You've just finished your solo tour, how did that go?
The tour was excellent, each show was special in its own way - be it playing to extremely quiet and respectful crowds who are there for the music to one show that basically had no one there till the very end of it.. haha there is always one! But overall it was great for shows and with our new touring buddies Falling Into Difference a true blast was had.
Have you been a big fan of Jonah's for a while?
Without gushing on and on, he is the basic reason why I do my sort of music, play guitar and sing. It's been near on 10 years now so it's always a little odd being in the situation to be touring with a hero, odd but extremely exciting at the same time. It's great to play shows, travel and it seems when ever touring with Jonah I always meet such nicely and friendly people too.
How did the tour come about?
This I am happy to say was the second tour I got to do with Jonah as we did a UK tour with a few dates in the EU last November which was truly life changing, a huge exciting and eye opening experience for me. I felt very lucky to be part of it and never really thought much else would come from it. At the time we had both been working together with the awesome label Engineer Records (who I am very lucky to be signed to), to make a split EP between us, which again would be an extreme honour and pleasure for me. I mean how often do you get to release something with your hero? Not often! Sadly the split wasn't able to get created quick enough for the tour, but when we got back there was still talk of a split which has now been made and is out for sale under the name "Countrysides". Anyway, so yeah this tour came out of no where for me, as I got an email out of the blue from Jonah asking if I wanted to do his latest tour across the UK and I of course jumped at the chance.
Which was your favourite show on the tour and why?
The one I feared the most. Last tour we played The Relentless Garage in London and it was awful, when I arrived I was shoved on stage straight away, which just scared the bejebus out of me, I was pretty much totally new to this whole thing and here I was thrown to the lions! To say the least it didn't go well, the crowd literally talked over my whole set and the nerves just got the better of me. As a comforting note, the crowd talked over everyone's set, to a point that the people on stage would basically tell them to shut up or leave if they just came to chat over everything; this includes a full band of about 7 or 8 people. I have never heard such a loud crowd just talking - it was odd and off putting. When I saw we were to play there again I was not looking forward to it at all. It was the second show of the tour and I had the first day jitters the night before having a very hit and miss set so I expected a poor set and a extremely chatty crowd. I was so happy to find that the crowd were attentive, listening and hugely friendly, soon as I walked in to the room it just felt different and my worries slipped away which was hugely complimented with what I felt was a nice and confident little set for me and my first time being main support for Jonah.
Was there anything that could have made the tour more enjoyable?
Having a driver haha, I drove a good 7 hour journeys straight! Jonah and I are on the same page when it comes to breaks when driving, we don't do them, we grab petrol, a sandwich and drive - we don't want to lose the momentum! So yeah that would have made it magical for me, plus not losing my friends Sat Nav on the second day, don't ask me how I did but some how I did, impressive being that it was a 30 second walk from the car to the hotel room, the word "gutted" came to mind. Luckily Jonah had his own.
Where can we get the split record?
The record can be got at either of our shows, though we really do have a limited supply and www.engineerrecords.com. It's two tracks by Jonah and then two tracks by me, with really fantastic artwork by House Without Walls.
Any plans for touring with Jonah outside the UK?
I shall be honest and say I have no clue. Things don't usually appear until a few months before they are actually going to kick off, no plans now but who knows what the future may bring! I would love to get out to Europe again asap!
How did the most recent tour go in comparison to the one you did with Jonah back in November 2010? (you spoke earlier about the London show..)
I feel this one was little more organised by the time scale people were given before the actual tour dates, but both were great but I personally, shows wise, enjoyed this one more, mostly due to my confidence growing in my music and set and was great to tour with the the FID boys, it seems for me more the merrier.
You usually play in Call Off the Search, how does it compare playing a show on your own?
I am less noisy haha. I think solo you have more time to think and reflect maybe write ideas whilst on tour etc., but with a band you just basically think of dumb stuff to entertain yourselves or talk about stuff thats hugely unimportant but fun. I love both very much. Two different worlds but within the same bubble, music.
