The One When I Interviewed Joe Carnall Jnr

JoeCarnall Jnr is something of a household name in Sheffield. After performing and recording as part of Milburn, Reverend & The Makers and The Book Club, it's not very hard to see why.

When it comes to Christmas, the Joe Carnall Jnr & Friends shin-dig is something that provokes more excitement than Father Christmas himself. I caught up with Joe head of his performance at the O2 Academy to chat about this year's bash, his plans for 2016 and his love for Wham. Well, sort of...

TSN: Now, Joe, you are and have been a part of your fair share of bands in Sheffield. How did it all start out for you?

JCJ: This probably goes back to when I was about six years old. Me and my brother joined a football team, we met a couple of lads there and we played on the same football team for years. Then when we were around thirteen we decided that we’d start a band and called ourselves Milburn.

TSN: So you were friends first?

JCJ: Yeah, it was just a case of us all growing up together and being good mates, even after the band split up. We're still really close to this day. But we were all just as rubbish as each other at playing instruments and stuff.

TSN: This year you played Tramlines festival and you performed your solo material. Do you still get nervous putting out a new record?

JCJ: It's strange. I've been singing since I was about fourteen so I don't get nervous about playing in front of people at all. It is different when it's your own stuff. I've always written with bands and you sort of share the burden. This time, it's all on my head. But I don't get nervous anymore, I've passed that stage. It's more excited than nervous now, which is quite sadly really because nerves can be good for you.

TSN: How is it different performing solo as opposed to being part of a band?

JCJ: Well, I've not done loads of gigs yet. Luckily, we've got ten gigs lined up this month which is our first proper tour. We did a couple of support shows for The Enemy, which has been good. I love playing to people who don't know who I am because there’s no expectation. It's the true test of your material. 

TSN: What do you think of Sheffield’s current music scene?

JCJ: I don't really know an awful lot about it. I think you've gotta be a certain age to know all the new bands. You hear about ‘em but I think I'm out of the loop a little bit. I do like a band called Liberty Ship. They've worked with us (Rev and The Makers) before. Really nice lads.

TSN: If you could have written any Christmas song, which would it have been and why?

JCJ: Absolutely great question. I think it would be Last Christmas by Wham. It's gotta be. If you take the word Christmas out of it and replace it with any other word, it could be a hit any time of the year. 

TSN: Easter?

JCJ: Yeah, Last Easter has a ring to it. I just think it's a brilliant song. You can play it on guitar, on the piano, you can sing it...

TSN: Speaking of Christmas, you put on a show every Christmas called Joe Carnall Jnr and Friends. What can people expect from this year's performance?

JCJ: It's bigger...again. I keep pushing myself, which is a bit annoying, but it's the best way to be. The stage is bigger, the room is bigger and there'll be more guests. Liberty Ship will be supporting, it's always nice to get a Sheffield band on first. I mean, why not? It's their crowd too. I'm gonna try and get more people to come along and hopefully some people from outside Sheffield will come too. Let's spread the love a little bit.

(He won’t tell us who else will be making an appearance though…spoil sport.)

TSN: What’s in store for 2016?

JCJ: We should definitely have a record out next year. I just need to finish recording some bits. We've got a label in mind and we're talking about what we're gonna do and when we should do it. I'm gonna see how it goes really. You've just got to put something out there and see what comes back. 

TSN: And finally, if you had your own chat show, which three guests would you invite and why?

JCJ: I'd have Ernest Hemingway, he's a geezer and he loves a drink. Well he's actually a bit of a misogynist but... I bet he's got some good stories to tell. I'd have to have a footballer. Probably Maradona because he's crackers. Then someone who would add some dynamic to it like Bjork. 

** Please note: This post has been added and back-dated to the original time of publishing. Originally published in print for H Magazine. I thought you still might like to read it. **

The One When I Interviewed Bang Bang Romeo

The past 12 months have been a whirlwind for Bang Bang Romeo. From releasing a new single, shooting a music video in the desert and smashing the festival circuit! I caught up with guitarist Joel Phillips, to see what all the fuss was about…

TSN: So first of all, tell us where your band name came from...

