[INTERVIEW] with... HONNE

HONNE are taking the music scene by storm, with a huge new single under their belts 'Someone That Loves You' in collaboration with Izzy Bizu, there is no stopping this incredible electronic-soul duo. We chatted to HONNE about SXSW, developing their sound as a full band and festival season. Check out the full interview below!

Hi there, so we see you’ve been pretty busy touring the US at the moment! How was that? 

Hello! Yep we were there for a load of our own gigs and SXSW. It was a really special couple of weeks and we had some very memorable shows. We can't wait to get back!

Talk to us about SXSW? It looked amazing this year! Which set was your favourite to play?

SXSW is a mad festival. We played 7 shows over a few days all over Austin.  I think our favourite set was probably at the Hype Hotel. It was at 1pm so we were expecting everyone to be in bed hungover to be honest! But just before 1 the place suddenly filled up. 

Any acts that stood out for you?

One act that stood out to us was Pumarosa. We saw them play a great set at the Fader Fort. We saw them at the Royal Albert Hall in London the other day too actually, their sound really suited that huge room.

We saw you play a year ago supporting Kwabs as a duo at Thekla (you were amazing by the way), and now you’ve headlined Thekla and the Electric Brixton with a full band to support you guys. How has this whirlwind of a year been for you? How has the development of having a full band affected your shows and music? What can we expect this year in terms of live shows?

Ah thanks. We've loved every minute of it. Ever since day one we always said when we played live we wanted to use a full band to make it really energetic and step it up a notch from the record. We've been playing as the same group of people for a long time now, so there's a real chemistry between us all. So people can expect smooth and sexy, but also bright, loud and exciting.

Let’s talk about your recent Valentine’s day release, Woman. What was the principal inspiration for it? 

Woman was written between International Women's Day and Valentine's Day last year. We wanted to write a track celebrating the women in our lives, and it's as much about friends and family as it is lovers. 

The video is great too, do you guys get creative input when putting the videos together?

Yep, we're really involved with anything creative. That video concept was sent to us by an amazing director in LA called Dori. We chatted with him and threw ideas around and the video was born!

So an album is on the way we are guessing from your Facebook posts. How does the album process differ from previous releases? What can we expect from the album?

It is indeed. We're just finishing it off as we speak. The album is a great opportunity for us to explore. It's got a few tracks that you'll already know, but the majority are new. We hope it's going to take people on a bit of a journey and show everyone some other sides to HONNE that they might not have heard before.

Lastly, you’re playing numerous festivals this summer, including the intimate Barn On The Farm Festival. What’s your favourite aspect about fetsival season? Any acts you’re looking forward to seeing?

We are, and we can't wait. Festivals are great. I think my favourite thing, other than the gig itself, is seeing the other artists who we bump into all the time. We often see Lapsley, Tei Shi, Shura, Tom Misch etc on the same festivals as us, so it's cool seeing them play and catching up.

What's your festival must-have?

A Festival must-have: A blow up bed. We're not roll-mat kinda guys.

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HONNE are playing numerous festivals this year including Barn on the Farm Festival, July 1st - 3rd in Gloucestershire. For more information please visit www.barnonthefarm.co.uk

 

[LISTEN & INTERVIEW] Kytes - I Got Something

 

KYTES are back with a stunning single called "I got something" and it is a clear reminder that this band knows exactly what they're doing. Writing perfect pop-songs. Almost too perfect. But aren't Europeans always like that, thinking they are perfect? Have a listen and make up your own mind about their new single. They are teasing it right here. We have an upcoming IAI Single release very soon too. So keep on watching this space. Or get more infos here: We talked to the band recently about their first trip to the US at Austin's SXWS:

 

 

