Monday 31 March 2014

Tommy Rudow Q&A

Your name: 
Tommy Rudow.

Where are you from? 
Berlin-based, Germany.

How would you describe yourself? 
I am a dreamer and a goodtime guy - love it to laugh and joke with my friends, explore cities at night, ride a good mtb, listen and produce music. 

Who are your main influences musically? 
(omg you don't want that list :D) To keep it short: when it comes to electronic more or less dancable music - definitely Paul Kalkbrenner and Joel Zimmerman. Also people like Anthony Gonzales, Hans Zimmer, Enio Morricone and many soundcloud friends you can explore in my sc playlists. I don't like genres and trying to categorize my music - but I think I'm getting used to it slowly. If I have to do it .. it's EDM - electronic dance music, somewhere between house,trance and techno :)

What do you hope to achieve in music? 
Hmm. I think like anyone producing music I'd like to create something outstanding and unique. I hope people enjoy my works no matter if they ride mtbs or dance and hope to be good enough to keep doing it.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why? 
I am pretty much at the begin of a career, but for me it has probably been the release of my seven-track Berlin Nights EP on February 1st this year. I have put a lot of work and love in it so I think until now that was my personal highlight.

And what’s the moment you want to forget? 
It's a stupid story. When I started to play around with sound on my first daw program it was so much fun that I started to make a track. The bad thing was I only had a demo version of the program so I stopped to turn the pc off to not lose the track. It worked some days but then of course the pc crashed and my first track was gone.

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why? 
I think "Hinterm Mond Links". This one isn't released yet - It's one of the tracks I finished lately. Simply because I like the combination of "trancy" and "housy" sounds in this one. I think most of my tracks contain elements of different electro genres.

Where can we listen to it?



Where can we find out more about your music?                                                    

The Tea Street Band Q&A

Your name: 
My name's Timo Tierney. 

Where are you from? 
Liverpool, UK.

Name of band: 
The Tea Street Band.

Who else is in your band? 
James Albertina, Dominic Allen, Nicholas Otaegui and Lee Smith.

How would you describe yourselves? 
Always a tough one. But I'd say we sound fresh. New age popular music that will hopefully make people feel good. 

Who are your main influences musically? 
Erm we all like different stuff. I like Simon and Garfunkel. A band from Liverpool called Shack too. But enjoy hearing new music. Love a good remix by crazy euro djs

What do you hope to achieve in music? 
Just enjoy my life. It's hard doing music. But I set out to travel to places to play music. Done that already. So a good album and loads of people to enjoy the work we have created. 

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?
Quite possibly going to play in New York. It was a proper dream come true. Stood on Brooklyn Bridge with ya mates. Then going to play a boss gig. Can't get better. I reckon a spot on Glastonbury may come close. 

And what’s the moment you want to forget? 
Last week. Had a long weekend in London. Left at 1.30am. The driver filled a diesel van full of unleaded. Being stood on hard should of M1 at 3am. That was grim. Got home the next day at 3pm. Crap!

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why? 
Possibly Summer Dreaming as it was one of the first we jammed. It has everything. I like it. It sums up being from Liverpool in seven minutes. 

Where can we listen to it?



Where can we find out more about your music?
@teastreetband on Twitter, Facebook.com/teastreetband and then there's the YouTube channel.

Anything else you’d like to say about your band/music that I forgot to ask?
Just thanks for taking the time to do this. It's really appreciated.

Skyline Advantage Q&A

Your name: 
Kieran Ball.

Where are you from?
The Isle of Man, England.

Name of band:
Skyline Advantage.

Who else is in your band?
Just me at the moment. Although Small Bear Records' Phil Reynolds has contributed greatly during the recording process!

How would you describe yourself?
My music has been described as pop punk. I'm not the biggest fan of that genre label, although it's not exactly unfitting for some songs, however certain tracks I wouldn't put near that. I prefer the term alt-pop. The general premise is jangly guitars with louder distorted sections. In terms of a sounds like? I couldn't begin to say!