J: I believe the name came from a hazy night in a Sheffield Tapas bar. Bang Bang Romeo creates imagery of love and violence – romantic but brutal. We try to do the same with our song-writing and performance so we feel it fits and gives off the right impression.

TSN: How would you describe your sound?

J: We've had some flattering reviews of late. "A hard edged Fleetwood Mac" was really flattering from Chris Kimsey, who we massively respect. He has worked with The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin so coming from him, makes it mean more. What makes us stand out is that we aren't trying to fit in or sound a certain way, we have just stuck to our guns and our influences have come through to make a sound we all love, learning from the greats without just being an imitation.

TSN: If you could create the soundtrack to any film - which film would it be?

J: The new Tarantino film The Hateful Eight is on the way and we are all huge fans of the films and their soundtracks. That would be the absolute dream. BBC Introducing also commented that some of our tracks sound a bit Bond-esque. It would be awesome also to have a crack at something as iconic as a Bond theme tune. The old ones like Goldfinger and Diamonds Are Forever are just phenomenal.

TSN: What is your song writing process?

J: Usually the ideas will come from Ross, he is the main songwriter. He will usually bring the bare bones of a song to practice, then we all add our input and it will come out sounding completely different three hours later. It feels really good at the moment because we’re all on exactly the same page; we know exactly what we want it to sound like.

TSN: The last 12 months have been a whirlwind for you .Tell us, what has been the main highlight for you since starting out?

J: Our latest single Johannesburg was play-listed by XFM, who have been amazing and supportive. We flew out to Spain and shot the video in the deserts of Almeria, which was an amazing experience. Topping it all off, playing Isle Of Wight was an absolute dream. We were even picked out as highlight of the Festival by The Mirror, alongside Fleetwood Mac and Blur! We were absolutely stunned; it felt amazing to be put up on that pedestal with two of our favourite acts. We have to keep pinching ourselves.

TSN: Speaking of highlights. You recently played Isle of Wight Festival and Tramlines here in Sheffield. How were the two festivals different?

J: Isle of Wight is a festival steeped in history and heritage so it was such an honour to be asked to play. We were an unknown to most people, so when the tent started filling as we played, we knew it was purely because of what people were seeing and hearing. Tramlines is the complete opposite. It’s home turf for us, with lots of friendly faces and a great vibe. We did three shows this year - a nice sweaty intimate affair at Frog and Parrot, a set on the big stage on Devonshire Green and on the Tramlines busker tram. The whole weekend is great, Sheffield comes alive with music! We are so grateful to how everyone locally has got behind us this year.

TSN: So, what is next for Bang Bang Romeo?

J: We've just started working with an agent thanks to the amazing summer we’ve had and there's lots of exciting things going off that we aren't actually allowed to talk about yet. We are really excited about how things are developing.

TSN: And finally, if you were a chat show host and you could pick the brains of ANY three musicians, past or present, who would you choose?

J: That would have to be Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon and Jimmy Page. All for the same reasons too. Absolute genius's who were pioneering and all are massive influences on the way we sound. It would be amazing to get an insight into that genius! Imagine those three passing a guitar around? Mind blowing.

** Please note: This post has been added and back-dated to the original time of publishing. Originally published for print by H Magazine. I thought you still might like to read it. **

The One When I Interviewed Childhood

Childhood has been working the underground festival circuit for the past few years. Since then they’ve been on the radar of every decent radio show host, including our very own Jarvis Cocker!

Kicking off the UK tour – their debut album Lacuna is out now – I managed to catch up with Ben and Leo ahead of their show at the legendary Leadmill. Join us as we talk smashing tea-cups, getting nervous and the reason behind that all-important band name.