 KYTES ON TOUR

21.04.16 A-Wien - Chelsea

22.04.16 A-Herzogsdorf - Noppen Air

27.04.16 Coburg – Sonderbar

28.04.16 Ulm – Roxy

29.04.16 Eggenfelden – Club Platinum

30.04.16 Nürnberg – Club Stereo

02.05.16 Rostock - Campus Erwachen

13.05.16 Salching bei Straubing - Pfingst Open Air

14.05.16 Erding - Sonic

21.05.16 Reichenau - Early Bird Open Air

28.05.16 Kassel - Oben Air

04.06.16 A-Kufstein - Indie Sunset

09.06.16 Leipzig - Campusfest

10.06.16 Kaltenberg - PULS Open Air

11.06.16 Kirchanschöring - Im Grünen Festival

21.06.16 LUX-Kayl – Open Air Place Brill @Fête de la Musique

23.06.16 Berlin – Small Sessions @Auster Club

24.06.16 Berlin – Binu @20 Jahre Karrera

01.07.16 Mainburg-Unterempfenbach - Festival Holledau

07.- 11.07.16 Bergheider See - Feel Festival

14.07. - 17.07.16 Bochum - Bochum Total

14.07. - 17.07.16 Gräfenhainichen - MELT! Festival

29.07.16 Varel - Watt’en Schlick Festival

30.07.16 Elend bei Sorge - Rocken am Brocken Festival

31.07.16 Trebur – Trebur Open Air

18.08.16 A-Feldkirch –Poolbar Festival

19.08.16 Moosburg - Utopia Island

20.08.16 Hamburg - Dockville

PRE-ORDER THIS SINGLE AND TICKETS NOW

iTunes: http://bit.ly/IGotSomethingItunes
Amazon: http://bit.ly/IGotSomethingAmazon
Google Play: http://bit.ly/IGotSomethingGooglePlay

www.kytesmusic.com/live for tickets...

[INTERVIEW]... with Matt Healy from The 1975

It's All Indie meets... The 1975. We had a very interesting interview with Matt from The 1975 before their gig in Munich at Zenith - Die Kulturhalle. You can watch it all below!

[INTERVIEW] with... I Heart Sharks

All photos by Benjamin Brown

We interviewed I Heart Sharks' Pierre and Craig ahead of their show at Munich's Strøm.

You've just returned to the independent label  AdP Records. Could you explain that decision and tell us how that changes the way you make music?

Pierre: We were with Island for one album, it was great experience! But looking back at our time as a band, we've just always done everything on our own, with our own money, in our own bedrooms, so signing for Island was cool, because it was a good way to complete some projects. 

We realised after the album, that that wasn't the way we wanted to make music and decided to go back to the original plan: a smaller team and making music on our own. When we started off, having to do everything by ourselves was the annoying thing – now we've realised that that's what we actually enjoy most. 

Island were brilliant with us, we had a great time, but releasing music always took too long. We want to be able to tour, record and release music whenever it suits us – that's what is possible with a smaller label. With our current label we're free to make our own decisions and do what we like. We love our AdP Records, we love the album we did with them, so it's great to be “home”.

The new songs you've put out sound very different to your previous work. Do you still enjoy playing your old songs and identify with them?

Pierre: Playing the old songs is wonderful, it feels really nostalgic. They sound really young and simple. The songs are basically just composed of four chords – we didn't have a bass player, so I had to play bass – but because I wanted to be able to jump into the crowd I programmed four bars of bass line which would just play for ages during the live sets. And the album was based on these restrictions we had, by only being three band-members back then. I love the sound that was created, just because we wanted to party with the fans – we're really pleased that we made that record.

The new album will have more of a “band-sound” about it, it will sound bumpier, heavier.

Craig: It's really fun to play the old songs. We even brought back a really old song “Dots, Dots, Dots” from 2007 - we only played it five times, but then fans started asking for it, so it's become part of our set-list.

You gave fans the option of helping decide the set-list online. Were you surprised by the results?

Craig: We were! It was really interesting to find out what the fans want to hear on tour!

We have our favourite tracks which, fortunately, were also the ones chosen by the fans.

Feedback for “Hey Kid” on social-media also included negative comments – is that something that hits you hard?

Pierre: People reacting to our music is good – people ignoring it would be bad! Of course comments, especially the negative ones, stick in your mind – making music and videos requires so much effort, but at the same time it's only natural that not everyone's going to like it. Social-media isn't important, as long as people come to the shows and sing along.

Although I Heart Sharks is a British-German mix, your fan-base is mainly German. Is breaking into the UK market more difficult when based in Germany?

Pierre: 100% It's as if the phone-lines only go in one direction: from the UK to Germany, but not vice-versa. The only thing you can do is set yourself apart from other bands in the UK. At first we were really bothered about building a fan base in the UK, but touring is England was always only “ok” - it just isn't the same as in Germany. Our focus with the next album is establishing a fan base in France, Holland and Italy. London will always be on the tour, but it isn't our main focus anymore. We'd love to be big in the UK, but the competition is just massive. 

