KBPS Interview: Symmetry

One of the best tracks that has landed in the KBPS inbox recently is California-based Symmetry’s ‘Gotta Wake You Up’. We spoke to the band across the pond and across time differences to ask them about the record.

“It’s the perfect song for right now with everything going on in the world, and we feel like the whole world has to wake up. We feel like it’s the perfect song to the times.”

The song was one of the first tracks the band had co-written. “We met the guy we wrote the song with when we did a tour in the UK with McBusted, which was an honour. Michael Raphael has written with James Bourne and we got into a studio with him, and we wrote this song together that day. We passed around an acoustic guitar and talked about lyrics and melody ideas, and by the time we left the house that day the song was done. It was a really exciting and creative time.”

The band’s venture into co-writing was a good experience for them. “We’re all writers individually but we’re not opposed to bringing someone in. Every artist is creative in their own way, and everything has different ideas. Nobody here has a huge ego and says ‘No, it’s my way or the highway!’ It was a really great experience for us.

Reaction to their new single has been really positive. “I think it’s been the best reaction we’ve ever had. It went pretty viral for the first week it went up with over 30,000 views on the video. It’s probably the strongest thing we’ve ever released.”

The track is packed with energy and that fun on the recording came from their enjoyment in the studio. “It was really fun to record,” they told us.

Alongside the song there is also a video out which you can see on this page. “It’s the first time I’ve been in a video that required some acting, and had a love scene. It was a new experience for us all,” revealed Symmetry’s lead singer Mike.

Though based in California the band have a range of origins with only bassist Will coming from the state. Jared moved from Orlando in Florida five years ago and told us how much he enjoyed living there and meeting the band. Mike is originally from Seattle, Washington and moved, like Jared, to come to music school. “Max, our drummer, is the only Los Angeles native in the band.”

“I don’t think geographically speaking we’re influenced as a band but there’s something to be said about LA and us meeting here.”

Symmetry have performed several times in the UK and we were keen to find out what they thought about appearing this side. “It’s the reason that we’re doing [this interview], we’re trying to get back!

“Being in the UK has been fuel to our engine. Being over in the UK [there’s such] loyalty of the fans. Will is a huge Beatles fan and he showed me clips of Beatle-mania and you still feel that [in the UK], just that presence of people loving live music, and it’s really exciting for us. It feels like a different world.”

Looking ahead Symmetry are working on their newest album which they hope to release by the end of the year. “We’re trying to come back to the UK and looking at the right opportunities for touring.”

We ended the interview, inspired by the song, by asking them what they liked to do firstly when they woke up. “We like to do an interview with Phil!” they said, winning bonus points.

Find out more about Symmetry on their Facebook page.

KBPS Interview: Lucy Layton

45 years on from the New Seekers releasing their iconic hit ‘I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing’ Lucy Layton, daughter of one of the original band’s members, has re-released the track and given is a fresh, modern lick of musical paint. The song, famous both for its call for peace and its use in an iconic Coca Cola advert, is available now to download. We caught up with the singer as she promoted the record which, alongside the other tracks on the EP, has been released in support of Syria Relief.

“It was the lyric ‘to build the world a home’ that really rang true with me,” Lucy told us as she described the path to re-recording the song. “I’ve spent a lot of years travelling and living aboard. I came back last year after living a couple of years in the United Arab Emirates. I have friends all over the globe and having been shown all sorts of scenarios having been dragged on tour with dad when I was young, I felt there was something I had to do about the Syria situation. If I could help spread the word with music then that would be something I could offer.

“As musicians we’re not paid a lot but we can always spread the news through the music.”

Lucy was inspired to record the track both through the lyrics and the family connection. “The group’s getting a bit older now and they don’t perform as often but the song is something I’ve heard regularly all through my life but it’s still special.

“It was also the charity Syria Relief who thought it would be a good way to raise money for the prosthetics limb clinic within Syria. Syria Relief, as a charity, put money into refugee tents, food and water and they also send clothes out there, but this one specifically is called ‘Step Forward’ and it’s their clinics on the ground that make the prosthetics on the ground, 90% for children who have been hit by shrapnel or have been bombed on the way to school, of whilst in hospital.

“It’s £375 a limb but these kids need to get back onto their feet again. It’s amazing how they adjust to things, getting back to play football again and enjoying themselves as much as they can.”

Lucy was recently part of a fundraiser at the Shard in London where she sang and they raised an incredible £40,000 over one night which will help keep the clinic open. “We feel really blessed about all the people who came and bought tickets and got involved.”

Alongside music there was magic tricks, traditional Syrian food and the Orion Orchestra performing live, who accompanied Lucy and her group on the song. The music video for the song was also shown as part of the event, which is now available to view online.

Musically, Lucy’s version of the song, produced by K Warren, has a much more modern feel. “We could have done the same version but that was a version for those in the seventies, so I think it was important [to change it]. We wanted to create something that we’d enjoy listening to, that works with the video and gets the message across, and appeal for all ages especially young people. It has a concoction of relevant melodic sounds and things that are current in music today, on the Radio 1 friendly version.”

Alongside the song Lucy Layton has also released a five-track EP including an acoustic version of the charity track, with all the proceeds from the extended play also going to Syria Relief.

Lucy told us the EP has been planned for a while. “It’s been a good three years since I’ve done my last album, and friends and fans alike have been asking when I’m going to bring my next thing out. They wanted a new album, which obviously take a long time and can cost a lot, so I said that I’m going to bring out half an album – an EP – and put the track on it as well for Syria Relief.

“There will be a new album out but not until the beginning of the year,” Lucy told us, confirming that recording is under-way with several tracks in pre-production with masters due by Christmas.

This second album will follow her debut ‘Downbeat and Loved’ and we were keen to know if there has been a change in sound. “It’s not a completely different direction – it’s still what we do as a group – but I would say it’s more upbeat as opposed to downbeat. There are a couple of ballads on there but the album will be more upbeat in general.

“If you listen to the EP, you’ll hear songs that are much faster than things we’ve previously done. We love it, and it’s the direction we’ve been going in.”

With thoughts drifting back to the main single, we were keen to know what the New Seekers thought of the new take on their classic track. “My dad was really happy and most have the people who have heard it seem to love it. One of my friends said it might be a little Marmite if people love the seventies version.

“We’ve had a lovely response from the New Seekers’ fans on Facebook, and they’ve found it quite refreshing and understand that it matches with the meaning of what we were trying to do with the Syria situation. No one has had a bad word to say about it, and it’s always a risk doing such a well-known and big song.

“We just wanted to make it sure it reached the hearts of the people watching the video and convey the message as much as we could.”

Lucy is now preparing for a live date on the 19^th October at the Troubadour in Earl’s Court, London. “We love that venue. It has a wonderful little stage and has such an up-close and personal feel, and we can spend time with the audience. There’s more [chance to] talk about each song and there’s great sound in there. Sometimes the sound can be lost and it’s harder for the groups to perform in the bigger venues.”

Looking ahead, Lucy has plenty of ambitions to fill. “We’d love to do some more global touring and do more shows abroad, or in the States. There’s this one venue I used to do shows at called ‘Zero Gravity’ in the United Arab Emirates and it would be nice, after being in the UK for two years, to go back there and put on a show there now the single has been released.”

Buy your copy of the single for Syria Relief at http://www.lucylaytonofficial.com/

KBPS Interview: Polica

Channy Leaneagh is one of five members of Minneapolis-based band ‘Polica’ and we spoke to her ahead of her performing in Leeds next month on the first date of the UK leg of their tour. Currently working on rehearsals they will also soon be heading over to Berlin for a date.

Channy describes the band’s live sound as ‘more alive than their record’. “It usually has lots of energy. My doctor told me the other day that I’m an athletic performer so there’s a clue!”

