Introducing...My Forever

YMC: When and how did you get together?

Dave (My Forever): Me and Roy met through mutual friends at a party in Newcastle at the beginning of summer 2009 and discovered we had similar musical tastes. Later that year, during November, we arranged to get together to work on a number of song ideas which I had come up with. We quickly realized we had a strong musical connection and decided to form “My Forever”.

YMC: You have just released your debut single "Silken Butterflies", it has a very strong band sound to say there are only 2 of you, how have you done this?

Dave (My Forever): Everything you hear on the single has been recorded by me and Roy. All the instruments were played by Me, and the vocals by Roy. It was then mixed and produced in my home studio. Obviously to reproduce this sound live we will need additional band members and that’s something we have planned once the EP is complete. For the moment we are gigging the songs acoustically.

YMC: Where can we get the single?

Dave (My Forever): It is available as a free download from our myspace page (www.myspace.com/myforeverofficial)

YMC: Do you have any further recording plans?

Dave (My Forever): We are currently recording further tracks for our debut EP which will hopefully be completed in the next couple of months. This will be released online for download however, we will be posting new tracks on our myspace page as they are completed so keep checking on there for news on this.  

YMC: Who are your main influences?

Dave (My Forever): For me my songwriting has been influenced heavily by bands such as The Goo Goo Dolls & Dashboard Confessional where as my guitar playing has been influenced by bands such as Led Zeppelin and U2. Roy however, is lyrically influenced heavily by his passion for poetry and vocally by bands such as Death Cab For Cutie, and Silversun Pickups. 

YMC: Have you any gigs coming up, where do you mainly play?

Dave (My Forever): We have been doing acoustic gigs in Roys home town of Scarborough however, we are mainly focusing on completing our EP at the moment. As soon as this is finished we will be gigging intensively in as many places as possible. We are planning on having an EP release show in my home town of Leeds once the EP is finished so keep checking on our MySpace for news on this and any acoustic shows until then will be posted on our MySpace too.

Find out more on http://www.myspace.com/myforeverofficial

Introducing...Disciple 32

YMC chats to Disciple 32 from Wakefield/Leeds

YMC: Tell us something about the band, how did you meet, how long have you been playing together?

We all go to the same college. We actually started through a completely random favour. Phil and Samir had already started the band and they were working on a song but they were stuck on a drum beat. Laura just happened to be very nearby and so we called her in and the beats fit with our riffs. So it all kicked off from there!
We've not been together very long, just under 3 months.

YMC: How would you describe your music? Who writes the songs?

It's a fusion of a few genres- Alternative/Rock/Prog Rock/Funk but we're about to receive a special element to our set-up in a couple of weeks, altering the style a little to added fusions of dubstep/electro and popcore
Extremely random but it seems to work!

Phil, the guitarist, normally works on riffs and then we come together as a band, jam the riff and see what flows. We then amend and alter the songs properly until we get a sound we really like.

YMC: Who are your main influences?

Them Crooked Vultures, Pink Floyd, Alexisonfire, A Day to Remember, QOTSA, Judas Priest, Squarepusher, Muse, Pendulum, Biffy Clyro, Dave Gilmour, Thin Lizzy and Incubus.

YMC: What venues do you like to play at?

Any venue that has a really nice atmosphere.

YMC: What can people expect from a live show?

Utter randomness! All our songs are pretty versatile, so you'll be hearing a fusion of a lot of genres!

YMC: Do you have any recording plans?

We're currently in the studio, finishing off a few tracks. That's why we've not got much on our Myspace, unfortunately. But, we'd love for people to come catch one of our shows sometime!

Find out more on http://www.myspace.com/diciple32

Introducing...Metro

YMC chats to Sally Tucker and Johnny Hannaford from Leeds/Wakefield band Metro

YMC: When did the band start, has it always had the same members?

ST - Metro was originally born in 2002/3 when university students Sally Tucker and Simon Bailey started playing and recording covers and eventually original material. The pair studied for their degrees and Metro was put to the side until Sally re-formed as a 3-piece in the summer of 2004, by this time tho Simon had moved back home to Wisbeach. Sally Tucker kept Metro going and stuck at writing material for the band throughout various line-up changes. When Bassist Johnny Hannaford joined, at late notice in June 2005 to help Sally and Derek Tucker (drummer from 10/04) go ahead with a GuilFest appearance, his postion became a permanent move and the pair audtioned and recruited James Robinson on the Kit at the end of July 2005. Metro gigged all over the country but in July 2006 James decided to leave the band. Sally's faithfull 'old man' took over the sticks again.
YMC: You originally started playing covers, do you think this is a good way to learn your trade?

