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!”
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!”
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.”
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)
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 16th. 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!”
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!”
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.
