These young lads are ready to tour Ireland and England after things are safe again and are confident to get the crowd rocking. With two singles already to boast about, they are in a prime place to get noticed by many indie fans. We spoke to Eoin from the band about their influences and plans for after lockdown.

How did the band come together and what are your earliest memories of playing together?

I used to go to open mics in town and one day Konrad was there and I was the only one with a guitar surrounded by rap artists and we mutually bonded over our love of bands like Pixies, Nirvana, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Oasis. A few weeks after we meet again, Konrad was with our bassist Calvin and we all bonded over our musical influences such as The Stone Roses.

What are your biggest influences for your songwriting?

Our earliest memory would be Konrad and I jamming to a song I had written called “Calling it Off”, but due to distance we regularly video called jamming songs. Our first time playing together was our first gig in our local YMCA. We played a three song set the first being “I Wanna be Adored” by The Stone Roses.

Our influences vary between a plethora of genres. For lyrics and starting out songs I normally don’t have an inspiration for lyrics they just kind of suit what I play but in other circumstances it would stem from personal experiences or things that I find interesting.

Probably Konrad’s main influences for his guitar parts would be the likes of John Squire, Johnny Marr, John Fruiscante, Jimi Hendrix and Fontaines D.C. Same as my lyricism, Konrad just had no real structure to his leads and that is one the selling points of our live shows being impromptu jams and prolonged sections of songs.

For many of Calvins bass lines he stay’s strongly influenced by bands like Joy Division, The Cure and The Stone Roses giving the song a feeling that the bass drives the song.

As our drum tracks are mostly programmed we take a lot of inspiration from genres such as House, Boom Rap and Reggae such as artists like Wu Tang Clan , Slowthai , Junior Delgado and Giant Swan.

How have you found playing live? What do you think is important in getting your sound across in the best possible way?

As a band we feel playing live is the most comfortable part for us as we started playing live shows right out of the gate. We put a lot thought and effort into the dynamics of the show and the energy we emit on stage. We also put a lot of thought into giving the audience the best experience that we can give them.

As we are pretty much in the digital age of music we that there is sometimes a disconnect between the audience and the artist. The live show fills that void for us as we spent the first year promoting gigs pretty much just by the word of mouth, we’ve always felt very attached to our audience. The most important factors of the live show to us are audience engagement and the showing of raw emotion on stage.

Your new single ‘Anchor’ has such a catchy little riff! How did the song come about?

Well for years, I have been busking in Cork and would perform new songs to see the outsiders point of view wether they get a good reaction or not. One day I had just performed one of the opening riffs for “Anchor”and performed an impromptu version of the song and it gathered a quite solid reaction. Konrad and I then jammed the song and came up with the idea of a slow bridge that eventually builds up.

When it came to recording we all brought our ideas to the table with our friend Keelan from the band Post Party. Keelan plays a vital part in our recordings as he tracks all the songs.

What are your ambitions as a band after lockdown? Do you see yourselves putting an album together in the near future?

We wanna do an Irish tour that we were planning before Covid-19 struck and also we wanna play our first Dublin show with Goon Fest. We also hope to secure a few English dates in the coming year.

As for an album that’s a long time away for all of us we still need to figure where we are with our sound as we are still realtively young band.

We were due to start recording and promoting our EP but due to lockdown the whole tracklist for it has changed. The moment lockdown is finally lifted we want to head straight back to the studio.

Thanks for the opportunity!

The Drive. can be found at @thedrive_. on Instagram where you can see news and updates from the band. They have a new single ‘Anchor’ is out now on all streaming platforms.

This New Jersey alt/pop band are bringing together their influences and catchy choruses with style and fun. After a couple of singles already, the band are standing out already with their rock/pop sensibilities. From meeting a Beatle, our their origin story and discussing their songs, I hope you enjoy these lovely guys answers and music!

Was there any music you all loved that brought you guys together when the band was in its early stages?

This a great question! I think to answer this best, we need to explain how the band formed. LOL! So we formed as a band in a pretty strange way, although I’m sure there are many, other strange ways, we or other bands have formed. But yea, Colton was trying to make it as a solo artist and failing miserably. Mikey was down and out of music pursuing a more “post bachelor” lifestyle, although he still maintained that itch to play. As the story goes, Colton placed an advertisement on “craigslist” looking for band members that enjoyed, Coldplay, The Killers, One Republic and Beer, as well as posting a huge photo of himself! Luckily, Mikey responded to the advertisement because he loved for all three of the bands, especially The Killers! So to answer the question yes! The love for upbeat, rock, dance anthem music is what brought us together! Being able to play instruments and yet still keep that huge, dance anthem music present in our songs!

