Clean Bandit co-founder and cellist Grace Chatto on handmade gifts and superhero outfit

By
-
Clean Bandit co-founder and cellist Grace Chatto

Clean Bandit co-founder and cellist Grace Chatto

This plant just had two leaves when it was given to us by the Russian lady Jack [Patterson, fellow Clean Bandit band member] and I used to live with in Moscow. I go on tour for months and never water it and yet it keeps getting bigger and greener. It symbolises all the wonderful things that have happened to us since then.

This plant just had two leaves when it was given to us by the Russian lady that Jack [Patterson, fellow Clean Bandit band member] and I used to live with in Moscow. I go on tour for months and never water it and yet it keeps getting bigger and greener. It symbolises all the wonderful things that have happened to us since then.
My Cambridge University friend Jess made this illustration as a gift for my 21st birthday. It takes me back to how we sat drinking tea and talking through the night. I don’t know why she painted us naked, though!

 My Cambridge University friend Jess made this illustration as a gift for my 21st birthday. It takes me back to how we sat drinking tea and talking through the night. I don’t know why she painted us naked, though!
Jack found this sign in the street and gave it to me when we lived in Russia while I studied at the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory. Living above a kiosk that blared out house music influenced our early songwriting.

Jack found this sign in the street and gave it to me when we lived in Russia while I studied at the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory. Living above a kiosk that blared out house music influenced our early songwriting.

I wore this white leather outfit, custom-made by Coach’s executive creative director Stuart Vevers, at the Brit Awards in 2015 – it was the first amazing piece I had worn to an event. The cape made me feel like a superhero.

 I wore this white leather outfit, custom-made by Coach’s executive creative director Stuart Vevers, at the Brit Awards in 2015 – it was the first amazing piece I had worn to an event. The cape made me feel like a superhero.
My dad gave me this cello in 1997. It was the first one he had ever made and it took him ten years on and off. It has become a part of me, but I don’t always take it on tour because I would have to buy a seat for it on the plane.

My dad gave me this cello in 1997. It was the first one he had ever made and it took him ten years on and off. It has become a part of me, but I don’t always take it on tour because I would have to buy a seat for it on the plane.

This print of a ukulele painted by Mick Rooney was given to me after a concert I played with The Massive Violins – founded by my dad Ricky who is also a cellist – alongside The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain to raise money for The Hepatitis C Trust.

This print of a ukulele painted by Mick Rooney was given to me after a concert I played with The Massive Violins – founded by my dad Ricky who is also a cellist – alongside The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain to raise money for The Hepatitis C Trust.

My ex-boyfriend made this purse for me last year while we were living in Florence and he was studying leather-making. It’s a reminder of a creative time, living in a crazy country, redolent with history. I didn’t believe he had actually made it!

My ex-boyfriend made this purse for me last year while we were living in Florence and he was studying leather-making. It’s a reminder of a creative time, living in a crazy country, redolent with history. I didn’t believe he had actually made it!

As a child, my parents imparted to me that I could really do anything. This photograph with my mum Ruth was taken recently when I gave a speech at a Young Labour event during the party conference. It’s important that young people are considered in the policy-making process.

As a child, my parents imparted to me that I could really do anything. This photograph with my mum Ruth was taken recently when I gave a speech at a Young Labour event during the party conference. It’s important that young people are considered in the policy-making process.

We won this Grammy Award for ‘Rather Be’ with Jess Glynne in 2015. It symbolises a huge change in our lives as a band. We were up against acts such as Basement Jaxx and Disclosure (both of whom we idolised and had supported on tour earlier that year) so we never expected to win.

We won this Grammy Award for ‘Rather Be’ with Jess Glynne in 2015. It symbolises a huge change in our lives as a band. We were up against acts such as Basement Jaxx and Disclosure (both of whom we idolised and had supported on tour earlier that year) so we never expected to win.

  • Clean Bandit’s new single ‘I Miss You’ featuring Julia Michaels is out now

 

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR