The Family Rain Unveil Video For 'We Are In Love'

It's the second song to be released from their EP, Hunger Sauce, due out next month (July 28th).

The video was filmed and edited entirely by the bath-born band, The Family Rain, which sees vocalist and frontman Will Walter in a bizare relationship with, what can only be described as, a sex doll. It's a weird concept but a video you definitely don't want to miss.

We Are In Love was performed on their most recent tour around the UK, so you may recognise it if you went a long. If not, here's track number 2 from Hunger Sauce. Tarantula and Punchbowl, the remaining songs on the EP, are yet to be unveiled.

Take a look at the video and let us know what you think on our Facebook page, where you can also enter a competition to win two VIP tickets for The Libertines at Hyde Park next Saturday, sponsored by Timbre.

Interview With... The Family Rain

Having been a fan of The Family Rain for just over 18 months now and their popularity increasing day by day recently, I sat down with the bath-born band at a bar in Camden to discuss the last year and a half of their career and everything in between.

So, you're playing Dingwalls tonight which is essentially a gateway for new artists and Foo Fighters and Coldplay have played here too. Does that make you feel more excited or does that stuff not matter as much?

Oh really? We didn't know that! To us, obviously, those kind of things are great but we always try and give the same performance wherever we are. Hopefully it will add something to it though. Maybe it's a sign of things to come.

You played Bath last night (11.06) and lots of other big important venues, does that put pressure on you or is it a situation it getting you more pumped up to play?

It's actually all dependent, like we have learnt on this tour that you can really never read a city before you get there. All the cities that we thought were going to be the quietest have actually been the loudest. The main difference is that if you go out and the crowd is on your side then you are instantly at ease and everything else becomes easy. If you have a stiff crowd then your job becomes tougher. Obviously there's the home town one which is always going to be a bit easier because you know in the crowd are all your old mates and London ones you always get more music industry folk hanging around. We try not to let it effect us really.

On the last headline tour in November 2013, you played album material plus songs that didn't even make it on to the debut, have you been doing the same thing on this tour?

The set we have been doing is basically the album which is great because it's our first tour since the album came out so the kids know the tunes. But we've got that single [You Should Be Glad You've Got A Man] we released last week which we play and a couple more tracks from the Hunger Sauce EP. So it's the album and the EP mainly but we do have a couple of others in there as well – songs that are just kind of floating around.

In November 2012, you released Trust Me...I'm A Genius and since then you have released a debut album, several singles and EPs, 3 headline tours and a lot of record store gigs, at least 6 support slots on tours, numerous appearances at festivals and loads of unreleased material. I'd say you're one of the most hard-working bands in the UK right now, would you agree?

I don't know really, we just do what we do. When we're not doing anything, we get bored really quickly. I think it's just a way of keeping ourselves busy and luckily it interprets itself as hard work because we're definitely not, we're really lazy.

You recently announced the Hunger Sauce EP which comes out in July, that's 4 months after your debut. Did you want to release fresh material that soon or did it just happen?

The album took a year to be released after recording, which meant that we had a lot of time to write after. So the whole point of the Hunger Sauce is just us wanting to get our brand new stuff out there. We're going to try and do another two 4-tracks by the end of the summer because if we have material, we're just going to stick it out there.  

You Should Be Glad You've Got A Man is the first single from Hunger Sauce, and the pace in that picks up – was that a natural occurrence or a conscious thing because I know at the end of Under The Volcano, you're album released in February, you kind of left it wide open in terms of your sound on the closing track.

I think we were just aware that we wanted to change it slightly, sonically, so we got that little drum machine in and stuff. We were thinking if we want to do that, we just want to do a heavy, thumper tone to open that bracket. So we ended up going with that. We're happy with it and it's been going down real well on tour so that's good.

Is there already material that might make it to the second album for next year, if you decide to release one then?