And not to forget about Dan — but Colton and Mikey had been a duo for about a year and half writing a bunch of the songs, but when it was time to start working on the live show, we found Dan! And we all instantly hit it off with our collective love for pop music and creating that fun energy that I suppose makes us The Break Plans!

What were your first memories of music growing up?

Growing up we all have different but similar memories of music. For example Dan and Colton grew up listening to a lot of The Beatles. In fact “Let it Be” was the first song Colton learned to play on the piano. Mikey also met Paul McCartney at an ice cream shop when he was younger which must have been unreal. He really enjoyed listening to The Beach Boys growing up and distinctly remembers seeing Uncle Jesse (John Stamos) from Full House playing drums for them on tour. And finally, Dan’s dad always had different kinds of music playing growing up everything from early Beatles to modern pop. That definitely kept him in touch with what was new and upcoming as well as the classics, where modern music takes its roots.

Your pop sensibilities sound so lush, what made you guys decide on your sound?

Well thank you for saying that! We absolutely take that as a high compliment. I think it all goes back to what we like listening to. When we were started working on music we knew that we loved Coldplay and The Killers style of huge choruses that bring energy. So really creating a song that builds in the verses so you get that “drop” when the chorus opens up. Now, whether we have done that well or not is up to the listener, but we are pretty satisfied!

‘Lipstick Number’ was the first single, it’s a great title! How did you think of the title?

Thank you so much! A lot of our music comes from stories in and around our lives. So believe it or not, that song title “Lipstick Number” did really happen. To give the quick PG-13 story of that song title, Mikey was on vacation with one his best friends in the Dominican Republic. It was the last night of vacation so Mikey and his friend decided to make the most of it! LOL! As the night was coming to a close, Mikey and his friend, along with some company, snuck into the resorts, closed pool. They all had some silly fun and somehow didn’t get kicked out, BUT as the night was coming to a close, Mikey’s friend wanted to get the phone number of his “new” lady friend. Since cell phones didn’t work because they were out of network, Mikey’s friend was almost at a loss. However thanks to some quick thinking, the new lady friend whipped out her lipstick and wrote her phone number on Mikey’s friends chest! So, that’s where the name, “Lipstick Number” comes from. Ha!

How important is playing live for you guys? What do you think is important to ensure you guys nail it live?

Playing live is a huge portion of what we do as a band. I think a great live show can really show people that you can keep them engaged and entertained. Plus a great show can make you stand out from the rest. To put on a great show it takes hours and hours of practice. We practiced for 3 or so months before our first show. It also helps that our singer, Colton, has a ton of energy that our fans and other people at our shows really enjoy and gets people moving and dancing. We would have to say that whether we’re performing in Colton’s parents basement or playing Madison Square Garden we perform every show like its our last!

Your latest single ‘Let Go’ sounds very atmospheric, how did it come about?

So ‘Let Go’ just like most of our music comes from a personal story. In this case it comes from a moment in life when you feel like you’re standing still and just observing life passing you by. Almost like a movie montage where the actor is stuck in a trance of images and objects speeding past them. Oddly enough that song was sort of written a few years earlier when Mikey was getting out of the music game and trying to come to terms with the next phase of his life. However when Mikey met Colton they both fell in love with what Mikey had written and with Coltons song writing and production skills they both rebirthed the song into what is today! Serendipitously enough (if thats a word/phrase) LOL, the song was a great place to start because it really was like a rebirth when Mikey and Colton met!

To completely answer the question, the atmospheric sound that ‘Let Go’ gives off is a lot of trial and error to finesses the song into what we hoped would be an anthem. The “whoops” that give the song a proper build and allows the listener or audience to chant them back to us and the driving chorus/bridge that allows for people to feed off the energy of the song!

What are yours plans as band in the future?

Well first and foremost; we hope that the virus pandemic gets handled sooner than later; A) for the sake of everyone who is sick, will be sick or in danger of getting sick, and B) so life for everyone can get back to normal.

But as for the future, we just want to keep making music and playing music for people. There’s a venue right near us in Asbury Park, NJ called The House of Independents. I think we all agree that it would be amazing to play there someday. We’d also love to tour around the U.S. and play shows with other amazing bands! But really we just want people to vibe with our music and enjoy us as people. We are very approachable and always willing to interact with our fans or really anyone. We are doing this band out of our love for making music, so as long as we have that we’ll go anywhere the road takes us.

The Spaces now have 3 singles under their belts and creating a distinctive sound already with a whole variety influences; ranging from punk, grunge, stoner rock and indie music. Today they have their brand new single out ‘The End of The World’, again another awesome release! The other week I was lucky to have a chat with them about all things The Spaces.

How did The Spaces come together?

