Sunday, April 02, 2006
ARM THE PIT - An Interview with Cradleyard
Reprinted from ARM The Pit -- http://www.armthepit.com/Band%20Pages/Interviews/Band331.html
cradleyard is one of those bands from across the pond who discovered armthepit and was eager to share a bit of themselves and their music to us. As a trio, Steve appointed himself the spokesperson.
Arm The Pit: For the record, what is your band's name? How did you come up with that name?
Steve: Its opposite of grave yard - hope inspires a sense of creativity.
ATP: So who's in the band and what's everyone's life story in 50 words or less?
Steve: I'm also in England band (a famous footie band), teacher, jon - nurse, jonny - repairs furniture
ATP: In a nutshell, please describe your sound.
Steve: Indie, each song very different to the last, folk, progressive, heavy, soft, thought provoking who knows??
ATP: Why did you each of you start playing music and was there a turning point from becoming the dream child that every mother and father hopes their child will become before discovering music? Why did music become a career choice for you?
Steve: I learnt to play euphonium in Africa as a young lad and have enjoyed singing as a form of expression and for fun since I first heard sound of music. jon & jonny played guitars from mid teens since not much else to do in a town with a crap football team and no jobs due to Thatcher.
ATP: What bands have influenced each of you?
Steve: tim buckley, smiths, dino jr, arctic monkeys, richard ashcroft, any good brass band.
ATP: What makes your band unique?
Steve: We sing about life before roundabouts, ebay & aspartame. also - not for us to say really.
ATP: If you could hang with anyone, who would it be?
Steve: My kids.
ATP: What instruments do you each play? How did you learn to play, self or school?
Steve: All self taught.
ATP: Do you write your own music? Who writes the music?
Steve: Jon and I write 90% of all lyrics and music. We take turns to sing.
ATP: What inspires the songs you write?
Steve: too many cars, boring tv, too many crap bands playing crap music dictated by a generally crap music business, American empire building, bad city planning, a lack a decent public transport, bullying, ill informed news readers, I could go on.
ATP: How long does it take you to write a song that’s ready to record?
Steve: The songs could take a couple of hours but to get all involved - drums etc to learn it for recording standard, I would say about another couple of weeks.
ATP: Do you do any recording on your own?
Steve: Yes, Jonny has a self made studio in his attic.
ATP: How would you describe your local music scene? Likes, Dislikes.
Steve: At the moment it seems to be changing the world (execpt USA - which is also a bit late)
ATP: What would you like to change about your local music scene?
Steve: Less 'if you're in the in crowd' you'll get a gig, get a review etc.
ATP: What is your favorite local venue?
Steve: Leadmill
ATP: What's the biggest problem you find when working with other bands, booking agents, promoters and venues when setting up a show or a tour?
Steve: Never really had too many problems - just getting stuff around I guess.
ATP: How experienced are you on the stage? A virgin or whore.
Steve: Very experienced, also I regularly play live on tv and live in front of millions.
ATP: How do you transport your equipment to the gig? Mom's car or a battle weary van. Do you have name for it?
Steve: Own cars, sometimes a hire van.
ATP: Most people will never know what it feels like to be on stage in front of a crowd, explain that feeling:
Steve: I think we just try to really enjoy it and try to imagine if we were in the audience what would make the performance interesting, entertaining and mean something.
ATP: Tell us about your most memorable gig and why it was so great.
Steve: Paris La locomotive because we didn't realize how 'big' we were in France and the French music fans at the time were very open to different, non acid house type music - not the case in UK then.
ATP: Tell us about your worst gig and why it was so bad.
Steve: Leadmill in Sheffield because we worked there at the time and it was a bit like play to your work mates. As a result we were reserved and the gig was a bit flat.
ATP: Do you believe commercial/mainstream music has had a negative effect on new music? Why or Why Not.
Steve: Yes, of course is has. I'm not against people trying to make a living but the music business has traditionally assumed it can 'dictate' the next thing'. As a result a lot of really good music gets ignored and left behind, not in a position to influence and move us all forwards. I still think most
people are now so brain washed that they'll refuse to say if they like a band before they seen a photo of them, seen the video, heard a mate say they OK etc....
ATP: How do we take back music from the suits?