Yeah, going in to this four-track EP, we had probably about 20 songs and that's from writing in January and it's better over a long period of time because you know if they're any good because you will hold on to them and then when it gets to recording, it makes the process easier of cutting tracks out and seeing which ones are shit and which ones are good.

You released Trust Me... as a single twice, what made you choose that one for re-release?

Basically, the label wanted to release it right next to the album and they said to us “would you like to do another video for it? We'll pay for it.” and we love the thing about making music videos because it just helps people understand where you're coming from, musically and visually. We just decided to have fun with it and made a mini, epic version of what our home life is like.

So you've also had an interactive music video which won an award, was that your choice to do that?

That idea actually came from a good friend of ours at the label and he had that idea. Him and the company we worked with were just looking for the right band and the right song to come along. When our friend, Charlie, put it to us during talks about marketing and it sounded like a great idea. It's becoming harder and harder to do something which nobody has done before and it was presented to us as a fresh idea, so we just thought we would go for it.

Going back to the live aspect of your job, I saw a band a few weeks ago who had someone crowd surf on to the stage and they completely stopped the show because they didn't like it. Do you enjoy that sort of stuff or does it make you nervous?

We embrace it fully. It's the maximum praise that you can have for people to be like 'I want to get on stage with them.' It's beyond cheering, that's [Stage invasions] the next thing. We take it as part of the job. It's a really good compliment. The gig we had in Leeds the other day, the last song Trust Me... could barely be heard because pedals were coming out and drums were being knocked over. It's all part of it though, them people are going to go away from the show and find it mad.

Would you say that connection between you and the audience makes you thrive during your live performances?

Yeah, definitely. For example, at the Leeds show, we could feel the energy from the crowd even before we went on. It probably shouldn't because you should just go out and do your thing but it does sort of push you even more. It makes our job easier, anyway, if people are up for it.

You mentioned earlier you might released 2 more EPs by the end of the Summer, after that will you be taking a break or do you just carry on?

We've booked a villa in Majorca for a week in August with our mates. We have one week off this year and we'll get there, turn our phones off, log out of emails and just do fuck all for a week. Then we'll just start all over again, like last time. The worst thing about that is we're all going together so we can't even get away from each other.

Do you ever want to get away from each other then?

Yeah, we try at the end of every tour. We kind of just say “for the weekend, lets just not see each other.” But some people will contact us and ask “what do you think of this poster?” or “what do you think of this idea?” so we're never switched off completely, even when you want it to be.

For the Bad Weather tour, you got to choose the t-shirt design. What made you choose that one?

We initially thought we'll get about 3 designs in and one will drawn with Biro, one will be done with some Crayola things and the other someone has pissed on it and gone “fuck you” or something like that. We actually had a massive load of entries in though. It's just overwhelming and so many of them were really good as well which we just weren't expecting. A lot of our fans have obviously got skills. We just like how much effort had gone in to it and how personal it was to the album, it wasn't an easy choice but in the end, it came down to about picking out the top 5 or so and then just choosing one at random, kind of like picking a name out of the hat. That's the only way we could do it – which is a great position to be in.

 Would you ever consider collaborating with fans on a bigger scale, like more than just a t-shirt?

Yeah, I think so. We had an idea of sending out some songs, one of our unreleased tracks, and someone to do a remix of it before it was even released. Also, we're really interested in getting an animated video but like an old hand-drawn one and thinking about putting it out there for the fans because then we've got a fan made music video, it would be nuts when it comes from a personal point of view.

Finally, about 12 months ago you told me to listen to Wolf Alice. Who are you recommending me this time?

Gengahr, definitely. They supported on 2 dates of this tour and they've just got a sweet sound. Actually, the guys who are on first tonight, Tigercub. They're our hot tips!  

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The Family Rain announce 'Hunger Sauce' EP

The Family Rain have announced today that they will release a new EP this July.

