Interview with The Concetines

Here's a another quick interview from a while ago (that we're very sorry we've only just got round to posting). This one was with The Concetines, an Indie-rock band from Leeds... have a read (and don't forget to check them out afterwards!)

How and when did the band form?

We formed just over a year ago, but really started doinng bigger gigs and recording with our new drummer, who joined last October.

Who are the bands musical influences?
Our musical influences are the Arctic Monkeys and The Kooks.

How did you come up with the band name?
One of our old songs was called 'Concetina Loving' so its just a spin off of that recently.

What was the best gig you’ve ever played?
We have had many good gigs but our best gig was when we played at the cockpit room 1 recently in april, we were supporting various cruelties. The crowed were amazing!

What was the worst gig you’ve ever played?
We have never really had a bad gig, we dont regret any of them.

Which of your own tracks is your favourite and why?
Our favourite tracks that we have recorded consist of, 'Cant Remember' and 'Forgotten me' we love playing them live. But we have been writing slot more material recently and its sounding more and more promising, like our new song, 'Hourglass'.

Is there a running theme throughout your lyrics or a certain message you try to put across through your music?
No, we just like to make good music.

What’s an average day in the recording studio consist of?
We spent sll day in a recording studio in bradford called Factory Street Studios, recording our EP, which is availible for free download on Facebook/Bandcamp

What band would you most like to tour with?
Arctic Monkeys, they rock!

Where do you see yourself as a band in 5 years’ time?

In 5 years time we see ourselves touring over the country and possibly having an album out.

Thanks a lot guys!
Check them out here,
https://twitter.com/#!/TheConcetines
http://soundcloud.com/theconcetines/sets/the-concetines-ep
http://www.facebook.com/TheConcetines

Interview with Secret Company

Here's a quick interview we did a while ago with Scott Revell, leader singer of the 5 piece London alt rock band Secret Company...

How and when did the band form?

We formed a little over a year ago, but we’ve known each other for longer from previous bands that we’ve been in.

Who are the bands musical influences?

Our main musical influences are: Coldplay, Fleetwood Mac, The Killers, John Mayer, Paul Simon - Plus loads more… that’s just the shortlist!

How did you come up with the band name?

Our band name came from a song that we had previously written and since the song wasn’t being used and we really liked the name... VOILA! 

What was the best gig you’ve ever played?

Our first gig at Hooga in Chelmsford was really great, we played there in March earlier this year and it was packed from front to back, the crowd were great and we had a really great time.

What was the worst gig you’ve ever played?

Well I guess we have yet to play a disastrous show! I lost my pedal board at one, which I am still not happy about! All of us, from our previous experiences, have had our fair share of poopers though... There was one time when we drove all the way to Manchester from Essex and we got told that we were too late and didn’t play... and another where we turned up to no PA - which resulted in us playing through a tiny little karaoke piece of tripe… and another where we got our car window smashed! 

Which of your own tracks is your favourite and why?

We have a song called Saviour, (which is on our Facebook at the moment) - hint, go check it out!

Is there a running theme throughout your lyrics or a certain message you try to put across through your music?

We believe that every song deserves a point to it, so there’s always a message. 

What’s an average day in the recording studio consist of?

Banter, coffee, beer, snacks and hard work!

What band would you most like to tour with?

To name one, The Killers would be amazing. 

Where do you see yourself as a band in 5 years’ time?

Drinking white Russians and kicking it.

Thanks a lot Scott!

  

Check them out here...

http://secretcompany.bandcamp.com/track/saviour
https://twitter.com/#!/secretcoband
www.facebook.com/secretcompany

Interview with fiN

Another interview that we're sorry we've made you wait so long for is a quick interview we did a couple of weeks ago with Luke Joyce, the lead singer from fiN, an indie quartet from London. fiN are soon to need no introductions, as we predict that sometime soon they'll be soaring to success, and rightly so! Check out their new video for their single, Everybody Dies Alone http://youtu.be/ykoY2UFlapY 

We've kept you waiting for two weeks so let's cut to the interview!

How and when did the band form?

We've been together for just over 3 years. Kerry and I went to school together. We were in and out of different bands until I met Jonny and Simon who also went to school together. We had a different bass player but when he left we asked Kerry to be in the band, from then on we became fiN.

Who are the bands musical influences?

