Hiya folks thanks for joining us in the virtual RGM lounge today, grab a brew and take a seat.
Thanks for having us. Peter (Lead Vocals), Callum (Bass), and Desmond (Guitar) from Goodnight Vincent here and ready to answer some questions.
What made you decide that music is a thing for you?
Callum: Music has always been a huge part of my life since I was young. It is the only interest that has remained consistent, and I’ve never lost the drive to be better and play with other awesome like-minded people
Peter: To be honest I’m not sure when that decision was made. It sort of snuck up on me while I was looking the other way. And I’m still kind of surprised that a shy, introvert with untapped levels of awkwardness can feel the most at home on stage in front of strangers.
Desmond: When I started secondary school, I didn’t get the feeling that there was anything I was good at. Being introduced to music and practising to get better gave me my first taste of what it means to be good at something and gave me some self-esteem for the first time.
Introduce us you / all to the members and your musical history?
Peter: I’m Peter. I’m the lead singer, lyricist, official adult, cheerleader, manager, and complainer of the band.
Desmond: I’m Desmond and when I started secondary school I learned drums and guitar. I moved on to learning how to sing and play piano and started spending my time writing songs. I studied music at GCSE, at college, and then at university, before joining Goodnight Vincent.
Callum: We’ve also got me on bass, Rowan on drums, and Peter Adedeji on saxophone.
What was life like for you before music?
Desmond: There was a life before music?
Callum: I honestly have very little recollection of those times. I began playing music when I was around 7 or 8 and it feels like being a musician has always been my life goal.
Peter: I’ve always been obsessed with something and before music it was everything to do with Japan. To be honest, it still is and I think one day we will do an all-Japan tour.
What was the first song you heard that steered you into a music path?
Callum: There wasn’t one particular song but the first album that made me want more was Linkin Park’s Meteora. That alongside Black Eyed Peas Monkey Business (very different I understand!)
Peter: I’ve always liked the darker, brooding artists like HIM, Nick Cave, Iron Maiden, and My Chemical Romance. I think the song that first made me feel like music was for me was ‘In Joy and Sorrow’ by HIM as the vocals were quite similar to mine.
Desmond: I can’t say that any specific song led me on my path to enlightenment. When I started exploring the Beatles music more fully, however, it really opened my mind to what was musically possible and taught me what good songwriting was.
Where do you feel you currently sit within the music industry?
Desmond: We’ve made it up the first couple of rungs but looking above us, we see that there are still many more to go. We’re excited about our continued climb and what it’ll be like once we’re further up the ladder.
Callum: Theres still a long way to go, but I’m on the edge of my seat to see where our new EP will take us. It feels like we have taken the next big step and only good things can come from it!
Peter: Just trying to enjoy the ride and not get too ahead of myself, but also totally hell-bent on doing something special
What’s the biggest thing you have learned from someone else in the industry?
Peter: That is important to play for the people who turn out to see you and not begrudge those who didn’t. Play the same for 1 person as 100.
Desmond: We got told once in the early days that if we didn’t have a website and proper social media presence then we didn’t exist as far as the industry was concerned. They liked our music, but we ought to get our act together. This we proceeded to do.
Callum: I learnt it from one of my old lecturers at Leeds Conservatoire. Never compromise your own enjoyment of your music because if you don’t love it with every part of yourself how will anyone else.
Tell us Two truths and a lie about you.
Callum: As a child, I couldn’t pronounce the word ‘guitar.’ I once swallowed a mini jack to jack adapter by mistake and never ‘saw’ it again. I still don’t know what defines the ‘bridge’ of a song.
Peter: I am a big fan of snooker. I love it when audiences request Wonderwall. I wrote a novel as a teenager.
Desmond: I’m half-French, I’m into Japanese erotic fiction, and I enjoy reading texts on ancient Latin rhetoric.
If you could wish for one thing to aid your career what would it be?
Desmond: A career
Callum: The opportunity to come on tour as a support group with a band who is just that crucial little step above us.
Peter: Would love the chance to support one of my inspirations such as Frank Turner, Gaslight Anthem, Pet Needs, Skinny Lister, or Flogging Molly
Do you ever worry about people taking things the wrong way or cancel culture? Discuss….