Who are your main influences musically?
There are so many artists that have influenced me however I'll try to keep the list short:
Placebo, Tsunami Bomb, Bloc Party, Survival Guide, The Cure, The Action Design, NoFx and Nanaki (or more specifically Mikie Daugherty)

What do you hope to achieve in music?
I fundamentally aspire to write good songs. In my eyes this can be many things, a catchy melody, a clever chord progression or just something that really comes from the heart. I'd love for as many people as possible to hear my music, and if they enjoy it that's obviously a winner.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?
As far as this solo project goes it's very early days. I'm in the process of recording my debut The Songs About Stuff EP. These are songs that I've written that haven't really worked or fitted with my other bands or that were too personal to be sung by anyone else. I have really enjoyed going from songs written on an acoustic guitar in my flat to being able to record layers of guitars with a variety of amps to really drill down and get the sounds I want! It helps having an amazing producer to help you get the elusive tone you've been hearing in your head. If you haven't already, check out Small Bear Records! There's some fantastic things going on with them!!

And what’s the moment you want to forget?
Again as it's early days I haven't had many face palm, what where you thinking moments. Hopefully I'll have lots of time to do things I'll regret :p

 If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?
Hmm. Well my personal favourite would be Mother. A very personal song which I think is the sound and style I want to progress with more an more! It has slightly more experimental elements (such as using a toy ray gun through the guitar pickups) than the other tracks on the album and was the first song I wrote in DADGAD tuning. I think this song is the best thing I've ever written.

Where can we find out more about your music?
For random musings and updates on when the EP will be available see Facebook and Twitter: 
When the EP is released it will be available through the Small Bear Records site:
(In the meantime check out Postcode, Nanaki, Phil Reynolds and the Dearly Departed and Clara Barker)

Sunday 30 March 2014

Nine Dart Finish Q&A

Your names:
Andy Proudman  (Drums)
Christopher Mobbs  (Guitar, Vocals)
Daz Yardley  (Bass, Lead Vocals)

Where are you from?
Across the fair city of Birmingham, UK.

Name of band: 
Nine Dart Finish.

How would you describe yourselves?
We are a three-piece that make a lot of noise, on and off the stage. Three lads with a big ambition to make music fun again.

Who are your main influences musically?
DazI have a wide range to be fair, mad on Queen love harmonies and key changes. I’m also a sucker for melody and catchy hooks. You could say anything from The Kinks to the Pixes.

AndyI’m into heavy drums and soaring bass-lines. Anything from drum and bass like Raiden to bands like Rage Against The Machine, but I also have a yearning for melodies and this is satisfied by stuff like Weezer and Motown.

ChrisFrom my first love of early Britpop and indie, I’ve developed a love for anything Radiohead and Massive Attack. There’s also a place in my heart saved for the classics, which really just ends in my admiration for David Gilmour, what he does on a guitar makes me tingle.

What do you hope to achieve in music?
The same as any other band, we would all love to step out of a time travelling phone box on to a stage surrounded by dry ice smoke and lasers. Having said that we would settle by making a decent living by doing what want to do and that’s giving it large in our band.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?
The release of our debut single ‘You Don’t Bother Me’ was a proud moment and the making of the video was a proper laugh. We are in the process of making the video for our single and we are looking forward to seeing how that pans out.

And what’s the moment you want to forget?
We don’t really regret anything, as everything is a learning curve in this industry. However, there was a time mid-gig where Andy managed to ruin not one, but two bass drum pedals one after the other. He doesn’t mess about.

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?
This question has stumped us because our style changes from song to song, as it’s our debut single “You Don’t Bother Me” would have to be the one, but this is just one side of what we do. For example the song that we enjoy playing the most right now is “Can’t Get You”, as it rocks!

Where can we listen to it?



Where can we find out more about your music? 
Here are the links you are ever going to need to know.
ninedartfinish.co.uk
facebook.com/NDFmusic
twitter.com/NDFmusic
YouTube.com/NDFmusic

Anything else you’d like to say about your band/music that I forgot to ask?

We will be releasing our second single Fabio Overture in May once the video is finished. If you want to be the first to know about this, then check out the Website and give us the thumbs up on the social media feeds.

