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ABoF’s Class of 2015: Blair Jollands
We're ending the year on a high as we look forward to the best new bands on our roster who'll be making waves in 2015. Here's part two.
Artist: Blair Jollands
Sounds like: A country and Eastern David Bowie.
Releases: Half Life LP - March 2015
What others are saying about them:
“…beautiful…” - The Guardian
Having been compared to artists such as Nick Cave, Scott Walker, David Bowie, Leonard Cohen and Rufus Wainwright, Blair has found his own true voice with his forthcoming album.
In their own words: "Epic, elegant, big soul stuff."
For more information about Blair Jollands, visit his artist page or his official website.
ABoF’s Class of 2015: Ex Libras
We're ending the year on a high as we look forward to the best new bands on our roster who'll be making waves in 2015.
Artist: Ex Libras
Sounds like: Thom Yorke fronting Foals but, really, Ex Libras are a sound unto themselves!
Releases: Side Step Left LP - Spring/Summer 2015
What others are saying about them:
“A strong mixture of classical, combined with chilled-out experimentation is enough to give you a good impression of what this band has to offer.” - The 405
“…beautiful…” - The Line of Best Fit
“…Refreshing…” - DIY
In their own words: "Ex Libras produce a beautiful mix of the melodic, ambient siren song and ear shattering emotional explosions."
For more information about Ex Libras, visit their artist page or the band’s official website.
ABoF Bands on The Referendum
Here at ABoF, we're proud to be working with bands from all over the world - our roster is truly international. However, with the Scottish referendum on everyone's lips, some of our Scottish bands decided to tell us why they'll be voting Yes or No on one of the most important political days this generation has seen. And remember kids, whatever the outcome, let's all remain friends!
Alburn
"We are voting yes because we think it'd make a little sense if the people making decisions affecting our country actually cared about our country."
Algernon Doll
"I'm voting YES because I want to scrap nuclear weapons and end our involvement in illegal wars. The money could be spent better on our child care and health service. I'm voting YES because I want to live in a democratic Scotland where my vote counts, a Scotland where the people are sovereign and not just the millionaire bankers. I'm voting YES because I believe the people of Scotland know how to govern our own country best. I'm voting YES because I choose hope over fear." - Ewan Grant
Dante
"We're split - not down the middle - but we are split. There are now six members of Dante - three of us have always been Yes voters, two have moved from No to Yes, and one of us remains a No. So, in total five of us will be voting Yes, and one No. For that reason, we are not a "Yes band" and so haven't been engaging in the same kind of social media/other campaigning as some Scottish bands. It wouldn't have been fair. Personally, however, I'm voting Yes because I feel it gives us a much better chance at starting to create a fairer society. As naive as that may sound." - Seán McLaughlin
Jo Mango
"I am voting yes because I would like the chance to have and create a more powerful vote for a fairer society."
We Came from Wolves
"We are split as a band so we are not a 'Yes band' either, however, I am voting yes for a chance at true democracy within our country. To prioritise bridging the gap between rich and desperately poor over funding war and the storing of nuclear weaponry on our shores, against our wishes. To rise up from the rule of another country and have full control over our own economy and affairs. No one can run our country better than people working and living in and for Scotland.
We have a chance to show the world that by working together, and putting people before profit, real change can be accomplished...all this without the firing of a bullet or the dropping of a bomb... how can I not say yes?" - Kyle Charles James Burgess
ABoF’s Five Pointless Questions with… Katalina Kicks!
My wife often complains that too many guitar bands just don't have balls any more. When she sees a man pick up an electric guitar, she doesn't want to hear about his painful breakup, or whether his father hugged him enough when he was a kid - she wants to hear him scream in the face of "the man" (whoever 'HE' is) and play choppy, ear destroying hooks that make the status quo (not to be confused with "Status Quo") scared to turn on the radio.
Or at least, that's what I think she's been saying. I've been too busy listening to Katalina Kicks and their foot-stamping, speaker shaking album that sounds like a love letter to all things garage rock. I should probably send those guys ABoF's five pointless questions...
1. Using the fairy tale format, tell us how you all met.
Once upon a time a pint of Devonian scrumpy and a little kiwi fruit met behind a bush and conceived a very special baby. This baby was christened Prince Katalina - and he kicked. A lot.
Although he was indeed a very special baby he needed a stronger heart. So the Scrumpy and the kiwi searched the land far and wide for a suitable match until they found a very angry little Lancashire hot pot simmering away in the gutter. The heart was perfect on this one so they set about tearing out the little hotpot's heart and putting it into the prince. 'eh bye gum, be careful!' cried the hotpot, 'What thee doing?'
But in a flash the deed was done!
Over the next year Katalina grew stronger and stronger until he was old enough and strong enough to battle and travel the globe on his quest to bring his own special sound to the world.
On his travels he bumped into a guitar slinging koala carrying a rare album, playing like Hendrix mixed with Lennon.
Prince Katalina thought 'If only I could digest this little fella's sound the world would stand up and listen and I could connect on a global scale.'
He quickly grabbed the koala and his record and ingested his sound instantly.
Katalina was now complete and kicks all over the world.
The journey continues until there is a happily ever after........
Not the End.*
* No drugs where taken and no hot pots where killed whilst writing this story.