Polica have come fresh from festivals such as Latitude this summer, a festival Channy describes as one of her favourites. “It was one of our first [too] so it was nice to go back. We [also] played at a beautiful castle in Ireland, which was really cool. [Plus] we went to Slovakia for the first time too!”

Earlier in the year the band released their album ‘United Crushes’ and we asked her how it was to record it. “It was pretty good! I was pregnant and gave birth a couple of months before the record came out, so it was a whirlwind for me. I had just come out of the fog of motherhood, and I said that I couldn’t believe we’d made a record in the middle of that. Now it’s good to get back on the road again and I feel like I’ve got my head in the game. It was fun!”

We asked if motherhood influenced anything on the album. “It’s an emotional record and I was feeling things really strongly. There are some love songs like ‘Lately’ and there are lots of feelings on there, but that’s how most of my records are.”

The album shifted slightly from previous albums in style. “It’s a very rhythm heavy record,” Channy told us. “The drummers locked me and Ryan up in the sound booth and took over!” she joked.

In Polica there are two drummers and we were intrigued as to what effect this might have on the music. “For me it has a dramatic effect. I’ll write the song in one way then when the drummers lay down their parts I’ll react to them. When you have two drummers it’s impossible to not have that being a main influence on the sound of the band.

“But at the same time they’ve actually played more electronic drums than they ever had, so we’ve all played around with that. It has an effect on the cadence of the singing, the rhythm of the band.”

Channy picked ‘Fish’ as her favourite track on the recent album. “It’s the most sincere. But ‘Berlin’ is kind of my baby, and my favourite one to play live.”

Earlier in the month Channy took part in a procession towards the local Mississippi river and played a concert on a houseboat on the river, the environmental cause close to the home for Channy. “We played on the Mississippi river at night whilst lights and visuals were projected onto this factory in North Minneapolis which is emitting lots of heavy metals into the river.

“It was pretty special to be able to be gathered with all these people and play the music and sing out to the river. It is a gorgeous river which hopefully will continue to be cleaned up.”

Looking ahead to the future, I asked what her plans were. “We’re performing and recording with a group called Stargaze from Berlin. We’ve created a project with them called ‘Music for the Long Emergency’ and then we’ll be recording a couple of new Polica songs and recording some tracks here and there throughout the winter.”

Find out more about Polica on Facebook.

Click here to buy tickets for their upcoming Leeds date.

KBPS Interview: Haley Bonar

Haley Bonar is an indie, alternative, country and hard-core artist from Saint Paul and we spoke to after a day off in the middle of a gruelling week preparing for a gig in Brooklyn, with shows being really positive. Haley Bonar will soon be coming on a UK tour, something she told us she ‘can’t wait’ for. “I’m very excited!” she said, returning to the country a couple of years after promoting her last record.

I asked her to describe her new record, ‘Impossible Dream’, which forms the basis of the new tour. “This album makes sense in the progression of my other records. It’s maybe a combination of ‘Last War’ and ‘Golder’. It definitely has more of a rock element to it, but I think it’s the songwriting that pulls it all together. It’s a really kooky synth-body of work, I think maybe more so than the two records of mine.”

‘Impossible Dream’ was recorded on analogue tape. “The studio we recorded at was one of the last left in the United States that merit the use of [that] as the room sounds so incredible. I really wanted to capture that warmth and you lose a bit of that when you go digital.”

Pulling on lots of themes for her tracks which she goes into detail on her website, Haley established the album as mostly a work of fiction. “Some of it comes from my own experiences but these stories about other people and myself, but they are stories.”

A video for ‘Called You Queen’ is also available online, a promo video created by Haley’s sister. “She and I have collaborated on many things over the years, and I really wanted her to give it a shot as her first time in doing a music video, and I think she did a really good job.”