So, it started with 2 guitarists and a drummer, we were all friends in school originally. Wrote a few songs and we then gained and lost a bass player and swapped out drummers giving us the current trio. End of the World and Defenestration are in fact the first two songs we ever wrote!

Are your influences similar or is there a variety thats brought to the table?

I enjoy the fact we are all over the place with influences and music tastes, gives a unique blend of everything. I’ve had people say they get hints of Arctic Monkeys, Royal Blood, QotSA for some songs, and then for others, the Smiths and Pixies, so quite a mix.

How important is playing live for you guys?

Very, shame we are unable to do it in virus season, but a good gig is so much fun and we want to get out there as much as possible soon.

I hear some grunge influences in the song ‘Defenestration’, is that a fair reflection?

I think there’s elements of that in a few songs, but none quite embody the 3 chord punk sound like that one does, and it really comes across at gigs!

I love the bass line at the begging of Jamie Knives! How did that track come about?

It started out as a guitar part but a bass intro just added a much ‘cooler’ feel to it. We should also explain that the name of the song is just based off one of our mates Jamie, who is in the photo on the cover.

Also your cover art is really fascinating! Who creates it and what are you trying to portray in them?

I think we ended up accidentally creating a whole narrative with them, with the weird crime scene photo for one and someone being thrown of a window in the other.

What are the plans next after lockdown? What are the aims for 2021?

As many gigs as we can, we had a fair few planned but they’ve of course been cancelled. In terms of aims, just write and record loads more songs and just try and get them out there as much as we can.

Fever are a fresh new band from Hull and already doing wonders with their 3 releases and supporting slot for Blossoms. After enjoying previous projects from frontman James, it’s great to hear his distinctive vocals and ear for melody again. I was able to ask him a few questions a few weeks back and here it is now for the blog!

How’s it been since starting the band 6 months ago? It’s great to hear music from you guys!

Thank you very much! We hope to have some more music coming your way ASAP! It’s been amazing to say the least, seeing all the planning and effort come to fruition with all your mates has been really, really satisfying.

What’s it like leading the line now as a frontman, is it something that comes natural to you?

It’s great I love it! I think when I’m actually up there it becomes second nature to me. You’ve just got to have a good time and then the crowd will have a good time with you.

What are your biggest influences and what songwriters inspire you the most?

I generally find my biggest influences are what’s going on around me and within me, however I only tend to realise what it was that influenced me later down the line. I’d say Lennon and McCartney are my biggest song writing idols, although there’s a list of many that I’ve taken notes from.

After your next single comes out, what’s the plans next for new music?

First we’re going to have to wait until things start to going back to normal, then we’ll get ourselves back into the studio and get a lovely EP sorted!

How was it performing the new songs to big crowds during the Blossoms tour?

Absolutely loved it, felt like we really settled into within a couple of nights. Just a really great tour to be on. Both Blossoms, The Magic Gang and their full touring crews couldn’t have been more welcoming. Just like one big touring party basically ha!

GAY LIPS are a duo that really know what they stand for and what they want to give to their listeners. They have released an EP called ‘F**k The Plan, Sell the Man’ which offers loud, passionate and catchy hooks. I was fortunate enough to ask them some questions, hope you enjoy!

What were your first memories playing together? 

Well, me and Jonny are cousins in that sort of small town way! But the first time we played together was in a band called Betaboy. I remember turning up to the first rehearsal with a hangover. From the start it was clear we (me and Jonny) were the powerhouse and the other two just wanted to be Mumford and Sons. Jonny and I enjoyed the whole experience of being in a band – whether we were playing to two people or not – it didn’t matter to us, because we’ve always seen this adventure as our own personal Spinal tap rockumentary.

Are there any duo groups that played a big part in making decision on keeping it as the two of you?

Not really. The decision was made for us when the other two quit the band so they could be like Mumford and Sons. We didn’t really start looking at other two pieces until we became one. If there’s one duo that stands out for us, it has to be “DEATH FROM ABOVE”. For us, being a two piece just made sense. There’s no band politics, no having to dump good riffs because they’re not Radio 1 friendly, and it’s amazing how more inventive we can be as a two piece. It’s just being in a band with your best friend and we decided to call it Gaylips.

The White Stripes and Jack White’s solo work seem to be a big influence on your work, is that correct and if so how much does Jack’s work mean to you?

Congratulations!!!! Honestly you’re the first person to spot that. It’s not just Mr Jack White, though – I’ve been going through a stage of loving dirty blues /bluegrass /distorted vocals etc for quite a while. Then there’s my addiction to post hardcore, grunge and disco beats. So let’s just say the musical landscape of Gaylips is evolving all the time. Add that to the weird recent events that we’re drawing inspiration from and we’re pretty sure the next Gaylips records are going to be even more titillating. Back to Jack White though – I love what he’s done with Third Man Records – he’s like the Willie Wonka of music.