2. Who or what was the defining moment in your life that made you decide to be a musician?
When I heard Nirvana for the first time. Was life changing.
Musician-wise, there has to be a melting pot of influences from John Lennon, Kurt Cobain, John Bonham, Jim Morrison, Joe Strummer, Marc Bolan and not forgetting Freddie Mercury for his showmanship.
3. If you could pick a superpower what would it be and why?
Invisibility - would be a great stage trick for starters and get you into so many places!
4. In ten years time where do you want to be?
Using my Super powers from the last question.
5. If you could only play a stranger one of your songs to make a first impression, which track would you choose?
'Sex n Drugs', as it's one track that kicks ass and leaves a long lasting impression.
Dirt by Katalina Kicks is released 7th September 2014 via Snappi.
ABoF’s Five Pointless Questions with… So Many Animal Calls!
So Many Animal Calls have a band name ripe for writing off on a tangent. Unfortunately, a mild case of sunburn has left me a bit frazzled. I think I cooked my brain a little bit while I was desperately trying to learn how to surf over the weekend (conclusion: I can't). I could go on about the different animal calls I can think of, but that would be incredibly boring to read, and working out how to type them out so it didn't look like an excitable kitten had wandered over my keyboard is enough to bring me out in a hot, stinging sweat.
So, before my skin starts to peel, here are ABoF's five pointless questions with So Many Animal Calls!
1. Using the fairy tale format, tell us how you all met.
Once upon a time me, Sean and Ross met. My earliest memory of us becoming friends was when we were 15 and I gave him some Brand New posters, badges and a mini muffin (which was not Brand New themed). After that we started exchanging music (I introduced him to Death Cab and he introduced me to The Lawrence Arms) and opinions and it was quite clear we had similar tastes. It took us a few years to both be in a position where we had time to play in a band together and I’m incredibly glad it happened. Songs tumbled out, fell into place with ease and it all felt very exciting. We began playing shows in Summer 2010. Ross was in attendance at some of these gigs and we kept meeting him at other shows we were going to. He phoned me two days before Christmas in a panic because he was trapped in Bathgate and needed a ride back to Glasgow. We had a long journey, and consequently a long sober discussion. He had already offered to play bass for us and made the offer again – a week and one practice later we were convinced – everything sounded full and we were able to do the songs and the recording justice. We continued on in this format until early this year when unfortunately our drummer, Martin, left due to commitments with another band. Thankfully, he helped us find a new drummer in the form of Sam Leighton. We had known him for years and he has instantly been a great fit. That brings us up until now where it feels like things are moving in the right direction - we all have similar goals and ideas and things are simultaneously comfortable but exciting.
2. Who or what was the defining moment in your life that made you decide to be a musician?
There are two moments I can really think of – neither are particularly impressive and are actually a bit embarrassing.
The first was when I was 9 years old. I’d played piano for 4 years but had no interest in music. I didn’t practice, I didn’t listen to any music (bar Buddy Holly’s Greatest Hits) and it was hugely frustrating for my piano teacher. She once played snippets of songs from nine books of sheet music and asked which ones I liked. I said none and she pretty much gave up on me. My older sister used to always tape the Top 40. If it was on in the car I would largely ignore it. But then I heard Wheatus' “Teenage Dirtbag”. I don’t know what it was. It just really excited me. I asked for a guitar for my birthday a month later and began playing from there.
The second was when I realized I wanted to be a songwriter. It was when I heard The Ataris' “In This Diary” – I think I was 12 or 13? It was the first time I had really thought about the importance of lyrics and how much depth they can add to a song. It took a few years for it to trickle down into my own songwriting (around 6 to be precise) but I remember that being the point that I realized the importance of lyrics and how something should always be written with meaning.
I think those were the points I realized I wanted to play and write music. As I said, neither are particularly groundbreaking.
3. If you could pick a superpower what would it be and why?
I had a dream about this. I think it perhaps shows the mundanity of my mind that in the expanse of my dreams I chose the superpower of being able to dispense garlic mayonnaise on demand from the tips of my fingers.
I think if my conscious mind had to choose it would be super intelligence. I know most would opt for flight or super strength but you would be shot down or drunkenly kill someone in a taxi queue with a single shove. Plus if I was incredibly intelligent I would maybe be able to insert some sort of gene that expresses garlic mayonnaise dispensers in the tips of human fingers. I think it's a win-win.
4. In ten years time where do you want to be?
The music industry is fickle, unpredictable. Ideally we’d be in a position where we can play music for a living, where we can play outside the UK and people come to see us and sing along. I went to see “The World is a Beautiful Place and I Am No Longer Afraid to Die” in Glasgow in April. There were maybe 250 people there – if I could fly across of a third of the world and play to that many people who are genuinely enthusiastic and passionate about the band then that would be make me pretty happy. If we were at that point in 10 years time then I’d be smiling.
5. If you could only play a stranger one of your songs to make a first impression, which track would you choose?
“In Winter We Should Have Headed For Shelter”. I am incredibly proud of a lot of our songs but I always see that song as the benchmark.
From The Sick Bed is released via Bloc+Music and is available to buy on the band's official BandCamp and to stream on here.
EP Burden can also be purchased from the band's official Bandcamp, iTunes and Amazon.