Leeds band Clay came into being in June 2014, and consist of songwriting brothers Joe and Jack Harvey, bass player Rob Gration, a childhood friend, and Danny Armitage.
The bands track Sun Dance was picked up by Zane Lowe back in 2014, who played it BBC Radio 1 as one of his last ever Next Hype features.The track was also featured on prime-time HBO show Ballers in the USA starring Dwayne Johnson shortly after.
Since then the band have gone on to release two more tracks, Oxygen and Stay Calm!, both of which have been received with the same acclaim from the likes of Huw Stephens and Phil Taggart at BBC Radio 1, their debut EP, Heaven was released on July 15 and they will be heading out on tour shortly with a date at Cardiff’s Moon Club scheduled for August 8.
How did Clay come together as a band and where did the name come from?
Clay came together primarily as a result of a collective ambition to get out of suburban Leeds and see the world. The band comprises of two brothers, me (Joe) and Jack. We'd been writing together for some time and it was only when we approached Rob and Danny, who we met through mutual friends, that the body of work we had amassed started to become a coherent set of songs. Unfortunately, there isn't a particularly interesting story behind the name! One syllable all the way, though.
How would you describe your sound?
This question never gets easier. I'm sure most bands would agree but it's particularly difficult for us. Perhaps that's a good thing. It's an eclectic mix really, we don't directly try to emulate anybody in particular, although I think we're subconsciously influenced definitely by modern pop music. We listen from everything from Stormzy to Tears for Fears so I'd like to say somewhere between that, whatever that means!
You’ve just released your debut EP, can you tell us about It?
Its called the Heaven EP! I wholeheartedly see it as our best work yet. The songs are ambitious in every way, we channeled the modern pop production we obsess over and made it truly unique. Lyrically, it's very direct and honest and I think that's really going to connect with people. The content is about isolation and ambition so it's pretty universal. We can't wait to get it out.
You’ll be playing Cardiff, is this your first Wales’ show and are you looking forward to it?
Yeah it's our first Wales show which we're buzzing about! It's strange because we record in Wales and our producer, Gethin, is from Pontypool, but we've never done a show there. It's still a surreal prospect for us that our music is being received so well in places that we've never played. It's almost as if the songs have traveled further than us which is very humbling.
Finally what are you listening to at the moment?
I think it's important to have an evolving music taste so we listen to whatever is current, be it what we hear on the radio, or discover online. I think that's particularly important in this day and age, where everything is instantly accessible. Our music needs to reflect modern life and culture, and I think dwelling too much on old music can be damaging to a band nowadays. We're really digging new American band LANY at the mo.
FOLLOWING their first two releases, 2012’s self-titled debut and 2015’s Expect Delays, London five piece Evans the Death are back with a brand new album Vanilla, seeing the band’s sound progress into a more aggressive, extroverted and raw direction.
Named after the undertaker in Dylan Thomas’ radio play, Under Milk Wood, the band was formed by brothers Dan and Olly Moss after meeting singer Katherine Whitaker at a Let’s Wrestle show. After numerous line-ups, the band is now completed by James Burkitt on drums and Daniel Raphael on bass.
Evans The Death are also back on the road, with a return visit to Cardiff a year on from their last visit. Andy Howells recently put questions to Dan from the band.
It’s a year since you played Cardiff and you’ve had a bit of a line-up change – what’s been happening with the band?
James has left so Sam Yardley from Porridge Radio will be playing drums with us, other than that it’s the same.
You’ve also got a new album with Vanilla, what’s the inspiration behind it?
Lots of things, mainly just how we felt and what was going on in our heads during that year.
Evans The Death was named after the character in Dylan Thomas’ Under Milk Wood, what was the reason for choice, do the band have any Welsh connections?
The name was an arbitrary thing really, although Olly and I have some Welsh relatives. Our 2nd cousin plays in the under 21s football team.
You are back in Cardiff soon, what can fans expect?
Definitely come down early for Neurotic Fiction and Anxiety, we’re looking forward to watching them. Porridge Radio too of course. We’re particularly excited for Cardiff actually, last time was loads of fun, we wrote down all our songs on bits of paper and did a setlist tombola, but I doubt we’ll do that this time.
Are you looking forward to bringing new material?
Yeah, although it’s not all that new to us anymore, we played some of it last time. Generally the newer stuff is more exciting to play because of how the songs are constructed, it’s more dramatic.
What else for 2016 ?
I think we’ll be a bit quiet for a while, working towards another record, we want it to be our masterpiece. A good thing about our name is its high googleability. I suppose our facebook page or twitter is best for news.
