Tuning In: Part 1

Trailing Anonymous:

I am excited! Why? Because rumour has it that four especially talented and high-spirited, Sheffield-based gents are setting out to bring about a musical collaboration that will finally take their mutual musical dreams to a place not far from reality. The talent has been sought, the song-writing has started and this yet to be named band are beginning to turn the wheels down the exciting road of jamming, recording, performing and making a name for themselves locally and further a-field.

In an interesting new feature, I have decided to follow them through every step of their journey, to watch them as they progress and to report back to you in a documentary style story of a genuine, authentic, talented band in the making. I am going to bring to you the exciting tales of the realities behind music making and all it brings about. I will be catching up with the guys regularly and making sure that every mini musical detail is captured in a story that will let you tune in every step of the way.

Last week I met up with two of the boys (Brett and Andy) to find out all about the Art of Band Making and to set a scene upon this as yet blank musical canvas. I found these guys so enjoyable and relaxed that conversation flowed without much need for a formal interview. Here is what I found out…

WHO?

Meet Brett (Guitar), Andy( Guitar & Vocals), Olly (Bass) and Todd (Drums)

The first thing about this band is that they’re currently anonymous– not out of apathy or because they aren’t full of jazzy ideas, but because they want to do it right. They explained that they hadn’t yet met collectively and a band name is something that will be formulated when they do.

Brett: “Like at the moment it’s me and Andy putting together the song writing and acoustic side of things and we can’t really gauge how the bands going to be until we have Todd and Olly back (drum and Bass)…we want the name to really have a lot of meaning with regards to the whole band and the collective style… so we are still waiting. The same applies to our songs, although we have quite a collection we aren’t naming any of them until we have found our niche!”

Andy: I did think that mine and Brett’s names put together is “Brandy”.…

Hannah: NO.
[Laughter– followed by a quick agreement to come up with something else!]

H: how do you all know each other then?

B: Todd is my brother and Olly is my friend, though Todd introduced me to Olly as they were on the same course together at Uni. Both of them temporarily left Sheffield, so when I was left writing songs by myself, I wanted to find a singer…I found Andy online.

H: Musicalmatch​.com?

Both: [laugh] Erm, not really.…!!

H: don’t worry, I won’t tell people about that! So you found Andy online, Brett, how did you know you were compatible…musically?

B: [Laughs] well we just met up, got on, have a similar taste in music and it worked when we started jamming together. Knowing the other 2 band members, I knew he would fit in.

With experience as a lyricist Andy contributes plenty to Brett’s already impressive song writing. All the boys have been playing their various instruments for 10 years or more and have all always had a zest for music, but the impending collaboration of their collective musical talent means now is the time to shine and they are shaping up to be Sheffield’s best kept secret.

WHAT?

With a name yet to be assigned, fresh musical meat ready to be ripped into and songs still to be titled, the musical genre of this band remained a bit of a mystery to me…so I got my grill on and put them in the hot seat. Where do they see themselves fit into contemporary music?

Essentially placing themselves somewhere between acoustic and modern rock, the boys were eager to establish that they didn’t want to be put in a box. Yet. The interesting thing about them is that they are keen to let their creative calling take them to whatever genre it may and any sort of labelling somewhat undermined what their band is all about. The excitement and optimistic recognition of their potential floods from these boys, as they tell me all about their plans to almost surprise themselves with their style, when it does eventually refine itself.
So I grilled them all the more…

H: If you had to compare yourselves to another current band/artist, who would you say your current style is most similar to?

B: [looking slightly scared] I would say Thrice, 30 seconds to Mars…

A: Foo-fighters!

H: what sort of music do you like personally?

B: RHCP, KOL, Thrice, Brand New, Mewithoutyou, John Frusciante, Incubus, Biffy Clyro…

A: Metallica, Damien Rice, Fightstar, Dashboard Confessional, Death Can For Cutie…

B: Kings of Leon…

The alternative rock premise of the band is clear to hear, but their quirky and attractive reluctance to jump on any genre-based band-wagon is indicative that they are nothing if not unique and fantastically interesting.

WHY?