Looking at the tracks, Haley flicks between ‘Kismet Kill’ and ‘Jealous Girls’ as her favourite track. “With ‘Kismet Kill’ I love the way it sounds sonically and I think we really nailed the juxtaposition between the fluttery, dreamy vocals and everything else is tough and driving, but it never feels like it’s rushed because of the way the melody is delivered.

“With ‘Jealous Girls’ I really loved the production, and I think that’s one of the best songs I’ve written.”

Discussing how she captures her music live, Haley told us she’s touring as part of a five-piece band including herself on guitar. “It’s actually pretty similar to how it sounds on the album.”

Following the tour in October Haley is looking forward to further dates and festivals next year. “I’d really like to focus on other projects. I’ve been working on a book here and there over the last few years, and I’d really like to work on that. It’s a compilation of poetry and short stories!

“Hopefully I’ll be doing a concert with Minnesota Orchestra next autumn, so I’ll get to reconfigure a lot of my music for a full orchestra which will be lots of fun!”

Find out more about Haley Bonar on Facebook.

Haley performs at the Brudenell Social Club in October. Click here to buy tickets.

KBPS Interview: Iron Lines

Iron Lines are a band from South-East London made up Anthony and Gavin. Ahead of their single ‘Voices’ being released we spoke to Anthony Goldsbrough from the band who has evolved from writing, producing and collaborating with other artists to working on his own material. We caught up with him fresh from the studio polishing up some new tracks ready for some upcoming live shows, to ask him about the single.

“We started this [project] just under a year ago and it was one of the first tracks we wrote, and it’s good that this track’s come to light as it means a lot to us, from people we know who have gone through mental health issues, and it’s getting lots of positive feedback!”

Confirming that the subject matter of the lyrics are every bit as important as the music, Anthony spoke about the meaning. “When people listen to it they can relate to it in the way they want to. But it’s got to mean something to be truthful and honest, going from us to the listeners.”

Previously to Iron Lines both Anthony and Gavin have had experience in the music industry but their partnership came about as a bit of a fluke. “We got introduced by a friend of ours. Sometimes when you’re writing with other people it can go one of two ways: it can either work, or not work. We realised the songs we wrote had to be for us and nobody else so we thought let’s proceed in trying to make this something original for us, and it’s coming to life.”

Speaking of his previous work as a session musician, Anthony said such experiences were amazing but that there was always more. “I’ve always been the joker of the pack at family events and at school. It’s probably an arrogant thing to say but all singers want to be the centre of attention all the same!

“Gavin’s the total opposite. He’s quite happy sitting behind a keyboard and writing music but I just can’t help myself!”

Iron Lines are now working on an album, with the tracks going in front of listening parties for feedback and advice. “It’s getting the vibes from fresh ears because you can get so wrapped up in your own music sometimes you come back to it and you [wonder] if it’s good and whether people will like it.

“We’re taking it nice as slow, we’re enjoying the organic reach,” he told us when asked about a potential release date. “It’s early days for us a band. Just feeding it out there is what we want to do at the moment.”

Looking ahead for a video, Anthony revealed that the video should be coming very soon, as they prepare for the shoot. “We’ve just had our location confirmed which is really cool. I can’t really say where it is as it’s a cool spot and it’s going to be quite tricky to capture what the song is about in the video, but we’ve got a great team on board.”

Iron Lines have plans for new shows in early 2017 which are awaiting confirmation, alongside some other dates around London such as in Cargo. “It’s really exciting as the musicians involved [with the live dates] are incredible. Every show is going to be a different session guy so it’s going to be quite interesting,” he told us, revealing the live sound. “I personally feel the live version of some songs are better than the recorded version. ‘Voices’ is pretty much as you’ll hear on the record but the energy in it is really cool. I think it’s important when we performing these tracks we deliver what we promise as they’re quite deep songs and people can relate to them. I’m really excited!”

Looking ahead to the future the main ambition of Iron Lines is to get the album completed and perfected. “For next year it’s to be ready for festivals and a tour, that would be a great goal!”

