Monday, 26 April 2010

Stuart interviews...Bullet For My Valentine

The metal scene is one which cautiously adopts new icons. Despite many bands coming through over the years, few have been able to compete with the big names of the 80s. Bullet For My Valentine are looking to shatter that illusion when they release their third studio album, Fever, this month. After building up a large, dedicated fan base over the last few years with relentless touring and promotion, Bullet are back. Stuart Edwards finds out what fans can expect this year and whether Fever could be the first great metal album of the decade.

1)So you’re just about to release a new record and hit the road again, what does it feel like to finally finish recording and get back out there again?

It’s a great feeling to finish a big project and it’s going to be fun to get out there to do what we like doing best, it’s refreshing. We can’t wait to play for all kinds of audiences this year.

2) There’s endless tweaking which can be done on a new album – when do you know when it’s time to stop and just go with what you have?

I don’t really think it’s something you consciously decide, we just went through and ironed out all the bits we wanted to improve. When it’s finished and release doesn’t really have much bearing to us, it’s just getting the best quality record out there as soon as possible.

3) The metal genre has taken on many new dimensions over the last few years, do you feel your music fits in with the current generation better than if Bullet had existed twenty years ago?

Yeah I think we fit into both eras of it pretty well, a lot of old school metal fans listen to us and find what they are after which is cool, but we’ve managed to create our own audience too. There’s a nice mix and I think our sound would have worked back then too.

4) What can we expect to hear from the new album that we haven’t heard from Bullet before? Would you say it’s closer musically to The Poison or Scream, Aim & Fire?

Musically it’s much closer to The Poison than the last album, but it’s a bigger record, the songs are bigger and more mature. Over the recording we wrote a good seventeen songs so had some flexibility with what went on. We wrote this crazy metal ballad which isn’t on it, maybe we’ll bring it out when we’re ‘past it’.

5) You’ve a huge amount of tour dates coming up over the next few months – what are you most looking forward to?

Download, definitely. It’s the first UK date of this tour so it’s going to be special.

6) How are you aiming to overcome the AC/DC clash at Download Festival? Are you worried about going up against possibly the biggest name in rock music?

I think from the timings, we clash with Them Crooked Vultures instead which is better, finishing 20 minutes before AC/DC come on (we’re gonna try and catch them). You don’t go up against AC/DC, that’s suicide.

7) Aside from festival dates, when can Bullet fans here in England expect to hear these new songs live? Are you looking at a Newcastle date?

We can’t say anything yet really, but we’re definitely going to be touring the UK this winter. Maybe some arena shows, we’ll see how the new album fairs first.

8) You’ve supported a number of extremely high profile bands in your career – do you feel you’ve learnt from this and are more prepared should this record be even more successful than expected?

That’s our goal, we want to become the Iron Maiden or Metallica for this generation. We’ve learnt quite a bit off them and they’ve always taken us under their wing and not been up themselves.

9) Do you feel the metal genre is one which is more difficult to experiment with and create your own sound?

Not sure really, metal is more of a life style than just a musical genre and there’s certain ways of doing things. On the second album we tried to make a record that would please more traditional fans but if they didn’t like then fuck them, this is who we are.

10) Do you feel your songs have an extra dimension to the genre that may appeal to others who don’t like their Metallicas and Iron Maidens?

Yeah I think we can definitely offer something new, maybe people who didn’t like those bands can find something fresh in our music. We take influences from them but we know who we are.

11) What are your thoughts on the industry’s shape at the moment? Are you in favour of labels continuing to exist in their traditional sense or does the ‘free music’ idea appeal, both ethically and economically?

I don’t know, I like the record company that’s helped us and done this for us and don’t think we would have got where we are. The biggest and smallest bands can get by without them but if you want to make a break then you still need label backing or else you just can’t keep up.

12) Is there a lyrical theme or concept to Fever? What sort of mindset did you as a band have whilst recording?

Nope it’s quite a traditional record, the songs are all pretty natural. We just wanted to pick out the bad points from the last album and learn from experience.

13) Finally how are you going to be promoting the new record, do you find it more challenging being the type of act who gets little commercial radio play?

We’ve had our new single just put on the B-list for Radio 1 actually which is pretty cool but it’s simply a case of getting out there and playing really. I guess the more dedicate stations help a bit though.