Kristy Gallacher Q&A

Your name: 
Kristy Gallacher.

Where are you from? 
Coventry, England.

How would you describe yourself? 
New folk - folk vagabond.

Who are your main influences musically? 
Ani Difranco, Tori Amos, Shawn Colvin, Madeleine Peyroux.

What do you hope to achieve in music? 
To continue to make a living from it. Putting a new album out every two years and to keep enjoying,

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?
I won the LG Arena's ‘Forum Live’ singer/songwriter competition and have played before Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood and John Mayer on separate nights at the LG Arena in Birmingham. Subsequent to the competition win, I was invited back to play before Elton John, Paul Weller, George Michael & Roxette.

And what’s the moment you want to forget?
??

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?
'Dark Hours' It is the first single off the Brand New Album 'The Game' so it's a good representation of where i am now.

Where can we listen to it?
www.kristygallacher.com

Where can we find out more about your music?
Anything else you’d like to say about your band/music that I forgot to ask?
Brand New album 'The Game' available now on iTunes or www.kristygallacher.com/store.html

Ambrose Chappel and the Infamous iKashFlo Q&A

Your name:
Daniel John Ballinger aka Ambrose Chappel.

Where are you from?
I'm from Southport, by Liverpool, and rapper iKashFlo is from Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

Name of band:
Ambrose Chappel and the Infamous iKashFlo.

How would you describe yourselves?
Funky hip hop fused with house and electro.

Who are your main influences musically?
My influences are Mr Oizo and German producer Siriusmo.

What do you hope to achieve in music?
Just to make people dance and be happy and to be recognised.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?
Playing Proud Camden a club in Camden Town London, also being interviewed on BBC Radio merseyside, where Dave Monks said we "have a distinctive sound and had made an impact on the Liverpool music scene".

And what’s the moment you want to forget?
None so far.......

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?
The song "Pick it up" is one of my personal favourites as it has our signature bounce. Although the track "Freak" is special as its the first one I sang on which completely changed things for our sound. When I'm producing a track the keyword is "BOUNCE"

Where can we listen to it?



Where can we find out more about your music?

Saturday 29 March 2014

Mattias Törnell Q&A

Your name:
Mattias Törnell, solo artist.

Where are you from?
I am from Sweden. Born and raised in Söderhamn, have moved around a lot and am now living in Gävle.

Who else is in your band?
I have a drummer, bass player and guitar player that has played on my upcoming album. They will also be doing some shows with me in the future but are not exactly my band in the traditional sense. Next show planned together with them is at my release party for the album, some time late April. Will be posting some videos from that show on my youtube account

How would you describe yourselves?
In short I would describe myself as a relaxed but focused energetic thinker. I am a creative soul and at the same time I have my own music production company that I run so I try very hard to maintain good routines for my everyday living to balance the creative/unstructured/free flying dreaming artist side and the structured focused business side.

Who are your main influences musically?
Oh, that´s a tough one. My mother (Monica Törnell - http://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monica_T%C3%B6rnell )  is a professional singer in Sweden and have been all of my life so I have grown up with all kinds of music and musicians around me. (She actually won the Swedish leg of the Eurovision song contest in -86 with a song called "E dé det här du kallar kärlek" - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EI8K28g6_Y ) . So I have listened to everything from Swedish folk music to classical music, musicals, Elton John, Queen, Dive (Swedish band), Daniel Lanois, Led Zeppelin, The Doors,  Michael Jackson, Toto, Pearl Jam, Dream Theater, Metallica, Tool and so on… the list would go on forever! =D
I would like to think that what I do is a mashup of all of these influences that has helped me shape my own writing style and sound. I sang and wrote songs in a metal band about 10-15 years ago and people say that even though I play and write more "acoustic singer/songwriter pop" now days they still can hear those metal/rock influences in some chords/harmonies/melodies.

