Denim + Leather Issue No.4

Page 1

ose R c ti tics Mys n a m Vuro a v iant a G l a e P Th w o l Fol RS A E SW Pas Hands x u Fa lvet e V The ule o Kag LL K JEY ore!! m and


T N E T N O C

interviews

Mystic Rose Palava Follow The Giant

EPS+SINGLES

SWEARS ‘Faith In The Nation’ Faux Pas ‘Healthy’ Vuromantics ‘In The Night’ The Velvet Hands ‘Games’ False Advertising ‘Hey You’ Kaygoule ‘Monsieur Automaton’ Palava ‘Unwanted’ KOSMONAUTS KUDETA ‘Breathe’

VIDEOS

JEKYLL ‘MANIA’ Exowaves ‘Sonic Beauty’





WOLF ALICE @ HMV, MANCHESTER



FAUX PAS HEALTHY

The York four-piece Faux Pas, have

The track is recorded by Glass

recently relocated to Manchester,

Mountain’s very own Mickey Dale.

where I’m sure they’ll thrive in a city

Healthy, like other Faux Pas songs is an

open to more genres than just upbeat

indie grunge track that contains quite a

indie. The band is made up of lead

lot of angst, something I think a lot of

vocalist and rythmn guitarist Ru Cowl,

their songs do. In a generation that is

backing vocalist and bassist Morgan

mostly over taken by indie music, Faux

Lindley, Lewis Egdell as lead guitarist

Pas never waver from their grungy take

and Joey Leyland on drums and

on indie rock. Ru’s vocals are so

vocals. They’re supporting Corella this

distinctive, it’s the biggest part of being

weekend at Manchester Academy 3,

able to tell that it’s Faux Pas you’re listen-

a huge achievement for both Corella

ing to.

and all the support acts.


The lyrics in the chorus are

and it’s nice to listen to something

memorable, and Ru’s tone throughout

from the up and coming scene that

the most part of the song has more

allows you to do that rather than just

of a sad tone to it, this feeds into the

going to old school 90s grunge.

angst a little. I think Faux Pas are one of the minority of bands daring to

But when you see Faux Pas live it’s

dive into sounding a little depress-

the complete opposite, it’s not a

ing, whether intentional or not. I’m

show where the audience stand there

aware that ‘angst’ and ‘depressing’ are

with a gloomy face swaying along to

both words that are easily mistaken to

melodic grunge. It. Goes. Off. They

sound offensive, but in this context I

put so much energy into their

mean them as a compliment. We’re all

performances, they step up the heavy

guilty of putting on music that feeds

elements of their songs and give you

into our angry or sad moods,

something to go nuts to. So I recommend you go and catch them live.

Written by Holly Beson-Tams


FALSE ADVERTISING hey you

Following great success as a DIY

2016, their recent releases follow a

trio from Manchester, the band have

much more structured approach to

stretched as far as SXSW over in

their sound.

America on their debut album! Constantly releasing new singles from 2015 and the EP Brainless in April


Hey You dropped on the 15th Sept

singles before dropping a new EP/LP, we

with 3 minutes of classic False

can only hope that this is in anticipation

Advertising goodness. A solid bassline

to a new batch of songs that will prob-

throughout, the familiar guitar sound

ably propel them further in their music

that Jen controls, and strong drum

career.

playing highlighting the intensity of the

Find Hey You on spotify alongside

bridge and chorus’. Certainly not as

their newest singles Not My Fault and

loud or fuzz ridden as their usual tracks

Honest now! They’ll also be performing

such as Not My Fault and You’re Too

across the North in Manchester, Durham,

Slow, but certainly a contender to their

Newcastle, Sunderland and Hull during

last ep track Sigh which was a brilliant

October. After seeing them at Humber

way of ending the ep in a feel good,

Street Sesh and the Adelphi in Hull, I can

and still powerful song. Judging by

say that these guys are not to be missed

their last method of releasing

for a fun and energetic night!

Written by Ben Kitching


VUROMANTICS IN THE NIGHT

The following probably needs to be stated early on. I know these guys pretty well. Borderline has played the odd gig with them, I even helped these guys out over the summer as their brilliant drummer, Sergio, wasn’t available for a gig and I was asked to step in. Poor guys. Their brilliant musicianship dragged me through one rehearsal and that gig. Knowing just how good these guys are, I set the bar pretty high for them (it’s only fair). With all that considered, here is my review of Vuromantics next EP In The Night.