Peter: I think it’s important to be aware of what we say as people and actively do our best to not hurt or offend others. I think making that effort is the most important thing.
Callum: Not really, too many have already tried but my opinions and political leanings are too varied
Desmond: We’re musicians, not political pundits. I concentrate on doing my thing and stay away from Twitter.
Do you sign up to any conspiracy theories? If no why not?
Desmond: All of them. They faked the moon landing because the earth is flat which is why 9/11 was an inside job.
Peter: I love chatting to people about conspiracy theories and trying to one-up them. Like when people talk about the moon landing being faked, I like to respond shocked that they believe in the moon.
Callum: I believe the US government (not necessarily Bush) had more knowledge and involvement with 9/11 than they are letting on!
What was the worst experience on stage?
Desmond: I remember being 18 and absolutely nosediving in a musical assessment in front of all my peers
Callum: Getting up there, to smash a set, plugging in my bass and not a single little sound or humbuzz or even a crackle coming from it. Then having to borrow and play a 4 string acoustic bass for the first time (ive played a five sting electric for almost all of my time as a bass player).
Peter: Forgetting the lyrics in the first song of our first show on our first tour. The rest of the show was great apparently, but I was completely consumed by the blunder and just wanted to run.
Tell us something about you / each member that you think people would be surprised about?
Callum: I specialised in Turkish/Levantine microtonal folk music as the subject for my master’s thesis and bought several instruments to learn over the course of the year.
Peter: I used to present a pub quiz in Rome and one time Justin Bieber turned up
Desmond: None of us drive
What makes you stand out as a band/artist?
Peter: For me, nothing is bigger than putting on a show. I love jumping around the stage, being in the crowd, and just making sure that everyone has an unforgettable evening. I think our dynamics set us apart from a lot of bands.
Callum: The fact that we have a fusion of so many genres in a neat package that really play off each other. I feel like we can’t be pinned down like many other bands can be.
Desmond: We’ve put a lot of effort into writing out songs and getting the right lineup together. The combo is slightly unusual though. I strum my guitar in a folky manner while Callum plays heavy metal bass and Peter superimposes jazz with his saxophone.
I hear you have new music, what can you tell us about it.
Peter: We’ve just released our debut EP, Don’t Lose Your Soul. We are super proud of this record as we got to do some of our favourite tracks in a proper studio environment. We hope people like it.
Desmond: We’ve recorded 5 new songs for our EP with different flavours. There are a couple of rocky songs, a poppy song, a jazzy/soul/Caribbean influenced song, and an epic western closer.
Callum: It tries to show off every aspect of our musical range in a concise package and that there is going to be something in there for everybody.
What was the recording process like?
Callum: Intense and exhausting, but also one of the most exhilarating and rewarding things I’ve ever done. What we achieved in the time we spent is amazing to me.
Peter: Amazing. We worked with a producer that really knew our material and was able to get the most out of it.
Desmond: Very quick. We had to get the songs recorded and mixed in only two months. There were some stressors along the way, but we really enjoyed the process and are very proud of the end product.
What was the biggest learning curve in writing the new tunes?
Peter: For me, the biggest learning curve has been writing about topics that other people don’t do as often, such as house sitting, building skyscrapers, hating nightclubs, trying to embrace yourself for who you are. That means our songs feel a little different to others.
Desmond: It’s hard to remember really since I’ve been writing songs since I was 11 or 12 and Peter was already an accomplished songwriter when I met him.
Callum: The ability to visualise a final product from the smallest ideas and trying not to limit my visions to what seems relatively achievable, but to think bigger and find a way to make that happen.
Would you change anything now it’s finished?
Callum: I would have loved to get a little of my rusty violin playing in there somehow, but already got some awesome ideas for that in our next project
Peter: More group vocals as it satisfies the inner punk
Desmond: I’d add more cowbell!
Is there anything else you would like to share with the world?
Desmond: The EP is available to listen to on Spotify, apple music, YouTube music, and Amazon music right now!
Callum: In order to achieve your loftiest dreams, you need to be a little crazy and believe even when nobody else does. Also, cucumbers are rank and make me want to gag!!
Peter: Anybody who listens to our music is a genuine, quantified legend!
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