With the release of their debut album, Under The Volcano, on February 3rd of this year, the band have been focused on writing even more material and spending time on recording more music. Four of those tracks will be released as part of the 'Hunger Sauce' EP, out on July 28th. This announcement follows the news of a headline tour which The Family Rain head out on from next week.

The tracklisting has also been revealed and contains:
1. You Should Be Glad You've Got A Man
2. We Are In Love
3. Tarantula
4. Punch Bowl

With 'You Should Be Glad You've Got A Man' being revealed today, the trio have also put out a video to coincide with it. It was recorded down the road from them in Bath with Tom Dalgety who has also worked with Royal Blood, Band of Skulls and The Maccabees.

Hunger Sauce will be available for digital download and limited 7" vinyl. You can watch the video for the opening track below and download it for free here.


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Gig Review... The Family Rain @ Heaven, London, 25th November 2013

If we're talking about bands who have given their everything in 2013 and have supported the likes of Jake Bugg, Miles Kane and so many more – The Family Rain are your guys. With the announcement that their debut album is due out early next year, this headline tour was going to be pretty special. That it was.

Supports came from IC1s, a band who have a ridiculous amount of power behind their music and a strong backing from the likes of Alan McGee, and Honours who were a last minute replacement for Catfish and the Bottlemen but still managed to pull off a decent 30 minute set.  

Obviously, everyone in the venue had come to see one band destroy the stage and showcase just why they are one of the hottest live acts around right now. It's guitar music at it's best and the connection between the crowds and all three brothers right from the start was something I have rarely seen. Constant banter between band members and die-hard fans made this a relaxed situation with an effortless amount of energy coming from both sides of the barrier.

It was apparent that a blood connection between all three members makes for a great live performance when the sound is one of the strongest around at the moment and creates an overwhelming sense that music really is a powerful voice. From hits like Trust Me...I'm A Genius to Feel Better (Frank), it was a night of united forces showing support, ambition and helping to make the band's dreams come true. If the audience was to take anything from the gig, it's that The Family Rain are most certainly on their way up to something incredible and nothing said that more than the material they played from their new album – it's going to get people talking.

It struck many people throughout the set that we were witnessing something special, the birth of a new stage for the band in their careers. People worship them like I have never seen before with a band on their level. We have the next big British band on our hands.

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Interview with... The Family Rain

They have had a chaotic year with their first single of the year, Trust Me...I'm A Genius, kicking things off for them and since then have gone on to support the likes of Biffy Clyro, Jake Bugg, The Rolling Stones, Miles Kane as well as numerous headline tours. After recently revealing their latest single, taken from their forthcoming debut album, it was only right that I had a chat with my favourite band to find out a bit more about them.

Hi guys, thanks for doing this interview with me. Firstly, lets do a brief introduction of who you are and your roles in the band for all the people who may not have heard of The Family Rain. 

Yeah sure. There's Will on the bass guitar and vocals, Ollie on the guitar and backing vocals and finally it's Tim on the drums and backing vocals too.

Something a lot of people probably don't know is that you're brothers, aren't you? Has becoming a family trio always been in your minds or was it something that just naturally happened? Do you also feel like this gives you more of a connection and an advantage over other artists? 

Yeah that's right. I think when you grow up in a household that always had music playing in it, being in a band together was always going to be a natural thing. Being in a band with ONLY the three of us is something we didn't plan, and it came to creating The Family Rain, we definitely had to think about how we were going to create the sound we wanted to achieve with only 3 members. It's hard to say if we have an advantage over others because we don't know any different. But you know what they say, 'blood is thicker than water'.

I first heard of you when you released Trust Me... and ever since, you've been releasing music on a regular basis. Do you think this is the single that kicked things off for you or would you say it was further a long the line like Carnival or Pushing It?

Trust Me was definitely the song that got us noticed and got people interested, but the other tracks have probably been just as important to keep momentum.