ST - We've never been a full on covers band, we have slotted the odd one or two in every now depending on what we feel the audience would appreciate but as a band we've always concentrated more on getting our own songs out there!

JH - For me, its got to be a mixture of both covers and originals, you can improve your technique, and get a good feel for how songs can be written in different ways, from learning to play covers, but without spending the time trying to write and play original stuff you won't get anything original.

YMC: Who writes the songs?

JH - Sally writes the initial song, then Dirk and I add our parts, sometimes Sal will provide an idea of how she thinks the bass and drum parts should go to fit, and we try to keep and element of this in our own ideas.

ST - when I write it usually takes me a few listens to decide whether it's worth passing onto anyone else to listen to, if I do I hand it to Johnny (who normally comes back with an awesome bass line!!) and it's only really then I begin to like a song and see the potential...thats usually when the ideas start in full flow.
YMC: Who are your main influences?

JH- Madness, Specials, Jam, and more "recently" Spencer Davis.

ST - John Lennon, Paul Weller and a little pinch of everything I ever hear...be it good or bad!

YMC: Do you think the music scene has changed a lot since when you first started? For better or worse?

JH - I've been in 2 bands prior to Metro, one originals and one covers, and we played a different circuit to the one we play with Metro. The most obvious thing I can see now, is it's much more difficult to get people interested in what you do, there are many more ways to promote yourself through online media, and a lot of talented musicians and

songwriters go unnoticed.

ST - I was in an original band while I was at University, we faced the same sort of issues with promoting ourselves as we do now, but with the launch of sites such as myspace and facebook it is getting better. We were a Rockabilly band though so the circuit, venues and audience were slightly different. Other than that i've only ever been a solo artist (singer/songwriter) and again just think with modern technology it is getting better to get your music out there and reach as wide an audience as possible.

YMC: Do you have any immediate plans, gigs, recording, etc.?

JH - We're starting to gig regularly on the back of a soon to be released recording. The new songs are brutually honest, and represent the highs and lows of the last 2 years. We have a new promoter, Donna, who is working hard to get us gigs, and improve our fan base. Our immediate plans involve beer, sex, football, and kebabs, however gigs will centre around Wakefield and Leeds, with the occasional trip further afield. Starting on the Sat 27th Feb we will play at the Jockey in Wakefield, continuing with gigs throughout the early part of the year, see www.myspace.com/metromusicuk for further details, and early previews of our new material. Only alcoholic nymphomaniacs

need apply !

ST - Here here! 

Introducing...Two Skies

YMC chats to South Yorkshire band Two Skies.

YMC: When did Two Skies form and who are the band members?

Two Skies are:
              Dan Cutts- Guitar, Words
              Oliver Harrap- Drums
              Jamie Cheetham- Bass

We've been playing together for the past 18 months.

YMC: Do you write the songs as a band?

Yes. We like to jam a lot and through that learned each how each other plays which enables us to create a band sound.

YMC: You have just finished recording your debut EP (self produced), has it taken a long time?

As we recorded at our own studio, SKYLAB, we didnt have to watch the clock which meant we had a relaxed atmosphere and could spend time on what we found important. Primarily focusing on solid grooves and dynamics.

YMC: Do you think you have learnt a lot too?

Definately. We like to constantly try out new ways of writing and recording the music and like to have fun and experiment with our ideas, so the biggest thing we learnt was to keep the emphasis on the feel of the track.

YMC: When and in what format will it be released?

The EP will be available in March on CD through Amazon, Genepool records website and our website: www.twoskies.co.uk
Also as a download on ITunes and most other digital retailers.

Find out more on http://www.myspace.com/twoskiesuk  

Introducing...Talk With Lies

YMC chats to Talk with Lies from Wakefield

YMC: When did you start the band, did you all know each other first?

TWL: The band started in late 2008/ early 2009 with two good mates Conor (Bass/Vox) and Sam (Drums/B.Vox) finally after a summer and autumn of playing together in a garage finding a like minded guitarist, who wanted to have a laugh and make fun music with a wide range of influences. This guy was Tom (Guitar/Vox) and from here the Trio was formed.