If there is one thing I admire it is musicians who are in it for the music not the fame, so I am delighted when I hear that these boys are without a shadow of doubt in it for the personal reward and the satisfaction they get from just playing to their friends and family.
“We really appreciate authentic talent and want to be seen in that light ourselves; we want to build up a genuinely really good portfolio of sound that earns us any success we may have”

That is not to say they aren’t ambitious, their plans to do progress are apparent, but ultimately they just want to play and be heard. Which makes them all the more appealing to me, and definitely worth you tuning in to read about. It is this integrity of attitude and enthusiasm of spirit that makes me want to pursue their musical endeavour and inspires my faith that they are ones to watch.

HOW?

The brilliance of, and ultimate motivation for, covering a band in the making is the unbeatable opportunity to hear all about the actual art of music. Speaking to Brett and Andy about their time jamming and song-writing, their undeniable excitement and enthusiasm projects to me an image of what it’s actually like to put a piece of music together from start to finish.

H: Talk me through the music making process– how does it go for you?

A: Well it usually starts with Brett offering me a coke!
[laughter]

B: We usually just sort of sit and start writing…I might have already put together a verse and then Andy gives me his input…or we might literally start from scratch. It just depends really. And then we start jamming and see what works and what doesn’t.

H: So do you actually sit there and say “I think we should say this” “no, I think we should say that”
[Laughter]

A: Yeah sometimes! Though we do tend to agree. Both of us contribute both music and lyrics and it usually works that I might come up with something Brett hadn’t thought of and vice versa — it’s a really collaborative approach and we bounce ideas of each other all the time”

H: Brett, as you’re sort of the glue of the group, do you call the shots?

A: no definitely not, there’s mutual respect and a balance of input.

B: Yeah like I really value Andy’s input as much as he values mine

H: How long does it take you to write a song?

B: One evening maybe…

A: yeah..ish. Sometimes it might be 20 minutes; sometimes it might take a few days…

H: How do you promote yourselves locally?

B: Well until we have a name we can’t really do too much, we want to wait until we are really ready as band before we start pushing ourselves out there

A: We have got some recording lined up and after that we are going to get some demo’s together very soon, that we can then start pushing out into the public!
The sense of reward and satisfaction that the boys get from seeing their music come together is evident as they excitedly chat to me about the way they work together and create their sound and their plans for their future as a band. Suddenly I am very excited for them and can’t wait to hear how it all comes together.

WHEN?

The band are currently in the stages of writing, collaborating musical flair and bringing things together for their 3^rd gig– following their two previous acoustic gigs at Green Room, Sheffield. Both gigs were very successful and gave the boys a taste of the tantalising flavour of live performance. So when can we expect to see this stirring new band come together and start (to quote Brett) ‘the process of turning these acoustic songs into a full sounding, loud, addictive, spine-tingling, relatable sound’ that they can share with us?

H: What sort of progress do you want to see yourselves making as a band over the next few months?

B: we just want to make as much music as possible, I definitely want to feel like and see that we have made progress with regards to what we are producing…

A: yeah we really want to feel like we have given it a good go in the next few months and taken the time to really polish ourselves as a band

B: We are planning on getting some recording done over the next few weeks and at least get some demo’s done– I want 3 or 4 really good songs done by Christmas

H: Is that realistic for you?

Both: definitely!

H: Gig-wise, are you planning further gigs beyond the 20^th?

B: Yes definitely, we want to do as much as we much as we can and that means as many gigs as possible!

WHERE?

H: Where would you most like to play in Sheffield?

A: I would love to play Plug. I supported The Gentlemen in my last band (One Hour Drive) when they had their sell-out gig there, and it was unbelievable! I would love to do that as a band in our own right– though supporting was amazing!

B: Leadmill would be a brilliant venue– it is synonymous with Sheffield in a way, like part of the city…and I think it would draw the kind of crowds our music would want.

For now, though, the band can be seen in venues such as Green Room and Redhouse in Sheffield, the next being the gig on Tues 20^th October.

Their next and 3^rd live gig (aptly named “Our 3^rd Gig”) is taking place on Tuesday 20^th October at Redhouse in Sheffield from 8pm onwards. I will be going down in anticipation to see what i am confident will be a compelling performance.

ENCORE…

After suggesting some [mainly laughed at] band names, we said our goodbyes and I left really very excited at discovering such enthusiasm and spark in these boys. I expect to see some real authentic and glittery flair emerge in Redhouse on the 20^th, so Tune In again next week to find out all about their 3^rd gig in all it’s brandly new and freshly talented glory! Better still, come and see them for yourselves at said time and place.

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