I grew up on all kinds of music. From an early age I listened to Motown and Michael Jackson but my real love of music came when I heard Nirvana. We are influenced by a lot of 90's music from Pearl Jam to Mansun. 

How did you come up with the band name?

I was looking through books/movies and records trying to find a decent name. Then I looked through song titles and came across the album 'Brighten The Corners' by Pavement. On it there is a song called fin and I just thought it would be a perfect name.

What was the best gig you’ve ever played?

There have been so many incredible gigs for me over the last 6 months but I would have to say our last single launch at Bush Hall was a big moment for us. It gave us a chance to put on the kind of big production we normally only dream of.

What was the worst gig you’ve ever played?

I tend to forget the bad shows. They are rare and I always find positives in any dodgy show.

Which of your own tracks is your favourite and why?

It would have to be Everybody Dies Alone. That song was a big step forward for us and I love playing it live.

Is there a running theme throughout your lyrics or a certain message you try to put across through your music?

I try and write about what I know, I like to try and put a positive swing on things. Our album is a celebration over adversity. 

What’s an average day in the recording studio consist of?

Coffee. Experimentation. Coffee. Sushi. More experimentation. 

What band would you most like to tour with?

I'd love to tour with Pearl Jam. That would be a dream come true.

Where do you see yourself as a band in 5 years’ time?

I'd love to see us headlining Reading Festival. That would be a massive achievement for us. 

Thanks Luke!

You can find fiN here…

http://www.artisanrecords.co.uk

http://www.lifeiswastedontheliving.com

https://twitter.com/#!/fiNuk

Interview with The Invisible Gentry

Sorry for not posting in a while, we’ve had some unexpected delays in processing the interviews, (busy, busy, busy – but never TOO busy for you lovely readers of course!) So here’s the most recent interview we’ve done (to all the bands we’ve interview over the last couple of weeks and haven’t posted yet – yours will be up soon do not worry!). Today’s interview is with the five piece South London alt pop/rock band, The Invisible Gentry…

The Invisible Gentry are influenced by the likes of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Kate Bush, Pink Floyd, and many more and they ‘strive to write eclectic music that tells wonderful and beautiful or sometimes harrowing stories’, which they really do... if you don’t believe us then check them out for yourselves… after you've read what they have to say, obviously. They’re also currently gigging in and around London so if you’re in the area then we recommend you check them out… here’s a vid of a recent gig to persuade you - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAHgjRPqswQ

Now for the interview!

How and when did the band form?

The Invisible Gentry were formed in late 2010 from the ashes of a previous, 10 piece instrumental art-rock, band – Happy penguin Hungry Bear - We had the opportunity to work with Enza and wanted to write songs in a more traditional sense, also trying to drag half an orchestra around with you becomes a bit of a chore!

Who are the bands musical influences?

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Elvis Costello , I am Kloot, Kate Bush, Edwyn Collins, Villagers, Pink Floyd, Bill Withers to name but a few... but generally anything that is heartfelt and honest.

How did you come up with the band name?

When we were soaked through to the bones and drunk on red wine standing in the corner of a tiny French wine bar in London in the middle of a thunder storm.

 What was the best gig you’ve ever played?

21/04/12 The Spice of Life - a busy and vibrant night at The Spice of Life in Soho, with an incredible skilled sound engineer who gave us the best sound I can remember at a small gig venue

 What was the worst gig you’ve ever played?

The worst gig was a gig in Dartford, East London a while ago. We were playing post rock (the night was billed as Rock but was certainly more metal!), the guy introducing us took the piss over the mic as we started and the crowd didn’t really get what we were doing… the atmosphere turned quite sour. Suffice to say we left very swiftly after we played!

Which of your own tracks is your favourite and why? 

*a strong 'discussion' breaks out between Embers and Winter Blue... and the winner is...*

The next single – Winter Blue – Enza takes her performance to another level and it’s one of the songs where the band really plays together building and swelling the music around her voice. You can watch a live version of the song here: http://youtu.be/jAHgjRPqswQ

Is there a running theme throughout your lyrics or a certain message you try to put across through your music?

Lyrically, the songs try and focus on story telling without being too prescriptive and still allow room for people to listen and find their own meaning and stories, there is a focus on dark romanticism though. Musically we tend to go from hauntingly melodic to intense and epic and back again.

What’s an average day in the recording studio consist of?

Frustration, tantrums and a few giggles.

What band would you most like to tour with?

