Saturday, 25 October 2008
Monday, 20 October 2008
Natty Interview
On October 19th 2008 Christina and Alec had the chance to interview Natty for NSR when he was in town. Click here to download or listen to the podcast.
Read Alec's gig review here.
Interview with Post War Years
Christian: How did you guys get together?
PWY: We’re all Lemington Lad’s originally; we all went to different schools but it’s a place where you end up knowing everyone. That’s why we moved to London in the end.
Christian: So did you feel you had to leave the shackles of Lemington Spa?
PWY: It was really just a change of scene. After Uni we all just reconvened there and decided to move down to London because of the chance for more gigs and more expensive rent.
Christian: Your name conjures up dreams of a world with no war, were there any other names suggested?
PWY: One of us was obsessed with being called Post War Cartel and Post War Heroes was another name being thrown about but we ended up settling on Post War Years. There aren’t many Years bands but it does cause some confusion, we’ve been billed as Cold Year Kids before!
Christian: If you had to give a piece of advice for Newcastle University students what would it be?
PWY: Get a Cluny burger! And drink before you go out, but responsibly of course.
Christian: What would you suggest students listen to at the moment?
PWY: Late of the Pier are a cracking live band, Gold heart assembly, We Have Band and Wave Machines!
Christian: How has the tour gone so far, any late night shenanigans?
PWY: In Nottingham we ended up spending the night with Late of the Pier and there techie in their mansion of a house.
Christian: When can we expect to hear an album?
PWY: Yes, next year seems to be the date, but of course that requires us writing the album first and then recording and then everyone agreeing on every feature of it.
Christian: If you weren’t in a band what would you be doing?
PWY: We’d probably be a lot happier. Perhaps living in a place like Barcelona owning a small bar sounds a nice idea.
Christian: How did you think the gig went tonight then?
PWY: It’s difficult to tell being the first band on but it seems a good crowd tonight and the Cluny is a great little venue.
Interview by Christian Allen
PWY: We’re all Lemington Lad’s originally; we all went to different schools but it’s a place where you end up knowing everyone. That’s why we moved to London in the end.
Christian: So did you feel you had to leave the shackles of Lemington Spa?
PWY: It was really just a change of scene. After Uni we all just reconvened there and decided to move down to London because of the chance for more gigs and more expensive rent.
Christian: Your name conjures up dreams of a world with no war, were there any other names suggested?
PWY: One of us was obsessed with being called Post War Cartel and Post War Heroes was another name being thrown about but we ended up settling on Post War Years. There aren’t many Years bands but it does cause some confusion, we’ve been billed as Cold Year Kids before!
Christian: If you had to give a piece of advice for Newcastle University students what would it be?
PWY: Get a Cluny burger! And drink before you go out, but responsibly of course.
Christian: What would you suggest students listen to at the moment?
PWY: Late of the Pier are a cracking live band, Gold heart assembly, We Have Band and Wave Machines!
Christian: How has the tour gone so far, any late night shenanigans?
PWY: In Nottingham we ended up spending the night with Late of the Pier and there techie in their mansion of a house.
Christian: When can we expect to hear an album?
PWY: Yes, next year seems to be the date, but of course that requires us writing the album first and then recording and then everyone agreeing on every feature of it.
Christian: If you weren’t in a band what would you be doing?
PWY: We’d probably be a lot happier. Perhaps living in a place like Barcelona owning a small bar sounds a nice idea.
Christian: How did you think the gig went tonight then?
PWY: It’s difficult to tell being the first band on but it seems a good crowd tonight and the Cluny is a great little venue.
Interview by Christian Allen
Friday, 17 October 2008
Hot Club de Paris Interview
On October 15th 2008 Hannah and Izaac had the chance to interview Hot Club de Paris for NSR. To download or listen to the podcast click here.
Read Izaac's gig review here.
