What’s the story behind your latest song/album?
We were a bit shocked at the pace that top flight musicians were starting to cancel really big stadium tours earlier this year and they were giving out all sorts of different reasons – but it was clear what was happening, they just couldn’t sell enough tickets. Why ? Because after COVID, we were all desperate to go out and see our favourite artists and had the money to spend on expensive tickets. But things have changed. We’ve seen the biggest ticket agencies fleecing us unfairly with dynamic pricing and economically, times are hard. We don’t have the same money to spend on tickets. We’ll never stop loving the music but a lot of us will miss the big gigs and go to pubs, clubs and bars to see our great local bands instead !
How has your creative process evolved over the years?
Writing a great song, especially the perfect pop song, is really hard ! When we were teenagers, we didn’t really think about writing “hooks” and how to bring your listeners on a journey with you. Trying to be good at anything takes thousands of hours and you just have to put all that work in – it’s hard and frustrating but that creative process is great when it works and you end up with a song you are proud of and most importantly, people love too !
Is there a specific moment in your career that felt like a turning point?
Yes ! We never felt like our playing was good enough in those first three years but when we got into a recording studio for the first time to make a single, we met our first music producer, Brad, who had worked with Paul Simon and within an hour or two had our music sounding professional and truly great, in a way that it never had before ! We really started to believe in ourselves and what we could do, from that session onwards.
What’s one misconception people have about being a musician?
People think that being in a band is all glamour and being in the spotlight, with an audience cheering and applauding you. That’s the best part and makes it all worthwhile. But they don’t see the grind of travelling around, never having enough money in those early years and worst of all, the endless waiting around. Most of your day, week or month is waiting for a plane, sitting on a bus, waiting to soundcheck, waiting to go on stage – it’s crazy why anyone does it all !
Who or what has been inspiring your music lately?
Every country seems to be going through even tougher times this year and a lot of the world crises seem manufactured or completely avoidable. We think people need music that will help them escape from all this and lift them up, remind them of all the love in the world and how better times are ahead. we need hope and happiness and our next songs hope to take you there.
Can you share a memorable or unexpected moment from a live performance?
Probably our worst moment was when we were playing a club called “Bogarts”, me and the other guitarist Mike, stepped up to the spotlight to play a harmony guitar solo and the lights went out at exactly that moment. We both missed our notes on the fretboard and our playing was so bad and screechy, it sounded like two cats fighting in a sack. We had a good laugh about it afterwards.
How do you handle creative blocks or self-doubt?
Phone a friend. My own biggest frustration is when you’re writing a song that you know could be good but you just can’t find the line or the chorus that will bring it to life. Time and time again, you sit down with a friend, say “I’ve got this piece” and they go “Yeh, how about this ?” and then suddenly the deadlock is broken. It’s exciting and joyful and you both know what you’ve found is “right” instantly. The key message is “Don’t Panic !”
If you could collaborate with any artist, living or dead, who would it be and why?
Peter Gabriel. He is such a creative guy, inquisitive, curious and never afraid to try something new. He has worked with so many other artists in a very generous way and as Kate Bush said several years ago, “he throws open all the windows” and lets fresh ideas flow in. He was very influential and supportive of World Music, going back to the first WOMAD festival in 1982.
What’s a piece of advice you wish you had received earlier in your career?
Music is a craft and a learned skill. As Malcom Gladwell wrote “you have to put your 3,000 hours in, to be good at anything”. Before the Beatles went to Hamburg, they were good local band in Liverpool, nothing particularly out of the ordinary. When they came back, they were ready to conquer the world ! We wish we’d worked harder in those first years – we could have got here quicker.
What’s next for you—any exciting projects or goals on the horizon?
Oh yes. Inspired by the work of Peter Hamilton and “futurist” writing, we’re trying to imagine what our lives will be like in 30 years if we keep on the same path obsessed with our phones and technology. We can get back to what really matters: family, friends, the arts, nature, experiencing this life and what it means. Sounds like material for a new album ! It will definitely be different to Blue Dot Fever. All our music starts off with us asking ourselves a question. What it will sound like comes later !