Stuart Edwards was speaking to Michael Padget. Bullet For My Valentine’s new record, Fever is out April 26th.

Friday, 16 April 2010

Stuart interviews...Feeder/Renegades

A stuttered leap to stardom, headliners of major festivals, deaths of band members and a huge commercial demand are just a few of the battles Feeder have endured throughout their successful fifteen year career. It’s no wonder then, that after 2008’s Silent Cry ended their long-term record deal, Grant Nicholas & Taka Hirose wanted to shake things up a bit. At the start of the year, the band’s temporary alter-ego Renegades was born.

“We wanted to rediscover the old days. The last tour and this one is about building ourselves up again, doing something special for ourselves and for the fans who never had the chance to see us in small venues. Instead of the usual routine of recording then touring arenas and academies, it’s showing off our new songs in front of our most dedicated fans. ”

Despite being under a new name though, the Renegades E.Ps have been a natural musical progression for Grant’s song writing.

“We touched on the heavier sounds on the last album (Silent Cry) but this is an evolution of that, like in Who’s The Enemy. It’s never been the case that I decide in advance if I’m writing songs for Feeder or songs for Renegades. We’ve got this album in the works and it could go under either name.”

Whilst Feeder have seen a constant evolution in their sound, from the grunge sounds to Stereoworld to the Radio 2 friendly anthems like Feeling a Moment. Renegades’ self titled song contains the line “We go right back to the start in sweet defiance”, a line which captures the pressures of being in such a band.

“I think there is perhaps an element there of frustration, when you’re writing songs the words just come back to you and it’s only when you step back you realise quite what you’re saying. It’s an honour to have your music recognised by so many people but sometimes you need to try something different.”

“I’ve always loved playing in little pubs and clubs because it’s music in its rawest form. Academies and arenas are nice but it’s so structured, it’s like being back at school in a way. It’s been quite emotional playing as a three piece again, it’s the first time we’ve played at this level without Jon. We played Tangerine for the first time in over ten years.”

The band will take to the stage of Northumbria University’s Stage two on their second Renegades tour, with the second E.P. included in the ticket price of £18.

“We always love playing in Newcastle but sometimes don’t get chance to play there. I had the Riverside in mind for this tour but I hadn’t realised it closed. We played there in ’99 with Muse supporting and it was a great gig.”

Their straight-out old school rock sound will surely get the small crowd moving as the band preview material from the upcoming album, songs from the two Renegades E.Ps as well as throwing in a few older Feeder songs for good measure.

“Last time we played Sweet 16, Tangerine and Descend but we’re maybe thinking of mixing that up a bit because the Swim/Polythene stuff goes really well with what we’re playing now. I think I want to play Shade and maybe Stereoworld.”

With their own label set up, a hoard of new material to record and an exciting challenge of redefining themselves, one thing is for ; the future of Feeder/Renegades is entirely in the hands of Grant and Taka. Beneath their commercial shell of Buck Rogers and Just a Day is a band full of creativity and diversity. Renegades lets the Feeder boys shed their skin.

Stuart Edwards

Wednesday, 14 April 2010

Coming up

Over the next two weeks I'll be posting interviews with the following bands:

- The Bluetones
- Butterfly Explosion
- Feeder
- Bullet For My Valentine

There should be something for everyone there.

Tuesday, 13 April 2010

Stuart interviews...The Joy Formidable

I’d always wondered how my first interview as a journalist would go; who it’d be with and where. Students of Journalism may have been mollycoddled with Dictaphones, carefully pressed suits and the ‘yes-man’ of a minor corporation; being bundled into the back of a tour bus with a faint aroma of sweat and beer by the upcoming Welsh band The Joy Formidable, with nothing but a pen and paper, it’s fair to say my first experience was slightly rawer.

You released your first mini-album independently in January; how do you feel this structure of release affected you musically?

TJF: I’d say it did nothing but benefit the music itself, we were able to experiment with our ideas more openly, without the worry of “will the label like this?” Recording was natural, and we enjoyed getting response from the fans, rather than what a label thought.

What band do you think would be most relevant musically for you to open for in the future?

TJF: I think our sound is quite versatile, we’re opening for Editors, Passion Pit and Temper Trap this winter. A rock band would be pretty cool, Steel Panther preferably. Someone legendary like Pixies or The Flaming Lips; we’d have to knock back a bottle of Champagne every night on tour with them.