It's great to see the music scene in Germany at the minute with some outstanding German bands around!

But generally we believe that it shouldn't really matter where you're from, what language you speak or your accent sounds like: making good music should be the most important point.

Being based in Berlin sounds like fun! Why did you opt for Berlin rather than London or somewhere else?

Pierre: When we first moved to Berlin it was cheap. We could get a flat there, play music and get drunk. That's what I Heart Sharks was for the first three or four years: playing for a crate of beer and 50€. It was a fantastic time! We can juggle our jobs and music and lead a good life in Berlin.

There are big music scenes outside of Germany as well. Latin America comes to mind...

It's crazy! Mexico City is our second biggest city after Berlin. I think the name “Indie” is the keyword for music fans down there. We've desperately been trying to go on tour there, but we've been told it's too dangerous. Going there on holiday is one thing, but going there as a band and attracting 500 people to a venue, makes you a target for kidnappers. Bands we know who have played there had to be escorted around the country by armed police and military jeeps. It would be interesting, a real experience: we'll keep it in mind for 2017. We really want to go to Latin America soon! It's a beautiful part of the world, the Wild West of the 21st century.

Interview by Benjamin Brown

[Interview] with... Clean Cut Kid

Nicely chilled out backstage at Fruit in Hull, we caught up with Clean Cut Kid before their support slot for Fickle Friends recently, here's what was said...


Jase Hare: Thank you very much for even entertaining us for 5 or 10 minutes pre gig...

Mike Halls: Aww no it's a pleasure mate, we love this s**t!

Evelyn Halls: We're sorry it's not very glamorous

JH: Ahh it's fine, to be fair I feel like I'm at Leeds Fest under a gazebo! Haha Ok, first of all Loving your guys work, think it's absolutely class and over at It's All Indie.com we've blogged about you for a little while now...

EH and MH: Oh yeah! Yeah, we've seen your stuff on twitter...

JH: Do you feel like it's been a rapid rise recently after putting in years of hard work?

MH: Totally, 15 years to be an overnight success!

JH: HAHA it's got potential that line hasn't it.

Saul Godman; And i'm only 16!

ALL: Hahaha

JH: You've had a tough paper round my friend.

MH; Yeah it was, it was like super quick, we haven't even had a second to take stock of it. We recorded 'Vitamin C' and 'Runaway' two years ago, sat on the material and rehearsed, got the live thing together, didn't leak anything, then i've been working as a session player with a manager so we gave the management the CD and said yeah it's ready, start managing sort of thing. He put together a team of five or six industry types to come watch us play a secret gig in London, under a different name and it leaked from that. We were like, S**t this is going to kick off quicker than we know! Then by the time we were doing the second gig we had a guest list of 120 industry people, 5 major record label presidents coming down and the gig sold out in an hour.

JH; Wow, phenomenal reaction...

MH: we got like rushed out into cars, driven to the Ivory lounge, and then I spent a month living in London meeting 9 record labels and before our third gig we had signed a deal. Tenth and eleventh gigs we headlined Reading and Leeds BBC Introducing stages.

JH: Yeah we were there in Leeds...

EH; Oh were you there?

JH: Yeah you played Friday. We walked past and I remember looking at my programme thinking "Yeah I need to see them" but I only knew 'Vitamin C'. Those stages are becoming iconic that must have been odd to be playing them so early?

EH: We didn't understand what was going on because like that was our tenth gig, we were just like "how has this happened?". We were just so so so surprised.

JH: Do you guys realise how good a tune is when you write it?

MH: Erm I think at every single stage it has to give you that level of feedback, so I write them and basically I'll get the music together first but then building section after section i'll have to kind of be blowing my own tits off, you know, like Aww that pre-chorus just did it for me. Then me and Ross will go in and the usual formula we'll nail the drums and guitar, like map it out then Saul will build his bass on top. I have to then lock myself away for three or four days and I'll imprint the bands sound on the demo. The record label then fall in love with the demo, naturally haha, and ask for certain things when we go to record it. You never really get it properly because it comes from me getting one hours sleep and just being buried away. You try and do that in a pro studio its always like that magic you can never get but what you do get is it's own thing.