TSN: First of all, explain the band name...

B: It stemmed from a drunken idea I had one night. We both went to the University of Nottingham and I was trying to convince Leo to be in a band with me. We didn’t have any songs but I knew I wanted to be in a band called Childhood. It was a fun way to start really.

TSN: Congratulations on your debut album Lacuna. How is this different to some of your previous low-fi stuff?

L: It’s very different I guess. We worked for a long time with a record producer in a real recording studio.

B: But we still kept the spirit of rough and ready recordings, just done in a more professional and knowledgeable way.

L: And it was more experimental.

B: We opened up mentally, in this crazy elaborate studio where we felt we could make a racket.

TSN: It seems you had a lot of creative control in making the album.

B: Definitely. We did a lot of things we could have done at home – smashing bottles, tapping on tea cups and just making weird noises out of furniture. Dan was an integral part of finding different angles and different ways we could record stuff.

TSN: You’re playing Sheffield tonight. What can we expect from your performance?

B: It’s hard to say really.

L: We haven’t played for a while, but it should be an energetic and thrilling experience.

B: Yeah we have!

L: Not in the UK.

B: Oh yeah… I like this wall here {the dressing room has a wall covered in music magazine cuttings}. It’s quite intriguing…look at that, a Reading Festival weekend ticket for £20!

TSN: So what do you enjoy most about live performances?

B: I think we all enjoy it but we all take something different from it. I personally prefer being in the studio, because I like making songs. It sounds like I don’t enjoy it but I do, obviously. I love giving it my all.

L: There’s nothing better than when a crowd is giving back. If you are giving your all, they do give back. Hopefully, we’ll see some of that tonight.

B: With live shows, it’s more unpredictable and that is part of the excitement but for me, it’s quite daunting. At least with studio sessions, you know what you are getting.

TSN: You’ve been doing this a while now, do you still get nervous?

B: I always get nervous.

L: Yeah! Especially when it comes to big gigs. We’re playing Brixton Academy with Johnny Marr in a few weeks, that’s quite nerve racking.

B: I find it hard to distinguish the difference being nervous and being excited. They kind of intertwine. I think not being nervous is kind of arrogant…

TSN: So what if things hadn’t worked out – what if Leo hadn’t said yeah on that drunken night?

B: I would probably do something basic like bar work. That’s what I was doing when I left Uni anyway. If I wasn’t in a band I’d probably try and set up my own label. Something quite pure and musical.

L: I’d like to think I’d be doing the same. I’ve never had a proper job. This is the first job, if you can call it that, that I’ve had in my life.

TSN: Childhood has been compared to the likes of Savages and the Stone Roses. Where do your influences come from?

B: We just listen to a lot of bands together. Leo introduced me to more modern guitar music. We’ve never tried to make a certain sound or be like a certain band.

L: We just wanted to recreate the feeling we got from listening to that music, in our own music.

B: Yeah, we have a lot of shared interests, from 80’s and 90’s pop music to modern guitar music and classic songwriting musicians. But we try to take a new scope on it.

TSN: If you could have written any song what would it be?

B: I don’t know. That’s a good question – I think it would probably be Hello it’s Me by Tom London.

L: Pure Shores by All Saints. Maybe I could re-imagine it.

B: That’s a good shout! 

TSN: And finally, if you hosted your own panel show who would be your three dream guests?

B: Wait! I know, Richard Pryor and Bjork. Who else would I have? Paul Kaye as...Paul Kaye.

TSN: Right guys, thank you for speaking with me. Best of luck with your performance tonight!

** Please note: This post has been added and back-dated to the original time of publishing. Originally published in print for H Magazine. I thought you still might like to read it. **

The One With ’90’s Shoegaze and Dream Pop

Perched on top of a table in the corner of a small bar in Sheffield, Widowspeak, a young, talented, indie-pop duo from Brooklyn, look right at home. The poster couple bring their own nuances to independent music with their 90’s shoegaze, ethereal sound.