Do any other members of Call Off the Search do solo material?
It is just I for now, but who knows, they all have oodles of talent so we shall see. If they do I wish them the best as they have been super supportive with my solo work and I.
What inspires your solo material?
Musically it is easy to say Jonah Matranga, Elliot Smith, Queen, Ben Folds, and many many more as for subject for songs. It can vary from a day of things going wrong like a fight at show or to truly moving narrative from a film or book. I write about what I see, hear and feel.
Do you cover any of the Call Off the Search songs in your solo set?
Sort of, for this tour I did a song thats called Rotting Away basically about being stuck in a 9-5 and you can't stand a second of being stuck in that job. I sat in front of computer fixing internet software etc, looking back the job could have been a million times worse and just to be working indoors I am lucky but at the time, it felt completely soul crushing, I decided it wasn't for me and I wanted to go to University which I did. Life for me isn't about comfort or money, more about ambition and being happy. That song was written for The Sketch and from the ashes of that band came 3 out of the 4 members of Call Off The Search. It's a fun song and I feel people can relate to it a lot, plus you can play it in many different ways, so depending on the crowd is depending on how I play it.
Are there ever times when you suffer from 'writer's block' and if so, how do you overcome this?
Totally, as for getting over it, it just happens, if it isn't coming naturally I will leave it and move on, write what I have got so far and add it to the pile of lyrics that just sit on my screen and stare at me. Don't obsess over it, I feel it only makes the block stronger.
Do you have any exercises or methods that you use to keep your voice strong on tour?
I am sure I should and shall one day but at this moment, I just drink a lot of water without ice cubes I was told they would freeze up your vocals chords, be that true or not I still stick by it, people say add lemon too but I hate lemon. I am sure I shall try though at some time.
Which artists and bands would you count as your all time top 5 favourites?
I think I have pretty much stated them but I shall cover al my spectrum for band and solo:
Saves The Day
The Get Up Kids
Jonah Matranga
Death Cab For Cutie
Elliot Smith
Top 5 is hard and that is not in any order just what came to mind first, all hold a special place in my heart plus the oldest Green Day you can find, if it wasn't for Billie Joe Armstrong I doubt I would have ever thought about picking up a guitar.
I saw your music video for 'Living Well' which was filmed in Paris. Why Paris?
Hahah I really have no idea, as Hollywood as this sounds, and it really isn't, the director contacted me and said do you fancy shooting it in Paris based on a day with you, doing interviews, photo shoots etc. something real and personal? And that's what it is, just me being me, singing my song, a mirror image of the solo stuff, heart of sleeve, soul open for all to hear and see.
Was it fun making the video or was it a bit nerve wracking? At some points you look like you are in pretty busy areas of the city - I can imagine it attracted a lot of attention?
I was pretty nervous before I knew no one, not the directors, cameraman etc no one, there was a crew of 4 and we were about to spend a few days together in Paris and London plus I wasn't too confident on my abilities or my knowledge on my own song haha, but when playing in front of people in a street, in a tube station tunnel or in front of the Eiffel Tower the nerves melted away. Lots of people stood around and watched, videoing and taking pictures. At one point we found a street band of brass players, complete strangers to us and asked if they wanted to be pat of the video, they all said yes I showed them the song so they knew the structure and bamo they knew it within second so we played along to the track and wit them adding bits a great bit of fun. I wouldn't change it for anything!
The video is available here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liTMxoC4fk0
What are your plans for the rest of the year?
For both solo work and for the band, the plans are to record new material and tour. Solo wise I want to be back out on the road in September, the band is recording some new tracks now, we started them before I went away now we are all back we can finish them. Same goes for my solo stuff, I tried out new material on the tour went well so I want to record them. What I will do with them is beyond me at this moment but I am pretty sure the world will find out one way or another. Oh and I have a plan for a new music video, I love the idea, hopefully we can pull it off!