Find out more about Iron Lines on Facebook.

KBPS Interview: Erin Kinsey

Erin Kinsey is an exciting new country singer-songwriter from Rockwall in Texas who, alongside singing and composing, also plays the guitar and piano amongst other instruments. Having spent the last few years touring Texas with her band and honing her talent in the famous musical city of Nashville, Erin has also stepped onto these shores at this year’s Country to Country festival.

As she releases, her self-titled EP we got to speak to her and ask her about the record.

“What I’ve written over the past four years since I started writing music has become the first EP that I’m putting out for everyone to hear. It has the songs on it that mean a lot to me and that other people can relate to.”

Erin describes the process of creating the EP as awesome. “Going up to Nashville and writing with people who are so amazing at what they do was just one of the best experiences. And I also got to record with amazing people and it was just such a great experience all around.”

Nashville was a great experience for the singer. “Everyone there is so professional, and they’re extremely good at what they do.”

Picking ‘Waiting List’ as her favourite track but also “loving each of them in their different ways”, describing the song as fun with a lot of energy behind it.

Playing seven instruments has helped Erin shape her music. Also confessing to a love for performing she also talked about her recent time at the Country to Country festival. “It was awesome. It was my first time out of the US and I got to do all the tourist stuff and go around London. Country to Country was absolutely insane with all these people coming together to support country music.”

We asked Erin why she thought country music was now so popular in the UK, telling us that the music doesn’t sugar coat life, and tells it how it is. “There’s not a lot of genres that do that.”

Describing her live sound as a mixture of old country and new country, she told us “me and my band just want to make sure the audience is having a great time.

“I love being on stage and just letting it all go, and getting to meet people after, as well as looking out at the crowd and showing people who you are.”

Further down the line Erin has plans for some videos, and an album. “Back in July I was in the studio recording some new stuff. Hopefully in the next months we’ll get some more out.”

Find out more about Erin Kinsey on her website.  

Ward Thomas - Cartwheels

Country duo Catherine and Lizzy Ward Thomas return with their second album and this fourteen-track album is a delightful example of solid harmonies, touching melodies and country-pop crossovers, on an album that’s surprisingly downbeat for the pair, especially in light of the debut singles, with most songs lyrically quite dark and introspective, touching on negative aspects of love and relationships.

The LP opens up with the first single ‘Carry You Home’, a lighters-out opening to the record, and one that certainly builds up from its almost acapella opening to something with much more beat, and becomes a little perkier than its initial lyrics would suggest and becomes pretty uplifting, and feels like a solid anthem to open up with.

‘Almost Easy’ again keeps things subtle and low-key, but showcases the beautiful voices of the pair. ‘Material’ which follows, though still of a similar tempo, is a much stronger number, its finger-clicking beat and Fleetwood Mac feel proving a delight.

The titular track comes next, a twangy guitar-led number that once more mixes up the harmonies with stripped back production and quite down-played lyrics.

Second single ‘Guilty Flowers’ is the first time the album really hits anything resemble a quick tempo and though the lyrics are as solemn as previous tracks the music has a bit more punch and is a great single thanks to its catchy hooks and chorus.

‘Lose Me’ is one of my favourite songs on the album, its bouncy music off-setting its biting lyrics, and feels like the next single, plenty of confidence injected into the rhyming chorus and subsequent calls of the chorus. ‘Good On You’, meanwhile, starts off with a Radiohead vibe, settling firmly into ballad territory though lacking the spark found elsewhere.

‘When It’s Not Me’ has more an indie swagger to it and some great tongue-in-cheek lines such as ‘I Bet He Gets Laid…ies.’. One of the best tracks on the album, this sees Catherine and Lizzy on spunky form and feels like a strong change of tempo from the rest of the album, and feels like a future cut from the album. Follower ‘Boomerang’ is just as great, its funky drum riff and catchy chorus really selling the track and making this another highlight of the album.