Title track In The Night starts the EP with a statement of intent with a groovy drum beat, the synthesisers filling out the mix very well, and Sam’s great vocals and lyrics that fit a semi-chilled retro party song with so much 80s influence throughout. Callum Hall’s fantastic basslines are a particular highlight of the song, as well as a clever outro, with layers of effects over a repeating vocal-line.


Questions is another love-themed song, with a groovy bassline, drum-beat and bongos starting the track, when the synth and vocals kicks in, I am suddenly reminded of the recent Tame Impala material, very psychedelic, but a great slower jam. The mix between all the instruments is absolutely perfect, and Sam’s vocal melody keeps me gripped to the song throughout. The Wave was a strange listen at first, mainly because I played this song with them for that gig I mentioned earlier. There’s some really nice drum beats throughout by Sergio one this, with parts of the band taking a one beat rest in places to add some great variation. The EP then moves onto Not Over You, Sam’s heartfelt lyrics are once again another stand out part, as well as the great production on the backing vocals, and an interesting electric guitar part from Jake, that really keeps this track moving. This track could easily have another section and go on for another minute. I was dying for it to do so. Bunch of teases.

Finally, Glory sees off the EP in a more than respectable manner. The catchy line of ‘I wish nothing but glory for you’ comes and goes through the track, an intriguing electric piano part, topped off by some more great disco-beats from Sergio. To conclude, the Vuromantics boys have done themselves more than justice with this release, which I will be awaiting on October 20th. They are a fine example of talent currently in the local music scenes across Yorkshire and the UK. They have another run of shows which I urge everyone reading this to attend one show, or keep an eye out until they come to one of your local venues. I will end my review giving massive credit to producer Will Stocks at Junior Park Studios on some fantasitic recording, mixing, and helping Vuromantics put out an EP as great as they are. Vuromantics new EP will be released on 20th October on Alya Records.

Written by James Brown


SWEARS

faith in the nation

SWEARS are a four piece from

deep bass lines, before coming in

Middlesbrough, made up of Joel

with some funky surf-rock like gui-

Clayton, vocals and guitar, George

tar, similar to the likes of something

Louca as lead guitarist, Stephanos

you’d find in a Bleeding Knees Club

Louca on drums and Craig Hughes

song. The chorus is where the punk

on bass guitar. Their latest single

comes into the track, the drums get

Faith In The Nation is set for

louder and faster and the guitar

release on 13th October, however

and bass really help to build that

we’ve been lucky enough to have

climatic energy. The vocals in the

our hands on it early.

chorus are raw grungy goodness, that really help to further mix the

The song starts off with some

genres of this song.


The lyrics in the chorus are quite repeti-

in, the lyrics are a mix of grunge, punk

tive something we don’t see as much in

and alternative rock. The guitar has so

contemporary music, but it’s refreshing

many sounds throughout it, like I said

and adds in a further

earlier there is elements of surf rock,

element of making this song so catchy.

a bit of classic rock and some heavy grunge.

Each time you listen to Faith In The Nation it pulls you in further. My favour-

SWEARS new track is something you’ll

ite element of the song is that it sounds

find yourself secretly head banging

influenced by a wide range of genres,

along to, I would absolutely love to see

causing the result to be a something

these guys perform live. There is so

new to grip your hands on. It’s just got

much energy in this track it leaves you

so many layers to it, there’s alternative

with this heavenly image of an

rock, the bass has some old punk lines

absolutely mental and sweaty show.

Written by Holly Beson-Tams


THE TELEVANGELISTS @ FIBBERS, YORK



mystic rose interview

Tell us a little about yourselves and the band? James: Just a rock band from Stockport, started October last year, coming up to a year now. We’ve done alright so far I think, we released our debut single in April, done a fair amount of gigs, just winging it as we go really. Alex: Done a couple of demos, we’ve got about forty tracks recorded but we play about twelve of them, because we’re still tweeking them out aren’t we? Who are your big inspirations and influences and why?