Evans The Death play The Full Moon, Cardiff on July 21. Visit ents24.com for ticket details.
A version of this Q&A by Andy Howells appeared in The South Wales Argus on July 15, 2016
Martha who hail from Pity Me near Durham released their second album Blisters In The Pit Of My Heart on July 8. Martha comprises of J. Cairns on guitar, Daniel Ellis on guitar, Naomi Griffin on bass, and Nathan Stephens Griffin on drums, all of whom share singing and song writing duties .
Martha have been busy since the release of their 2014 debut Courting Strong not only with their own band, but also playing for others. Daniel and Nathan also play in Onsind, while Naomi also plays in No Ditching.
The band will be heading out on a UK tour later this month and play Bristol’s exchange on July 23. Andy Howells recently put questions to Nathan from the band.
How did Martha come together and what was the inspiration for the band’s name?
Naomi and I are siblings. We've known Daniel since we were toddlers. We met JC when we were a bit older, playing in bands as teens. We all have similar tastes and views on the world, so we decided to try and start a pop band together. We're named after the last surviving passenger pigeon. She died in the early twentieth century and the species was extinct. It's fitting because we all care about animals, and we like to think we can look back and learn from the past.
Its two years since your debut Courting Strong, how have you developed as a band in that time?
Mainly we've just tried to get better at what we do, especially with the craft of song writing. It's been harder to exist as a band, as some of us have gone from being relatively able to do stuff to having much less flexibility and there are all kinds of work and life commitments that have made touring trickier. But it's also made us appreciate the band more and informed the way we do things and conduct ourselves.
What is the inspiration behind your new album Blisters in the Pit of My Heart?
If the first album was about punks growing up, this one is about grown-ups who stayed punk. It's a collection of energetic pop songs about struggling to keep doing the things you love in the face of obstacles like money, work, and mental illness. There's always been a side to what we do that's been about the intersection between the very sweet and the mucky imperfections of life. There are love songs and sad songs and angry songs.
You have a variety of inspirations on this album. Christine, is a love song taking inspiration from the 1980s Nuclear war TV drama Threads, Precarious (The Supermarket Song) finds romance in the washing powder aisle, and Goldman’s Detective Agency re-imagine s 19th century anarchist Emma Goldman as a private eye vanquishing corrupt cops and politicians. How do you sit down and come up with such diverse ideas?
We always try to write about what we know, but draw inspiration from worlds beyond our own. I also think it's important to acknowledge the way that cultural narratives impact on reality and the way we understand and fit ourselves into the world. JC and I both had similar experiences watching Threads, experiencing panic and nightmares, and we've both always been morbidly obsessed with the end of the world and nuclear apocalypse. The juxtaposition between that and a very human love story our friend told us seemed fitting, a combination of love and anxiety. We just try and write about stuff that's interesting and heartfelt. We know that musically we're not reinventing the real, but I like to think lyrically we sometimes offer something that people won't or can't get elsewhere.
You’ll be playing Bristol shortly, what can people expect from the show?
We're really excited about it because it's with our friends WOAHNOWS and TWO WHITE CRANES. It's a really great lineup and we're very excited to be playing! The past couple of times we've played in Bristol it's been in the amazing cafe/bike workshop 'roll for the soul'. It's a shame we won't be there again this time, but it's also very exciting to be playing a bigger space and I think the show itself will be really fun- we'll bring as much excitement and energy as you can handle!
Will you be playing any South Wales shows soon?
We have nothing booked in South Wales but we'd love to come back soon. Possibly in August. We were meant to play Wales Goes Pop! last year but our van broke down so we had to pull out. It was very frustrating and sad. Maybe they'll ask us back next year.
What are you all listening to at the moment?
Big Star, Thin Lizzy, The Replacements, Tommy Tutone!
RECREATIONS (Sam Duckworth, formerly Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly.) recently released his first full-length album, Baby Boomers 2, a self-produced collection full of wide-eyed, big-dreaming, conscientious pop songs.
Recreations may be a new moniker for Sam, but his work ethic and refusal to stick to a template in either influence or sound is not just familiar but oh-so welcome. Falling half way between Get Cape..and his experiments, Recreations is the product of two years of investigation. Fans of GC.WC.F. will recognise his distinct lyrical sound, but in his own words Recreations is "more heart on sleeve, bolder, more direct, and a little bit more emo."
Andy Howells recently put questions to Sam ahead of his Le Pub show on May 14.
How did Recreations start - did you plan to end Get Cape. to reinvent as Recreations or was it a decision that was made after you finished as GC.WC.F.?