What is your aim as a band to put across in your music? Is it an emotion, a message or story?

For us it’s always been about having fun. We don’t want to lose that. And as soon as you do, that’s when the music dies. Some bands I see now take it too seriously. It should always be fun.

As we keep going though, it’s clear for us to see that our music has become a form of therapy (angst isn’t just for when you’re young). When you’re obsessed with music it’s hard not to be in a band. And we just want to see how far we can take it. We live in a strange time for music – everything mainstream (even pop) has become less human, less interesting, more beige. We exist to try and challenge that. Death to beige.

What’s the story behind the name of your EP ‘F**k the Plan, Sell The Man.’?

I had the title stuck in my head for years and it was a great way of shouting “HELLO we have arrived”. I like to think it means different things to different people. But in all honesty it probably just means we won’t get much airplay on Radio 1. Oh well.

How did the track Ninja’s Don’t Cry come about?

Its OK for ninjas to have a cry! The suicide rate for men is through the roof and we need to ask why? All I know is, screaming “toxic masculinity” isn’t helping and the fucking pubs are all closed!!! Hang on a sec, this ninja’s just taking some time out for a little sob.

What’s the plan next as a band? Obviously things are a tad difficult currently but what’s next after lockdown?

Well we should be in the studio but that’s gone down the toilet and our rehearsal rooms are closed and we don’t know if they’re going to reopen (I do hope they make it through) – I miss Jonny. All I know is when this blows over and we have the green light we are hitting it hard, all guns blazing. I’ve been busy writing and demoing and the tone has changed due to world events so it’s going to be interesting to see the music that comes out of these dark times.

In the short term though we plan to re-release a song that didn’t make the EP (Generic Rock for the Masses) just to keep the ball rolling. Sadly, you won’t find us doing acoustic versions of our songs over the internet – we belong in sweaty little dive venues kicking up a storm.

You can find GAY Lips on all streaming platforms and on Instagram @gaylips75!

Hailing from Hull, these boys are loud and ready to take the live scene by storm. You can hear catchy and storming riffs in songs in ‘Do You Wanna’ and recent single ‘Red Eyes’, it’s only the beginning but The Matchbox are making a statement of intent already! Was fortunate enough to ask the band a few questions, enjoy!

How did you all guys meet and what music brought you guys together?

I went to the same school as our drummer and guitarist – and knowing of each other I guess it was only a matter of time before we got together and had a go at being in a band I suppose. No one knew a bassist, or at least one that was suited for our tunes. Since getting with our new bassist Adam, things have been so free flowing and creative – we’ve never looked back to say the least!

We actually held such different influences, but in some ways I believe this doesn’t conform us to a genre necessarily – which in our opinion was always something we wanted to achieve. Me and Tom we’re massively into guitar bands from naughties to present, whilst Cam is big on rock bands such as thin lizzy – this is probably where the huge melodic guitar parts come from in our songs. To take things further, Adam is into chilli peppers, which will be where the jazzy licks like the verse in Strong come from. It’s class.

How have you been finding performing live and recording music so far?

Playing gigs has always been the aim since we got together, it’s what you do it for ultimately. From playing pubs and open mics, to packed out shows with people losing their shit, we’ve loved every second of it. We enjoy going to different venues to play our set – we went to a place in Leeds once called Verve which was mad. It was just this underground venue out of no where, and it was absolutely packed out for our opening slot. You get to meet some great people in other bands, as well as promoters and general music fanatics – we love every second of it!

Being in studios wasn’t always where we wanted to be I don’t think. We were always about sounding massive live. Never the less, you’ve got to sound good on your record or people just won’t listen to your stuff! You’ve got to spend time in studios with producers as you learn so much, and this definitely has pushed us in the right direction in what we want to achieve from our tunes. It’s all so worth it when you speak to people who genuinely like your tunes. When we look at the stats of how many people have our tunes in their playlists, it feels unreal. We’re so grateful!

I hear a bit of The Kooks in your music? Have they been in a influence and who else has been?

It’s funny you say that! The Kooks and Luke Pritchard notably are a massive influence for my songwriting. You can’t necessarily just rip off another songwriter or you’ll get labelled, which is something I’ve been learning a lot recently. I feel like you need to pick and choose. It’s not just about your voice, it’s about lyrics, instrumentals, how you look on stage…there’s so much to think about, but you have to find your own identity. I used to look towards Van Mcann of Catfish and The Bottlemen a lot for my voice. I especially like The Hunna for their guitar and instrumental. Their guitarist Dan can turn a slow love song into a mosh-worthy live tune – and I love the outcome.

Loving the new track Red Eyes! How did that song come about?