JH: I tweeted the other day that "20 Years From Now" is such an important tune on my playlist currently because when it keeps coming on I get so involved in it and it's not a "mainstream" song you know? You'll probably never hear it on the radio etc but do you get a bigger sense of achievement if you like from fans getting really involved in something you've written?

EH: We saw that tweet and liked it! Thanks for that, meant a lot yeah. When people latch on to the B-Sides you know they're the really heart felt tunes written from deep...

MH: The label promised us when we signed like that we want to make hit singles with you guys but we'll always do vinyls, we'll always give you a B-Side and that'll be an avenue for you to get out the more personal tunes. We supported Circa Waves last year, we loved their record and they were like two thousand people venues and it was rammed every night but with kids which is fine but you'd play something, probably your best performance of the best tune you've ever written and they'd be like "What's this?" but then you'd jump up and down, wave your hand around abit and they'd be going screaming and jumping up and down!

Joe Brumby: Yeah we've been to plenty of those gigs!

MH: Gigs like that though mean less for me than one person saying "wow I just can't get this tune out of my head"

JH: Well I never tweet anything I genuinely don't believe so it's a huge compliment to you guys from me personally. Random question because of 'Pick Me Up' being about someone's voice picking them up, anyone in the world, who's got the best voice?

Ross Higginson: David Attenborough definitely, yeah!

MH: Morgan Freeman!

JB: Always appears on those kinds of lists.

EH: Signing wise there is a band called 'Vaults' you might want to check them out, there's a girl in that band called Blyth I think, she's got one of the best voices I've ever heard, especially live. Or speaking I'd have to say the late great Terry Wogan, he pretty much bought me up!

SG; My bird...

JH: That's pretty sweet mate. Really looking forward to this evenings set...

RH: Hopefully you'll stay for the whole set unlike Leeds! Haha

JH: Apologies but yeah we're definitely staying the whole set this time.

MH: I think cos you've got on board with the music hopefully this live set will be just improving all the time!

JB: Your cover in the Live Lounge of 'Stitches' was class I thought aswell.

MH: Do you know what?! We got given 'Stitches' two days before and had to smash it out, We were actually going to cover 99 Souls - the boy is mine remix tune that's been around and they said no to it because it sounded like it should have been on the record!

JH: Well us guys have really tiny sessions at my house in a bar i've built, you're more than welcome to come smash that cover out there if you're ever in Grimsby Haha.

MH: After festival season we'll be playing some headline little slots, we'll come play it!! haha! Greater fans in house gigs for sure.

JH: Got only 2 more questions guys, clearly I need to mention it, who's the biggest babe magnet?

ALL: wayyyyyyy!

RH: 100% not me!

SG: I'm married!

JH: so that wins right?

EH: Mike gets a lot of love because of the beard naturally.

RH: Every day the struggle is real for him.

MH: This is probably the longest is ever been.

JB: it's majestic when you swing your head in your videos.

EH: In slow-mo videos it's glorious.

JB: Ok last question... favourite Quality Street?

MH: Purple One!

EH: No... Orange with the crispy bits inside!

RH: Coconut.

ALL: What!!

EH: That's like the nan's choice!

JB: Always happens that someone gets scolded by the rest of the band haha!

JH: Every band is divided.

SG: I'm vegan, I just make my own with xmas wrapping paper.

MH: Think I love Roses abit more aswell though.

JH: Anyone who goes toffee fingers, can't trust them. Thanks for your time anyway guys, really enjoyed that and we'll grab some snaps if that's cool.

EH: No thank you! It's been fun.


Huge thanks to Clean Cut Kid for their time, their management for arranging this and Photo Credit to Joe Brumby as usual.

Gig review for this can be found... HERE!!!

Cheers,

@JaseHare

[INTERVIEW] with... FloodHounds (+ Live Session)

Floodhounds did me the honour of coming to do a 'The Hare and the Hound Session' the other night (check out some of their recordings from the evening HERE) but we also bumbled through some questions in some sort of vague interview, interrupted by beers and music. Here's what they had to say:

Jase Hare: Thanks for coming to do a session in the Hare and the hound, I'm really looking forward to this one.

Jack Flynn: Yeah thanks for having us! The pictures of the bar you sent us look great so we're very intrigued.

Jase Hare: It's tiny but it has charm, and once you guys are set up there would only be room for 6 people anyway haha

Rhys Owen: Well we played a gig the other day to only 7 people anyway so don't worry about that. 