Steve: Look at what the arctic monkeys have done in UK. Not a penny of promotion and they are the biggest thing ever. Word of mouth, the internet, playing live... non suit type things. Tell them NO if its wrong for the bands development in music terms.
ATP: How big of an impact do you think the underground, indie scene has on the current pop culture?
Steve: Massive, much more than the suits realize I'm sure.
ATP: Do you feel that "underground" is just a marketing term like anything else?
Steve: No because a large section of it is in the control of individuals who don't own the music industry anything and are in a position to have some freedom to make decisions away from the buss'.
ATP: Has the internet really been helpful to your promotion? Why or Why Not.
Steve: To a certain extent yes. Before myspace fewer people would have heard our music and email is a much quicker way to make contact.
ATP: Can you name a few of you favorite places on the web for band promotions?
Steve: myspace, soundaloud (in sheffield)
ATP: Do you have a website? What's the address?
Steve: cradleyard.blogspot.com myspace.com/cradleyardmusic
ATP: Tell us about your website:
Steve: You can find our music there and a few other things about the band but the music's the main one.
ATP: Do you have a street team? How do you join your street team?
Steve: Don't know what one is??
ATP: Would you open for a headlining act? Who would it be and why?
Steve: Yes, arctic monkeys because they are from the same town and are brill
ATP: Where's your dream gig?
Steve: Apart from the world cup final later this year I would have to say Razz Club Barcelona.
ATP: Are you looking to get a record deal? Why or Why Not?
Steve: Yes if it helps us to get our music to more people. No if it turns the band into something we are not.
ATP: Let us say that you have been just signed by a major label and they say time to move 2500 miles. Now what, would you be able to move?
Steve: Depends where I'm moving to?
ATP: What are your plans for the future? In a year, 5 years.
Steve: Having won the world cup to still enjoy writing and playing music as well as watching others do the same. If I haven't had at least one more EP / single released before then I will be disapointed.
ATP: Finally, do have any words on what Arm The Pit means to you?
Steve: Not really had much time to see the site in depth but I really like what you are trying to do in terms of helping bands reach out to more people so
thanks!!
ATP: Thanks Steve for introducing us to you guys and your music. Just goes to show the internet is the next great melting pot.
www.armthepit.com
¶ 11:37 PM
cradleyard is one of those bands from across the pond who discovered armthepit and was eager to share a bit of themselves and their music to us. As a trio, Steve appointed himself the spokesperson.
Arm The Pit: For the record, what is your band's name? How did you come up with that name?
Steve: Its opposite of grave yard - hope inspires a sense of creativity.
ATP: So who's in the band and what's everyone's life story in 50 words or less?
Steve: I'm also in England band (a famous footie band), teacher, jon - nurse, jonny - repairs furniture
ATP: In a nutshell, please describe your sound.
Steve: Indie, each song very different to the last, folk, progressive, heavy, soft, thought provoking who knows??
ATP: Why did you each of you start playing music and was there a turning point from becoming the dream child that every mother and father hopes their child will become before discovering music? Why did music become a career choice for you?
Steve: I learnt to play euphonium in Africa as a young lad and have enjoyed singing as a form of expression and for fun since I first heard sound of music. jon & jonny played guitars from mid teens since not much else to do in a town with a crap football team and no jobs due to Thatcher.
ATP: What bands have influenced each of you?
Steve: tim buckley, smiths, dino jr, arctic monkeys, richard ashcroft, any good brass band.
ATP: What makes your band unique?
Steve: We sing about life before roundabouts, ebay & aspartame. also - not for us to say really.
ATP: If you could hang with anyone, who would it be?
Steve: My kids.
ATP: What instruments do you each play? How did you learn to play, self or school?
Steve: All self taught.
ATP: Do you write your own music? Who writes the music?
Steve: Jon and I write 90% of all lyrics and music. We take turns to sing.
ATP: What inspires the songs you write?
Steve: too many cars, boring tv, too many crap bands playing crap music dictated by a generally crap music business, American empire building, bad city planning, a lack a decent public transport, bullying, ill informed news readers, I could go on.
ATP: How long does it take you to write a song that’s ready to record?
Steve: The songs could take a couple of hours but to get all involved - drums etc to learn it for recording standard, I would say about another couple of weeks.
ATP: Do you do any recording on your own?