Alex: Metallica got me into music mostly, my dad’s into The Doors, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, so I grew up listening to all that Nick: You’ve got Black Sabbath strapped to your forehead Alex: Oh yeah. I’ve recently been getting back in touch with the British rock, Oasis kind of big stadium sized tunes, and that’s influenced me in writing at the moment. But yeah, listen to all kinds of music really James: For me its Oasis like, first time I heard Champaign Supernova I cried in the car, I was about five mate, I was like ‘this is amazing’


Nick: That noisy thing with Liam Gallagher

them, but a person who has that sort of…

James: Thing with Liam is, first time I saw Liam on stage, how can a guy stand there with his hands behind his back and have about sixty thousand people going absolutely mad, that is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen. But I’d say since then it’s like, Arctic Monkeys, more recent, modern era kind of vibe

Nick: So Cassidy is actually real? That’s a really good question I’ve never actually asked him that James: It’s not just one specific person though, there’s loads of people like that. A factory of them What’s your song writing process?

Yan: I started of listening to Linkin Park, and that softer side of pop metal when I was like thirteen, got onto Slipknot and the heavier side of metal and what not. I was doing a project with Nick for a while as well, I techy progressive metal thing, and got into this basically. It’s a completely brand new spectre of music, and it made me appreciate music in a new light as well, learning more as well Nick: Some of my favourites have been Chili Peppers, absolute Primus and Chilli Peppers took over, its all about less is more and when you go for it you do your bassline James: We all add our own bits to the track, when appropriate and in the right way we all complement each other in that aspect What was your lyrical inspiration behind Cassidy’s Close? James: To put it bluntly I was on a bus see my mate and Cassidy Close is a street or something in town, and I thought it was a cool name for a tune. But I was in a pub with my mate, and you know how every area has a typical town drunk, well this person happened to walk in. and I thought, do you know what it’d be cool to write about, not

James: You know what, I’ll just go home, pick the guitar up and play whatever feels right, and then eventually I’ll write whatever is going on in my head down on a piece of paper, and I’d say eight and a half times out of ten it works Alex: He brings it to mine, lays down a bare basic guitar track, then we’ll start embellishing it from there, work on the drum track afterwards, get some raw drums down Nick: So much home production now days, when we bring the track to each other its half done Alex: You don’t even write any of it Nick: Yeah but we get the credits don’t we Alex: But yeah yeah, just start layering everything up as we go along really, a song will take form and then we’ll go onto the next one James: I’ll write a song and within about three hours its done, wrote one in November that I can’t even be bothered looking at now.


Alex: Last night you wrote one on the shitter didn’t you

Yan: Pearl Jam and System of a Down James: The Amazons as well, Royal Blood

James: We were doing a demo disk and we had a song but no lyrics, a quick half an hour on the toilet and bang. It’s those five in the morning shits that sort you out Are there any particular themes or topics you tend to write about?

Nick: We spend a lot of our time now ‘a day’s listening to the bands that we’re going to be gigging with and liking their pages. We’re only thirteen gigs in but we’ve had other ones that’ve been cancelled and stuff, but we still like the page and check them out and get ourselves hyped up for it all

James: No Nick: You do write a lot about Manchester you know

Are you planning on releasing anything else soon?

Nick: We’ve got one cooking haven’t we. James: Do you reckon? You know honestly I We’ve got one that’s in the studio at the have no idea what goes on in my head. moment and we’ve got a load of demos that Alex has done, he’s got a really good set up Alex: It’s like with Long Nights, I was like at home, a few good mics so… I wouldn’t say Yan I can’t get these lyrics, and he was like we’ve got one or two we’ve got about twelve just write whatever’s in your head, and in the mix within ten minutes I was… James: It’s just what we want to do with them, Nick: That songs well about cocaine whether we want to do a single or EP. An album for me is, it’s for the future, like if we Alex: Oh yeah of course it is released an album now…my mum and my cat, that’s as far as it’s going to go Nick: That one Vertigo as well, is basically, Yan genuinely having vertigo Alex: Build up some anticipation, get some crowds going James: And it’s a great film as well Yan: Got a lot of building to do yet before we What music are you listening to a lot lately? start thinking about albums All: Muse, been on the Muse hype recently James: Blossoms, The Shimmer Band, they are sick Alex: Bit of Liam Gallagher aswell, been listening to his solo stuff