It felt to me that the Get Cape. name had reached its limitations, certainly felt like a product of a bygone era. It's important to me as a somewhat political musician, to stay as current as possible. I started to see 'nostalgia' creep in on posters and it was at this point that I decided that it was time for a new moniker. Get Cape. Served me well, but having to explain the name to people on a regular basis, coupled with the desire for anew beginning lead me to think of a new name. I had the recreations name before the end of Get Cape.. and the plan was always to transition into it, regardless of the sonic direction of the project. I had always planned to continue playing the older songs from my catalogue, but I liked the idea of being able to give these a twist following whichever direction Recreations took.
How would you describe your music?
I generally tend to describe it as Eclectic. The backbone certainly comes from a more "clubby" space, be it hip hop, house or jungle, whilst the songwriting is very much folk. Folktronica was a thing for a while, but was typified by a more lofi sound and Recreations has a very strong, subby bottom end, so doesn't really fit. I believe in 2016, partly due to the vast volume of music on offer, that music is becoming genre-less. I've always been into the idea of mixing things up and thankfully this has always been accepted by people who listen to my music. The commonality between the tracks is usually the finger style guitar and the delivery of my vocal. Who are your musical inspirations?
My musical influences are very much eclectic like the sound I try to fuse together. I grew up as a punk, playing diy shows and working with a community that was very much focused on the idea of being yourself, taking risks, all whilst sticking together. Similar scenes exist in different sonic spaces, be it Drum and Bass or Indie or House. I tend to gravitate towards musical communities where expression is the key driving force over commercial success. As much as I love the idea that this is my job, at times it feels more like a calling. Shy Fx has been a big influence, certainly in terms of how to carve out longevity and move with the times. Billy Bragg has been great at teaching me how to stand tall in the wind tunnel of political music. I think that I am blessed to be surrounded by inspiring people, there's very much an undercurrent of change within British independent music as the last days of the old guard grind to a halt. I find more inspiration in the thought that "anything's possible" than anything else. To be surrounded by people who subscribe to the same ideology is both refreshing and uplifting.
Can you tell us about your current release? Baby Boomers 2 is certainly my most focused record to date. In many ways it feels like a continuance of the writing style I have previously used but by having a new beginning its allowed me to be a little more defined in the sonic pallet. Lyrically, the album is about the gap between the "Millenials" and the "Baby Boomers."
Those that used to be called Gen X'ers, and the clunky titled "pre millennials." I think there is a massive social divide inside a traditional generation gap, mostly in regards the time social media and mobile tech was adopted by the user. Specifically, did this happen pre or post puberty. I feel that social media has had more of an influence on young people than any single factor since the second world war. Having been 20 when this boom really started, I often meet people who had social media in secondary school and feel a much larger communication divide than I expected. The traits of the millennials that are attributed to people around my age do not feel applicable, yet I also don't feel like a product of the Gen X era.
The reason for Baby Boomers 2, is due to a repeat in the social conditions of the first Baby Boom, vast wealth increase, mass reproduction but also the conditions of the downward curve. I feel like, similarly, this generation has a massive class gap between parents and children, certainly in the inner cities. Many working class parents found their property almost tripling in value and its not uncommon to find children of working class parents with the disposable income and opportunity of the upper classes. As a result there is a generation in flux. There seems to be a rise in social anthropological thinking along these lines, but its complexities have made it difficult to translate into "big marketing" and thus we have become a terminology-less generation.
Why Baby Boomers 2? I thought it was funny, but certainly comes from a place of connectivity between the songs.
What's been your live show highlight so far?
There have been so many, for that I feel very blessed. One of my favourites was the Amazing Grace Glastonbury show. The idea was to make a 1 hour long, live mixtape, using at least 5 different artists and 5 different genres. We had Billy Bragg, Kate Nash, Jehst, Riz Mc, Rumour Cubes, Sweet Billy Pilgrim and Myself rotating instruments and positions whilst keeping the flow of the show intact. We pooled resources to have 2 sets of drums, a horn section, a string section and a constant narrative without breaking the musical flow. It took about 2 months to put together, required 37 passes and 3 vehicles, which in a festival that size was a challenge in itself. The fact it went so well fills me with great pride. I also loved being a part of Africa Express. Reworking Felas classic "Water no get enemy" into a live Jungle song with Flea, Shy Fx, The Gorillaz, Kano, Bashy and my get cape band was a really fun thing to do.
I'm a big fan of stepping out of my comfort zone and trying to push myself as far as possible with the limitations feeling like shackles that need to come off.
What can we expect from your forthcoming Newport Gig?