Friday, 3 October 2008
The Automatic Interview
On the 1st of October Solveig had the chance to interview the Automatic for NSR
Monday, 29 September 2008
The Hoosiers Interview
The Hoosiers are not a normal band. Their rider consists of hummus, nuts and raisins, fruits, red peppers, pitta bread and water. The customary bottle of Jack Daniels stands to the right, but as far as I can tell, it’s untouched. Upon commenting on the randomness of the spread before us, we receive the reply that touring for weeks and eating rubbish makes them fat - so now they ask for the healthy stuff.
Introducing themselves are Irwin (vocals and guitar), Martin (bass, guitar and more instruments than you could fit on a page: ‘Grade 8!’) and Alphonso (drums). The band are chatty and in a great mood; maybe something to do with the break that have just had prior to playing this gig in Newcastle - they did the festival season in Belgium.
As we entered their dressing room, we noticed lots of furry amps on the stage. What’s with those, anyway? They decided that lots of bands had big amps on stage, and decided to dress theirs up. The furry ones are Yetis, and now they have a robot They’re getting a bit bored of the Yetis now, though, and want to change the general theme.
The next thing we do is enquire into the origin of the name ‘Hoosiers’ (and who doesn’t, apparently). At first Alphonso is indignant, claiming that we should have done our research (the reason is on their MySpace). After a brief pause, they decided to explain anyway! Some of the band spent time in Indiana, which is known as ‘The Hoosier State’. The band then go on to say at least they weren’t in ‘The Wanker State’, but choose not to elaborate, and we don’t ask (some things are better unsaid).
In keeping with the Freshers’ Week theme, we asked them to talk a bit about uni and their own Fresher’s experiences. Well, Martin didn’t go, Irwin did Performing Arts and Alphonso did Creative Writing. According to Irwin, if you remember your Freshers’ Week, you probably weren’t there. This may be because he missed his, as some of the band were still in America, and he only arrived as lectures were starting ‘after a change of heart. We decided to go back England and not spend another 3 years in the States’. So maybe his statement was more to do with absence than drunkenness (but he had a point)!
We then ask the band to tell us something they have never said in an interview before. This usually produces amusing/interesting results, but the exchange below was one of my favourites.......
NSR: Tell us something you have never said in an interview before.
Irwin: CUNT! I’ve never said ‘cunt’ in an interview before!
NSR: Doesn’t he normally swear?
Band: Not normally
(pause)
Band: Oh.... the Hoosiers aren’t touring. We never say that.
Irwin: I’m sorry for swearing... in front of girls as well!
Band: The Hoosiers are shit!
Even if the only thing you have heard about the Hoosiers is this interview, it’s fairly easy to tell that they have a good sense of humour; their blog is fun to read, and Irwin appeared on Never Mind the Buzzcocks a while back. So what we wanted to know was: how does this humour relate to, and influence, the songs? Irwin explained that whilst they take their music seriously, and their lyrics try to include themes that are important to them, they don’t particularly take themselves seriously. They know they are ‘pop music’, but in doing this, you can also make real music. Some of their songs have ‘misogynistic lyrics’, and they laughed as they said that a few would never get played on the radio (as opposed to Goodbye Mr. A, or Worried about Ray, I guess!).
In addition to this, they state films & books as their influences, as opposed to ‘one band’, or just a couple of things. For life, Irwin says that Alexander Bell is his hero, as he invented the telephone. ‘A telly and a phone all in one! Where would be without it!’. They would love to support The Flaming Lips!
Their tour manager comes in, apologising that they have to go to a different interview now. I ask if there is anything else they would like to say? We have to all go to the gig they are playing in November. They know where we live, and will find us... Also: ‘Stay in school!’
The Hoosiers: Gentlemen, intelligent, talented and amusing. Not entirely un-insane. What more can you want from a band?
Katie Ashworth
Solveig J. Werner
Kate Edwards
Introducing themselves are Irwin (vocals and guitar), Martin (bass, guitar and more instruments than you could fit on a page: ‘Grade 8!’) and Alphonso (drums). The band are chatty and in a great mood; maybe something to do with the break that have just had prior to playing this gig in Newcastle - they did the festival season in Belgium.