Favourite venue you’ve played?

Glasgow Barrowlands last night was brilliant, we loved the Festival Republic tent at Reading and Leeds too. Playing in caves would be cool, paragliding in from above like superheroes.

If you could produce any artists next record, who?

The Twilight Sad!

Any plans for new material?

We’re looking at a couple of Christmas songs maybe, then the new album should be out early next year.

You’ve just hit the big time and every festival wants you as an exclusive; where do you go?

Ideally Europe....or do you mean in England? If so then we absolutely loved Latitude last year, it’s just a magical place.

Free music – Yay or nay?

In the right context it’s a fantastic idea, but it has to be done with dignity. Giving away too much looks desperate, and obviously you’ve got to try and at least break even.

Do you think it’s more difficult for female fronted bands to be taken seriously?

Obviously the industry is very male dominated, but it’s less ‘out there’ than it used to be.

Metric, as opposed to Paramore?

Yeah...*laughs*

For a young band you looked very together on stage; how much of this is chemistry and how much sheer practise?

Mostly chemistry, there has to be a good level of it, you can’t just put a few amazing individual musicians together to make the best band in the world.

I’d like to thank TJF for taking away my interviewing V-plates, and being one of the most down to earth bands I’ve met.

Stuart interviews...Goldie Lookin' Chain

It’s been a while since Goldie Lookin’ Chain burst into the mainstream with their unique single, ‘Guns Don’t Kill People’. The eight friends from Newport found themselves in a peculiar position as one of the most talked about artists in the UK at the time, having simply formed as something to keep each other occupied. With the release of the latest album, ‘Asbo4Life’ and a nineteen date tour of the UK in December, Goldie Lookin Chain aren’t ready to become a forgotten name of the decades.

Eggsy took some time out of rehearsals to talk to me.

1) You’re currently recording for the follow up to 2009’s Asbo4Life, how have you evolved your sound for this upcoming release, and how would you compare these sessions to previous ones?

We’re not using as many samples as in previous ones. We’ve got a setup in a big house, with lots of weed to smoke and we just get to it. Mike (Balls) nearly died a bit back! We’re looking at being both more experimental, and keeping that sound our fans love.

2) Your massive UK tour is just about to hit the road, what’s your favourite aspect of touring?

Aside from the show, I love that after gig shower then diving on the bus, just chilling out and relaxing, having a few drinks and a smoke whilst watching a movie on the road to the next city.

3) What’s Goldie Lookin Chain’s most memorable show to date?

We did an amazing little show at the office of ‘The Fly’ magazine (part of the Barfly venues organisation) the other week. There was only two of us and we had cassette tapes doing all the samples whilst we did everyone’s rapping.

4) For the casual listener who’s only familiar with the hits, what would you say appeals most from the latest album?

Garlic Bread, Disguise and New Day. For New Day we wanted to get a whole boys choir to do some backing, but we ended up doing it ourselves, we managed to get it sounding just how we wanted though.

5) The UK music scene is changing and evolving at a rapid rate; what new artists have impressed you over the last year?

To be honest nothing much has stood out recently, the charts are full of so much bad music. Jamie T’s new album is pretty great though!

6) What’s your interpretation of X-Factor. Would you say it’s a positive asset or detrimental to the UK music scene?

I don’t like it myself really, it doesn’t really add much. It generates a lot of money and people clearly enjoy it, and it does increase awareness of the industry.

7) What experiences have you had in Newcastle over the years?

We don’t tent to see much of the city other than the venue on tour, although I did get a great tracksuit from the Metro centre once.

8) What can gig goers expect to see from your show on the 15th December?

We want it to be like one massive office party. We’re going to be playing loads of old school stuff as well as some of the new material we’ve not released yet. There’s gonna be a big photocopier, fax machine and that on stage too. We’re going for a semi-erotic gig.

9) With this decade in music coming to a fast close, what have been the band’s favourite moments?

Nothing specific, just the whole thing really! We just loved the way a few songs we all sat and wrote stoned turned into top 40 hits, and we don’t want it to end.

10) You grew up and formed in a small town, what advice would you offer to the more rural musicians wanting to make the break?

It’s not so important where you’re from as long as you’re getting the music out there to the people. Play lots of gigs all over the place, and don’t be precious in song writing – people aren’t gonna go out and find you, so you have to do the work.. Also get your material online too, we’ve got loads of unreleased older albums on ours.

