What was life like for you before you got into music?
I think I had a childhood of football and music. It was watching Coventry City back at Highfield Road in the Premier League. Posters of Gazza, Bash Street Kids wallpaper. I did have a huge musical upbringing from my dad who is an avid vinyl collector and Frank Zappa fan.
What’s the live music scene like in Coventry right now? Anyone we should be looking out for (bar you, of course)?
Coventry is an amazing place, but it’s disorienting for bands to really exist here as the venues are great but not always rammed. People aren’t buying tickets, so shows are being cancelled and our only local festival doesn’t represent the true quality within the city – it’s like a repeat, year in, year out. There are bands that are genuinely making some lovely sounds now though. I’d say The Institutes (of course I would), Suns of Rest, Senses, Warriors of Discoteque.
It seems like being a social media curator has become added to the many jobs of a musician. How do you feel about this?
Absolutely drastic times. Not really about the music, is it, anymore? It can’t be. It’s a constant, gruelling job. I do it because it makes you seem active in being releasing. It’s gone way too far. Loads of small companies are offering to do that job for a monthly rate, but the content is poor.
How do you manage engagement on your socials?
Try to keep it to the process of making music. Ideas. Covers. Harmony work. Demo sneaks. Jam videos, etc.
What’s your view on the music industry today?
Well firstly, anyone who has had two guitar lessons wants to be part of it. So many bands. So many releases. So little attention span. It’s mainly solo artists now who look like they got dropped from a helicopter into the Boohoo factory. I prefer bands that work on their own stuff constantly, and most keep going for the love of music. Just watch Jools Holland to remind yourself how times have changed. It’s a hard watch these days.
Where do you feel you currently sit within the music industry?
Well, I have seen friends and bands I know get record deals and instantly become suppressed and you stop hearing from them. Then they get dropped and they get a job to repay debts. I am at the bottom of a ladder I want to be on. Self-production is my long-term goal as we have so much material and not thousands to spend. Bands are spending £10k making an album when they can barely afford to pay the mortgage – it’s crazy. I am happy to be working towards a little fan base and really enjoying the process now of making music.
What’s the biggest thing you have learned recently as you progress with your music?
Revisit the thousands of voice notes you have. Invest in home recording equipment and play constantly late into the night. Push yourself so hard and you’ll be surprised at just how much better you are than you originally thought. Also, buy earplugs.
What was your best experience on stage?
Walking on to the big indoor tent stage at Kendal Calling was incredible – a feeling I hope one day to repeat, but with this band that means the world.
What was your worst experience on stage?
Few bad moments. Drinking too much, not caring, letting people down. All part of the journey.
Tell us something about you / each member that you think people would be surprised about.
I coach football for a living and work at CCFC Academy. Ben’s a lorry driver. Ryan is an SEN teacher. Danny is a nurse. We’ve been mates for 25 years
I hear you have new music. What can you tell us about it?
We’re building an album we think will be the best debut in a long time. It’s been hard work creating this to be different to previous bands, but the sound is more modern and uplifting – poppier but still holds some meaning. We have so much material, it’s hard waiting to release it all. We’re really excited.
What was the recording process like?
Always a pleasure with Gav M at Magic Garden. I have my own studio, so we record demos and really work on the sound scaping before we go in. However, we get more creative once in the studio.
What was the biggest learning curve in writing the new tunes?
I learnt that my previous songs could have been way better if they were thought through better and recorded better. Take your time, build it, and find the right dimensions.
Would you change anything now it’s finished?
Nothing, to be honest. Perhaps a little more synth on the intro.
Is there anything else you would like to share with the world?
We’re always looking for collaborations. If anyone is interested, please contact us. We have worked recently with Aziz Ibrahim and Warriors of Discoteque on a remix. Contact reidcurrie@icloud.com
CHECK OUT MORE FROM STANDARD SOUND PROJECT HERE
CHECK OUT MORE BANDS FROM COVENTRY HERE