As we entered their dressing room, we noticed lots of furry amps on the stage. What’s with those, anyway? They decided that lots of bands had big amps on stage, and decided to dress theirs up. The furry ones are Yetis, and now they have a robot They’re getting a bit bored of the Yetis now, though, and want to change the general theme.
The next thing we do is enquire into the origin of the name ‘Hoosiers’ (and who doesn’t, apparently). At first Alphonso is indignant, claiming that we should have done our research (the reason is on their MySpace). After a brief pause, they decided to explain anyway! Some of the band spent time in Indiana, which is known as ‘The Hoosier State’. The band then go on to say at least they weren’t in ‘The Wanker State’, but choose not to elaborate, and we don’t ask (some things are better unsaid).
In keeping with the Freshers’ Week theme, we asked them to talk a bit about uni and their own Fresher’s experiences. Well, Martin didn’t go, Irwin did Performing Arts and Alphonso did Creative Writing. According to Irwin, if you remember your Freshers’ Week, you probably weren’t there. This may be because he missed his, as some of the band were still in America, and he only arrived as lectures were starting ‘after a change of heart. We decided to go back England and not spend another 3 years in the States’. So maybe his statement was more to do with absence than drunkenness (but he had a point)!
We then ask the band to tell us something they have never said in an interview before. This usually produces amusing/interesting results, but the exchange below was one of my favourites.......
NSR: Tell us something you have never said in an interview before.
Irwin: CUNT! I’ve never said ‘cunt’ in an interview before!
NSR: Doesn’t he normally swear?
Band: Not normally
(pause)
Band: Oh.... the Hoosiers aren’t touring. We never say that.
Irwin: I’m sorry for swearing... in front of girls as well!
Band: The Hoosiers are shit!
Even if the only thing you have heard about the Hoosiers is this interview, it’s fairly easy to tell that they have a good sense of humour; their blog is fun to read, and Irwin appeared on Never Mind the Buzzcocks a while back. So what we wanted to know was: how does this humour relate to, and influence, the songs? Irwin explained that whilst they take their music seriously, and their lyrics try to include themes that are important to them, they don’t particularly take themselves seriously. They know they are ‘pop music’, but in doing this, you can also make real music. Some of their songs have ‘misogynistic lyrics’, and they laughed as they said that a few would never get played on the radio (as opposed to Goodbye Mr. A, or Worried about Ray, I guess!).
In addition to this, they state films & books as their influences, as opposed to ‘one band’, or just a couple of things. For life, Irwin says that Alexander Bell is his hero, as he invented the telephone. ‘A telly and a phone all in one! Where would be without it!’. They would love to support The Flaming Lips!
Their tour manager comes in, apologising that they have to go to a different interview now. I ask if there is anything else they would like to say? We have to all go to the gig they are playing in November. They know where we live, and will find us... Also: ‘Stay in school!’
The Hoosiers: Gentlemen, intelligent, talented and amusing. Not entirely un-insane. What more can you want from a band?
Katie Ashworth
Solveig J. Werner
Kate Edwards
Saturday, 19 April 2008
Interview with Blaine Harrison of Mystery Jets 19/04/08
Blaine,could you give us some insight into how working with a different producer,, Erol Alkan, shaped the new record? How did it compare to working with James Ford? (Ford produced Mystery Jets debut, ‘Making Dens’)
Hmm..well I wouldn’t say one was for the better or worse. The thing about working with young, inexperienced producers is that they’re seemingly bursting with ideas; it feels like they’re doing an apprenticeship. It was Erol’s first record, and so his enthusiasm was really tangible. And when we worked with James, it was only the second record he’d produced.
Listening to your new record, 21, it’s seems a bit more disenchanted than the first....
Disenchanted?
Ben Lowes-Smith
Hmm..well I wouldn’t say one was for the better or worse. The thing about working with young, inexperienced producers is that they’re seemingly bursting with ideas; it feels like they’re doing an apprenticeship. It was Erol’s first record, and so his enthusiasm was really tangible. And when we worked with James, it was only the second record he’d produced.