What’s been your biggest achievement/ what are you most proud of as a band? Nick: The Academy, four hundred, five hundred heads on our first gig, we spent a long time practising before


To finish off, if you got the chance to jam with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be? James: John Lennon Alex: It would have to be, Jimi Hendrix or Keith Moon Yan: It’s a difficult question, ive got that metal side of me that screams ‘play metal’ but would I want to play with a metal musician or an indie artist I don’t know James: Bare in mind we were all hammered before we got Nick: You know those concerts on stage, so he forgot to plug in… they do for George Harrison, all the Beatles get together but they Nick: I remember you saying that that’s the most famous don’t get Ringo to play drums, you’ve felt so far they get a good drummer, there’s one with Prince, Prince is such a James: That’s what being in a band is all about, doing good musician, on any things that you see, like for years I’ve watched Oasis at instrument, I’d love to play with Main Road over and over again and it’s just like the anything with Prince, I’d play maddest thing I’ve ever seen, but when you go on stage triangle as long as I get to be in you want to like recreate it in your own way, even if it is on the background such a smaller scale, in your bathroom or at the Academy Yan: What I remember so clearly is that there weren’t many people there, and we were halfway through Cassidy, then I looked up and there was this sea of people, I almost got stage fright, but I thought, we’re finally playing to more than like five people, there’s suddenly hundreds of heads James: It went to like three people in a practise room to hundreds of people Nick: And it’s all been downhill from there

Interview by Holly Beson-Tams


THE VELVET HANDS GAMES


Games, the new single by The Velvet hands, has been compared to both The Strokes and early Rolling Stones. To my ears, it is akin to the earlier songs of the libertines, only with a harsher, biting sound and less of the polished indie niceties, and that’s a good thing. The drawling vocals contain echoes of Joe Strummer, Dave Vanian, and of course, Julian Casablancas. The song jumps immediately into action after a few muted strikes of guitar, and thunders along before the chorus. It briefly slows and quietens, with group vocals sounding almost like the kind of singing you might hear from crowds

on a late Saturday night, except in way that is endearing rather than annoying, and yes, in tune, so don’t worry. Production is clean enough to cut through while also raw enough to avoid being too overproduced. Bass, drums and guitar all mesh together nicely. Overall, it’s a fun, no frills, energetic song that makes me feel nostalgic for the days of bands like The Clash and the Ramones while knowing I wasn’t actually alive during those times. The Velvet Hands also have enough difference between songs to give them their own sound however, something I hope they will maintain in future releases.

Written by Lawrence Peattie


Serotones @ The Crescent, York



The self-titled EP released on 21st April

The sounds created by each member

has already had thousands of plays

combined made me feel so relaxed but

just on Spotify, which was the first hint

yet focused on their music.

at how great this EP is. Made up of 6 Alterative/Indie Rock songs, this was

Night Of Our Lives is the second song

the bands debut EP and can I add how

on the EP and completely wakens you

glad I am that they released it. With

from the trance of the previous song. It’s

their influences being The Amazons

heavy guitar and drumbeats captures

and Circa Waves, I had very high hopes

your attention immediately, the distinct

for this EP as it fitted perfectly into my

beat makes you want to move around to

music taste. It did not disappoint.

it, I imagine this song is even better when performed live.

The start of this EP is something that I have not seen in a while, it starts with a

Their third song When We Were Young-

1:47 instrumental named Untitled.

has a similar intro to ‘Night Of Our Lives’ but softer, once again I think this will be a


good song when played live. I feel that a

Finalising the EP, When it Suits is anoth-

lot of people can relate to the lyrics within

er song with lyrics that I really enjoy. It

the song as well as enjoy listening to it

has a more chilled beat than the other songs with a calm section in the middle, I

Store Bought Town features as the forth

like this as it links with the first song. The

song on the EP and I feel extremely torn

pace then builds up again to finish the

when listening to this song. I really enjoy

song, I really like the layout of this song

the lyrics in this song and feel that they

as it suits the lyrics well. Although it is a

are amazingly well written but I am not a

great song, it follows a really strong song

massive fan of the beat on this song. I feel

so I personally would have swapped this

that is needed to be slightly slower to help song for ‘Lady Lovesick’ and put it secemphasis the lyrics as they can get slightly

ond to last as I don’t feel that it leaves as

lost due to the beat being so strong and

much as an impact for a finale song.