What do you hope to achieve in music?
Well, one of my biggest dreams would be to reach/get an audience big enough for me to be able to be out playing/touring a night or two every week. I love the thrill of playing live and meeting the audience in that environment. Another thing I am hoping for is that my music can reach out to people, to feel that my music can touch and maybe help people feel that they are not alone or whatever, the same way that music has been there for me through many of my darkest moments.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?
I think that when a fan told me that she had one of my songs on repeat for several hours while crying her heart because I nailed one of her experiences spot on is one of the highlights. The knowledge of touching someone in that way felt great even though I made her cry, hehe. But I would like to think that it was a liberating moment for her, helping her release and process some pent up emotions.
Another cool feeling was the first time I heard my own song play on the radio.

And what’s the moment you want to forget?
Hm… I don´t want to forget any moment since even the mistakes and failure gives experience. But if I have to chose one I would say that it was when we had a confused/drunk/high sound guy at a show with my metal band. He messed up the sound, caused feedback on and of through the whole show, happened to mute the mics at one point and so one…. not a great show.

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?
Another tough question. Of the ones I have published so far I would say "Insomnia"… or maybe "Just Within My Reach" (yeah I know you said one but I have a hard time choosing. ;) ).
I say "Insomnia" for the fact that I think it portrays the torn spirit that I am… I can appreciate the little things in life and I feel content with life most of the time, feeling thankful for what I have received instead of dwelling over what I think I miss. At the same time I sometimes feel an inexplicable sadness just in general. I think the songs captures that feeling and my personality.
In "Just Within My Reach" I feel that my drive and focus and will to challenge myself comes through… still with my melancholic and torn spirit present. It´s a song about daring to let go of things that give you a sense of security in order to give yourself a chance to reach your dreams.

Where can we listen to it?
Insomnia:



Just Within My Reach:

Where can we find out more about your music?

My sites:

My EP:


Wullae Wright Q&A

Your name:
Wullae Wright.

Where are you from?
I am from Glasgow, Scotland; however I currently live in Edinburgh.


How would you describe yourself?
I would describe my music as being largely centred around the rock, indie and acoustic genres. I have a very similar recording and production style for each album, but I do try and keep each album individual. I have other sounds running through my albums such as dance, electronic, hard rock and dubstep. 
As an individual, I like to focus on my music. I enjoy promoting it, and take a lot of pride in this. I enjoy chatting with other musicians and people who listen to my music. I try and be as respectful as possible and thank those who take the time to listen to it. Music is an integral part of me and my life.


Who are your main influences musically?
My main musical influences are Radiohead, Manic Street Preachers and Stereophonics. They have been there right from the start until now in my life. Albums like 'OK Computer', 'the Bends', 'Everything Must Go' and 'Performance and Cocktails' by these bands really influenced my latest album 'The Orange Line'. I am also hugely influenced by Martin Grech, Bloc Party, Jimi Hendrix and Queens of the Stone Age. There are lots of other bands etc too, but these are the most influential.

What do you hope to achieve in music?
In many respects I feel I have achieved what I had hoped to do in music. I have had a mental check list for years, hoping I would achieve them and tick them off over the years. The list has adapted as time has gone on, and so to has life around me. With age and time I appreciate the things I have achieved even more so. 
I aimed to play a well established venue, and in 2009 played at King Tuts Wah Wah Hut in Glasgow. I have recorded and finished 5 albums and several E.Ps. I have been signed by an Independent Record Label, had music featured on compilation albums, and been played on numerous radio stations. These are all achievements.


What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?
The answer to this question links very well with the last. I would probably say my greatest achievement or highlight, even though it is not my achievement as such, is the people I have been lucky enough to meet and interact with over the last few years. The level of engagement and support from people has been absolutely astounding. Right from the outset of making music, I wished people would enjoy my music. That people would listen to it, and it might add something to their day. There is still no greater feeling when someone tells me they have been listening to my music and enjoyed it. It moves me in an indescribable way, and I am thankful to every single person for everything they have given me.

And what’s the moment you want to forget?
A very good question, one that has made my conscious mind scour suppressed memories. I had to give this one some thought, and one memory that conjures up the same negative emotions over and over is when I made the decision to leave the Independent Record Label I had signed with. It was a tough, but necessary decision to make at the time. When starting off in music, the idea of signing to a label became such an overwhelming dream that I genuinely didn't think it would ever happen for me. To have a label have that much faith in my music was one of the biggest compliments I've ever had in my life. To walk away from that was difficult.

