Aldous RH too. I’d love to play with those two again at some point. James:I’m a recent Aldous RH convert, and Te Magic Gang and Sun Machine are two of the best bands around at the moment. Your track City was chosen by Zane Lowe to kick off his first ever Beats 1 AppleMusic show. How did that feel? Tarek: It was a wild experience to have. None of us were expecting it. I was in shock for a few days, it threw us back. It seems like it’s really all happening for you guys very quickly now. Do you feel like it’s a bit too busy sometimes? Are you able to have some time at home and see friends still or is it pretty much full time full on? Tarek: I should say sorry to my parents and friends who I haven’t really seen properly in a while. I’ve definitely felt the year get busier. When we aren’t doing Spring King, we’re all working some kind of job. I have no idea how we’ve balanced it this far. Considering James works a 9-5, his boss has been
very flexible with the amount of time he gets off! Pete: It can definitely be difficult when trying to balance working and going out on tour and recording, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. James: I’m still hoping we’ll be twice as busy come the new year and playing as many shows as possible, regardless of how hectic it can be. As a band, who are your musical influences? Tarek: Te Clash, Arcade Fire, Te Beach Boys for me. Pete: All of the above! Beck has also been a key inspiration for me; he’s explored so many different styles, often in an experimental way, but his songs always pop. I draw a lot from the energy of American hardcore too; Bad Brains, Minor Treat, stuff like that. James: I think we’re all fans of great songs, regardless of genre – Fugazi are one of my favourite bands, and have an amazing energy when they play live. Otherwise, Joy Division and Lou Reed are up there for me. I imagine you get a great bouncy audience sing-along when you play live. Does it ever get over exuberant? Tarek: I love playing live. My favourite shows are the ones where the crowd are giving you all they have, because it makes you push harder. Tey don’t necessarily have to be jumping around either. It’s in the atmosphere..you can tell when there’s a good vibe in the room. We supported Fidlar in London and that was my all time favourite show. I’m sorry to the band side stage; I had so much adrenaline going on that I threw up next to someone’s shoes as soon as we got off after playing. Pete: Te wilder the better! Spring King are one of the hottest unsigned bands around right now although you have released stuff on various labels. You must have been getting lots of offers? Do you think you might start your own label? Tarek:Pete actually runs a label called Happy Death for fun. We’d love to set up a label eventually. Tere is a lot of interest but luckily we get to focus on the music and leave our manager to the hands of the industry. Pete: Yeah, I’ve released music on my own label in the past and I hope to
“We’re never short of songs! ”
again at some point in the future. I think when artists run their own labels it can be really exciting and refreshing. It’s definitely something we've talked about. You’ve got a lot of songs up on Soundcloud already…do you have more up your sleeve ready for an album, especially now you have been awarded funding from PRS? Tarek: PRS for Music Foundation have really helped us out time and time again. Tis time round they’ve given us enough money to go into a studio and record the album as well as tour. I’ve learnt to make do with what I have, having recorded everything up until this point in my room at home. Unfortunately I won’t be able to record in that space anymore but I am stoked to go in to a proper recording environment with lots of toys to try new things and open my mind to new ways of working. Pete: We’re never short of songs! Tarek has made hundreds of demos over the last few years that we draw from. I’m really excited about going into the studio. I know it's going to be hard work, especially for Tarek as he’ll be producing the record, but we’ve been dreaming of the chance of getting a stretch of studio time to do Spring King for a long time. Your sound is pretty lo-fi and garagey. How easy was it to come up with your own unique sound at the beginning? Tarek: I think our sound has grown with time. I’m not sure what it is though. Pete: I think if you listen through the music that we’ve released in a chronological order, there’s definitely a thread that holds them all together but there’s also progression in the scope of the mixes and production. I think Tarek has grown as a songwriter too, and the rest of us have learnt how to facilitate and add to his vision. More so than ever I think we know what Spring King is and where we want to take it. I feel like when I hear a Spring King song I don’t forget it. What the secret to writing a song that is hard to forget? Tarek: Write a song that genuinely makes you feel something and hopefully that will connect with people around you. If it comes from the heart then someone out there may never forget it.
Lizz Page
outlineonline.co.uk / October 2015 / 13
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48