fast paced. Regardless of the tiny adaptions I would My favourite song of the EP is by far Lady

personally of made, this EP is something

Lovesick as everything works extremely

really special and shows off the talent of

well together to create this emotion filled

KOSMONAUTS. With both ‘Lady Love-

song. For me the lyrics in this song are the

sick’ and ‘When It Suits” featuring on

best from the entire EP as although I relate BBC Introducing, I know that these lads to them, I feel like a lot of other people

are rising and I hope that they continue

will as we all interpret the lyrics differently.

to. I would really like to see these songs

The beat and different instruments create

being performed live so will be looking

a perfect beat for the lyrics as you can hear out of shows local to me and I advise the anger and frustration just through the

everyone else to do the same as these

beat. The large influence of guitar gives

songs will be even better live. Overall this

the perfect contrast to the heavy beat of

is an amazing debut EP and I am really

the drums. I just think that every aspect of

looking forward to see what else these

that song was so well thought out and writ- lads produce in the future. ten that it created that incredible song.

Written by Abby Hardy


JEKYLL MANIA

JEKYLL have produced their best song

The video perfectly correlates with the

yet and a video that perfectly

creepy tension that builds throughout the

emphases the story within the lyrics

track. Joel’s haunting vocals work well

better than any videos I’ve on the

with the song, the video and the story

scene in a while. The video to their

they are telling. I can’t say I’ve listened to

new song MANIA is a little bit creepy,

a song before that’s taken my mind to a

a little mystical and has an element of

slightly disturbing fairy tale, but

fantasy to it. It features Joel in the role

JEKYLL have achieved this. MANIA is a

of the protagonist, walking through the

song full of beautiful darkness, it

woods, digging up members of the

captivates you from the first chord,

band one by one. The use of clocks

sucking you into Neverland.

throughout the video remind me of many fairy tales, and the underlining darkness within those stories.


The drums within this song are

The guitars are a big part of making

not overly complex yet they’re so

this track so original, providing the

effective, creating a rhythm that

core of the eerie mystical feel of the

allows the eeriness of the vocals

song. JEKYLL have tapped into

and other instrumentation to stand

something truly unique here, I look

out boldly.

forward to more of their releases.

“Lyrically, the song deals with themes of obsession and dependence, depicting a scenario in which a person fears that their partner’s ambition and drive will result in them being left behind. The music video builds on this idea by showing a main character that is so obsessed with ensuring that the others don’t outgrow him that he keeps them buried in the ground. The buried others have complete trust in the main character, believing his actions to be out of love and a desire to nurture, unaware of his malevolent obsession.” -Joel Foster

Written by Holly Beson-Tams




EXOWAVES SONIC BEAUTY Exowaves are a four piece originating

Exowaves new track Sonic Beauty is

from Stoke, a town that’s often mocked

just over five minutes, the song sounds

but was the birth place of some of

heavily influenced by Britpop bands

the greatest musicians in rock, metal

such as Oasis and Shed Seven. The

ledged Lemmy Kilmister guitar hero

track has an anthem feel about it, front

Slash originate from Stoke-on-Trent.

man Zak has a voice ideal for this

The band is made up of Zak Pk on

genre. If 90s indie rock was their aim,

vocals, Adam Atkinson on guitar, Si

then they’ve hit the nail on the head.

Flanagan on bass guitar and Asa Simpson on drums.


The lyrics in the chorus are simple

them playing in a dark room with

and easy to pick up on. The use of an

some psychedelic effects, a simple

acoustic guitar is what mellows out

video that puts the focus onto the

this song to give it that anthem like

music.

feel to a song that could have gone down a completely different route

I look forward to catching Exowaves

with an electric. This is the kind of

and seeing more releases from them,

song that would be used in a movie

their Facebook page says they’re influ-

for an emotional scene, there’s some-

enced by some of my favourite bands

thing about the combination of the

such as Black Rebel Motorcycle Club,

guitar melody, the drum pattern and

The Kills and The Doors, so I’d really

Zak’s gruff indie voice that strike up

like to see a song where they really

an emotion in you. If you closed your

tap into these American static rock

eyes and focused solely on this song,

vibes. However Sonic Beauty is itself

I think your mind would end up on an

a beauty of song, it’s a song you can

important bitter sweet memory.

imagine in a stadium with everyone

The video for Sonic Beauty features

swaying with their lighters in the air.