Listening to your new record, 21, it’s seems a bit more disenchanted than the first....
Disenchanted?
Hmm... I don’t know. I think the songs on this record seem a bit younger and simpler; poppier. I mean, it wasn’t like it was a considered as thinking, ‘right, lets sit down and write a pop record’, much more natural than that, the songs just come from a simpler place. I think we wanted to make a more chizzled, concise record.
Yeah, that’s true but lyrically, for me it seems a little more world weary...
Yeah, I understand what you mean. Henry (Blaine’s dad who was playing and touring with the band, but has taken more of a backseat for this album) wrote a lot of lyrics for it (the first record). We couldn’t write what we’re writing now because...because we’d never really had girlfriends, really. These songs are about falling in love for the first time and having your heartbroken..about growing up, really.
It’s a really beautiful record in that respect. There’s not a lot of age difference between us, so I can really empathise with the concerns.
Yeah, thanks, that’s nice to hear. Success for me isn’t how many records you sell or whatever, it’s about how you effect people. I think that’s why i really love The Smiths...you know their ability to translate quite dark human experience into pop music.
I’m sorry if I’m barking up the wrong tree, but the way you can turn a phrase..there seems to be quite a literary influence...
(Timid laughter) Well, I don’t really read all that much. I know Will (guitarist, lyrical contributor) reads quite a lot. But inspiration for me comes from life and personal experience.
I think what made you stand out from other guitar bands in the emergence in ‘04/’05 was that you sort of wore your rather diverse, obscure influences on your sleeves, in a way sort of ‘created your own universe’...
Yeah, I suppose we’ve never truly felt part of a scene, but then we’ve never purposefully attempted to marginalise ourselves. Don’t get me wrong, I think there are some great British guitar bands, we’ve toured with Arctic Monkeys and The Futureheads and I love them. But the idea of trying to emulate those kinds of bands just seems...pointless. Inevitably, what we do is a musical response. We grew up listening to Genesis, ELO, King Crimson...what we do is just a response to what we grew up listening to...
What are you listening to at the moment?
There ‘s a lot of exciting stuff coming out of America at the moment..sort of particularly New York, Brooklyn, specifically. Bands that don’t seem to be making a concerted effort to infiltrate the charts, just doing what comes naturally. I really love Yeasayer, The Dirty Projectors, Animal Collective, stuff like that.
Something a bit more frivolous now, What is the first record you ever bought?
The first single...Don’t Speak by No Doubt. What a song! I bought it on cassette. My sister and I split the price, she ended up keeping it, though! Album... I bought the Eagle Eye Cherry album and an Ace of Base albums on the same day. I can’t remember the names, sorry, I think it will have been about ’96, ’97... (giggles) I’m sorry they aren’t more tasteful!
That’s all right, I remember the first record I bought was that ‘Boom Boom Shake The Room’ thing in about ’96-’97...
Oh, yeah, I remember that! Tune!
You’re playing much smaller venues than I expected you would be on this tour.
Yeah, we had our initial concerns...but it’s nice to play to a group of diehards. I mean, when you play 1500-2000 capacity venues, some of those people might have just hear ‘Young Love’ or something on the radio, and thought ‘Yeah, I like that, I’ll go and see them’. Which is fine, of course, but there’s just something about knowing a group of people in an intimate venue of people will be singing along with every word to the new songs and the old ones....
What about festivals this summer?
We’re doing Reading, Bestival, Glastonbury, Fuji Rock, Summer Sundae, T...but i don’t think that’s quite confirmed yet. Maybe some in Europe
Wow! That’s a busy summer!
Yeah, there’s one weekend we’re playing four festivals!
I read a really charming story about your dad showing you a magazine with Supergrass on the cover, telling you it was evil.
