventional creativity."