Written by Holly Beson-Tams


kagoule

Monsieur Automaton

Like with the rest of their killer songs

It was there that I first saw them and got

that venture from grunge, to indie, to

a chance to listen to their new single

punk, this track certainly doesn’t dis-

live before the release back on the 5th

appoint. Nottingham trio KAGOULE

September.

recently released their new single

With a seemingly off balance drum and

Monsieur Automaton following their

guitar pattern that instantly sets the

debut album back in 2015. With great

tone, the song catapults itself into the

success, the band have been perform-

listener’s ear as a distorted and self mu-

ing up and down the country since,

tating indie rock track, intent on keep-

even stopping at Humber Street Sesh

ing the audience on their toes.

festival back in August for a late night


With loud and obnoxious verses full of

Soon after feeling accustomed to the

aggressive and impactful drum grooves,

songs eclectic and eccentric nature, it

it really throws the idea of grunge music

trips you up again with a very confusing

on its head, moving from loud verses

and irregular breakdown around 2:50,

to quiet hooks instead of the usual (see

pulsing into another mind bending

Smells like Teen Spirit for an example).

passage.

A catchy hook with simple lyrics,

All in all, I’m excited to hear anything

easily picked up with the clarity of Cai

else they may be planning on releasing,

and Lucy’s singing, brings the familiarity

maybe with a new album in sight! You

and peace before throwing that all away

can find the single “Monsieur Automa-

again in the next verse. A clever twist

ton” on Spotify now!

on some nowadays generic songwriting techniques.

Written by Ben Kitching


kudeta breathe


The French band “Kudeta” have a nice

Agathe Zezula then joined the group in

take on modern music, cleansing the pal-

2016 while the band were competing in a

ette ready for what they are to lay down

competition.

for future fans and will hopeful bring an

I (Rob) was asked to do a festival with

interesting twist into the country with their

them in Brest last summer, and have

mix of blues and pop. Jumping right in

stayed on with the band since. We’ve

with the line “Like a drop of water that

recently done another festival called “fes-

fell into the river”, we get a feel of what

tival la nuit des sables” which gained us a

this band sound like. With strong blues

larger following prior to the EP release.

characteristics within the undertones of

The debut EP “BREATHE” was launched

the melody lines and guitar effects/in-

last week with a show at the “Les Arcs”

strumentation, it is clear that this group

venue in Queven, Brittany. The digital

are accomplished in their songwriting

versions of the EP will be available at the

backgrounds. The track is an insight into

end of this month on all streaming plat-

the ep that recently was released in phys-

forms.

ical at a show in France, which is soon to

Future plans for the band include a pos-

come to all streaming platforms. After

sible tour next summer, hopefully some

getting a written piece from the band’s

of our first gigs in London, possibly some

guitarist Rob, he explains how the band

more recording in Paris, and hopefully

formed and their plans for the near fu-

some larger festival slots in France next

ture! “KUDETA started in 2012 as a family

summer.”

band, consisting of Elea, Thibault, and Alexandre Gouzien, Adrien Le Moigne, a friend of the band, joined them on bass later that year.

Written By Ben Kitching


PALAVA

UNWANTED

Palava is a rock group from Manchester. On their single Unwanted they show various affinities, including the Stone Roses, Nirvana, and Weezer. They alternate between chugging guitars and chorus laden guitar textures to a wall of sound that can be imagined to fill a stadium. Production is well balanced, with an echo to fill out the sound but also a lo fi feel.Bittersweet lyrics and vocals are a focal point, as are the variety in guitar riffs. The rhythm section is straightforward but solid and carried off well. Overall, the song leaves me with mixed thoughts.

I wanted to hear more experimentation in effects and melodies, heard in bands like Archers of Loaf, Soundgarden or early Radiohead, as the range of guitar textures in the song shows the potential for this. There is nothing bad I can say about the track, yet it doesn’t blow me away. The wah layered solo at the end is enjoyable nonetheless, and left me interested in hearing more to see where Palava go next and whether they will reveal more musical distinctions. Their other single Quixotic is worth a listen, as a dreamy, well paced alternative rock number.