*another discussion/argument breaks out!*

Touring with Kate Bush would be unbelievably special for so many reasons, although Sigur Ros and Nick Cave should get notable mentions!

Where do you see yourself as a band in 5 years’ time?

Playing beautiful music with a dark edge, with slightly less hair and slightly more stomach!

Thanks a lot! :)

You can find The Invisible Gentry here...

www.facebook.com/theinvisiblegentry 

http://soundcloud.com/the-invisible-gentry

www.twitter.com/invisiblegentry

Interview with Hearts Of Oak

Another interview for you lovely readers, with the three piece acoustic band, Hearts Of Oak. The band consists of Luke Medlock (Guitar/Vocals), Andy Gilmour-Jones (Cajon/Vocals) and Julian Raine (Guitar/Vocals) and has been likened to Mumford & Sons, Bombay Bicycle Club and Two Door Cinema Club.

Here's what the guys had to say...

How and when did the band form?

On the 24th January 2012, we were invited to do a fundraiser gig for a friend of ours at a local pub in Chellaston. We came together to do it and received loads of positive feedback so decided to continue and see what happened.

Who are the bands musical influences?

We’ve been likened to Mumford & Sons by various people, but we all have our own influences which come together to create our own acoustic/folky sound.

How did you come up with the band name?

Hearts Of Oak, is Cockney rhyming slang for broke. Pretty apt.

What was the best gig you’ve ever played?

The Vernon Arms Folk & Acoustic club because of the great crowd/atmosphere and it was a good night.

What was the worst gig you’ve ever played?
One of our many gigs at the Rose and Crown where the sound system decided to feed back at any given moment, but we pushed on and had a good time anyway. 

Which of your own tracks is your favourite and why?

Bus Fare Change, because we all had separate parts that we put together and within an hour we came out with a musically complex track with meaningful lyrics, not bad! 

Is there a running theme throughout your lyrics or a certain message you try to put across through your music?

There’s no intended theme, it’s just what we are feeling at the time of writing. 

What’s an average day in the recording studio consist of?

We work hard, have a good laugh with the techies and hopefully come out with a good sounding track at the end of it. 

What band would you most like to tour with?

The Head and The Heart 

Where do you see yourself as a band in 5 years’ time?

Playing bigger paid gigs and some larger venues, would be nice!

Thanks guys!
Check them out here...
http://www.youtube.com/user/HeartsOfOakMusic?feature=mhee
http://www.facebook.com/HeartsOfOakMusic

Interview with The Elicit

Today's interview is with Tamara Anderson (Vocals) and John Seddon (Guitarist) from the five-piece alt rock band, The Elicit. They recently released their E.P Reaction (that's a hint to check it out... you won't regret doing so!) and you can check out their single 'Forgotten' here... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umN8McZ5fEg

Now for the interview...

How and when did the band form?

John- "The band started at New Hall School in 2010 as a 3 piece rock band with Henry, Tim and I, until later on in the year we found James who joined our school and then finally we tried to hold auditions for singers but when we found Tamara there was no need for auditions."

Who are the bands musical influences?
Tamara- "We are influenced by everyone and each other; it's just how things happen."

How did you come up with the band name?
John- "Well... One day we decided to look through a dictionary and we found the word Illicit, which meant rebels or outlaws. But I thought how about we change the ‘I’ into an ‘E’ and after long discussions and arguments we found out Elicit was actually a word and it is fitting for our style of music which is influenced by everyone we know Elicit means a reaction hence our E.P Reaction."

What was the best gig you’ve ever played?
John- "The Box in Chelmsford is by far the best gig we have had so far because we got such a great friendly vibe from our fans but we hope to do even better."

What was the worst gig you’ve ever played?
John- "We had a gig in Clacton several months ago there was so many things that went wrong that night. Starting with half the band getting lost and not finding the venue and barely anyone showed up to support us."

Which of your own tracks is your favourite and why?
John- "Personally my favourite song that we have written is our single Forgotten, simply because I love the tune! Haha it's not like I wrote the tune....but seriously I think it brings out the best in everyone in the band."

Is there a running theme throughout your lyrics or a certain message you try to put across through your music?
Tamara- "There's a lot of anger and strong emotions through our songs, mainly about getting through life and getting over things that don't matter. Music is everything. Not for the fame but to be heard."