Newport feels a bit like a second home to me. I met my partner in Newport and spent 18 months committing up for weekends. I have a lot of love and respect for Sam, Matt and all those involved with Le Pub. It's a hub of musical community that is very much outward looking. They spend a great deal of time working on causes greater than just "having a good time."
I feel like Newport is an incredibly underrated place, lots of enthusiastic and creative minds. As a result I imagine this is going to feel like a hometown show. Lots of fun and lots of energy. I've spent a long time building this live show. It was a dream of mine at the very beginning to be able to play multiple instruments and to loop and effect my voice and instruments without having to break stride in the song. Thankfully the technology has caught up and I'm able to bring a one man show that has visuals and a dynamic that makes it feel more like a show than an acoustic gig. This is the closest I've been able to replicate my imagination into a physical entity and its going to be lovely sharing it with my friend in Newport. What can we expect from you in the future?
Without trying to sound too cliche, I just want to play! Now I am confident in both the portability and tangibility of this show, I want to play everywhere and anywhere. I am very committed to both the sound and the subject matter of this record and am determined to bring it to anywhere that is willing. I am of a firm belief that the most exciting places in the UK are outside of the major cities, that the fringes have the creative room to breathe and develop ideas. Newport will always feel like a musical second home, as long as Le Pub is still there, so I hope this will be the first in a new love affair between Recreations and Newport.
A version of this Q&A appeared in The South Wales Argus entertainment supplement, The Guide on May 13, 2016.
Criolo is a singer, composer and urban poet who came out fighting from Sao Paulo’s hip hop scene. His voice resounds with the youth of post-slump, pre-Olympic Brazil, exploring stories of poverty, police violence and social discrimination.
Through his 2015 album, Convoque seu Buda, Criolo evolved into one of Brazil’s most acclaimed songwriter/performers. Criolo’s music draws influence from his love of samba, afro-beat and reggae and his life growing up in a favela (shanty town) in Sao Paulo. Following collaborations with the likes of Caetano Veloso, Chico Buarque, Yvette Sangalo and Milton Nascimento, Criolo has released two albums in the UK to great acclaim. He has also made a series of collaborations with Mulatu Astatke of The Ethiopiques.
Criolo is touring the UK later in April and ahead of his show at Bristol’s Lantern venue at Colston Hall on April 22, he answers questions from Andy Howells. Where are you from?
I am from Brazil, born in São Paulo, son of Cearenses, people born in Ceará state, on the northeast part of the country. I grew up in the suburbs of the south zone of São Paulo.
How would you describe your music style?
I grew up writing rap and this culture lead me to talk with and develop other music possibilities.
You're touring shortly are you looking forward to that?
We are really looking forward the tour, we are happy to visit Bristol and I am sure we will have a good time with a lot of music and great energy. I was really happy to know about the concert this city has regarding climate change and its impact in the world, doing efforts to make the public transportation better, as well their attention to renewable energy. I wish I had more time to have more and better contact with the citizens that are committed in these causes. The world needs good examples. In Brazil, a lot of people dedicate their lives to important and global impact causes, but to know that the municipality of Bristol support these citizens, it was really good news. I hope this can happen soon all around the world. Maybe next time I have the opportunity to learn more about these people work and how they are connected in the construction of these ideas, such as the ones of Environmental Technology Innovation Network - Low Carbon South West (LCSW). To think about the carbon monoxide reduction and other technologies pro environment is very necessary.
What can people expect from your forthcoming Bristol gig?
Bristol people can expect a performance full of energy and rendition. We are very grateful for this opportunity and I here invite everyone so together we can add good vibes. We want you all there!
Where can people hear your music?
At the main music digital platforms.
Criolo’s album Convoque seu Buda is out now on Sterns Brasil, for further information visit criolo.net
A version of this Q&A by Andy Howells appeared in The South Wales Argus entertainment supplement The Guide during April 2016.
Steven James Adams, the former songwriter/singer/guitarist from the critically acclaimed Broken Family Band plays Cardiff’s Moon Club on March 15.
Steven will be playing tracks from his second solo album, Old Magick. The album with minimal instrumentation is, in part, a reaction to his first solo outing House Music (2013), recorded in his living room and featuring an array of musical friends, including members of bands as disparate as pop-rockers The Vaccines and folk-idols Lau. Andy Howells recently put questions to the singer/songwriter.
How did you become an artist?
I don't know how I became an artist. I was always a bit of a show-off when I was a kid and I got into writing songs when I was a messed-up teenager.
Where are you from?
My family moved around a lot but for most of my childhood we lived in South Wales, near Monmouth. When I was older we moved just over the border but I went to school in Monmouth. Normally when people ask where I'm from I say "I say I'm from Wales but I'm not".