YMC: Who are you influences?

TWL: Our major influences vary widely from many eras. Conor has been hugely influenced by bands such as Funeral for a Friend, Green Day, Paolo Nutini as well as many others. Sam has been influenced by bands such as Green Day, Blink 182, The Jam as well as many more. Tom has probably been most influenced by one person not only musically but also in his whole way of life that being Paul Weller, he has also been influenced by many others including more modern bands such as the Enemy and Muse.

YMC: What venues do you like to play at?

TWL: We love playing at any venue really, we don't have any specific favourites although smaller venues are nice to play especially with a group of well known fans, we also love bigger venues like the DNE venue in Wakefield or the cockpit in Leeds.

YMC: What do you think of the Wakefield scene?

TWL: We think if you are a heavier metal band the Wakefield scene is pretty good at the moment as well as if you are a tribute band with many venues offering a lot of these. But we feel for under 18's especially in lighter rock bands it is not as good and at times can be quite poor.
YMC: You are currently recording an EP, how is it going?
TWL: It has gone really well the recording process was soo much fun for us we got in the studio and just had a laugh playing through the songs we love to play. It also adds a new dimension to our tracks with tom being able to record both rhythm and lead guitar parts which are not always possible as a three piece on stage. The tracks are now taking shape and we are in the process of mixing and mastering them ready for the launch in March! This is crazy for us we never have come  so close until now of releasing our very own CD.

YMC: Do you think the internet helps bands to get known? Myspace or facebook?
TWL: We think that these sites do help bands get known but not as much now as say 2 or 3 years ago. We feel it is a lot more about word of mouth and live shows again now rather than finding bands online. We ourselves have seen the decline in myspace users or people using it regularly and while there has been a huge influx of people using facebook it doesn't really have the facility for music like myspace does.

Find out more on http://www.myspace.com/talkwithliesbanduk

Introducing...The Dawnriders

YMC chats to Dan Louch from the West Yorks based band The Dawnriders.

YMC: Who are the band members, how did you all meet?

D.Louch: Hi YMC, There’s my cousin Joe Leach on keys and organ, Danny Teale sings lead vocals, Kieran Troth plays drums and does all the percussion parts, his brother  Matthew Troth plays bass and I play lead, rhythm and slide guitar and sing backing vocals.  We met at Leeds festival. We all ended up camping together through a mutual friend, and just became really close after that.  Me and Joe have played in bands together since being kids and Matt, Keiran and Dan Teale used to be in a band together as well.  We were all on a camping trip in Settle I think when me and Dan came up with the first Dawnriders song. It was something like 3 in the morning and we were sat around our camp fire.

We kept hearing these wired noises and howls coming from the woods. We were really drunk and were just coming up with random explanations as to what could be happening in there.  We made up this weird love story about a man who has seen an angelic women wandering through the village, he follows her to the edge of the woods but she lured him in. she turns out to be a vampire and he goes up there to see her every night for weeks but then he gets caught by the other vampires and gets bitten, he loses his soul but can be with the woman he loves.  The chorus for the song is just the wailing noise we could here, or we thought we could anyway.

After that trip we started exchanging ideas and writing songs, we ended up with 6 or 7 so we played them to the others who all loved them so they joined. Now we all work on stuff together as a group. It’s a really good dynamic, everyone adds something different to the sound and all the different ideas make the songs a lot stronger musically.

YMC: Lyrics are obviously important to you as you base many on your favourite literature, is that where a song starts for you? Do you write the words then add the music?

D.Louch:  It works in a few ways really, all of us love films, books and stories, and after we wrote the first song we set out to write songs that all had some kind of narrative running through them, kind of like little films if you like but set to music. Me and Dan wrote most of the songs for the album together, but we go about writing songs in slightly different ways, we used to meet up a lot and work on songs and ideas we both had, we just kind of gelled and our different song writing styles suited one another other.  I’ve always written songs without a proper lyrical structure, Ill have a story and melody in my head with a few lyrics and a title, then ill record an acoustic version for Dan and he writes the rest of lyrics. Where as when dan comes up with an idea he usually gives me the melody and a poem and I put the music to that.  It depends really what comes first, it’s usually an emotion you feel about something in your life that’s at the heart of a song you write, and the initial lyrics kind of come from that.