‘Dirt and Gold’ is another strong song lyrically and musically and feels more upbeat in both respects. ‘Where the Sky Is’ goes all Adele with its piano riff and the title-focussed chorus and gradual building up works well. ‘Proof’, is rather Simon and Garfunkel and another of my favourites on the album thanks to its gentle feeling, building harmonies and lyrical hooks.

‘Cartwheels’ wraps up with two more quieter numbers, the gentle ‘Who I’m Not’ and the introspective ‘Safe’ whose ‘you’re safe here riff’ compliments the opener well.

Ward Thomas’ follow up to 2015’s ‘From Where We Stand’ is a surprisingly quiet affair with a sustained gentle feel to it, with little of the upbeat vibe common in their previous hits like ‘Push To The Stride’, ‘A Town Called Ugley’ and ‘Guest List’ and I found myself wishing they’d kick up the pace a little bit more. The best tracks outside of the two singles are definitely ‘Love Me’, ‘When It’s Not Me’, ‘Boomerang’ and ‘Dirt and Gold’, my personal preference is when they lift the pace up.

What’s on the LP has lots of heart and though the overall tone is darker and more solemn in tone and in terms of lyrics, there’s still pleasant of passion, quality harmonies and polish within the music. (7/10)

KBPS Interview - The Society

The Society are an exciting new indie-pop band from the North West, made up of Harry, Lew, Tayte & Jason. We got a chance to speak to lead guitarist Lew Whalley ahead of the release of their debut single ‘Begging’ which is available to pre-order now, with a release date of September 16^th. Our first question was, of course, what the single is like.

“It’s a new direction for us,” Lew told us. “Over the years we’ve been more of a classic guitar-driven indie band, but with this song we thought we’d draw on some pop influences.

“Over the years myself and Harry especially have bene influenced by pop artists, even dance music to a degree, so we thought we’d try and mix that in as well!”

The idea behind this change of direction came naturally to them. “We went into the studio with an idea. When we first took Begging into the studio it was more guitar-driven than it is on the final recording. We started playing with different ideas, playing with a bit of synth to see how that sounds, change the guitar a bit, and tied it into the drum more, and the bass is driving it as well.

“It’s quite dance-inspired, drawing on stuff we’ve heard from years ago, Clubland even. We mixed a lot of ideas together in the studio and that was the result.”

Lyrically the song was written mostly by Harry, and Lew told us it comes across as a love song but with more of a beat to it. “If you listen to the lyrics it’s a tale of heartbreak, relationships not working out, that sort of thing.”

Visually the single is accompanied by promo shots of the band which involve flares. Taken in Lew’s home town of Wigan, not far from his house, we were keen to find out more about this shoot. “It was my idea. I said let’s get outside, do something a bit different as opposed to the standard stood-against-the-wall staring-into-the-camera sort of thing.

“Harry came up with the flare idea. We’re both big into football and bands like the Courteeners, and obviously when you go to one of their gigs and at football matches there are flares everywhere. It was an idea we had kicking around and we tied it into the shoot.”

A video for Begging is due soon but there’s still footage to be collected, with the plan being to get some live shots from the band’s upcoming gig at Manchester’s Soup Kitchen, with the video appearing hand-in-hand with the song’s release later this month. “It will give us a bit more exposure online.”

With their live date mentioned we wanted to know what the band’s live sound was like compared to their studio work. “There’s not as much electronic stuff with the live performance, at least not yet. We have plans to include more of that but at the moment it’s just two guitars, bass and drums. We’re trying to grow our influences, to introduce more pop aspects so each song isn’t just a guitar-led indie track. Begging is the poppiest song we’ve got at the moment.

“We’ve still got various songs that are still quite guitar-driven, but more that are pop-inspired with a jangly sound. It’s actually quite a diverse set at the moment so we’re looking forward to playing it live!”