How would you describe your music style?
Basic.
What's been your best live experience?
Impossible to say. Too many to mention! A lot of them have involved booze, which makes it hard to make a sound judgement.
You have a new album out can you tell us more about that?
It's called Old Magick and it came out on March 4 on Fortuna Pop! It's a kind of stripped-back, folky, indie rock record, without too much rock. Or folk. I've made a lot of records with bands and as a solo artist and this is probably the best one.
What can people expect from your forthcoming Cardiff gig?
They should expect me to play some songs and talk a lot. I like to make each show feel like a one-off and work the room, like a bad DJ with no record decks. It's my birthday that night so I might forget the odd lyric.
Will you be returning to Wales sometime in the future?
As often as I can. The next time I'm playing in Wales is at Green Man Festival, which will be a blast.
Where can people hear your music?
All the usual places; record shops, iTunes, my website: stevenjamesadams.com
A version of this Q&A by Andy Howells appears in The South Wales Argus entertainment supplement The Guide on March 11, 2016
London trio Flowers, are back this month with their second album Everybody's Dying to Meet You. Over the course of ten intensely thrilling pop songs, singer Rachel Kennedy’s ethereal vocals and Sam Ayres textured guitar are backed by the powerful, metronomic beat of drummer Jordan Hockley.
Flowers began with Sam’s year-long search for a singer, and when he posted one last fateful advert, stating he wanted to make pop songs like "early Madonna through a broken tape machine", this led him to Rachel. Their initial demos were polished up by none other than Bernard Butler, and turned into their album debut Do What You Want To, It's What You Should Do released in 2013.
For Everybody’s Dying to Meet You the band retreated to Bark Studios in Walthamstow to work with producer Brian O’Shaughnessy. They are also currently touring the UK and will play Cardiff’s Moon Club on March 4. Andy Howells recently put questions to Rachel Kennedy from the group.
Who are you and how did you come together?
We're Flowers, individually Sam, Rachel and Jordan. Sam formed the band, he'd known Jordan in college and remembered he was a really good drummer, and he found me through an ad looking for a singer!
Where are you from?
Sam and I are from London, Jordan's moved around all over the place but now he lives in London too.
How would you describe your music style?
Sometimes noisy indie pop.
What's been your best live experience?
There have been a lot of different "best"s... For example, we did a show in New York a couple of years ago and we thought it was the WORST we'd ever sounded, but it went down the best ever with the crowd, maybe because they'd been waiting a long time to see us there, so even though we thought it was a disaster at the time the audience's reaction made it one of our favourite ever shows, I guess the flood of relief helped!
Can you tell us about your new album Everybody’s Dying to Meet You?
Yes we're very excited everyone gets to hear this album soon! It always seems like an eternity between the time you finish recording an album and the time everyone gets to hear it, by the time it comes out we've gone through being really excited about it and then a bit nervous about it and we start second guessing a lot of things. It's a great feeling when people have positive reactions to it, makes us feel a bit less crazy for making it in the first place! This album sounds quintessentially like "Flowers", to us at least. It's a mixture of our home demo sort of sound, lo-fi and tapey, and our live sound. Our first album came out sounding a lot cleaner and more polished than we'd hoped, so it's nice to get the more analog sound we love on this album.
You're touring shortly are you looking forward to that?
Yes very much, we love touring! And we're very happy that we'll be seeing more of the UK on this tour. It's great revisiting places we've been before and seeing so many friendly faces, and it's also very exciting turning up somewhere new, and having no idea whether one or a hundred people will turn up, getting to meet them and talk about music, play for them, and go to the next place, you feel like a nomad for a couple of weeks and it's wonderful. We'd never want to come home if it wasn't for our dog!
What can people expect from your forthcoming Cardiff gig?
Lots of new songs, and a few old ones too, it's near the end of the tour so you guys will have us at our peak performance (nicely warmed up, but not too exhausted and ill yet)!
Will there be more visits to Wales?
We’ll definitely be back yes! We've been lucky enough to play Cardiff a few times actually, so next time it'd be great to play some different places in Wales too, it's so beautiful there.
Where can people hear your music?
The best hub for information is our Facebook, - we often put up links to new songs there, as well as information about shows etc. You can also go to our Soundcloud for songs or if you have Spotify we're on there too! (or just search for "Flowers", we're the first artist listed under "Brandon Flowers")
Andy Howells is a freelance entertainment writer.
A version of this Q&A appears in The South Wales Argus entertainment supplement, The Guide, on March 4, 2016.
