How did Deaf Havana get together and when?
We all got together a couple of years ago just through college and mutual friends! I actually first met James when I had a guitar lesson with him when I was like 13!? Weird how things turn out.
You just finished touring with We are the Ocean and The Urgency. How was that experience?
Freakinnnnn awesome! Was so much fun, we've been good friends with the WATO boys for a few years so it was great to catch up, and the shows were all just immense!
Tell us about the plans for your debut album.
Well we're still finishing off the writing, I'd say we have about 6 to 7 definate songs so far that will make it on, and we've got about another two and a half months to get everything written, so we're just getting our heads down and getting everything together, but were extremely pleased with how it's all sounding! Really excited!
You posted your lyrics for 'It's called the Easy Life' on your MySpace. How does it feel to have people at the front of gigs singing back all the words?
When people sing back that's the coolest part - that's my favorite defo, I get a break then ha.
Were people requesting the lyrics from you or did you just decide to put them online?
I think people were asking for them so I just thought I'd put them up. But writing lyrics really is my favorite part, but all the ones on the album are about something important. Some serious, some not so serious!
Which town on the forthcoming tour with All Forgotten are you most looking forward to playing and why?
Hmmm that's a toughy, your asking for favoritism there! But Colchester I know is gonna be insane, and London will be too, but I'm just looking forward to all of them, gonna be such a sweeeeeet tour!
What are your plans for summer? Any festivals in mind (either performance wise or attending for the fun of it)?
Everyone reading this is gonna think I'm a hella loser here, but I dont like festivals! I can go on tour for months on end and be smelly and live in a van, but being hungover and being sick in a middle of a field in the baking sun normally listening to some shit band is not my idea of fun!!
If you were to describe Deaf Havana's music in five words what words would you choose?
Music to make love to!
What music are you currently into right now? Who do you think we need to check out?
Well my ipod is certainly in need of an update before tour, but recently I've been listening to the new Beyonce album, her voice is insane! This week I've started getting into the new Dillinger Escape Plan album, cos I didn't really get the new one when it came out, I still prefer Miss Machine!? and the Lady Gaga album is actually the best pop album ever written!
So there you go! Good mixture - Beyonce, Lady Gaga and Dillinger Escape Plan!
Do any of you have any bad habits? Name and shame!
Lee's feet! Oh my god! Just awful! And James just likes to drink on tour, like, a lot! I think it's the whole still being 18 thing - just dont bother trying to have a conversation with him after we play cos you wont get one! Chris just likes to be overly organised and thats annoying sometimes. Tom's just a scatter brain, if there's something to be lost he'll lose it, everyday quote "guys have any of you seen my.....?" And I of course have no annoying habits, I just think I'm right about everything! ha!
If you could tour with any band past or present who would you pick?
Silverchair just so I could watch them every night!!!! Best band ever in the world ever!
When you were younger what did you want to be when you grew up? Was music always the route you thought about going down?
I was going to be a footballer, I played for Norwich City Academy and I was pretty set on that, but then I got a guitar for my 11th birthday and that was it, I lost interest in EVERYTHING! My mum said to me the other day, when I was leaving for tour, she goes "I really wish I hadn't bought that guitar when you were 11 now, you'd be normal and living in a house with a nice girl. Instead you're covered in tattoos and piercings and living in a van with four other smelly boys" - that made me laugh!
What can't you live without on the road?
My Blackberry is my new source of entertaiment, I can do everything on it, it's ridiculous! Apart from that a few beers, although I've been behaving quite well recently on tour, not drinking so much. Cos we tour more, you tend to drink more, and after a while it starts to hurt! ha! James hasn't quite hit that stage yet bless him, youthful young man. And a nice Big Burger King always helps... oh oh oh and Party Rings! IF ANYONE READING THIS IS COMING TO A SHOW AND WANTS TO GET ME A LITTLE PRESENT! PARTY RINGS!! EVERY PARTY NEEDS PARTY RINGS! They're just soooo freakin nice!
And finally, if someone was to ask why they should come and see you on tour what would you say to them?
Cos pretty much every night one of us falls on our face or arse, or we tend to hit each other a lot, by accident of course. I made Lee's nose bleed the other night by shouldering him in the face. So yeah, if you wanna see a lot of energy, blood and sweat, and wholehearted entertainment you must come! This tour with All Forgotten is gonna be one of the best tours of the year! Make sure you're part of it!