Their opening song pours into the room, with patient guitar hooks and haunting vocals. Guitarist and vocalist Molly Hamilton is endearing throughout, especially on Ballad of the Golden Hour, which really showcases the pairs song-writing talent.

The versatile guitar lines between Hamilton and Thomas create a tangible compromise of hippy idealism and the spirit of good old rock n' roll.

Widowspeak signed to independent record label Captured Tracks in New York, which has nurtured and developed the rise of luminescent music by signing bands such as Wild Nothing, DIIV and Mac Demarco. They released their debut album of the same name, just a year after forming.

Without a band behind them, the performance feels slow and slight. The showmanship is stripped down to bare minimum. But it's edgy and it's cool. I mean, what do you expect from a small independent band, who are said to be touring entirely on trains with just their guitars on their backs?

The Dark Age combines infectious guitar riffs with romanticized, melancholic lyrics. The highlight of the performance is the arrival of one of their latest singles, Thick as Thieves, which feels both empowering and nostalgic. The crowd, swaying in time, are drinking in every word.

Minnewaska provides a meshing of warm folk-tinged guitar licks and enchanting vocals. The set closes with Storm King, another melancholic number which stops suddenly and echoes throughout the room.

Bungalows and Bears are always known for putting on cool live music, especially over Tramlines weekend. Sure, there are tonnes of bands who sound great live but Widowspeak's performance was honest and raw. I wouldn't be surprised if they're on the bill plenty more festival line-ups in the years to come.

** Please note: This post has been added and back-dated to the original time of publishing. Originally published by Sheffield Unchained. I thought you still might like to read it. **

The One With Wolf Alice

Mixing undiscovered local talent with some of the hottest bands on the music scene, it’s no surprise that Tramlines has harnessed the title of ‘best Metropolitan Festival’ in the past.

This year’s line-up saw the Tramlines debut of Wolf Alice, a young, four-piece alternative band from London. 

Wolf Alice first crept onto the music scene in 2010 sporting a folk-tinged pop sound. Originally a solo project, vocalist Ellie Roswell was later joined by guitarist Joff Oddie, bassist Joel Amey and drummer Theo Ellie. Alas, the rebirth of Wolf Alice, now described as the “lovechild of folk and grunge”.

Following the release of their self-titled EP, Wolf Alice signed to independent record label Chess Club Records, which has nurtured and developed some of the most talented new bands in the UK. They released their first single Fluffy in February. Gaining airplay from BBC Radio 1 and recognition from NME, Wolf Alice began roaming the independent festival circuit – which brought them right here to the Steel City.

Carefully selecting Sheffield’s much loved Bungalows and Bears as their musical cavern, the band present a cracking show.

Proudly displaying their progression from previous folk niceties, their opening song fills the room with core-shaking drum beats, intense crashing of guitar riffs and enchanting vocals. Roswell is truly mesmerizing throughout, particularly on White Leather, which isn’t too dissimilar from the soft vocals of Romy Madley Croft of The XX, who are signed to the same record label.

Their ferocious presence hasn’t waned since I last saw them in Leeds. Nose Dive proves a firm favourite with the crowd, hinting at a new wave of 90’s revival.

Their first single Fluffy is finally announced by the heavy roaring of guitars and goes down a treat. The band never takes their foot off the pedal as they launch straight into Leaving You.

The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the arrival of their latest single Bros a song about friendship and loyalty.

Wolf Alice are a breath of fresh air. They look cool, sound cool and had an achingly dry sense of humour when joking around between songs.The audience were left musically sated, no doubt wondering what would come next for a band full of charisma and formidable talent.

I have a feeling that Wolf Alice will continue to prowl the music scene with their unique sound. And in all honesty, I can’t wait to see what they do next!

** Please note: This post has been added and back-dated to the original time of publishing. Originally published by Sheffield Unchained. I thought you still might like to read it. **