Finally, after many albums of your comedy orientated hip hop, have you ever felt the need to evolve your sound into a more conventional one?

Not really no, we enjoy what we’re doing and the fans obviously do. We don’t wanna water down our sound to sound like some shit like N-Dubz or whatever. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

Eggsy then turned the tables, asking me for the time. Turns out he’d taken the interview whilst on the move. Goldie Lookin Chain played Newcastle Academy 2 on December 15th

Stuart Edwards

Stuart interviews...Jon Allen.

It was a cold, damp night in Newcastle and a budding music reporter had a spontaneous interview with the upcoming Jon Allen, playing at the Cluny that night. In between the getting lost in Ousebourne Park, the working on Jon’s merchandise stand and forgetting a Dictaphone, I sat down with Jon and discussed the highs, lows and plans for his careers thus far.

On your biography online you state your influences as Bob Dylan and the 70s; when writing is this something you’ve consciously aspired to or is more a stylistic trait?

It totally depends on how you feel when writing. Sometimes the ideas flow naturally, but others you need to give them a bit of inspiration; there’s no clear cut distinction

This is your second headlining show in Newcastle in quick succession, which is clearly a vital part of young artists becoming established. Do you think a headlining tour, or supporting another band creates more exposure? Which is most financially viable?

I usually find the supporting slots more economically viable and it’s a nice challenge to try and win over a new audience. I prefer playing to my own fans though, it’s a nice feeling knowing they are there to see you and not waiting for another act.

Leading on from this, who would be your dream act to open for?

Bob Dylan the obvious choice, and Neil Young would also be special. On a smaller scale though the Flynn Brothers as they’ve got a similar sound to us.

Recording with Mark Knopfler is a tremendously big claim to fame for an artist with only one L.P. Who approached who?

It was pretty coincidental, we were both at the same party and just got talking. He saw me playing later on and liked what I did so offered to work with me. ‘Sarah’ on the new E.P. is the track we recorded.

How do you feel the experience influenced/inspired you?

It was interesting to see how he worked, he is so professional in the studio. The sessions were intense too as everything had to be perfect. He’d record six layers of guitar and then mix them. It gave me an insight to that level though and gave me a lot of confidence; it made me realise that level isn’t out of reach.

For future recordings and tours, would you like to expand upon your backing band? If so, what types of musicians would you like to see come in?

For the moment the four piece is working really well both financially and artistically, we’ve got enough legs in this sound to experiment with. A brass section would be fun to work with one day though.

Is there a lyrical concept behind Dead Man’s Suit? Do you feel under pressure when writing new music to come up with themes equally wrapped in metaphor?

Definitely under pressure yes, most artists are when writing new material. I’m on the tricky second album now just experimenting and I don’t want to just repeat what I’ve already done. The fans can sometimes give some help when playing new songs but people don’t know how to react to new material. Stevie Wonder’s Superstition got a poor reception the first time that was played, and look what happened there.

What types of audience do you find mostly at shows? Do you feel there’s somewhat something of a resurgence in folk music, with the likes of Fleet Foxes and Bon Iver finding success, whilst a new generation is discovering the likes of Cash, Dylan and Young?

Yeah I’d agree there’s a definite resurgence in the sound, there’s more exposure of the genre at the moment. If we’re played on Radio 2 then the older crowd tends to show but I’ve been played on Absolute Radio a decent amount which has introduced some younger listeners.

What’s next for you once the tour is over? Are you anticipating hitting the festival circuit over summer or are you more focused on writing new material before hitting the road again?

Hopefully getting a bit of both done, we’re definitely playing on the Acoustic Stage at Glastonbury which will be great. Europe is on the cards too for a bit. It’s quite hard to write properly when on the road and the label want a new release, but they’ve also been giving me lots of tour dates so it’s difficult managing it all!

Jon Allen – Dead Man’s Suit is out now

Welcome

This is a musical blog. As a freelance writer I often have many articles what I wish to publish on line but have nowhere to do so. I regularly interview many upcoming artists as well as a handful of larger artists.

This will be the source of all my musically related literature which without, would no doubt be lost in the depths of my hard drive when it serves as useful reading for many.

I will update spontaneously, however I will post every new article with a link on Twitter, so follow me on there for updates. All articles will be tagged with a #DSOTS


I hope you enjoy this blog.