(Laughter) He did, yeah. I suppose when you’re growing up, you’ve got someone who you think is the coolest person in the world, and for me that was my dad. Whatever he said was word, and If he said Supergrass were evil...they were evil. My father’s record collection was just really formative for me. I did buy ‘I Should Coco’ (Supergrass’ debut album) later on though, It’s a brilliant album.
Blaine, thank you very much!
Thank you!
Yeah, that’s true but lyrically, for me it seems a little more world weary...
Yeah, I understand what you mean. Henry (Blaine’s dad who was playing and touring with the band, but has taken more of a backseat for this album) wrote a lot of lyrics for it (the first record). We couldn’t write what we’re writing now because...because we’d never really had girlfriends, really. These songs are about falling in love for the first time and having your heartbroken..about growing up, really.
It’s a really beautiful record in that respect. There’s not a lot of age difference between us, so I can really empathise with the concerns.
Yeah, thanks, that’s nice to hear. Success for me isn’t how many records you sell or whatever, it’s about how you effect people. I think that’s why i really love The Smiths...you know their ability to translate quite dark human experience into pop music.
I’m sorry if I’m barking up the wrong tree, but the way you can turn a phrase..there seems to be quite a literary influence...
(Timid laughter) Well, I don’t really read all that much. I know Will (guitarist, lyrical contributor) reads quite a lot. But inspiration for me comes from life and personal experience.
I think what made you stand out from other guitar bands in the emergence in ‘04/’05 was that you sort of wore your rather diverse, obscure influences on your sleeves, in a way sort of ‘created your own universe’...
Yeah, I suppose we’ve never truly felt part of a scene, but then we’ve never purposefully attempted to marginalise ourselves. Don’t get me wrong, I think there are some great British guitar bands, we’ve toured with Arctic Monkeys and The Futureheads and I love them. But the idea of trying to emulate those kinds of bands just seems...pointless. Inevitably, what we do is a musical response. We grew up listening to Genesis, ELO, King Crimson...what we do is just a response to what we grew up listening to...
What are you listening to at the moment?
There ‘s a lot of exciting stuff coming out of America at the moment..sort of particularly New York, Brooklyn, specifically. Bands that don’t seem to be making a concerted effort to infiltrate the charts, just doing what comes naturally. I really love Yeasayer, The Dirty Projectors, Animal Collective, stuff like that.
Something a bit more frivolous now, What is the first record you ever bought?
The first single...Don’t Speak by No Doubt. What a song! I bought it on cassette. My sister and I split the price, she ended up keeping it, though! Album... I bought the Eagle Eye Cherry album and an Ace of Base albums on the same day. I can’t remember the names, sorry, I think it will have been about ’96, ’97... (giggles) I’m sorry they aren’t more tasteful!
That’s all right, I remember the first record I bought was that ‘Boom Boom Shake The Room’ thing in about ’96-’97...
Oh, yeah, I remember that! Tune!
You’re playing much smaller venues than I expected you would be on this tour.
Yeah, we had our initial concerns...but it’s nice to play to a group of diehards. I mean, when you play 1500-2000 capacity venues, some of those people might have just hear ‘Young Love’ or something on the radio, and thought ‘Yeah, I like that, I’ll go and see them’. Which is fine, of course, but there’s just something about knowing a group of people in an intimate venue of people will be singing along with every word to the new songs and the old ones....
What about festivals this summer?
We’re doing Reading, Bestival, Glastonbury, Fuji Rock, Summer Sundae, T...but i don’t think that’s quite confirmed yet. Maybe some in Europe
Wow! That’s a busy summer!
Yeah, there’s one weekend we’re playing four festivals!
I read a really charming story about your dad showing you a magazine with Supergrass on the cover, telling you it was evil.
(Laughter) He did, yeah. I suppose when you’re growing up, you’ve got someone who you think is the coolest person in the world, and for me that was my dad. Whatever he said was word, and If he said Supergrass were evil...they were evil. My father’s record collection was just really formative for me. I did buy ‘I Should Coco’ (Supergrass’ debut album) later on though, It’s a brilliant album.
Blaine, thank you very much!
Thank you!
Ben Lowes-Smith
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