- Interviews
Congratulations on an accomplished new album, ready to conquer the music world?
Thank you very much, hardly!
Where the album was recor
It was recor
Where does the inspiration come from for creating a song? Is there a process or, is every song different?
Every song is different.
The album lasts around 35 minutes. There is double that space on a CD,so was that a
liberate choice.
None of the musicians I know allow the amount of minutes on a Compact Disc to influence how long there records wind up. But now that you mention it, F8ck it right!? why not just fill 'er up!
- Interviews
Photo by Megan Holmes
Questions put to Carolyn Berk of Lovers
Hi, it was about a year ago that we last spoke on the U.S. release of the album. So, what has the band been up to since?
Lots of traveling and writing. We've done two tours of the United States supporting this new album, and we're writing the next record.
How is life on Badman Recording Co. and what attracted you to the label?
Life is nice at Badman. The man who owns the label is really quite a sweet man.
How and when did the band form and is this a long term project for you all or is it back to the “more acoustic, sad-pop-folk kind of thing” after the tour?
The band formed in 2001, but this incarnation of the band is about 3 years old. We're toddlers.
- Interviews
Hi, How the devil are you today and what is the view from where you are standing?
Oh amazing, thank you! I’m currently sitting on a swing seat in the garden and enjoying these fresh blueberries. It’s pretty windy today but I’ve got two pairs of socks on. (and two hats).
Where did the name of the band come from?
Our band name Chailo Sim is an old Romany phrase which means ‘I am replete’.
We saw your performance at the Green Man Festival but for people who have not heard of the band before, how would you describe your music?
Spillers Records, Rough Trade Records and various digital outlets online sell our debut album ‘Replete’ within the ‘new folk’ or ‘alt folk’ genres which seem to represent lots of bands that we love listening to. I don’t place too much importance in genres but it is an honour to be on roughly the same page as bands such as Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes, Midlake etc.
In terms of the equipment we use, I’ve always loved traditional acoustic instruments and the pure sounds they can make, but I think they only represent the light and it’s important to represent the dark, too. When you start to introduce a bit of distortion, and play around with the natural relationship between chords from song to song, you can begin to create music that represents real life which can bring about meaningful emotional responses.
- Interviews
So far Diagrams have released an ep with five songs, why did the go the ep route and is there a full album on the way?
The E.P. seemed like a good way to make people aware of the band ahead of putting out an album. I think it can be hard to get noticed with so much great music around and it would be nice if a few people have heard of us before putting an album out. Hopefully that will happen early next year.
How would you
I think of it as alternative pop music with a bit of electronica and the occasional hint of funk...and perhaps a whiff of folk. Influences amongst many inclu
Is Diagrams a si
I left Tunng on good terms a couple of years ago so this is something totally new.
- Interviews
1: Congratulations on a great debut album, How the devil are you today and where are you?
A: Devilishly good thanks!
2: What drove the band to take up the Rock banner?
A: Loud guitars, bashing drums why wouldn’t you! I can't remember how it started, but I do remember making a drum in school when I was about 8 or 9 and a good friend at school always seemed to have Raw/Kerrang so rock was an easy path to get into. Around that time rock music was, for me, in its prime. Metallica’s black album, GnR’s Use Your Illusions, Nirvana’s Nevermind, Maiden’s Fear Of The Dark and my first album, Def Leppard’s Adrenalize all came out so it was a great time to start.
3: What do you think the band has to offer that would take you to the top of people’s shopping list?
A: Here’s where we bang on about being new, fresh, different, like nothing before right?? Well, truth is it’s a genre that has been done over and over again; we just try to be better. We feel it’s an album with no weak track on it. I think the thing that stands out for us is that there are a number of different influences and styles musically, in our work. This adds to our sound, the way we write and the dynamics.
- Interviews
Our Kevin Hand was lucky enough to meet celebrated Cambridge singer/song-writer Paul Godwin at the Cambridge Folk Festival, where he was promoting his latest album, Trinkets and Offcuts, and caught unawares he agreed to an interview:
Hi Paul, how are you?
Good thanks. Life has been a bit hectic lately because I'm getting married soon. Which seems to involve a lot more DIY than I realised.
So, tell us about the new album
It's called "Trinkets and Offcuts" and is a mixture of songs that I thought were a bit lightweight (by which I think I mean upbeat...) to go on my next album and songs that didn't quite make it onto my last but I have a soft spot for. I write songs really slowly, so I want to make the most of any I think are good.
It’s a slightly strange cover, and name, for a new album (do people still call them albums?)
I still call them albums, though "record" is what the cool kids are saying I believe. I think the name is quite appropriate to the idea of it, but maybe I'm just getting my excuses in early. The artwork is a box I found in an antique shop in Cambridge and filled with some of the little bits and bobs that I've ended up with over the years - also seemed appropriate. I got the cover printed sideways so it opens as the box does, which I thought was pretty cool, but it seems to just confuse people.
- Interviews
An interview with Gary Louris of the Jayhawks. Questions from Jim & Pete
Hi and how are you today, in fact where are you?
Today I am in Birmingham England, home of Black Sabbath.
What was the main driver for the comeback album and tour and do you see yourselves as blazing a trail for the newer Americana bands today?
I still don’t see this as a comeback album or a reunion record. It is just a continuation of making Jayhawks music, and this time it is with Mark Olson back in the group. I feel that it was an extension of the rekindling of the friendship and the music making that began in the early part of this millennium and led to our duo record Ready For The Flood and then some shows with the band. Yes I feel we are a link in the chain of what could be called folk rock music.