Review by Lawrence Peattie


PALAVA INTERVIEW

Describe the band in five words.

instead of ringing one of these up drunk at four in the morning crying my eyes out, I Mental, loud, energetic, different, unique. was like, I’ll put it in a song, done, so yeah, just something everyone is going to go What music have you all grown up through, or has been through, in a song for listening to? people to listen to Nathan: Started off with old rock and roll, like Queen stuff like that, we grew So Nathan, do you write all the songs? up around here so The Stone Roses, Or is it more collaborative? Oasis, Stereophonics, Shed Seven, stuff like that. And I went into a weird stage Nathan: Most of them, most of the lyrics for about ten years, so mine is full of Iron and the tunes, and Rob has done a couple Maiden, White Tower, Metallica and all that lot. But then I’ve slowly slipped back Robert: If someone had a song though, we into all the indie rock, and that influences wouldn’t be like ‘oh you don’t do them’ all of the guitar stuff Oli: Ours is the same as his really, apart from the heavy metal bit How have all these bands influenced you as a band? Nathan: Musically, the guitars and the drums are quite hard hitting. And even some of the softer songs we do they’re still… there’s a bit of an in your face about them. It’s just doing what you want to do and not caring about what anyone else thinks, and just being loud about it. Song writing wise as well, there’s influence from a lot of those things, classic rock and roll and all that lot

Have you got plans to release more music soon? Nathan: We’re in the studio at the end of October, so we’ve got two or three tunes lined up to release then, we’ve still got another song we need to release yet but that’s to good to release yet. It’s different to all the heavier stuff, it’s a proper heavenly tune. But no yeah, more music will be coming November/December. If we can put on a good show with all our new tunes, people will love it, it’ll be sick basically What’s been your favourite gig to date?

Nathan: Night & Day headliner, in June or something, it was our second one there. It was the first time people other than family and friends came down, because they’d Nathan: It’s just a story about two people, seen it on Facebook or on flyers in night and how things ended up kind of thing, and day. And it was very complimentary it was cool. What was the inspiration behind Unwanted?


What’s your song writing process when you’re writing a song? Rob: Ususally an acoustic guitar if I’m writing, just starting it off Nathan: I’ve played guitar for like 10-12 years before I started writing tunes, only started writing tunes because I was like, need more tunes so I may as well do something. But I just had loads of riffs lined up on guitar and I just thought of some lyrics and pop them over it. Its usually guitar before lyrics. But usually I’m pissed, and it’s never before midnight

Last question- if you got to plan your dream main stage festival line up, what would it be? Rob: I’d say DMAs for me, Nathan: Sundara Karma Oli: It’s a dream though, you’ve got all the choice in the world Rob: That’s true, yeah We’ll go dead and alive, all out Rob: Oh well that’s a different story Nathan: I think consencious would be Oasis, sweet magic has happened and Liam and Noel love each other and Liams voice is amazing. Oasis would be right up there, and then…


Carl: The Stone Roses Oli: Mine would be Oasis, Stone Roses, Arctic Monkeys, Libertines maybe, and then… yeah that’d be good all round Nathan: I’d through Black Sabbath in there, that’d sell tickets, everyone knows Paranoid Rob: What one song Nathan: Any additions Carl? Erasure? Toto? Oli: Toto that’d be sick, that’d be a good day that

Interview by Holly Beson-Tams



Vultures @ Jimmys, Manchester


FOLLOW THE GIANT INTERVIEW

So you started your Autumn tour today, is there a particular date you’re looking forward to?

So you released your single Chemistry a couple of months ago, can you tell us a little about it, and the video?

Jamie: Yeah London, it’s coming up next week

Jamie: Chemistry is a song that was written about four or five months ago, I mean the song is a song I don’t know, I just thought Chemistry it just came to my head and I thought I would write a song with the worst Chemistry in, and then for the video was something I had the idea of for a while, and I thought basically we’re going to make it into a series with the EP. So every song on the EP is going to be the same actors, and it’s going to be like part one, part two, a previous of what happened before they got together and a finale in which is yet to be decided.