Looking forward to the gig and making it something “people will remember for a long time”, the band are also getting involved with a project called Musicians Against Homelessness which will see them performing soon at the Live Room. “That’s been organised for quite a while. Obviously it’s a great cause that we’re happy to be involved with. It’s a cracking little venue, the line-up looks brilliant, and it has been organised by some great people from Northern Exposure. As soon as we got asked we were well up for that one!”

Looking ahead to the future, there are plans for an album release around this time next year. Another track has been recorded but is currently being tweaked and mastered, and this may become a single. “We’re going to wait until we get the new mix back, see how that sounds, and take it from there. If not we’ll get back into the studio and record new things.

“It’s just working towards that album next year, getting as much studio time under our belt. Get some nice new songs recorded for the album!”

For future ambitions Lew hopes for the song to be picked up by even more radio stations. “We’re looking towards a big break where somebody will pick the song up, and it’ll take off from there. There’s a lot of work going on behind the scenes with promotion. My personal goal is to get the song heard by as many people as possible!”

Visit the Society's website for more information.

KBPS Interview: The SLVR Tongues

The Slvr Tongues

Hannah Huntley, James Lynch and Peter Erik make up Los Angeles country band The SLVR Tongues who have recently released their debut single ‘Johnny Cash’. Speaking to the three members of the band via a call that spanned the globe, we got to find out more about the song, the band and their future plans.

“Things are going really well with our first single and first video release,” Hannah told us. “We’re excited about that. We’re getting new fans and a lot of people are being really supportive and sharing our song in ways we never expected.”

“I think it’s doing better than we expected,” Peter told us. “But we’re really excited about how it will continue to grow over the next few months and we’re grateful to everybody who has viewed and commented on it.”

Having looked around their social media we were intrigued by a picture they shared recently of a cake with a Pikachu on it. Naturally we had to find out more and James told us. “I was having a party that friends had thrown for me and that cake just came out of nowhere to surprise me!”

Describing their single, Peter told us how the single was designed to be country and rocky but not following the stereotypical lyrics. “Not singing about cornfields and all of that. We tried to make it contemporary and more legitimate, and having lyrics that would matter more and have a bit of swing to them.

“We’re both influenced by Nashville and LA,” he added, as Hannah confirmed that ‘Johnny Cash’ was only the second song they wrote together. “We got together and started writing a couple [of songs] and that track just poured out of us. It’s pretty catchy so we went with it!”

When it came to the band forming, Hannah and James, who are both from Los Angeles, met at a bar on the Sunset strip called ‘Saddle Ranch’. “We were both drunk actually. Hannah was singing karaoke and I heard she had a good voice, and we wanted to jam beforehand, but I wasn’t sold on working with people, but after that we started writing.

“Peter is the international man of travel and excess and sexual mystery! He was visiting Los Angeles as he was studying at the musician’s institute at the time in Hollywood. He came into the bar too and that’s how we met.

“We realised we needed a lead guitar and that’s where Peter came in, and that’s how the SLVR Tongues formed.”

Alongside the song there is also a video out for ‘Johnny Cash’, set in an American Diner initially and moving on from there. But what was it like to make? “It was pretty hot to say the least. I think we all agree now never to record a music video in the desert in July. That was a very bad decision from our side! It’s a pretty nice experience wearing tight leather pants and all that at 46-degree-Celsius!

“Aside from shooting those hot scenes it was so fun! It was great fun to work with the professional team and then seeing the vision coming together; that was pretty cool to see as it worked out. It was a lot of fun!”

Though the band confessed they couldn’t tell me much about future plans due to secrecy (“We can’t tell you too much as I’d have to kill you” promised Hannah) but they revealed they’d been in the studio. “We’ve recorded a couple new songs and we are so excited about them. We’ve recorded them in the studio here and we’re still working on the release plan, but we’ll definitely be releasing something in the new year.”