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why?
One song that seems to have taken on a life of its own is 'UFO' from my latest album 'The Orange Line'. I have never had a response to any of my songs as I have had with 'UFO'. I put an unfinished/work in progress version of 'UFO' on Soundcloud years ago, just to gauge peoples' reactions to it. I was then told it was considered for a compilation album through an Independent Record Label. The interest in the song grew and it definitely helped increase interest in 'The Orange Line'. 

Where can we listen to it?
You can hear 'UFO' and the album 'The Orange Line' at my Bandcamp http://wullaewright.bandcamp.com/album/the-orange-line
'UFO' can also be heard on my Soundcloud http://soundcloud.com/wullaewright; and on iTunes on Red Dragon Records Compilation album '1st Renaissance' https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/1st-renaissance/id580520000.




Where can we find out more about your music?
You can hear and purchase my albums, E.Ps and singles on my Bandcamp at wullaewright.bandcamp.com and hear by individual songs at soundcloud.com/wullaewright
To contact me you can via twitter.com/wullaewright, read up on my music at wullaewright.blogspot.com and watch live performances and music videos at youtube.com/wullaewrightmusic

Anything else you’d like to say about your band/music that I forgot to ask?
I've enjoyed answering the questions you have asked, and I would only maybe like to add that I have recently just released a new single from my latest album 'The Orange Line'. The single is 'Roadtrippin''/Survived Unpromised Souls', a double A-side single with two new b-side tracks and lots of extra tracks. 

Nudybronque Q&A

Your names: 
Aidan Sheehan, John Wealthdale and Luke Wride.

Where are you from? 
Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire. 

Name of band: 
Nudybronque.

How would you describe yourselves? 
To the bare bones we're just a three-piece pop band. We're currently touring our third EP 'Moondog' which was out on March 22nd. We're all really pleased with it and feel it's our truest record yet. 

Who are your main influences musically? 
Before writing our latest EP we were listening Hunky Dory, In the Aeroplane Over the Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel, all of the Beatles, lots of ELO singles, Soft Bulletin and Yoshimi by the Flaming Lips as well as people like Adam Green, Lou Reed, Anna Calvi, Nick Cave, PJ Harvey and of course Pet Sounds by the Beach Boys which is always an important one. Once we accepted we'd never reach the wuthering heights of Jeff Lynne it became a lot easier to focus and actually put the songs together.

What do you hope to achieve in music? 
We hoped to make an EP that was both varied and cohesive at the same time. To achieve that we entered the recording process with the idea that we wouldn't restrict ourselves to any specific sound and that felt quite liberating. It's always nice to read positive reviews, get radio play and book gigs but at the moment all that is secondary. We've done so many shows in the last three years that it sometimes comes at a compromise musically, so we're trying to focus on each aspect equally.  

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why? 
We've played in loads of great venues, but a particular highlight of ours has been a Future of Music event at London's 100 Club. It's such a prestigious venue, it was just nice to stand on that stage for 45 minutes, the same spot Paul McCartney had stood earlier that week.

And what’s the moment you want to forget? 
To be completely honest, we've been quite lucky in that respect. Obviously there's been those gigs, but we always try to make the most of a bad situation... We never try to take ourselves too seriously, and have never felt that we've deserved an audience.

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why? 
That's hard to answer, earlier we said we like to make our music varied. We try to put each song in it's own little universe. But if we were pressed to answer, the opener to our new EP 'No Wives, No Children' is a good starting point. There's our recent single 'Peachy Keen' which we've just released a video for on our YouTube page...

Where can we listen to it? 
The video for 'Peachy Keen' can be found here... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Og6SsZiKCNo - And you can listen to 'No Wives, No Children' as well as the rest of our EP on Soundcloud... https://soundcloud.com/nudybronque/no-wives-no-children-aif 




Anything else you’d like to say about your band/music that I forgot to ask? 
Keep an eye out for our covers band Nick's Cave. Currently on hiatus due to "musical differences..."