Thank you very much! I remember writing Red Eyes on an acoustic guitar in my bedroom. I really wanted to write a song that sounded massive live, like the opener to your set for example. Once I’d come up with the intro riff it was all driven from there really. I had the song wrote in a few minutes I think, and it was quite simple but I didn’t really want anymore than that. It was just about sticking to the basis of what ‘Indie-rock’ guitar bands are all about. We’re not bothered about doing something never seen before that is massively over complicated – we just focus on how it’s going to keep the crowd loving it and wanting more!

Who would you like to tour with in the future (when the world is back to some sort of normality?

It would be class if we were able to play a show with The Kooks one day. That would probably be my life complete hahah! I’ve seen Catfish and The Hunna live, and the crowds are absolutely mad. The Sherlocks too. I’d just love the opportunity to present what we are as a band in front of people who’ve never seen us before and show them what they’re missing. It’s not an arrogant thing, it’s more like wanting to prove people wrong and vent our passion through sound.

British guitar music is rich in legendary bands and artists, who would you say are the biggest for you?

Gotta be the Arctics hasn’t it? They’re absolutely class. To be going for how long they have and still sound massive today is mad. The first two albums are timeless, but I’ve really been into Suck It And See recently. Obviously there’s bands from England such as the Sex Pistols and Oasis that have changed the world with their music, but I’ve gotta go with what’s happened in my lifetime!

Any songs you been thinking of covering while on lockdown?

I wanted to do Someday by The Strokes a while back with the lads but I guess lockdown ruined the chances of that happening! There’s a tune called Sway by The Kooks that I absolutely adore. It’s got melodic guitar work that all builds up to this massive chorus encore at the end. Think I might give that a go.

The Matchbox can be found on all streaming services and on instagram (handle above with picture). Thanks again for answering my questions guys and looking forward to speaking more in the future!

What were your earliest memories of music and does anything you heard from your parents or siblings or older figures still influence you today?

I think our earliest memories of music are pretty similar to that of most people, we just listened to whatever our parents put on in the car or had on at home. I think we just got lucky enough to be showed songs that must’ve subconsciously ignited an interest in music. For me, it was Madness, The Specials and Queen, my dad always had it on in the car; I remember vividly head banging to sheer heart attack at like 5 years old. For Josh, his dad showed him Jimi Hendrix and Pearl Jam, triggering his interest in guitar music. In Leon’s case, it was his dad showing him Metallica and Pantera, which sparked his love of heavy music. Frank’s dad always had northern soul records on these really loud speakers, he still has them on sometimes when we pop around for practise. But, yeah. I think that these bands and artists kind of flipped the switch for us, subconsciously, and though they matter less to us now, it helped start the journey.

How did all you guys meet? What was it like when you first played together under the name The Timeouts?

Frank and I started the band in 2017, I wanted to join a band after listening to (What’s the Story) Morning Glory? He was the only drummer in the school and though he was older than me, I suppose I mustered up the confidence to ask him to play some songs with me and one thing led to another. We managed to find a bassist, and we started playing small gigs, writing songs and just trying to do something new. We played a local festival in the summer of 2018 and met Josh, who was in the band on after us. We instantly clicked and within a week, we’d managed to pinch him from his other band. I hated the band name we had back then. So, I thought about it and changed it to a name that I thought was cooler. After one practise, we played a gig with Josh, the first as The Timeouts.

That was a mental moment, it was all coming together. But, our bassist didn’t seem to be able to keep up, he didn’t show the dedication and he didn’t want to take this anywhere, really. So, we ended up replacing him with my school mate Leon, who is not only a better bassist, but he fit the band better. It was crazy, everything just fit together perfectly and it was one of those moments where we all knew, you know?

Such a rocking song, ‘Dancing With Your Best Friends Girlfriend’! How did it come about?

Thank-you man! I think it was about a year or two ago, Josh and I had only really been writing songs together for a little bit and we were finding our feet as composers, but I think this song was the turning point for the partnership. Josh sent me over the intro riff and said that he didn’t know if we’d ever use it, because he didn’t really like it. But, after hearing it I insisted on him finishing the song. He sent me the full song and I was hooked on it. The song was titled ‘Dancing with Your Best Mate’s Girlfriend’ on the original demo, (Josh normally comes up with a working title based on how he thinks the music sounds), We were under the impression that it’d change eventually.

But, I became fascinated by this concept, it seemed like a beautiful tragedy, and I wrote about 10 different versions of the song lyrically before in the middle of a French Mock exam at school, that opening line struck me, and I ran to the toilet to write it down. Once it’d come together, me and Josh showed the lads and we played it that night, and honestly it’s got some of my favourite lyrics in it, so I’m really proud of it.

Both sonically and lyrically, there’s an Artic Monkeys influence in the song. How significant are AM to you all?

