time you play and you think, 'I really want to win this!'
Were you aware, in 2012's competition that you’d come second? J: No, not until afterwards when one of the judges told me. It was after everybody left and we had a long conversation about stuff. S: All we knew, at the time, was no, we hadn't won. I think Raevennan was the best act on the night, looking back at it, it's just that when you're involved, you feel so disappointed that you can't see it clearly.
What gave you the confidence to enter again for 2013's competition? J: Well actually, we didn't decide 'til the closing day for entries. We weren't gonna do it… R: We thought to lose two years in a row would probably hurt too much! J: But then someone said to our manager that he thought we should enter again. We looked at it objectively and thought if we got through to the final, it was a great opportunity to play the big stage in Open again. M: Band competitions can be quite crushing and you're up against other people who don't play the same kind of music you do and sometimes it can feel like a bit of an unequal playing field, but it's just a case of getting your name out there.
Obviously you entered in the end, and I wanted you to talk me through the semi-finals, and then ultimately the final. J: We were really nervous at the semi- finals. For us, there was a couple of really standout bands playing that we were up against and we worried that we weren't gonna make it through. When they read our name out, we were chuffed! Duncan: I think it was relief as well, wasn't it? Like, "we are supposed to be here!" S: Tere was a massive hope, and equally there would have been massive disappointment if we didn't get through then.
And then the Final…? J: In order for us to play as well as we could, we just kind of went out with the attitude that we'd already won - not in an arrogant way, just to be really passionate about what we were about to give. It was better to think, 'we're not accepting defeat again', and go in with a battle in mind. S: I think it was tougher this year. Tere was a lot of doubt in my mind, so it was just a case of wondering who was going to come out better. Having seen them all at the semi-finals, there were some
Tinking Men are good enough to make this their career.'
As soon as I heard, "Te Tinking Men have won", I heard, 'Te
really good acts. D: It was a long wait as well, because we were on last. We'd seen how good everyone else was and we knew we had some tough acts to follow.
It was quite an electrifying night, 'cause it was much better attended than last year and there was some good support for each band. Us judges thought we might get lynched at the end! S: When we won, I saw the bodyguard stand by the stage so nobody followed us up there and tried to attack us, or something! [Everyone laughs]
And how did it feel when you won, when Kate read your name out? J: I felt absolutely amazing. Every musician is waiting for that moment where industry professionals, or ex- industry professionals - people whose opinions matter - tell us we're good enough to do it professionally. As soon as I heard, "Te Tinking Men have won", I heard, 'Te Tinking Men are good enough to make this their career.'
With the relatively recent additions to the band, firstly with Matt and then later, Duncan, has the songwriting process changed at all? Are the boys included now? J: Massively; it's usually me or Ronnie that comes up with an initial idea and then we bring it to the band and we write it all together, as one. I think that it's important that when you're writing a song, you put as much attention on each instrument. Te initial idea won't stay like it for very long, once we've brought it to the band… R: Which it doesn't. It changes completely. M: Exactly, as a drummer I want to make sure I'm playing the best drums I can on this track, and work out how to make it different from the last one. D: Tere's more quality control now, as well.
You're being touted around our own county a lot at the moment, but what about beyond Norfolk's parameters? R: Yeah, London, haven't we? J: Yeah, we're playing in London tomorrow at Te Cavendish Arms with our mate Axel Loughry. I think we've attracted some attention of some other people in the industry who aren't necessarily from Norfolk, which is what you want from a band competition.
So far we've been treated to a couple of singles and an E.P., but how far off are we from an album, do you think? J: Not an album, but we're planning a new E.P. with a new producer who's kind of a big deal, if I can say that! R: Hopefully we're looking to get it released in about April time. J: It's going to be - hopefully - the most professional sounding record we've produced so far. People should be excited about it, 'cause we certainly are.
Emma R. Garwood
Photography: Karl Hendry
MORE INFORMATION
To find out more about Te Tinking Men, listen to their music and keep up to date with their gig dates, go to
http://thethinkingmen.info. Read the full version of this interview on
Outlineonline.co.uk
outlineonline.co.uk /Janury 2014/ 21
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