Hiya folks thanks for joining us in the virtual RGM lounge today, grab a brew and take a seat.
What made you decide to become a band/artist?
It was a toss up between that and being a footballer and I preferred my chances of scoring as a singer
Introduce us all to the members?
So there’s Sam on vocals and piano, Sam on bass and wind instruments (he’s a gasbag), Sam on guitars and some electronic bits, and then Sam on drums and percussion.
So tell me a little bit about you and what you like doing for fun?
Fun is being in the studio! I’m there every day if I can manage it. Otherwise I’ve taken up cold swimming over at the marine lake in Clevedon, thanks to Wim Hof. Going to either reach nirvana or pneumonia.
How do you think the government have looked after the the night time economy / live gig circuit?
I’m not sure they have? Live venues are collapsing up and down the island. I remember seeing one story where a bunch of new apartments had been built next-door to a venue, and those tenants eventually got the place shut down because of noise complaints. There seems to be so little protection of our culture spots, either they’re forced through rising rent to price ordinary people out, or they get turfed out themselves to make way for affordable housing that’s affordable to almost no one. Best to join the #SAVEOURVENUES campaign, get onto IVW, and keep repping locals!
Whats one question you’re sick of being asked when interviewed?
It’s early days yet, I’m pretty grateful anyone’s asking anything at the moment.
Which one is the biggest pain in the arse? (Lateness, forgets stuff etc.)
Oh definitely Sam – always late, always forgets stuff. Yesterday we were trying to get new words and vocals down on a tune and he was so hungover he had to take a time out on the floor.
What is the unsigned scene in Bristol like at the minute?
I’ve barely been anywhere besides my house and my studio since March so it’s not super easy to say. Tough for live acts obviously, media is suffering too with furloughs and cost-cutting so there’s less of that to support new artists. I’ve been using the fact I can’t do much else to try and make as much music as possible and I’m sure there are plenty about doing the same, so next few months could be quite bright for creativity. Just hope it can get out to people
What good bands are coming out of Bristol at the minute?
There’s some decent band of punks knocking about round here, IDLES maybe? Beak are always great but they’ve been about a while, Football FC – listen to Big Time, Pete Cunningham’s group Ishmael Ensemble, The Desert, Lice, Fenne Lily just put out a good record called Breach, and otherwise there’s class producers like Hi5Ghost, Kahn/Gorgon Sound… loads!
What was the most fun you have had on stage?
If I look back with lockdown eyes it would’ve been one of the grubbier gigs with my old band when everyone was packed in. We did a show at Total Refreshment Centre which didn’t have a stage so everyone was basically face to face. I miss that kind of intimacy
What was the worst experience on stage?
A night when all the variables that can go wrong did – however much you drink is too much, string breaks, strap breaks, amp is making this rank hissing sound, it’s been pissing down with rain and only a handful of people turn up and two of them spend the whole time heckling and eating each other’s faces. That happened in Glasgow, but it turned out to be a nice enough evening after
Tell us something about each member that you think people would be surprised about?
So: Drummer Sam can do a hundred kick ups; Sam on guitars speaks some German and a bit of Italian; Sam on bass is into his philosophy and makes a mean roast dinner; Sam on vocals and piano is, well the less said about him the better.
If you could play any music festival which would it be?
Got to be Glastonbury doesn’t it? I’m into the city festivals here though, Soundcity, Dot to Dot and that. Otherwise it would have to be somewhere abroad in the mountains, have a bit of an adventure out of it too. Or Primavera which has always had unreal lineups.
Best gig you’ve been to that you weren’t playing?
I saw Television do Marquee Moon about five years ago at Shepherd’s Bush and they were phenomenal. No lighting stuff, virtually no guitar pedals. Such good musicianship, intelligent interplay between them all, always listening. Over the last year or so though it has to be BC Camplight, Wand and Artificial Pleasure.
Who would you like to duet with?
Mick Hucknell.
What goes into your favourite sandwich?
I’d say chicken, bacon and avocado, straight off the bat. You can throw in mayo and sriracha and lime juice if you want to be decadent. That’s a proper Samwich.
And you’ve got to cut it halfway between diagonal and horizontally, otherwise it’s not legit.
What advice would you give someone going into the music industry?
As a musician? I’d say take as long as you can trying to find out your own ways of playing and writing, keep in conversation with your instrument
Right now, whats pissing you off the most? (Can’t say the virus 🙂
The international break.
Tell us about a time when you had a proper reyt laugh while you were all together?
Probably last week when we were recording until early morning and it felt like there were loads of us there, not just one loner going out of his box.
I hear you have a new single brewing, what can you tell us about it?
Course I can – latest single is called Pressing Matters and it’s about the importance of touch and pressure, and feels appropriate for a time when we can’t get close. Next song is called Stuck Pig and it’s a little darker, about inner and outer divisions.
Is there anything else you would like to share with the world?
There’s plenty more music on the way! There’s only one Sam in this band.