-Hi Tall Ships! Let's start with the name of the band, why did you
choose this pseudonym?
Hi there, we all studied in Cornwall at the Art university in Falmouth UK. The Cornish and especially Falmouth are very well linked with boats and Tall Ships, they have Tall ship festivals and all of the shops are draped in a maritime theme. Basically it was the most cliche name we could call ourselves whilst living in Falmouth.
-Why do you make music and what does it mean for you?
We have all played in various bands growing up and music is our life, I guess we all dreamed of writing songs and playing them to people, but to get a response and have people connect with it means everything to us.
We started out just jamming in Ric's spare room with no real idea or agenda just to have a few beers and kick out the jams!! However since then we have other things to think about when making music. We have an amazing fan base that have stuck by us from the start and come to every show which is incredible. So we are not only making music for us we are making music for them. We simply wouldn't be in the position we are now without that support.
-Your song “Books“ is simply amazing. What’s the story behind it and
what made you decide to change it from the first version?
The early version of Books is probably the first complete song we wrote back when we were at Uni, it was a really quick organic process where it just came together. We played it in various bastard forms for a year until we recorded it for the first EP, it took a while as we were a instrumental band for about a year and this song was Ric's first go at singing and writing lyrics for Tall Ships. It was a kind of ' He can sing!, lets do more!' moment.
When were piecing together our ideas for songs to go on the album Books was a obvious choice, we all felt that this song needed to be taken to its full potential an that the EP version despite being a fan favourite was more like a demo to us.
-Is There a link between your first compositions and your debut album
“Everything Touching”? It seems like you needed time to find your true
sound and tune.
Yeah, it took us along time to work out what we wanted to say and what kind of music we wanted to write. I think it took us along time because we fell into being a band, we never set out to be doing what we are doing now and we just learnt on the job. We had never been on tour or recorded in a studio or even attempted to write a EP of songs, it was all a learning curve and it definitely worked in our favour. When we started writing for the LP it felt like we were starting to hone in on our sound and anything before that was us trying out as much as we could. Which because of us not pinning ourselves down in the early stages has given us complete freedom to explore songs in different ways that other bands simply can't.
-Many reviewers speak of your own insecurity about the “math-rock”
sound of your first Eps and that you were not content with what you
created, do you agree?
Hah! its weird were not that intelligent to be 'math rock' All of our songs are in 4/4 and we use traditional major/minor chords. I think 'science rock' would be better for us. I can see why people tag us with that, we use loops and we were often billed with bands that are 'math rock' . If we called ourselves 'math rock' we would be bottom of the class.
-If it was up to you, how would you define your sound?
'Science rock'
-Talking about the compositions of your songs: how and where they
born? Do you have a favourite one?
Usually Ric will have a guitar part and we sit in the studio for days until something feels right. Then hours of meticulous jamming, and Beer of course.
Hmmm my personal favourite to play live at the moment is Oscar, for me its great! I get to play noodley bass lines through the verses and then throw myself around a bit for the ending. The lyrics personally strike a chord with me so it makes it more special to play.
-What genres and artists influenced your music the most?
We all have so many influences but we have a holy trinity that have mainly influenced the band.
Battles.
Biffy Cylro.
Sigur Ros.
-You come from Falmouth on the Cornish coast of England. What do you
think about the music coming from your country and how how do you see
yourself in relation to them?
The music at the moment in the UK is thriving but a lot goes un noticed. With the industry in such dire times financially its only a select few that are moving up the ladder. Theres a big 90's throw back revival happening at the moment which everyone is championing which obviously we don't fall into. Its sad really, its regurgitated slackerpop that has no feeling or emotion and is there to fill the void between the ears of the people who write it. I'm not saying its awful just not relevant, theres a time and a place for it but it just feels that the UK scene is full of very safe bands not really pushing any boundaries or being brave enough to show emotion.
-What's your favourite artist and song?
hmmm according to my iTunes this week... The Beatles - Helter Skelter
-”Everything Touching (Bonus Tracks Version)” features remixes of your
songs (made by LA2019, 65days, Teej). How does this idea?
We basically send out the stems of songs to various people that are up for re mixing and then see hat happens... Its pretty fun its like asking someone to redecorate your house. The remixes everyone did came back completely different and we are really happy with.
-How much does the live element matter in your music?
For us the live element is probably the most important, to gain a connection with someone face to face is incredible.
-If you could pick an artist or a band to play with on a stage, who
would you choose?
Craig David, we would be his backing band to play from start to finish his album 'born to do it'.
-What do you think about the music industry nowadays?
Its a tough one, obviously big labels are struggling and not taking any risks so it kind of stunts a small bands progressions to that major label status, but at the same time the underground scene is thriving. Not many people are buying physical records which is awful and the rise of vinyl recently is a welcome change and should be encouraged by both ends of the label spectrum. And so more people are illegally downloading music, but its swings and roundabouts. Now that people have quick access to music it opens a huge audience to bands that would not necessarily have access to and in turn more people are going to gigs. Which is where bands should be made.
-What is the message that you'd like to express to the people who
listen to your music and what would you like to say to your fans?
THANK YOU!!!!!!! xoxoxoxo
-What is your favourite book and movie?
I think I can safely say for all three of us its the same answer.
Jurassic Park
-How and where do you see yourself in ten years from now?
Playing to 80,000 people in America....
-Beatles or Rolling Stones?
BEATLES
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