I made a point there that things have really kicked off for you and by that I mean the support slots you're now getting, which including Biffy Clyro at Ibiza and Mallorca Rocks, The Rolling Stones at Hyde Park and very recently Miles Kane and now Jake Bugg. How do you prepare for things like that? Is it any different to your own headline gigs?

I think that the way we look at it is that every show is as important as the last. No matter who you play to, you just have to go and do your thing, that way people know your the real deal. Playing to big crowds is obviously really exciting, but we'd like to think that if you were in a crowd of 5 people and we were playing, you would still get the same show.

It's only right that you share with us your favourite memories from these support slots, whether that be meeting someone you love or the crowd reactions.

I think Ibiza Rocks has been one of the best shows for us this year. First off, Biffy Clyro were top lads (as have been everyone we have supported this year) and the crowd were well up for it! it is a special atmosphere playing in the middle of a hotel complex to a bunch of people who are on their holidays.

Say I was to join you on your tour bus and you each got to pick an album to play to me. What album would you pick and why? Have these influenced you throughout your career so far?

Will - The Rolling Stones, Sticky Fingers. It's just tune after tune, it sounds so raw and warm. It never fails to pick up the mood. It is what effect I hope our music has on people. It is movement!
Tim - Feist, Metals. It is a wicked album for the road. It spans a lot of styles, and has heavy parts as as magical light moments. It is simply very well written music.
Ollie - haha, if you came on the tour bus I might blast the new one direction album and we could play a game whereby the last one left on the tour bus is the winner. That would require buying the album though... maybe not.

Big question now, should we expect an album from The Family Rain in 2014? Any information you can give us about that if we are expecting one?

In short, yes you can. Expect to see it released early next year and expect to enjoy it immensely! 

Obviously the album process or even just recording a single is more than just going in to the studio and just playing something you made on the spot. How do you get ready for this individually and as a band? 

I think the way we approach it is to see it as an ongoing process. We don't write for an album or a particular single, we write because that's what we enjoy doing. That way you have no pressure on yourself.

What has been your favourite single to record so far and what made it stand out?

Out of the ones we've released so far, probably Pushing It because it is a very live track. Most of what you hear in that track is just us playing live, without a click or anything like that. 

One thing that I have noticed and most certainly experienced from you guys is that you're very involved with the fans. What drives you to do things like that? I have seen many bands on your level who have completely lost all contact with the people who support them. It's extremely refreshing to have you guys constantly chatting with fans and getting with them in a similar way to actual friends. 

Thanks, yeah it's just something we enjoy doing and don't take for granted. Without fans, bands don't exist so we like to take the time to talk to as many as we can, to thank them for their support. Plus at the end of the day, we are just music fans as well!

Do you find this is harder to do as you grow bigger or is it something you will always try to maintain and keep time for? 

We'd like to think it can keep going. There is always a lot of time spent travelling when you're in a band, which is perfect for catching up on twitter etc.

Obviously by a lot of time spent travelling, you are talking about being on tour and I know you're embarking on a headline one soon. What are you looking forward to most on this tour and is there anything you dislike about going on these travels around the country?

Not really, we have all spent years working in shitty jobs so we appreciate every day we are able to do what we're doing. If you are complaining about being on tour, that's always the best thing to remember.

Lets do some quick fire questions...

Favourite meal and drink?

Curry and a pint

Favourite UK music venue?                                             

Tough call... Joiners, Southampton

Favourite song at the moment?                                     

  Be Safe - The Cribs

Which up and coming band would you recommend?     

Wolf Alice (good shout lads!)

Would you rather be trusted or a genius?                 

Trusted

 Reading or Leeds?                                                       

Reading without a doubt. Will performed his first stage dive which resulted in him losing his St Christoper's... if found please return.

Ibiza or Mallorca?

Ibiza

Best TV show?                                                                     

The Office

Favourite place to visit? 

Amsterdam

The Family Rain, that's all for now. Any final comments you want to make?

Cool, just wanna say thanks for noticing us right from the start when we only had Trust Me out there, cheers!

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