Lyrically, I definitely cite Alex Turner as a huge inspiration to me, and I definitely see some of the similarities in the song. But, I’m just a young lad writing about being at a party, it was always bound to have a similar lyrical sound. In general, Arctic Monkeys have inspired me massively as a composer, but I would say that we tend to stray away from writing Arctic Monkeys style songs, because we don’t want to be another run of the mill Sheffield band.

Green Day too? Are you more into their older stuff like Dookie or more recent work after American Idiot?

Green Day were an early influence to me, but I soon grew out of all that, I found it too inaccessible, a 15 year old boy in England just didn’t understand the feeling of 90’s east bay punk. I needed something more local, more relatable. It didn’t work for me. I know as a band, we much prefer The Clash or The Sex Pistols, it just seems more real to us, you know? Can’t argue with Billie Joe’s songwriting though, the man is a machine. But, if I were to pick, American Idiot, to me, was their best album.

Can you give us a load down on any new music in the works?

Well, I don’t know how much we’re allowed to reveal. We’ve got a lot of songs written, it’s just a case of getting them recorded now. We were set to record the next single in early April, but obviously this Coronavirus situation has spiralled out of control and that’s been delayed now. We will be putting another single out ASAP though, all I can say is – it’s a very different sound to the debut single. It’s a much grittier song, a more complex song. We wanted to put out DWYBMGF as the first single to reel the audience in, It’s a catchy number, but we have a lot more to say, and I think the music we intend to put out soon, will show a different side of us, that’s much more unique. We can’t wait.

How do you view yourselves as a guitar band at this moment in time, can you see yourselves getting an album together in the future?

We don’t tend to think about the whole ‘Guitar Band’ thing, because we don’t want to put ourselves in a box. We want to write music that matters, whether that’s with a guitar or a piano, it could be a didgeridoo if we feel it’s important. We just want to say something, we want to be something more than just another band. It’s a far-fetched dream, but we just want to have an impact. As for the album, we do have it written, we’re just trying to perfect everything before we get in the studio. But, yes, it is coming!

What music is helping you cope with the quarantine? Hope you and your families are well!

Thank-you man, we hope you and your family are well, also. We’ve been listening to a lot of The Beatles, Muse, The Last Shadow Puppets and The Cure, Rancid, Django Reindhart, Alterbridge, Alice in Chains, Foals, Pink Floyd, Uncle Acid and the Deatbeats, Nothing But Thieves and The Smiths. Just getting in a lot of music, trying to stay sane! Hope you and your loved ones are safe and well. Thank-you for letting us be a part of your page!

Thank you, thankfully close and friends and family are okay! And thank you for answering some questions, can’t wait to see what happens next with you guys and talking more with you!

The Timesout are on all streaming platforms and on social media (can find their Instagram handle below the photo).

Crows formed in 2015 and after some time releasing EP’s to bring a loyal fanbase together, they released the epic ‘Silver Tongues’ in 2019. I first heard them in late 2015 and rushed to buy their ‘Unwelcome Light’ EP on vinyl, their epic sound had me hooked.

At the start of 2019, Balley Records which is run by Joe Talbot and co from IDLES, signed them and it was a match made out of heaven! The album was released to much acclaim and was everything and more, it sounded amazing and one of my favourite releases of 2019.

I had that privilege of asking James from the band some questions and it did not disappoint, enjoy!

What musicians inspire the band? Does each member bring an influence to the table or is generally a collective spirt with influences?

There are definitely some common influences we all share as a band, but the way we have always written is quite democratic. Someone will have an idea or a hook and we’ll ‘jam it out’ (for lack of a better term) until it grows and takes the shape of something we like. I’ll then work separately from everyone with the lyrics and melodies which in turn might changed the shape and structure of it, then we might shelve it, come back to it, cook it a little more before its ready for daylight. There’s no solid formula, that’s keeps it interesting.

I first heard you guys in 2015 with the ‘Prey’ single. The b-side ‘Crawling’ stood out to me, how was that song written?

That song was written just after Margret Thatcher’s funeral, not many people know that that’s what the song is about. Lyrically it’s an example of how I write quite ambiguously about a subject, leaving the listener to interpret it the way they want. We used to close our live shows with it for years because its got such a massive end, there’s no where else really to put it in the set.

Eventually you got in contact with Joe Talbot from IDLES, which led to the LP being put out through Balley Records. How much did it mean to you to join something that you knew appreciated and got your your band so much?

That’s exactly the reason we were so happy to release the album with Balley. We had been offered really poor offers from label who we knew just didn’t care very much and wouldn’t make us a priority. Joe and Mark cared and really wanted to release it because they loved it. That’s how music should work, based on passion and enthusiasm.