Lauren Greaves: small crowd probably suits us more! but this should be fun right.

JH: hopefully haha so I see you've been gigging a lot recently to be fair, have they gone well other than the small crowds?

RO: couple of them were really good and we've recently done a BBC Introducing session for Sheffield so that was tick in our box. 

LG: We had a few weird things after that though where some people thought we were going to be the UK's Eurovision entry this year!

JH: What?! hahaha how come?

JF: We think that some rumour had done the rounds of a BBC Introducing act being put forward for Eurovision, a list of recent bands who had done BBC Introducing stuff came about with people saying "These are the bands who are definitely being considered", we then had youtube comments either loving our style being considered or really questioning why we were considered haha. 

LG: Really surreal to have your family ring you up and ask about Eurovision all of a sudden haha.

JH: Personally I can see 'Bare Bones' being a great entry, I mean if Lordi can do it right? haha. So you guys have "normal" jobs outside of the band as well but I suppose the dream is get to a point where this is your day job?

RO: Of course we'd love to get paid a lot more, who wouldn't? But we just need to keep putting in the hard work, playing gigs and growing our reputation.

JH: That's the best way to do it.

JF: We were going to play a few of our own tunes here and maybe a cover of something to be all round good session.

JH: sounds awesome to me, shall we crack on.

YOUTUBE - Cover of White Stripes - Seven Nation Army

JH: That was brilliant, genuinely enjoyed that guys. Do you like the bar?

RO: Yeah it's brilliant! Real character for a small house pub. Thanks for the hospitality. What's the Hound's name?

JH: Westwood.

RO: Like Vivienne Westwood, did the fashion industry not work out and diversified into naming small niche pubs hahaha

JH: Haha not quite...

RO: Sounds like a song title 'The decline of the textile industry' hahaha

JH: If your next release is called that I'll laugh my head off. Talking of releases, do you have anything exciting in the pipeline?

JF: Yeah certainly, we'll be able to share more info soon but very exciting stuff around the corner and some more sessions...

LG: ...but this was a good fun little session and hope that sounded OK for you guys!

Joe Brumby: Sounded great to me! I'll edit and sort the videos out in the coming days for you so yeah thank you coming down.

JF: We'll sort you guys out some t-shirts and if there's ever another free slot to do this again we'd certainly check out schedule.



Thanks to Floodhounds for coming down and Joe Brumby for recording/editing/drinking that evening.

Jase Hare

[INTERVIEW] with… KODALINE

Before attending All Tvvins' and Kodaline's gig in Munich on 25th February we spoke to Kodaline's Jason Boland:

Welcome to Munich! You've now been back on tour for nearly three weeks. What have you been listening to whilst on the road?
There's been a constant stream of Jack Garratt for the last two weeks. There's always someone who sticks the record on and it won't go off until the end of the day. It's such a great record. We've also been listening to a lot of Irish bands like All Tvvins, our support band and great friends.

So what is your opinion on streaming? Blessing or curse?
I think it's like every other social media platform – it's just another place where people can find our music. As a band it's just brilliant. We only see it as a good thing. Maybe we sell fewer records, but we get more people coming to the shows.

Has social media been a driving force in your career?
We've never really had a hit in the traditional sense. But fans being able to connect with us and share our music is far more powerful than any hit could be. Without social media we wouldn't have the fan base we have now. We've had a very organic growth.

Time for a fan question: what keeps you motivated to make new music?
Even before we started as a band I was thinking about giving up music. I think everyone gets to that stage. We just keep our heads down and carry on doing what we love: making music! If you're trying to do it for success you won't be able to keep it going. You've gotta love it.

Does visiting so many different cities and yet not being able to see them frustrate you? 
We've really been making a conscious effort on this tour to get out and actually experience the places we're visiting. We've got electric scooters with us and try to get away from the venue for at least 30 minutes.
Neale, our backline technician, did a little jump and ended up cracking his scooter which was pretty hilarious. He's our on-tour comedian. Anyone who follows him on Instagram (@neale001) can see how funny he is.

So which places are still on your bucket-list? Any dream locations?
Well we're just about to visit Russia – we never really dreamed of going there, it wasn't on the list, but the second the idea came up we thought: “Yeah we want to do that!”
We'd also like to play more shows in Asia. We've only played in Hong Kong – the cities are so different over there, we'd love to experience more places.