Commontime is the new record from Field Music, the first album from Sunderland siblings Peter and David Brewis since 2012’s Plumb.
Written and recorded in spontaneous bursts over six months in their Wearside studio, Commontime is built around the brothers playing, writing and singing together again after four years of solo works, collaborations and soundtracks. "As much fun as we might have had on our own or collaborating, we missed just spending time in the studio, the two of us, trying things out together." explains David. However, the album also features a wider array of players, including original Field Music keyboardist Andrew Moore, Peter's wife Jennie Brewis and new member of the live band Liz Corney on vocals, along with a panoply of strings and brass.
Ahead of the band's appearance at Cardiff Globe on March 3, Andy Howells put questions to Peter Brewis
Who are you and how did you come together?
Field Music started in 2005, not really as a band as such, but a one off album. It was initially me (Peter), my brother, David and our school friend, Andrew Moore. Over the years Field Music has become a bit of an umbrella organisation for all of the different musical things we do. Sometimes it’s even a band!
Where are you from?
We’re from Sunderland in the North East of England. How would you describe your music style?
I would like to think we have a bit of a magpie-style. We’re happy to take ideas and influences from anywhere so long as we think we can transform them into something that we can make our own. Having said that, everything we do as Field Music, the band, tends to sound like a good little band!
What's been your best live experience?
We’ve had lots of good live experiences so far. In terms of us playing well to a great audience I'd say Green Man festival in 2012 is pretty hard to top.
Can you tell us about your new album?
The album is out and in the shops! We’re really pleased with it and the reaction it’s had thus far. We’ve written some fairly conventionally structured songs this time. We’d shied away from that sort of thing in the past.
You're touring shortly are you looking forward to that?
Yes, we’re really looking forward to touring. We’ve got a new member of the band who’s helping us to sound good and a bit different. It’s exciting!
What can people expect from your forthcoming Cardiff gig?
It’s been a while since we last played there and I don’t know what people might be expecting. If people are expecting the old Field Music with a little something extra then hopefully they won’t be disappointed.
Where can people hear your music?
We’re on all the usual online music outlets: Spotify, Apple and so on. People might even be able to hear us on the old wireless from time to time. BBC6Music have been good enough to play us a fair bit over the past few months.
A version of this Q&A with Andy Howells appeared in The South Wales Argus entertainment supplement The Guide on February 26, 2016
UK-based multi-instrumentalist/alternative folk-pop powerhouse Fictonian recently re-released his track Full Circle Influence asnd will play Crofters Rights, Bristol, on February 3.
Fictonian deliberately evades definition. With the music just one part of this bold, multi-faceted project encompassing music, sound recording, video, art, animation and photography. The man behind it, Glen Roberts, is determined to create a body of work which reflects a mind as visual as it is musical and describing Fictonian as "a specific state of mind within me" Andy Howells recently put questions to him. How did you get into playing music?
My mum bought an upright piano for the house just before i was born, and as soon as i was old enough to climb up on the stall i was on there! She then arranged for me to have piano lessons from the age of 4, and i think it was about 8 or 9 when i started writing my own piano tunes rather than the ones in the books!
How would you describe your music style? Desire Lines is very much just a choice of 'style' for that one album, with lots of conscious decisions of layering and shade etc made just to suit the concept of the record. I don't ever intend on making the same album twice so the sound/style you hear now very much belongs to that specific record rather than representing me as a whole. I was brought up with a whole host of different types of music around me, and I know that i'll push myself to try lots of styles over the years to come.
You are about to embark on your debut headline tour, how are you preparing for that and what can people expect from your shows?
It's taken quite a bit of prep to work out how to play some of the songs live, as the record was intentionally made with zero thought of playing live. But, I think it's definitely worked, and in a way the songs have all grown and found an extra dimension. I'll have 5 musicians on stage with me, and a shed load of instruments!
Your single Full Circle Influence gets a re-release next month, can you tell us more about that?
That song is one that really showcases the whole lyrical concept of this record through just two characters in a kind of poem form, and that's the main reason why it was the first ever song i floated online.. but i'd always intended to come back to it to release properly once the album was out. It was fun making a shorter edit of the track as well, just to give the song a more direct feel than the album version.
Where can people hear your music?
It's on any of the usual streaming sites like Spotify and Apple music, there's a YouTube channel with lots of videos I've made, or the record can be bought through the usual places too!
Beyond the tour, what else can we expect from you in 2016?
Hopefully there will be a few festivals in the pipeline, and then some new music in the autumn which i'm working on as we speak, which i'm really excited to share.
