Hiya folks thanks for joining us in the virtual RGM lounge today, grab a brew and take a seat.
What made each of you decide that music is a thing for you?
Yeah so, im Elliot Burge, The Drummer, People usually call me Burge. Listened to a lot of Floyd and The Beatles (obviously!) with my grandad and a lot of zeppelin, The who, The doors etc. with my other grandad. So an early upbringing with rock music I guess. Since that I’ve basically played music all my life, started on the guitar and then my uncle who was in bands when he was younger introduced me to the drums, then just moved on to drums, bass and so on.
Frank ‘Madri’ – Heard I’d be able to pick up hella chicks if I was in a band… no luck yet but I have high hopes.
Will Mc – I didn’t decide until quite late that music was something I was going to move towards, always singing since I was a little kid. I reached like 17 or 18 and started singing in bars with Sonny as a duo and that blossomed into learning the guitar and bass. Then the start of east exchange, it’s take over time.
Sonny K – Pretty Much ever since I was a nipper I’ve loved singing and listening to music; when I was in school my mum wanted me to play an instrument. As I got older I just fell more and more in love with it
Name each of your favourite Albums.
Frank ‘Madri’ – Don’t think I could pick one album, but my top three would probably be, red hot chilli peppers by the way, Fleetwood Mac rumours and the artic monkeys whatever people say i am that’s what I’m not
Will Mc – strongly agree with Frank madri there also but currently I’d say sam fenders seventeen going under is the best for me in the present but there is so many older albums that top this.
E Burge – I don’t have a favourite album overall, but at the minute I’m loving the moody blues Octave.
Sonny K – yeah, I love all aspects and genres of music and, like anyone, this always changes with the seasons, but at the moment it’s ‘only by night’ – Kings of Leon
What was the first song each of you heard that steered you into a music path?
E burge – Breath by pink floyd i reckon. Wow.
Frank ‘Madri’ – Funnily enough mine was also a pink Floyd song. I decided to put on the wish you were here album after consuming a healthy amount of ‘Legal’ mushrooms, as you do. Think I ended up listening to the ‘shine on’ intro at least five times in a row. Gilmours majestic playing definitely inspired me.
Will Mc – And to be fair to Frank you can see he was inspired by Gilmour in the way he plays… For me it was watching Ed sheeran doing his acoustic raps on a guitar sent me into a spiral of music although now I just slap bass for fun and sing lovely tones
Sonny K – I’ve never really had one I was always imagining playing to massive crowds, so soon as I realised this could be something I could do I was sold.
The music industry is the hardest industry in the world to progress in, How do you feel you are doing?
We reckon we are on the right path doing the right things, The industry is massive in Liverpool right now and we are in with the right people and the best musicians in the city. Liverpool is gonna take off this year and we are going with it. Thanks to Jamie Webster, To be honest, he’s inspiring major people right now.
I’m seeing a lot of debate about women not feeling safe at music gigs, any thoughts on what we need to do to help?
I think the whole band agrees massively on this one… Just need everyone to be kind and respectful, man, Peace and a good time for everyone, Women and Men.
As you develop as an artist and develop using socials what ways do you get new ears on your music? Any tips?
Yeah mostly just create an upload schedule. Sonny is the organised one out of us he keeps us in check. It’s good to just stick to it and get as much content out as you can really. Just always be trying to get content and get it out there. Be yourself as well, we know it’s cliche but people are attracted to people that are similar to them naturally, So Yeah, just be yourself and there’s always gonna be someone out there who will find you and appreciate you.
Tell us Two truths and a lie about you.
Well, 1 truth is that East Exchange is gonna put in some hard work in 2023. Another truth is F**k the tories.
And a lie is fuck the tories.
So take from it what you will.
What are your thoughts on Spotify’s monopoly on the music industry?
E Burge – Yeah they are doing well, my mum actually cancelled my apple music an lost about 5000 songs so moved on to spotify, its probably better like im just salty that i lost all my music.
Sonny – forza Barca!!!
Willmc – Spotify is the goat hands down
Frank ‘Madri’ – Spotify iz nicee, i likee
Do you sign up for any conspiracy theories?
Yeah we all reckon pete price is a lizard like, but other than that what is a conspiracy?… nothing is impossible…
Did you buy anything you don’t need during the pandemic?
Yeah the vaccine, and a shit load of Alcohol (similar to everyone else)
Tell us something about each member that you think people would be surprised about.
E Burge – People are surprised enough about me being in a band
Sonny – I’m a paralegal training to be a solicitor.
Willmc – Same as burge to be honest, i think people could only see me and sonny as a duo for covers and nothing more… They were VERY wrong.
Frank ‘Madri’ – I only picked up a guitar just over 2 years ago. HAHA
What makes you stand out as a band/artist?
Well we just tend to be ourselves, which involves some stupid shit… But just 4 good mates doing what they wanna do. Think we have fused a more popular sound and are bringing back that classic rock vibe at the same time. Its like Ed sheeran meets Led zeppelin. Clean glassy vocals and Some Energetic guitar solos!
See what happens ay’
I hear you have new music, what can you tell us about it.
Yeah let the mastermind behind the song Answer that one.
SONNY – So, this song was just one of those songs that basically wrote its self. As soon as I had the riff down the melody followed, Before you knew it we had FOUR on our hands. The song was written in around 30 minutes, maybe even less.
Since I realised music was for me and I found my feet the next step was to have a group of my mates together all making music, having a laugh and enjoying ourselves. I got that with Willis McGrizzy then when F Madri and Burge jammed wid us I was on such a high, probably how Frank felt on them chestnut mushrooms…. From there we instantly said let’s start a band, I went away for a couple of weeks and thought a lot about how we could come together, mix our skillset and take over the world together.
Basically what I’m trying to say is that as soon as I got home after this and picked up the guitar the song FOUR just happened, and it happened good. It’s about understanding that in order to get where I want to be I had to stop being docile and start doing what I want to do with my life and my music career and that of course was getting together with the lads and creating some music! 🤘🏻
Talk me through the thought process of the new tune
Yeah so Sonny wrote it, then he brought it to the band. It was actually 1 of the first songs we played together and we just jammed it pretty good the first time ever hearing it from Sonny; just rolled with it from there. Perfected it over time. @JonoTproducer helped us with some finishing touches and suggestions when we recorded it.
What was the recording process like?
Again, recording with Jono was sick. Boss day out aswell, such a sick experience to bring your Bands creation to life.
There’s nothing more we’ve all wanted in our lives than to see the songs we have written produced and brought to life, For sonny, seeing the mastery of Jono that day put him on such a high I could barley sleep for the next week waiting for the mix the man is gifted
What was the biggest learning curve in writing the new tunes?
Honestly sometimes you just need to feel it and jam, And when it happens it happens. If someone brings a chord progression try and go from there together musically. The band needs to be able to feel each others vibe when playing. But once you have it make sure you do the fine combing and make it the best it can be.
Would you change anything now it’s finished?
The release date, can’t wait much longer for everyone to hear it haha
Is there anything else you would like to share with the world?
Yeah our new single people, check it out. Available now To buy on itunes, this would help us massively if you can spare a couple quid, all proceeds are going back into the band to record more music and put on some gigs.
Then keep your eyes peeled for another couple of singles, then some albums and no doubt some world tours. Peace.
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PRE SAVE THE NEW SINGLE HERE