Chain of Being sounds so epic, can imagine hearing it before a big event in a stadium! How did it feel playing music from your debut album live after its release and how important is the live shows for you?

We are first and foremost a live band, it’s always been our strength and the thing we care most about. It’s also probably why it took us so long to release the debut record, because we tour so much. You need to learn the balance between writing recording and touring, otherwise you get out of a cycle and you’ll struggle to continue. That’s why after we released ‘Silver Tongues’ we were straight away writing the follow up so we didn’t fall behind.

The artwork has always been a great representation of your music, who is the mastermind behind it?!

That would be Elliott Lane. He has always been our artistic director and is basically the fifth member of the band. He’s even in our Crows group-whatsapp. He is also a tattoo artist at a studio called The Lace makers Sweatshop so go hit him up – @elliottlane

What’s the update on new music? Hope when normality starts to return, that there’s something in the pipeline!

The new album is about 95% finished. We just need to do some extra studio bits to it before its mixed and mastered and then we can unleash it finally! We’ll probably need to wait until the world has healed so we can tour it properly.

Thank you once again to James for his time to answer my questions, this has been mind blowing for me as I’ve been such a fan of this band for a long time. Its been so great to see them put out an album and thank you to Balley Records for making it possible because Crows truly deserved it to and be appreciated by a label. Here’s to their next album!

Aussie artist Alex Carpi released her Electronic EP, ‘Superfamous’, back at the start of April. It’s colourful, breezy and a reflection on her lift when writing it. ‘Superfamous’ is an amazing debut EP that shows off how her observational lyrics and catchy hooks, luckily I asked Alex a few questions about her music career so far!

Firstly hope you are keeping safe and well?

I am keeping safe and well, quarantining with my parents in our Melbourne apartment.

What were your earliest memories of music and does the music you were listening to growing up still inspire you today?

My earliest memory of music is singing in the car with mum. We would listen to Cher, Shania Twain, Alanis Morissette. That music still influences me for sure, I love those women and their songwriting in the 90’s definitely shaped me and is probably what made me want to do this. Jagged Little Pill would have been the first album I listened to start to finish, and I still listen to those songs and can still feel those emotions in the music.

Does Melbourne as a city make an impact on your music?

Definitely. I moved into the city around 4 years ago and I have changed so much during that time. Working in hospitality definitely changed the way I saw the world and the city, and now I’m out of that lifestyle and in a different place again. I think I’m always inspired by what I see and what’s around me, and for the last four years, that’s been Melbourne.

How was your first single ‘I Don’t Want to Love You Anymore’ written? Can hear a mix of recent and old influences in it!

IDWTLYA was written after a long, drawn out breakup with an ex. We’d broken up but were still hanging out and going to stuff we had planned together before the breakup (never a good idea). One night we went out, and to put it nicely he was a bit of a dick the whole time, and I just thought, “I don’t want to do this anymore. I can’t. I need to flick the switch off and not have feelings for you anymore”. So I wrote the song that night and that’s what happened.

We got into the studio and Nick worked his magic and it came out as a dance banger, so that was an added bonus. I envisioned it to be more a punk/rock sound.

Your first EP came out this month! ‘Superfamous’ has 5 tracks on it, when did you start writing it and can you tell us a bit about the lyrics of Big City and Superfamous?

I’ve been wanting to do an EP since 2018. I originally thought IDWTLYA would be a part of it, but by time we really decided to put our heads down and do this, I had a lot of new material. I wrote Superfamous at the start of 2019, and it was everyone’s favourite when I played it in my acoustic live sets.

Hurricane Heart was next, I played it in my live sets for a bit before realising I wanted it to be a part of the EP as well. Then it was Big City and the rest just came tumbling out.

The lyrics of Big City are about the endless possibilities when you live in a bustling metropolis. It was also this idea that some people are the coast, they’re beachy and take things slow, no rush to get anywhere, you know the type. But I’m the city. Quick, excitable, street smart, always looking for the next adventure down a hidden laneway.

The lyrics of Superfamous are about people who try to take advantage of young artists in the music industry. This isn’t so much from personal experience as it is from all the stories I’ve heard about it happening when people don’t know better. No one can click their fingers and make you a star, you gotta work super hard if you want to make it into that lifestyle.

Hurricane Heart is a shift from at the end of the EP, was that a conscious decision to have a track like this at the end?

Nick and I sat for ages discussing track order and this is how it ended up. I don’t love ending the EP on a sad note, but it made sense with the running of the other tracks and how they all fit together. I considered we do a sixth song to put at the end but Nick looked at me like he could kill me, so we didn’t do that 😂

How are you copping with the current climate with COVID-19? Are you using the time to write?