What’s an average day in the recording studio consist of?
Tamara- "Hard work, rocking music and epic laughs with a great song done at the end of the day."

What band would you most like to tour with?
Tamara- "There's so many great bands out there now that we'd be happy to tour with any great band."
John- "I'd like it if we toured with our friend's bands because then we would all get along and help each other out and it would always be casual. But I'm definitely open to touring with an amazing band!"

Where do you see yourself as a band in 5 years’ time?
Tamara- "In 5 years we see ourselves still together as a family and a band that will carry on being heard whether we are famous or not!"

Thanks very much both of you! 
So what are you waiting for? Go and give them a listen!
http://www.facebook.com/TheElicit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umN8McZ5fEg

Interview with Something Personal

Today’s interview was with Jono Davies, (vocals/guitar) from the Welsh rock n roll band, Something Personal... Here's a little more about them...

Drawing inspiration from the likes of Guns n Roses, Led Zepplin, The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, The Stone Roses, The Sex Pistols,  Pearl Jam and many more, Something Personal rock hard, and will undoubtedly get the big break they deserve, sometime very soon... watch this space! They are currently touring the UK, (check out their tour dates on one of the links at the bottom of this interview). Their song, 'Tro fo mlaen' (Turn It On), was vote Record of the week on BBC Radio Cymru... must be good, I hear you say... but dear readers, they are SO much better than 'good'... So, let's cut to the interview.

How and when did the band form?
The band was originally formed way back in ‘98… after many line-up changes and struggles to find suitable band members; we're now on our 7th drummer and sounding better than ever… thankfully!

Who are the bands musical influences?
We are all influenced by many different artists although the band’s music and main song writing is probably influenced by classic bands such as The Beatles, Stones, Ac/Dc, Nirvana, The Stone Roses and Oasis to name but a few.

How did you come up with the band name?
Originally the name 'Persona' was suggested by the old lead singer. Jono decided that 'Something Personal' was perhaps more fitting and it’s stuck ever since!

What was the worst gig you’ve ever played?
It's the old rock n roll cliché that upcoming/unknown bands have to play to one man and his dog at times. Well we've certainly had those kinds of experiences and they’re not ideal let's just put it that way. You just gotta learn from those sorts of gigs and try and think of a way for them not to happen again! There’s more to it than just turning up to play...

What was the best gig you’ve ever played?
The best gigs we've played are where we've had a good reaction, we love playing and seeing people get up to dance and jump around, it makes each gig memorable no matter where we are. Of course we're aiming to play bigger places, which in turn will bring perhaps bigger and better memorable times… Time will tell.

Which of your own tracks is your favourite and why?
The newer the track the more favourable they are to us. I think bands are always aspiring to become better musicians and songwriters as they progress. So the next batches of songs are always assumed to be the best a band has ever done, to the band itself. Fans have their own favourites too which differ with our band… Ask me again in a few years and I'll probably have a clearer answer ;-)

Is there a running theme throughout your lyrics or a certain message you try to put across through your music?
God knows where the lyrics come from. I have grown to have faith that the lyrics will come to me eventually when writing. It's as though the songs write themselves. From the subconscious maybe!? Don't get me wrong if they're not right then I will know and I'll continue to write either by singing it over in my head for days until something that works appears. As for themes then they are all personal experiences that I feel will strike a chord with others on an emotional level. It seems to be the case.

What’s an average day in the recording studio consist of?
An average day in the studio depends entirely on how prepared we are. In our case if we're paying a silly amount of money then we usually know exactly or thereabouts what we want to do. Though sometimes things can go pear shaped and sometimes they can go better than first imagined, which is always a good feeling. We set targets and try our best to reach them otherwise it can get silly, you have to be clinical.

What band would you most like to tour with?
The band of the moment for me is Kasabian without a doubt. Of course there are lots of bands we'd love to tour with, but to answer the question, it's Kasabian! Class act!

Where do you see yourself as a band in 5 years’ time?
In 5 years I’d ideally like to see SP with a few good albums out there touring the world and making a decent living. Not much to ask is it!? ;-)

Thanks a lot Jono!

Check them out here… you won’t be disappointed!

http://www.facebook.com/something.personal.uk/info

http://www.myspace.com/somethingpersonaluk

http://www.somethingpersonaluk.com/fr_home.cfm

https://twitter.com/#!/sptwitta

http://somethingpersonal.bandcamp.com/album/tro-fo-mlaen