Steve: Yes, Jonny has a self made studio in his attic.
ATP: How would you describe your local music scene? Likes, Dislikes.
Steve: At the moment it seems to be changing the world (execpt USA - which is also a bit late)
ATP: What would you like to change about your local music scene?
Steve: Less 'if you're in the in crowd' you'll get a gig, get a review etc.
ATP: What is your favorite local venue?
Steve: Leadmill
ATP: What's the biggest problem you find when working with other bands, booking agents, promoters and venues when setting up a show or a tour?
Steve: Never really had too many problems - just getting stuff around I guess.
ATP: How experienced are you on the stage? A virgin or whore.
Steve: Very experienced, also I regularly play live on tv and live in front of millions.
ATP: How do you transport your equipment to the gig? Mom's car or a battle weary van. Do you have name for it?
Steve: Own cars, sometimes a hire van.
ATP: Most people will never know what it feels like to be on stage in front of a crowd, explain that feeling:
Steve: I think we just try to really enjoy it and try to imagine if we were in the audience what would make the performance interesting, entertaining and mean something.
ATP: Tell us about your most memorable gig and why it was so great.
Steve: Paris La locomotive because we didn't realize how 'big' we were in France and the French music fans at the time were very open to different, non acid house type music - not the case in UK then.
ATP: Tell us about your worst gig and why it was so bad.
Steve: Leadmill in Sheffield because we worked there at the time and it was a bit like play to your work mates. As a result we were reserved and the gig was a bit flat.
ATP: Do you believe commercial/mainstream music has had a negative effect on new music? Why or Why Not.
Steve: Yes, of course is has. I'm not against people trying to make a living but the music business has traditionally assumed it can 'dictate' the next thing'. As a result a lot of really good music gets ignored and left behind, not in a position to influence and move us all forwards. I still think most
people are now so brain washed that they'll refuse to say if they like a band before they seen a photo of them, seen the video, heard a mate say they OK etc....
ATP: How do we take back music from the suits?
Steve: Look at what the arctic monkeys have done in UK. Not a penny of promotion and they are the biggest thing ever. Word of mouth, the internet, playing live... non suit type things. Tell them NO if its wrong for the bands development in music terms.
ATP: How big of an impact do you think the underground, indie scene has on the current pop culture?
Steve: Massive, much more than the suits realize I'm sure.
ATP: Do you feel that "underground" is just a marketing term like anything else?
Steve: No because a large section of it is in the control of individuals who don't own the music industry anything and are in a position to have some freedom to make decisions away from the buss'.
ATP: Has the internet really been helpful to your promotion? Why or Why Not.
Steve: To a certain extent yes. Before myspace fewer people would have heard our music and email is a much quicker way to make contact.
ATP: Can you name a few of you favorite places on the web for band promotions?
Steve: myspace, soundaloud (in sheffield)
ATP: Do you have a website? What's the address?
Steve: cradleyard.blogspot.com myspace.com/cradleyardmusic
ATP: Tell us about your website:
Steve: You can find our music there and a few other things about the band but the music's the main one.
ATP: Do you have a street team? How do you join your street team?
Steve: Don't know what one is??
ATP: Would you open for a headlining act? Who would it be and why?
Steve: Yes, arctic monkeys because they are from the same town and are brill
ATP: Where's your dream gig?
Steve: Apart from the world cup final later this year I would have to say Razz Club Barcelona.
ATP: Are you looking to get a record deal? Why or Why Not?
Steve: Yes if it helps us to get our music to more people. No if it turns the band into something we are not.
ATP: Let us say that you have been just signed by a major label and they say time to move 2500 miles. Now what, would you be able to move?
Steve: Depends where I'm moving to?
ATP: What are your plans for the future? In a year, 5 years.
Steve: Having won the world cup to still enjoy writing and playing music as well as watching others do the same. If I haven't had at least one more EP / single released before then I will be disapointed.
ATP: Finally, do have any words on what Arm The Pit means to you?
Steve: Not really had much time to see the site in depth but I really like what you are trying to do in terms of helping bands reach out to more people so
thanks!!
ATP: Thanks Steve for introducing us to you guys and your music. Just goes to show the internet is the next great melting pot.
www.armthepit.com
¶ 11:37 PM