I’m doing okay with it. Obviously not ideal but what can you do. I’m chatting to friends on House Party and doing Zoom trivia on weekends. I’m still working at my day job (from home) so the weeks go by quite fast.

I should definitely be writing more than I am, I’ve put down a few ideas but should definitely pump out a few songs while I can.

Thanks Alex for your time! You can stream ‘Superfamous- EP’ on all streaming services. Can’t wait to hear what’s next!

Lila Tristram is bringing wholesome and honest folk to our ears, already sounding so self aware in her songwriting journey. Her first EP is named ‘Our Friends Pt.1’, which came out last month. Hearing her talk about the recording experience with her friends being so great just gives such special meaning to the title.

I asked Lila a few questions and I hope you enjoy reading her answers as much as I did!

What were your first memories of music growing up?

Growing up we had a small but mighty CD selection (which I’m pretty sure I still know all the words to) including Nina Simone, Sheryl Crow, Eva Cassidy and John Martyn.

Looking back I think I used playing music to help me when I was a child and struggling with my parents’ break up. I used to really love playing the piano and just losing myself in another world.

What songwriters do you look up to and what songs in particular by them stand out?

Joni Mitchell is my heroine. Something about her sincerity and ability to just cut straight to the point lyrically, not to mention the intelligence and innovation she put into her guitar playing. No matter how many times I listen to ‘Hejira’ as an album, it never fails to flaw me.

I am very much a lyric person, and will hear most lyrics on the first listen. In terms of contemporary songwriters, and the songs which made them stand out to me, I’d say Adrienne Lenker/Big Thief (Orange), Mark Kozelek/Sun Kil Moon (You Are My Sun) and JFDR (My Work).

How does it feel to have this EP out? Must feel incredible that it’s out there for all to hear!

Amazing! ..sometimes I can get so driven and focused on what’s ahead that I often forget to appreciate where I’m at right now. But it does feel incredible! And slightly surreal. But mainly incredible. I just have so many memories of the creation of it; asking endless questions to Michael (who helped make the the thing! I will be endlessly grateful for his support with it), trying out different ideas, the breaking points, the recoveries and pep talks.. the making of Our Friends was a massive process for me, and the most exhilarating thing is that it kind of feels like the journey has only just begun.

What inspired the Our Friends Pt.1 EP and how many parts are there to this project?

The project has been inspired by so many things: conversations, albums, books, friendships and relationships I’ve had. There isn’t one theme per say, but there’s a lot in there about childhood, so I’d say that my experiences and musings looking back on that era have been a big part of it.

I’m going to make you wait to see what’s next, but I assure you that I’m even more excited about Pt II..!

How would you personally describe the EP and what it means to you?

Oh man. I’d say that Our Friends Pt I is.. well. I guess as an artist you’ll never really know what your audience truly gets from your work .. whether your intentions manage to seep through or if they experience something different. Honesty, I guess. That’s what, if I had to be specific about it, I would like to think that the EP expresses.

For me this EP is very cathartic. It has been from the moment I started writing the songs. That’s something else I really hope other people get from it.

Have you been writing recently and is it different to what we’ve heard from you so far?

F*ckin have! Oh yes. Yes, and yes. Both. My writing has become more refined I think. I’m learning to be more concise, and say more using less. I’m trying to cut straight to the point like Joni Mitchell. I’m writing a lot (I think if I haven’t been writing in a while I go a bit weird haha..)
And I’ve been working a lot with Jamie Cameron (from the Last Dinosaur), who’s influence has really given my music a new sense of life.

What have you been listening to recently?

Recently I’ve been in a kind of self isolation group project with Jamie, Austin Basham, Alex Kozobolis and Jack in Water – we’re calling it ‘Isolation for Beginners’ (you can hear the fruits of our labour here https://soundcloud.com/isolationforbeginners). And one of my favourite things about being involved has been really intimately getting to know each of their music. So much talent! The mind boggles.

I’ve also recently put together an isolation playlist (link will be at the bottom of the interview), which I’m updating over this crazy time.

How are you coping with this awful virus and what would you say to anyone who is struggling with the situation we find ourselves in?

Hmm.. it’s a pretty heartbreaking situation on a lot of levels. I guess I’m going through probably the same ups and downs (lots of downs) as everyone. There are so many people and things that I miss, not to mention the devastation to the music industry and the terror of not knowing how long it’ll go on for or how bad it’s going to get. The times where I manage to feel Ok (and the advice I’d give to other people) is when I’m fully in the present moment, focused on the task at hand and just locked into my own little world. Immersion in some sort of activity.. It’s certainly not easy though, and my heart goes out to those who are facing grief, and to the medics who are the soldiers on the front line.

Lila’s Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5aNE9ORiHZDeOx4p81C1nM?si=mbxqFLucRoq_Rr-P3pdI4Q