INTERVIEW:
ETCHES
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AFTER their single Love Is…
captured the public imagination and gained kudos; the lads launched into a double A-side, Human Façade/My New Empire. The former concerns an ex-adult industry whistle-blower. The song examines the effect of online pornography on the mind and consciences. My New Empire drips with 1960s Motown influence and a lo-fi rhythm section. The Liverpool band talk about their craft and how the songs came together; how they got together and started playing – what the next step is for them.
I ask them about their favourite albums and songs; what gigs we can expect them to play; how their Christmases are faring – and what the music scene is like in Liverpool right now.
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Hi, guys. How are you? How has your week been?
As the one member of the band without a car or a Liverpool residency - I’ve been fairly shafted by Mersey rail industrial action and the ongoing Lime St. works this week.
Business as usual for everyone else…
For those new to your work; can you introduce yourself, please?
We play Alt-Pop with fat choruses.
Human Façade/My New Empire is your new double A-side (out on Friday, 3rd November). What is the origin of the songs?
We have a painfully democratic process of deciding on what ideas and half-songs are going to be fleshed out. Human Façade, at first a lazy drum and bass loop, almost didn’t make the final cut until it was welded onto another half-song that had been knocking about for years.
My New Empire appeared almost fully formed from Ross; for us then to add guitars and instrumental nuances.
Why release a double A-side? What was it about the songs that compelled you to release both?
We’ve been sitting on these songs for a while and just wanted to get them out there. At this point, the desire to have them public outweighed any release strategies.
Both songs find contrasting sounds. There is everything from Motown/Soul to Psychedelia. Would you say your current material is broader and more ambitious than your earlier stuff?
I’d say so...
In the past, our tracks began pretty far-out, and then, were gradually reigned in. We are better at telling the difference between what’s fun to play and what gets to the point more these days.
James Bragg produces. What was it like working with him?
He had no agenda and would just listen and fiddle with things - a temperament most suited to enduring us in the studio.
Can you tell me how ETCHES came together and what those early rehearsal sessions were like?
A long time ago, under various incarnations, originating in Guildford. The band is getting progressively younger (and more northern) -which 3/5ths of us are glad about.
Do you all share a love of the same artists? Who are the musicians you all look up to?
Not necessarily; although, we find common ground in Jazz, Hip-Hop; classic Pop as well as modern weirdos like Ariel Pink, UMO and King Krule.
Will your new singles lead to an album or E.P.?
It’s possible: we certainly have an album's worth of material good to go.
The band is based in Liverpool. How vibrant and busy is the city when it comes to new music? Do you think the city gets the credit it deserves?
Actually, three of us are in Liverpool: one in Manchester and one in Wigan. Admittedly, we are out-of-the-loop, almost completely, in Liverpool.
What tour dates do you chaps have coming up?
Manchester – The Castle (02/11).
London - The Islington (04/11).
Liverpool – East Village Arts Club (26/11; supporting Echobelly).
Who are the new artists you suggest we check out?
Not necessarily new artists - but this year I’ve enjoyed new albums by Richard Dawson, Xiu Xiu; OXBOW and Show Me the Body.
If you had to select the one album that means the most to you; which would it be and why?
595 by Karate
It has everything I love in equal measure: Jazz, Post-Rock and Emo. It evokes fond memories of sitting around listening to music with friends in university halls - where I first heard it.
What advice would you give to artists coming through right now?
Paul: Decide immediately whether you want to make it a career or whether you are in a band to have fun and play a few shows. If you want a career, you need to work harder than you ever have before; push yourself, your relationships and your finances further than you sometimes even feel comfortable with - and always strive towards acceptance of the fact that even then, that probably won't be enough. ‘The music industry’. That phrase is a misnomer, to say the least. Trying to be a professional musician is a kind of insanity.
But there are fun bits.
Christmas is approaching. Do you all have plans already or will you be busy working?
Quality time with loved ones all around, I think. I, however, will be working on Christmas Day; earning triple-pay…reflecting on life choices.
Finally, and for being good sports; you can each name a song and I’ll play it here (not one of yours as I’ll do that).
Paul: Somewhere Safe by Elevant as my song - and suggest people check out the labels Deathly Records and Loner Noise for new artists in the city
Ducktails – Letter of Intent
If You’re Here – Cornelius
Carolina Bela – Jorge Ben e Toquinho
Richard Dawson – Black Dog in the Sky
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