Andy Howells chats to Bruce from The Pineapple Thief

How did The Pineapple Thief come together?

- It started as a solo project here in Yeovil. I had a VERY small record deal at the time and after about 3 albums I realised I had some fans! People were inviting me to play live shows so I got my mates together to form a touring outfit. It's just grown from that.

Where did the name originate from?

- It was from a film called 'Eve's Bayou', there is a scene where a girl steals a pineapple and is branded a pineapple thief. I had no idea the band would still be going 14 years later. At the time I thought I just needed a moniker for one album.

You recently released your tenth album, did you ever think thats something you’d achieve?

- Ha, no way. In fact I only realised it was the 10th album when people kept reminding me in interviews. The good thing about starting from ground zero is that it's easy to stay on an upward curve. Every album we sell more records, get a few more people through the door. That keeps the motivation to continue writing.

Tell us more about Magnolia what was the inspiration behind it?

- All the songs are loosely based on personal experiences. There is nothing particularly exceptional about those experiences, but I know a lot of fans can relate to the songs because of this. Love, loss, life, death - all the things that make life so rewarding and challenging, for all of us. But don't get me wrong, I'm not a miserable hopeless guy. I love life!

Is there a standout track on the album that you are particularly proud of?

- I keep changing my mind. Right now my favourite track is Bond. It's about a good friend of mine who died suddenly during the middle of writing the album. He was helping me produce the songs and at the time he was really excited about them. He was a lovely guy. It's a positive song.

You’re touring shortly, what can fans expect from your gigs?

- Yes, we're in Germany right now - the set is pretty new and for me it's really exciting. We've never sounded as good as we do now. 10 years of playing live, you start to figure out how to do things right. We've made plenty of mistakes over the years, that's for sure. But I hope the fans get that we've come a long way...

What have you got planned for 2015?

- More live dates, we have a few festivals lined up. And then I think I'll start to write again. I can't imagine not writing...

Where can people find out more about the band?

- Check us out on facebook and say hello: https://www.facebook.com/thepineapplethief

Cat The Pineapple Thief at Bristol's Fleece on December 4.