What’s the venue? Jamie: It’s Dublin Castle Robin: So it’s Camden more than London Jamie: Yeah but it’s where Madness got spotted so Scott: And Amy Winehouse I believe


What bands and musicians have you grown up listening to and would you say they inspired you? Jamie: The only reason I got into playing guitar is because of Dire Straits, so like that’s what I grew up on and then it sort of evolved from there Scott: I’d have to say that my immediate interest to drums was created by Travis Barker, not interested in Blink-182 anymore, but that’s where my passion for drumming came from Robin: Well I come from a variety of genre, I get really into bands and then they phase out to me, Guns N’ Roses, at one point but that was ages ago, and then I just went through indie stuff and rock stuff Oli: Mines a mixture of everything really, ska, punk, country, I’m a bit weird, I listen to weird things. The Aquabats, yeah man Over this year gotten a new guitarist and had a change in drummer, how has this effected both the dynamics of the band and the way you write and perform songs?

Without offending anyone Robin: Without offending anyone, the old guitarist was none existence so I’m hoping one is an improvement and yeah Jamie: Eventually they might kick me out and then just carry it on

Jamie: Put it this way, we were shit before, we’re okay now. But erm, I’m not going to Where do you draw your inspiration from when writing new music? get into this because I’ll go on forever Robin: I’d say the songs are now in time, we’re not going to go into the long story, because we will be here forever

Jamie: Catfish, big time… and apparently Glass Caves, as I keep on getting told When we first met when we did the photoshoot, you said your inspiration was The Hunna


Jamie: Oh no I bum The Hunna still to this day, but I don’t know, it’s weird because I’ve had chats with them personally so like, they’ve now listened to my stuff which makes me feel a bit strange, but they’ve not commented on any of it sounding like there’s so that’s a good thing

Jamie: What would I change? No… What I would tell myself is don’t start a band until you’ve got a full band, because a two piece just doesn’t work. And don’t find your bassist on gumtree

What’s been your biggest lesson since starting Follow The Giant? If you could go back and give yourself a piece of advice what would it be?

Jamie: Yeah so basically me and Sol made the band, just busking and it wasn’t a band, and people kept on coming up to us asking what our name was and then we thought we’d start a band and find a bassist, we tried a few people out but let’s just say it didn’t work out. And then I was like I’m not going to try anyone in York because its doing my nut in, so I put an ad up on gumtree to see if anyone would respond, and this beautiful chap did and it worked out fine. Although he’s leaving us so…

Jamie: Drugs aren’t good, don’t do them, especially if you’re a drummer and don’t work, it’s very bad (I would just like to clarify this isn’t Jamie’s advice to himself, he has actually always chosen not to drink or consume anything)

Is that how you met?


What?! That’s a drop why are you leaving? Jamie: He’s got married he’s been boring Are there any unsigned bands that you haven’t played with but would like to? Jamie: Glass Caves, we’ve not played with them but I’d like to. They like our stuff, because I sent it off to them just to get an opinion and they really liked it so I’m happy with that. And they put is in contact with Scruff Of The Neck who given us a few gigs, so yeah So the York music scene has grown and developed a lot in the past couple of years but we’re still not taken quite as seriously as other cities, is there anything, in your opinion, you think we could do to improve our musical community? Jamie: I will say this again and again and again, every band in York needs to stop being so like ‘I’m better’ everyone needs to help each other out, and it really annoys me when they don’t because if a band, I know its hard because I know some bands are trying to do it to make some money to get out of town but there are people who are trying to help other people, so if everyone could be like that, it would be a lot easier Oli: I think the venues as well, all the venues are a bit… other than Fibbers there’s not anywhere that’s nice to go and play, but then Fibbers charge you an absolute fortune to put a gig on Jamie: Old Fibbers needs to come back

smaller but quality-ish. Like Fulford Arms are trying, I see what they’re trying to do but it’s just not quite there Other than touring what are your plans for the future? Jamie: Festivals I think is the main aim Scott: I can read Jamie’s list out if you want Jamie: I did send over a list to the guys, let’s not send over the last two Scott: “Get famous, fuck bitches” Jamie: No, festivals… get to south by south west at some point. That’s the plan I think. Although we do have like management-ish peeps at the moment, who I’ve been conversing a lot with for the last month or so. Hopefully something will come of it


EDITOR Holly Beson-Tams

WRITERS Ben Kitching Holly Beson-Tams Abby Hardy James Brown Lawrence Peattie

PHOTOGRAPHERS Holly Beson-Tams

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