There's a massive indie-scene in Latin America. Anything planned there?
Brazil is actually home to one of our largest fan-bases. It's been on our list for the past two years – we're currently in talks with Lollapalooza to play a show there. Unfortunately we had to cancel our performance there last year, but we're gonna make that happen. There's a plan in place.

You've spent the majority of the last three years on the road. Which of your heroes have you bumped into on tour?
On our first summer of touring Queens Of The Stone Age seemed to be playing at most of the festivals we were at. We just followed them around quietly and waited for the chance to say “Hi”.
And we really love Tame Impala. They've got a great sound and are lovely people.

Time for another fan question. When you're not listening to Jack Garratt or breaking electric scooters: what do you get up to on tour?
We watch a lot of TV and have many communal events such as “Movie Night”. There's a great spirit on the bus. And obviously we record demos while we're on the road. Our music consists of autobiographical content, so we just write all the time. There are many new songs ready.
We won't tell you when the next album will be out though. It's coming up, though!

What are your other plans for the future?
We're finishing the tour, will head over to Dublin for St. Patrick's Day and then tour in Russia. And we'll be heading out to Latin America as soon as we can.


What followed later that night was a fun, enjoyable set with Kodaline exciting the sold-out Theaterfabrik. The fans in attendance knew every word and didn't need to be asked twice whether they wanted to sing and dance along. The band's uplifting songs and their good-mood stage presence made sure that everyone, especially a girl who had the band sing “Happy Birthday” for her, had an enjoyable evening.

[INTERVIEW] with... The Crookes

It's really no secret that The Crookes have long been legends in my book and having spoke to them many a time after the gigs etc I knew they'd be class for an interview. Last night they rounded up their recent UK section of their tour by returning home to play The Leadmill but we caught up with them before their gig at Hull's New Adelphi earlier in the month. 

Jase Hare: For itsallindie.com this is The Crookes, well half of, the others are playing pool just over there haha And we're sat in the back of Hull's legendary venue, the New Adelphi club. Obviously Daniel you've played here before?

Daniel Hopewell: yeah didn't there used to be a big bomb outside on the roof, where's that gone?

JH: probably stolen or blown away with the wind haha

Adam Crofts: I've never played here before but really looking forward to it.

JH: looking forward to playing the new tunes?

AC: yeah well there are some great tracks on the new album to play live so they'll be fun.

JH: in terms of the song writing on the new album Daniel obviously it's in stark contrast to 'Soapbox' having clearly happier tones, artwork etc matching that, was this a conscious decision or did it all fall into place?

DH: well i just write things down but then i seem to see colours of the lyrics and that shapes where it flows too as a verse or a chorus or such like.

What are your personal favourite tracks from the new album?

AC: i have two, 'six week holiday' and 'roman candle' which is the one we we're just talking about sounding like it has a Mario kart sample, but yeah those two.

DH: 'No one like you' is the best song I've ever written.

JH: that's a bold statement!

DH: i'm not saying it's any good but i think it's the best song I've ever written.

JH: i agree it's an amazing track.

DH: it just feels quite big.

JH: last couple of questions to round it off guys, appreciate you probably want to shoot off and play pool. Some friends of ours in a band called Bang Bang Romeo...

AC: yeah i know them, i know Joel.

JH: you know Joel, everyone knows Joel, bit of a lad, good guy.

DH: is he the one that was talking to you about Paul McCartney for ages?!

AC: yeah that's him. I really like Joel.

JH: yeah he's a good laugh, they were telling us a pre gig ritual of doing a shot together. Do you guys have anything you must do for a gig?

AC: normally pool, that's quite a common theme.

DH: do a prostitute together

JH: hahahaha

DH: Only jesting of course! i'd just like to stress. I go one up on Bang Bang Romeo!

JH: i mean yeah i think you did that

AC: we don't really do anything do we? I mean this tour has been relatively calm, we've not really been drinking much.

JH: i can tell from the bottles of water to be fair.

DH: well we've been touring for years so those sort of things just wear off. That kind of side of it is almost becomes like a job, i don't really mean it in an "anti-rock n roll" kind of way but you treat it in that way that you want to put a good performance on.

JH: is it yourself that's writing the tour diary online? Is that an avenue you use to get rid of ideas that maybe don't fit into a song?