Friday 28 March 2014

Kevo Can't Dance Q&A

Your name: 
Kevo.

Where are you from?
Philladelphia/Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, US.

Name of band:
Kevo Can't Dance.

Who else is in your band?
Just meeeeeez (I play guitar, vox, sexy winks at ladies).

How would you describe yourself?
I am an introverted weirdo with an awkward sense of humor :). My music attempts to elevate ones sense in human emotion and creativity. Lyric wise I like to mask serious issues with sarcasm and personal experiences. I aim to be the listeners anti - depressant, I want to make them to feel like their is still hope in tragedy.

Who are your main influences musically?
Such a wide range...but I would say from past to modern; Charlie Patton, Sam Cooke, Elliott Smith, Andrew Jackson Jihad, Kevin Devine, Radiator Hospital.

What do you hope to achieve in music?
I wanna make it a career...non-stop all over the world tour and make albums for the next 40 years!

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why?
Getting to perform on the same stage as one of my biggest influences and heroes; Sean Bonnette from Andrew Jackson Jihad. It was definitely one of the best nights of my life and I learned at lot. Plus he said he liked my music and I totally fan-girled out about it, ha. 

And what’s the moment you want to forget?
About a decade ago I played my first show and I was so nervous my voice was a mere whisper and I stuttered through two songs and the whole crowd of about 50 people all walked out. I quit music for 2 years after that :(. 

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why? 
Roosevelts; which I rerecorded on my new EP. It really puts in perspective my struggles with social anxiety, manic depression, poverty, and being an introvert. If anything the song has become somewhat of an affirmation for me to change all those things and reinvent myself. 

Where can we listen to it?


Where can we find out more about your music?

Anything else you’d like to say about your band/music that I forgot to ask?
Thank you for taking time to interview me!


Kermit Q&A

Your name: 
Paco Trujillo.

Where are you from? 
Málaga, southern Spain.

Name of band: 
Kermit.

Who else is in your band? 
Gonzalo Presa (guitars), Miguel Seguí (guitars and synth) and Alvaro Parada (drums and percussion).

How would you describe yourselves? 
Kermit is an instrumental rock band that allows us driving other music paths like post-rock, shoegaze, prog rock, electronica and jazz, among some less frequent others.

Who are your main influences musically?
Kermit's musical influences include the names of Slint, Afghan Whigs, At The Drive-In, Tortoise, Manta Ray, Portishead, Shiner, Sonic Youth, Liars, Appleseed Cast, Mogwai, Karate, Burning Airlines, Cinematic Orchestra, King Crimson, Pink Floyd, Massive Attack, St Germain, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Bill Evans, etc., yet its influences also cover other fields such as literature, films, graphic art & design, etc.

What do you hope to achieve in music? 
Exploring new paths and exploring ourselves.

What has been the highlight of your career so far, and why? 
The release of our debut album (titled "Autoficción", that is Spanish for "Self-fiction", a literary genre in Spanish-speaking literature with some outstanding novelist names such as Roberto Bolaño, Enrique Vila-Matas, Javier Cercas...) by Spanish microlabel Itaca Records, and a sold out debut-presentation gig in the second largest venue in Malaga centre, Teatro Echegaray.

And what’s the moment you want to forget? 
Oh, probably some gig with in front of a not very enthusiastic audience, but, anyway, these things make you learn and progress.

If you had to pick just one of your songs to represent your music, what would it be and why? 
11 different paths are explored in Kermit's debut's 11 tracks, so it kinda difficult to choose just one, as you have our indie side in Manu Samhita, funky-rock in Cocaine, post-rock in Sea Green, hardcore in Anacronópete, jazz-rock in Fronterizo, electronica in Aicnelav, prog rock in Speak No Evil and Dog goD. Anyway, we do guess it's Cocaine the track our followers associate with Kermit most.

Where can we listen to it? 
You can listen to it at http://kermit-band.bandcamp.com, and watch it live in high quality at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzGKAXoD-vs.


Where can we find out more about your music? 
Itaca Records: http://itacarecords.com