 

YMC: Who are your main influences?

D.Louch:  For me its Jimi Hendrix, there’s elements of him in everything I do, along with all the old blues players like Robert Johnson, Son House and John Lee Hooker.   We all love the classic 60s and 70s artists like The Doors, Dylan, Led Zeppelin, Jefferson Airplane and Pink Floyd. That kind of California, summer of 69 acid vibe.  But saying that the last album I bought was Grace Jones’ Nightclub, theres so much music that has influenced us its impossible to really pin it down.   Dan is more into the singer/songwriter stuff from the 60's and 70's, particularly the west coast americana stuff and i think the combination of influences has given a lot to our sound.  I think we sound like the band Butch and Sundance would have been in had they not been bank robbers and got killed.

YMC: You are currently recording an album, how's it going?

D.Louch: It’s going well, we’ve got 8 tracks completed that just need a few tweaks and final mix, then we’ll probably record the last 5 tracks in the next few months.  We’ve been really lucky to work two really talented producers, Daz and Paul at Big Blue Media recordings, they’ve just kind of captured the overall sound that we wanted, they’re really good guys too.

YMC: Will this be a digital release or available on CD too?

D.Louch: Hopefully both, we’re looking to release an independent single first and then release a couple of singles and the album through a label later this year.

Find out more on http://www.myspace.com/thedawnriders

Inrtoducing...Night Herons

YMC chats to Night Herons from Leeds.

YMC: When did you start, who are the band members?

The band is:

Clare Kelly - Vocals
Joe Armitage - Lead Guitar and Synth
Chris Warr- Guitar
Tom Kelly - Bass
Will Ashton - Drums & Backing Vocals

We had the idea of starting a band after we’d  finished our GCSE’s at school. After those exams you get rewarded with an enormous summer holiday and we all played different instruments so we decided to start messing about at these rehersal rooms next to a skipyard in Guiseley. Nobody else in our year had a band or anything at that point so we thought it would be a good thing to do. Then we realised singing was a lot harder that we’d thought so we got Clare in. We knew her already and knew she had a pretty distinctive voice so it all slotted together nicely.

YMC: What are your favourite Leeds/Bradford venues to play?

We don’t tend to play in Bradford as much as we used to in the earlier days for reasons unknown. In Leeds there’s a load of great venues to play. We’ve played at the Cockpit a few times which has always been really good. The Elbow Rooms is another good one, too. I think as long as you’re playing to a room which has an atmosphere or is relatively full then the prestige associated with the venue you’re playing in doesn’t really matter. 

YMC: How would you describe your music?

Describing your  own music when you’re in a band is never easy because whatever you say, it comes off as sounding a bit pretentious and egotistical. None of us share the same taste in music really so we all have different ideas when we write songs. I think if all the members of a band share precisely the same musical influences then there’s a danger that they just become a sort of distant tribute act which is never good.

YMC: Who are your influences?

Our influences vary massively between us all. Clare’s a fan of Fleetwood Mac and that kind of style whereas Will leans towards pop – even though he’s confessed to us on numerous occasions that Mick Fleetwood is his style icon. Then we’re into a load of bands in-between those styles really.

YMC: You've had some gigs in London, has this been positive?

Playing in London is useful. It’s great experience to play in places that you’ve never played before because that way you don’t become accustomed to one venue in one city. I think people there are perhaps more into seeing live music in London but at the same time they’re crippled by choice.  If they don’t like you they could walk next door and see another band playing. Playing in London can often sound more glamorous than it actually is, too. Some people hear the word ‘London’ and think that automatically means you’re doing well, whereas you could quite easily book a gig down there and it could be purely your band playing to a man behind a mixing desk in a grotty venue. Luckily that hasn’t happened to us so far though, whenever we've played there we've had good feedback and the crowd have been quite responsive and complimentary .

YMC: Do you have any plans to record anything?

We’re recording again in mid-February.  I think we’ll do two or three new songs which are sounding promising. They’ve both got quite integral guitar parts and a bit less synth which is good because I think synth music is sort of taking over at the moment so it’d be beneficial to go against the grain and record songs with massive guitar choruses and hooks. We’ll just see what happens when we record next and then see where that takes us and hope for the best.

Find out more on http://www.myspace.com/nightherons