Time in the studio has been great for the band. “Our producer Jordan is from Los Angeles, and he flew out to Nashville. Even though we’re all over the world at the moment we’re all Nashville based and he’s been out for the last month or so.

“We have turned the entire second floor of our house into a recording studio and we’ve been knocking out these tracks and working on them every day.”

Having access to the studio has been helpful to the band. “It’s been more efficient as we just have to walk upstairs to do the next thing!”

The recording has been quite transatlantic, with Hannah based in Nashville and James in LA but Peter in Stockholm. “We managed to record our parts while we were there; now it’s just time for Hannah to record her own parts. Having a studio in our home means we can work as effectively as we want.”

I was keen to know if the different backgrounds of the band members helped influence their sound. “I think that’s actually the coolest part of our music,” Hannah answered. “We all have personally different tastes in what we listen to and with having different backgrounds and entirely different personalities, when we find that sweet-spot and combine them all you come out with something really cool, and that’s what I feel we were lucky enough to stumble upon.

“Being in Nashville hasn’t changed our sound at all; it’s just a really cool place and we have a great band house. It doesn’t matter where we are for the sound; the sound is the three of us.”

The SLVR Tongues have some local gigs coming up in the Nashville area and then hopefully more. “There will be tours, I promise you. But everything’s still very preliminary as far as putting on a really great show and great production, and it’s still in the works to make sure that happens, but it’s next on the agenda for us.”

Returning to their single I asked them about whether they were fans of Johnny Cash and if they got to see him perform before his death over a decade ago. Though seeing him was a negative response there was a love for the artist. “Johnny Cash will always be an image for a lot of people. He’ll always be that bad boy. He’ll always be an influence for anything to do with attitude and fashion, and a lot of people can relate to it,” Peter told us.

We ended the interview with asking them about big ambitions for the future.

“First of all it’s establishing ourselves and making the music that we think is the best in the world, and make the world understand that! And then going out on tour, and releasing our album,” Peter told us.

“I think it’ll be good to establish our presence more so we don’t have to wait in line at bars anymore!” quipped Hannah. “And have to tell people what we like and what we drink. That would really smooth out a lot of transitions in my life!

“But seriously we’re super excited to share our music with people and hopefully they like it as much as we do!”

James wanted to get the band on the road. “I really love performing and I really think we could put on a dynamite show with the songs we’re currently writing. I think ‘Johnny Cash’ is a really great live song that they can get invested in and sing-a-long to. Hopefully we can be touring with some really great acts in the very near future. That’s my biggest hope!”

Find out more about the SLVR Tongues on Facebook.

KBPS Interview: The Tin Pigeons

The Tin Pigeons are a five-piece indie-folk band from the East-Midlands and as they release their new EP ‘Sparks’ we got to speak to lead singer, and guitarist, Fraser, about their music, catching up with them after they had just performed at Leeds and Reading, a time he described as a lot of fun. “It was quite special with a lot of memories!”

Describing the band’s live sound, Fraser chose indie-folk with influences from Bombay Bicycle Club and Two Door Cinema Club. “It’s quite summery,” he told us, pointing to those bands as inspirations for the band.

Talking about their new EP Fraser confirmed it was a long time coming. “It took a lot of work. I think it’s quite summery, and it means a lot to us!”

Reception to the EP has been very positive, something he described as humbling, talking about the band’s recent appearances on BBC Introducing as brilliant. “It was really special to be under their wing.”

Talking about folk music, I was intrigued to know why Fraser thought its popularity was increasing. “I think it’s just a change to what’s on the radio all the time. People just want to listen to something different to what’s in the charts.”

The Tin Pigeons are looking to return to the studio at Christmas to record new material for a potential new EP, and possibly an album in a year. They also hope for a new video to go with their next extended play.

Looking ahead to the next six months, Fraser hopes the band will just keep doing what they are doing. “Just being able to make music is a lot of fun, so if we can keep doing that then it’s great!”

You can find out more about the Tin Pigeons on Facebook.