Fictonian’s debut album Desire Lines is out now on Distiller Records. For further details visit www.fictonian.com
Andy Howells is a freelnace writer. A version of this Q&A was published in The South Wales Argus entertainment supplement The Guide on January 29, 2016
After a summer of festival appearances, Molotov Jukebox are touring the UK with an exclusive six date tour showcasing their forthcoming second album Tropical Gypsy. Having already hit their Pledge Music album target and sold out their London and Bristol shows, the London based six piece will be stopping off in Birmingham, Manchester, Glasgow and Brighton across November and December and will be joined by special guests The Church, who will guarantee to start each event off on the right foot with their all singing, all dancing, party church service.
They play Bristol Lantern this evening (December 5), Andy Howells put questions to actress and Molotov Jukebox lead singer Natalia Tena. Natalia not only fronts the band but is a familiar face to fans of the Harry Potter movies in which she played Tonks and Game of Thrones in which she plays Osha.
How did Molotov Jukebox come together?
Sam and I met in another band and decided to run away and create our own musical circus. Over the years people have come and gone, we've had 18 different musicians pass through but the Molotov team you see now is a year and half old and it's the one that is going to stay.
How would you describe your style of music?
The clue is in the title of our next album Tropical Gypsy. Through the eyepiece of our London roots, we have tried to fuse together a Balkanesque gypsy sound with the Latin tropical one.
What’s been your best live experience so far?
Playing our first big show in Brazil when we all went as a band to Rio for the first time. We'd done a smaller guerrilla tour a few years earlier that got us in the door on that side of the world. When we came back the second time, we were put in Circo vador, a massive space that on night, which was filled twice over with the most enthusiastic dancing and clapping I've ever experienced.
Can you tell us about Tropical Gypsy?
In the vein of both Balkan and Latin music, we wanted to borrow their devise of putting lyrics that tackle big subjects, like betrayal, loss of all faith and death combined with music that propels the fans to the dance floor with a riot of sweat and wiggle.
Who has inspired the music you make most?
Wow. Tough one. Really it's no one person, it's a step-by-step aural discovery propelled by that first musical love, which for me at 5 was Elvis Presley, the Beatles and Chuck Berry. I musically lived in the 50's and 60's till puberty and with my hormones rushing around, I discovered the female legends; Carla Thomas, Nina Simone, Aretha Franklin and Etta James.
You’re also well known for your roles in Harry Potter and Game Of Thrones – how does been in a band fit in with being an actor?
It's a battle because their timelines clash so often and lead to having to make very tough decisions. Sometimes it's seamless and I can juggle both if I work hard enough but when it’s an either or situation, it's incredibly hard to pick.
Do you have any more roles in the pipeline?
Watch this space...
What was the first record you bought?
Ha ha ha ha ha, it's awful! At 12 I saved up and bought one of the Now... something albums. Probably Now 10 it was so long ago. It's had Baby Come Back on it, which I listened to on repeat.
Where can we see you live and what we can expect from the show?
Well we are finishing our UK tour on the December 6 but next year, with our release of Tropical Gypsy on April 1, that's when it will get interesting. We are looking at a bigger UK tour and potentially Europe too, followed by the chaos of the festival circuit in the summer.
A version of this Q&A by Andy Howells appeared in The South Wales Argus entertainment supplement The Guide on December 4, 2015.
Sweet Billy Pilgrim are currently on a UK tour following the release of their fourth album - the critically acclaimed masterpiece Motorcade Amnesiacs.
The new album sees the band stepping away from their previous electronic / acoustic experimentalism into a thriving accessible record. Not ones to respect musical boundaries, the band have thrown every ounce of their belief and passion into the creative process resulting in the genre spanning excellence of Motorcade Amnesiacs.
Front man Tim Elsenburg’s unique musical worldview has resulted in yet another masterpiece; an album of adventurously inspired melodies, intertwining riffs and eclectic rhythms, heavenly harmonies and thought-provoking lyrics.
Andy Howells chats to Jana Carpenter of the band
You've been together ten years as a band, how do you think you've progressed in that time?
It’s been a process of opening up, in many ways. We’ve learned to communicate better, and the songs have opened up sonically and lyrically as a result. We love the first two records, but they were the sound of a band always looking inwards, and shows were difficult because we just wanted to get the notes and the sounds right. Then Jana joined, and through her background in acting and improvising, showed us how to tell stories; how to look outwards and invite people in. Yes, the notes and words are important, but now we share them, where - in the early days at least - we might have just performed them.
Can you tell us more about how your new album Motorcade Amnesiacs came about?