DH: yeah i mean i write constantly, whether its stories or scripts and that's just one thing i do, i just had all these extracts and things then decided to post it online.

JH: it was really intriguing for me to read cos I've always said you guys are my second favourite band and that you lyrics are key to that...

AC: who's your first?

JH: Bloc Party.

AC: fair enough

DH: there are millions of bands out there so to get to second i'm delighted, top 100 i'd be happy i think!

JH: well i'd rather be honest with you guys. last question... Dream venue to ever play?

AC: we were just talking about this the other day actually. Do you know red rocks?

JH: where Mumford filmed a video?

AC: yeah there! That would be brilliant but we also decided on somewhere like the Leadmill, is just you know, go play a great gig at the Leadmill back home.

JH: yeah i totally get that. Well thank you guys for your time, greatly appreciated, i'll let you crack on and play pool.

Joe Brumby: one question from me guys, i always ask it, does Jase's head in but what's your favourite quality street?

DH: the green triangle maybe?

AC: i'm more of a toffee finger fan.

JH: are they're the guys you don't trust though!

DH: our old drummer Russell revealed one day actually that he didn't dunk biscuits in his tea, you can't trust those people either.

JH: is that why he left the band? Haha

JB: ha i ask everyone cos it divides opinion but yeah cheers for your time aswell guys, looking forward to the gig.

A huge thanks to the guys and their team in the background for arranging this, hopefully can do it all over again on the next tour. Be sure to get on the new album!

Photo Credit: @JustBrumby87

@Jasehare

[INTERVIEW] with... AFFAIRS

Affairs have been a favourite band of mine for a while now and in the build up to a gig that i'm pretty excited for (support slot with Misty Miller and The Crookes, The New Adelphi in Hull tonight 10/2/16) so I've caught up with lads to ask a few questions.

Jase Hare: "Has the move to Manchester had an instantly positive effect on you guys as a band and getting your stuff heard?"

Affairs: "I would say it has, though that's not to say we couldn't have done things better when we first moved here. Being in bigger city with more people will naturally create more avenues for music, especially a pop music cultural goldmine like Manchester. So the great thing about the move was not the instant impact we received but the potential we have to reach out to a bigger and wider audience on a constant basis."

JH: "I read recently that you guys were described as hailing from Manchester but as every Affairs fan should know, you crafted your trade here in Hull! Where feels like home for Affairs?"

A: "There's a great saying that says "an Affairs fan is always right" so yes we are most certainly a Hull born band. Hull is where the heart is right? We've absolutely loved the move to Manchester, but we have some very fond memories of our time in Hull. In fact too many to mention. There was that time with Dan and the enormous tub of gravy. A story for another time perhaps..."

JH: "The artwork for your recent tunes is extremely striking and gives a nice continuity to your releases. Did Matthew Cooper explain the meaning behind the designs?"

A: "Matt actually gave us quite a good explanation for the inspiration and meaning behind the artwork. He wanted to continue the greco-roman mythological theme he had established with our last single ‘Brothers’; he was struck most by the references to the sea and fire in our lyrics so naturally he was drawn to the stories of Neptune/Poseidon (the god of the sea, earthquakes and horses). We were sent a selection of possible artworks, each referencing different aspects of the mythology. To quote Matt regarding the one we were drawn to, “Both Poseidon and Neptune has numerous consorts, hence the imagery of women and of male and female [forms] merged."

JH: "Every January throws up "Big This Year" type lists which i've seen you feature on a couple this time around. Do you guys feel any pressure from these kind of lists?"

A: "Its always great to be included in these lists and its awesome to see that the stuff we have done over the previous year has caught peoples attention enough for them to have expectations. I wouldn't say we feel pressured by it, more just spurred on to do bigger and better things and prove the lists to be right."

JH: "Having been to many an Affairs gig over the years I've noticed over time how you guys have become more polished as a live act. Is this from getting out there and playing or hours of rehearsing behind the scenes?"

A: "I think it's definitely a combination of the two. We've been working really hard over the past year in the rehearsal room and I think this has certainly helped tighten our sound, however there's nothing quite like to getting out there and playing in front of people. I would advise any band starting out to just get out there and play as many gigs as possible as it's the best way to improve."

New single 'Play' is available below for your listening pleasure and I will naturally have a review of tonights gig at some point.



Jase Hare