F OR W A R D . a magazine of future sounds
May Issue
ÂŁ2.00
GOLD SOUNDS Music Festival, Leeds
Monday 25th May 2015 Tickets: ÂŁ20 adv Available from: www.Lunatickets.com www.songkick.co.uk Jumbo Records (Leeds) Crash Records (Leeds) Leeds University Union www.goldsoundsfest.co.uk
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C ON T E NT S _____________ 6
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N E WS _________
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8 Superfood 10 God Damn 14 Cheatahs 30 Spring king 52 Wolf Alice --------------------------------
R E V I E WS
_____________ 65 Singles 67 Albums 71 Live ----------------------------------
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F E A T U RE S
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Menace Beach Tourist on that long awaited ‘Sad Dance Album’ Hinds (FKA Deers) Live at Leeds : Why it’s the best city based Festival in the country
24 Twin Peaks Taggart’s 26 Phil Rat Boy
Pick of the Month:
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I N T R D UC I N G _____________________ 38 Beach Baby 39 VITAMIN 40 Horsebeach 41 Mount Bank
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PH IL TAG NTH: PICK OF THE MO
RAT BOY
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‘‘THIS GUY IS THE FUTURE M
‘‘
y Pick of the Month for May come’s from the incredible Rat Boy, a musicical genuis from a little place in Essex called Chelmsford. Jordan Cardy is Rat Boy. He was fired from Wetherspoons. He was turned down by McDonalds. He’s never left the UK. He likes The Streets, The Clash and A Tribe Called Quest. He likes using old film samples, skating and making art.
Jordan makes music, all the music, in his bedroom and sent it out to loads of people. No-one cared until one person cared and now lots of people care (including me) and soon everyone will care. A lot. His first mixtape has featured on my show along with recognition from the likes of NME and the Guardian. There’s another mixtape on the way soon. That will be a total of 60 minutes of music in the time it takes most acts to ‘soft-release’ a b-side.
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Then again, Cardy writes, plays (guitar, bass, keys), programmes (the beats), raps/sings and produces his own music, so he is at once the protagonist of the songs and a fictional alter ego for the dissemination of his ideas about life and society. Inevitably, he will be hailed as the authentic voice of disaffected youth, the new Jamie T/Alex T: for some idea of the content of his debut mixtape, think Arctic Monkeys’ Riot Van scenario played out over six tracks. Basically, if the kid from Kes was around now, only from down south, and more into sexting than kestrels, then he might be Rat Boy. On Hanging Around he moans about a “police car coming round the bend” and “the latest trend”. It nails Rat Boy’s concerns: scuffles with authority and what to wear on the rob or on the pull. The music he uses to spread his messages is a neat, powerful brand of indie hip-hop rock, all samples, sound effects, and
slashes of guitar and machine beats, over which Cardy barks like a particularly pissedoff dog. People that Rat Boy reminds me of include Shaun Ryder and the bloke from Flowered Up. Remember Flowered Up? They were a London version of Madchester, peddling a similar kind of blissed-out “baggy”, only it was undercut by an air of menace. I once – true story – interviewed Flowered Up in a pizza restaurant in Islington, and at the end, the band did a runner, leaving me with the bill. That sense of tawdry excitement, hopelessness and shame is very Rat Boy. More songs about cheap thrills and budget sportswear. I genuinely believe that this guy is the future, and sooner or later everyone will be talking about him. Oh yeah, he just signed to Parlophone Records too.
Q&A:
------------------------Phil: Rat Boy! I am a massive fan of The Mixtape you released on Soundcloud last year. What can we expect from you next? Rat Boy: ‘‘Thanks Phil. Yeah man, I’ve got a band now so we are working together on the sound, still producing the tunes from my bedroom, keeping it real. Can’t wait to release more stuff. My first single ‘Sign On’ is out in June. Real excited!’’ P:You’ve already played a couple of shows around the UK, including opening for Circa Waves on their tour. How was that? RB:’’It was sick! it was our first proper experience of touring so it was mad travelling in our van around the country. The shows were crazy fun.’’ P:Have you experienced any crazy fan moments yet? RB:’’ yeah there has been a few funny moments. During the tour with Circa Waves, we had this girl who came to see us in Newcastle but she got too drunk and was chucked out. We went to see if she was ok and she was sick everywhere. I got a video of it, it’s on my instagram haha’’ P: Eurgh that’s gross! When can we expect the next Mixtape then? RB:‘‘ it’s ready to go, I finished it a while ago now. It’s called Neighbourhood Watch. I’ve leaked it a few times on Twitter. I haven’t decided when i’ll properly release it, just keep teasing everyone instead ha’’ P:I look forward to it! So what isthe future for Rat Boy then? RB:‘‘Just to keep on making music, it’s all I’m good at really. I just got signed to Parlophone Records which is crazy, it’s the same label as Blur!! How mad is that?! I’ve got a few shows coming up, my headline show at Dublin Castle has sold out, so I can’t wait for that. I’m also playing Reading and Leeds Festival in the summer too so that should be sick. I just released a video for my new single ‘Sign On’ which is out in June. Everyone buy it and come to a show yeah!’’ P: Everything has literally taken off for you at the moment, it’s great. All the best Jordan! RB:’’It’s all just a bit mental. Thanks Phil!’’
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GAR T
------- FORWARD ------Catch him Live Live at Leeds, Saturday 2nd May (Leeds Beckett ‘‘Stage 2’’) The Great Escape, Brighton, 14th May Headline show at Dublin Castle, Camden, May 27th Reading & Leeds Festival,28th-30th Aug, Festival Republic Stage
Sign On is out 1st June on Hometown Records
Find him on Twitter: @ratboy
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www.houseofjam.net