The Miserable Rich is a Brighton-based orchestral/indie band which began in 2007. Their 2011 album ‘Miss You In The Days’ received widespread acclaim and gained them a loyal fanbase. Despite this success, the band went on hiatus in 2012 because James de Malplaquet expressed that he had nothing more to write about. The band stayed in touch over the years, meeting only for social gatherings, but after James de Malplaquet suffered a family tragedy in 2017, the band supported each other and healed through music. Now they are back with their first album in over thirteen years called ‘Overcome’, which explores heartbreak, hope, and friendship. ‘Overcome’ will be released on the 2nd of February 2024. In a recent interview, vocalist James de Malplaquet talked about ‘Overcome’ and why the band decided to reunite.
What made you want to reunite as a band and release your new album ‘Overcome’?
“In 2017, our first son Kit died at 13 days of what turned out to be HSV1 (cold sore virus) infection after being born healthy at Sussex County Hospital. Our world kind of fell apart, but we decided to try to save other babies and their families with the knowledge my wife gleaned from her extensive research. We started the charity Kit Tarka Foundation. The thing I could do was put on an event, so I asked one of my favourite Brighton bands (Gloria Cycles) to reform, got our band together (thanks, guys!), and Alice Russell and Fujiya & Miyagi agreed to play. The event, KitFest, was held on what would have been Kit’s first birthday, so it was a bit of a rollercoaster – but at least we were doing something positive. We wrote Glue, from the new album, for the event. Wasn’t a dry eye in the house. Afterwards, with various band members (and, let’s face it, the whole world) going through some major ups and downs (I know – what ‘ups’?), we wrote together for fun and therapy, talking, drinking, and eating pizza more than playing. We were a bit surprised, really, when we came to find we had an album.”
What is the inspiration behind your new album ‘Overcome’?
“I wanted to show how something can be beautiful not despite but because it has suffered. I thought of those windblown Sussex hawthorn trees you see on hills around here. I googled them and found the one on the album cover. It turned out to be right next to Cuckmere Haven, where we took Kit’s ashes, did the charity-sponsored walks, and go each year to mark Kit’s anniversaries with a boat I carve and some flowers my wife dries through the year for the occasion.”
What can your fans expect from this album?
“There’s definitely some development in the sound. I gave us little projects in the past – themes or ideas of how we should play – but this one, we just did whatever sounded good to us. There’s a bit more electronic stuff from Will. There’s a lot of joy with the pain. And quite a few tracks that are a bit more uptempo – you might even dance a little!”
Will you be performing your new album in Brighton or other cities?
“Y’know, it’s really tricky getting away when most of us have young families right now. There are two new babies too! We’re doing some in-stores when the album is released (Brighton, London, Southsea), then there’ll be a Brighton date at the Hope and Ruin (20th of March), and then we’ll see.”
The Miserable Rich’s album ‘Overcome’ will be released on the 2nd of February 2024, and there will be a launch show at Family Store Records in Brighton.