Is the reformation of the band a one off or, a long term chapter in the history of the Jayhawks?
Only time will tell. We have no long range plan. We wrote the best song we could and then wrote another and another. Then we tried to record them the best way we knew how. Now we have a record and we are taking it out on the road. If we enjoy a show we play the next and the next. If we still like it next year we will most likely make another record. We are going day to day, month to month to see how it feels …so far so good.
- Interviews
A revealing insight into Scoundrels with Ned Wyndham
What is the band up to today? Is it a 24/7 existence being in a band or is there downtime too?
Today I am working in an antique shop doing some work to earn some cash, living the rock and roll dream amidst mahogany tables and brass lamps. Oh and there's even a narwhale tusk here for sale. Mentally the band is always in my head 24/7 without a shadow of doubt, we're always thinking of tunes, coming up with new i
Where do you think the band is currently sitting on the path to fame and fortune?
We were once told that the path of a band can be compared to the rungs of a lad
The blues is your ‘bread and butter’ who were you listening to that may you want to be in a band?
All of us have been in bands since we were mere scamps of lads, since we'd learned to tie shoelaces. I think we've all had different introductions to music; mine was long journeys in the car with my parents who always had great taste. I remember how they'd always buy these 50's and 60's compilation tapes from petrol stations, tunes by greats like Eddie Cochrane, Fats Domino and Del Shannon. I think my parents always instilled that love of music within me and I remember as a little kid I used to imagine being Chuck Berry playing "Tulane" in front of loads of people.
- Interviews
Dog is Dead
It’s hard to imagine a more mild-mannered bunch than the band-members of newish indie outfit Dog Is Dead. While your stereotypical touring band would, you imagine, exist on a diet of vodka and late night kebabs, these boys have been spending an awful lot of time in Pizza Express. It’s not very rock n’ roll, and neither at first glance, are they.
But ask these gentle twenty year olds what they’d like to achieve in their careers, and you start to see the spark behind their recent success. “We’re ridiculously ambitious”, says lead singer Rob. “We’ll push things as far as we’re able to – as long as we’re happy with the records we’re making and are proud of them then we’ll go as far as possible.”
They’ve already been on quite a journey, from local gigs in front of a dedicated fan base in their native Nottingham, to playing a summer of festivals and their first sold-out headline
They’ve also starred in an episode of Skins, “It was surreal. We had to prerecord the song and then mime it to kids acting like they were on MDMA.” They admit that the programme isn’t really their scene, but go on to say that the experience was “really fun”. It’s this positive attitude, coupled with a slight bemusement, that runs through all their tales of their time in the limelight so far.
I ask them what they’re listening to on their travels. Their band of the moment is Big Deal, which is handy since the duo is supporting Dog is Dead at this gig, and Tribes. The Flaming Lips and Band of Horses also get a mention. And their first gigs, in their early teens, were Muse and Kings of Leon respectively.
Their own music though, is not as mainstream as these bands might suggest. Their parents listened to Springsteen and Simon and Garfunkel but their influences go wider than that, from grunge to psychedelic to pop. I find it hard to keep a straight face when they talk about the ‘eclectic sound clash’ that is their music, but on stage later the mix of influences is apparent. They come on stage to Sufjan Stevens’
There’s also masses of energy, great harmonies, some impressive multi-tasking from Trev, and a feel-good factor that help to gloss over the not yet perfect vocals. The audience, not as familiar with the songs as their home crowd, is enthusiastic, and leaves happy even after just seven songs.
The future is looking pretty bright for Dog is Dead. Fresh from their
Louise Neilan spoke to Trev and Rob from Dog is Dead before their headline gig at the
- Interviews
Hi and how the
Good thanks. How's the god in you?
Is life always hectic?
Life is however we choose to perceive it. I wear love glasses. (Rose Tinted)
Your second full length album just released and it’s quite a
From my subconscious and, its connection to our collective unconscious.
How do you approach the art of composing a song?
When the strength of a melody compels me to find it's meaning with words.
I can’t recall the band playing in
We are working towards a fall time tour this year.
- Interviews
How does it feel to have a new band release in the name of Hot Tuna under your belt for the first time in many years and, what is the most satisfying aspect of the new album for you?
Well... all things come to those who wait... and work for it. In a nutshell, the time was just right for us. We are incredibly proud of our new project. To be able to put everything you have learned over the years to productive use is more than satisfying!
The band are playing the record live, is there any chance of UK & European dates other than Italian shows next week?
Not at this moment... we just have gotten any offers, frankly, that said, who knows what will happen as the year unfolds.
The art work on Hot Tuna Albums over the years has been varied and iconic. How do you go about choosing the art work for an album and who designed the latest?
Yeah, we've had some cool looking covers. The one for 'Steady As She Goes,' was designed by our friend Kevin Morgan, who does all of our artwork.
- Interviews
An interview with Guitarist, Joel Schnei
How the
We are doing great! Currently we are enjoying lunch at a small Mexican diner in the Capitol Hill neighbourhood of
Debut Album un
Hah. Our album just came out a few months ago so we are still new to everything coming our way with this project. Definitely taking baby steps and hoping for the best.
There are going to be obvious comparisons ma
Well......We feel most of these comparisons come from the fact that we are a "duo" that plays blues driven rock. We are huge fans of both bands, but never really had either in mind as an influence when we started. We have a little more of a heavier influence to our music that I think sets us apart. It might have something to do with the city we grew up in. That being said, we really just try and play music that feels good to us and most importantly is fun to play. If that ends up sounding somewhat sonically similar to another band, then that just happens.