There was a time, following the release of Crown and Treaty, when we were in a kind of no-man’s land, and there was a strong temptation to give in to cynicism and call it quits. We soon realised, however, that we weren't going to stop writing songs, and in fact, that process had already begun, almost without us realising it. But the writing was fuelled by an altered intention: the songs were written to be played live. And once we acknowledged that, the joy of it carried us through the rest of the process.
What was the inspiration behind your new single Just Above Midtown?
It began as a challenge to write something fun. And as it unfolded, it kind of became about how it feels to do a thing you love with people you love.
Do you get inspired by other artists and are there any particular favourites you are enjoying at the moment?
Oh yes, although we try to avoid listening to anything vaguely similar during the writing process, for fear of subliminal imprinting! Tim mostly listened to hip hop and angry metal throughout. But more recently we have been enjoying the new albums by Everything Everything, Field Music and Thumpermonkey.
What can people expect from your forthcoming Cardiff show?
Hopefully, a beautiful noise interspersed with soppy sentimentalism and plenty of dicking about.
Catch Sweet Billy Pilgrim at Clwb Ifor Bach on September 5. Visit sweetbillypilgrim.com for further news on the band.
A version of this Q&A by Andy Howells, appeared in the South Wales Argus entertainment supplement The Guide on September 4, 2015
Ahead of their new release Brother Jessie Hallett and Luke Searle of South Wales duo Remembering August chat to Andy Howells
What are your names and where are you both from?
Jessie Hallett (Cardiff) Luke Searle (Beddau)
How did Remembering August come together?
We met studying Music in Bridgend College. We were paired up by our tutor for our end of course project to sing a duet together, we really connected through that experience and it all went from there! We started to stay behind after College to mess around with some covers to see how well our voices blended together with harmonies. Then we started gigging in our local area and then went onto songwriting which has lead us to where we are today!
Where did you get your name from?
August was a month where we felt we had two very different paths to choose from. Both needing a lot of commitment and dedication. So we always look back to how we felt at that particular time, and how passionate we were to follow what we really wanted.
How would you describe your music?
Our lyrics are always very personal to us, they always tell a story of an experience that either one of us has been through. Our live gigs are always very intimate with a lot of chemistry when we perform.
How do you go about writing your songs, do you find it easy to work together and inspire each other?
As solo artists we were both song writers in our own right. So making the transition from being a solo artist to being part of a duo was always going to be difficult. Majority of the time Luke will come up with amazing one-liners or a really catchy hook. He’ll then call me over and we’ll start developing his ideas. Once we start writing a new song, we work on it intensely until we feel perfectly happy with the outcome. We tend to get more inspired whilst at different locations. A lot of our songs have been written at the beach or just somewhere with a nice view, we like experimenting by putting ourselves in various areas. We've been fortunate to sign a publishing deal with Seemonkeysongs Ltd so will continue to write new songs.
You have already released one EP how did that come about and how well was it received?
Our first EP was recorded and produced by Ed Sheeran's co writer Amy Wadge. We met Amy whilst participating in a songwriting workshop in The Muni, Pontypridd. We performed our single ‘Stay’ for her, and she then booked us into her studio a few weeks later. The EP was self-released and we really learned a lot by doing that. We worked extremely hard to do everything necessary that would make the release great. Working off our own backs was hard, but It was a great learning curve for us.
What's been your best live experience so far?
One of the highlights of our career so far was definitely performing on the Forum Live Stage at Birmingham LG Arena before the Katy Perry show. It was an amazing crowd, and a real honour to be asked to play. We also supported James Walsh (Starsailor) at Clwb Ifor Bach, which was actually our favourite audience to date. We also played in the Park & Dare Theatre (which was Sold out) supporting Only Boys Aloud. We've been really fortunate to have played these fantastic venues with appreciative audiences.
Are you working on any more material?
We've finished recording out next EP ‘Brother’. We recorded it in Monnow Valley studios where the likes of Oasis, Led Zepplin have recorded. The EP consists of 5 tracks, one of which is our next single ‘Stay’. ‘Stay’ will be released on the 20th October followed by the EP release on the 27th October. Everything will be available for download on all major distributors e.g. iTunes, Spotify, Amazon etc.
We’re extremely excited to see our hard work come to life - a lot of blood, sweat and tears (literally - watch the music video!) went into this EP and we can’t wait to share it. Lee House (our producer) is doing an amazing job with our tracks so far so we hope you’ll all love them as much as we do!
Where can we see you live?
Our next gig is The Big Cwtch Festival in Camarthen on 13th September. We are currently booking live shows for the rest of the year, all of which will be released on our social media very soon - so keep your eyes peeled! We’re also happy to have announced our signing with booking agent Swb Artists!
