INTERVIEW: Pleasure Barge — Music Musings & Such

INTERVIEW:

Pleasure Barge

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THE brilliant Pleasure Barge…

have been chatting with me about their brand-new single, Electric Ride, and what its tale is. I ask the Manchester-based band what the scene is like there and whether there is more material coming along next year – they reveal their tastes and artists that are important to them.

Pleasure Barge highlight some rising artists to watch and talk about tour dates; the albums that have made the biggest impression on them – they end the interview by selecting some rather cool songs.

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Hi, guys. How are you? How has your week been?

Absolutely bangers and mashing. Our week has been sound as a pound, honestly.

For those new to your music; can you introduce yourselves, please?

We consist of five Doritos aiming to make your existence a little bit closer to that infinite groove of love. Ludo sings those tasty vanilla tones; Cameron riffs that jammy-scratchy scratch; Lawrence slides that slinky fly-flow with his cakey bass and Buddy raps his way to Italian stardom behind the vortex of a light-year (he has a Nord).

And Leon.

Electric Ride is your latest single. Can you reveal the story behind it?

In 2014, Ludo and Cameron went to the East Croydon rave. Life found a way; our generation found a song and we tried to replicate it with this one. The Manchester scene and s*ite British politics have also had a big influence throughout the four years it took to be created and produced. But, ultimately, it’s a song about forgetting yourself, falling in love and escaping reality with someone you think is beautiful.

Might there be more material coming next year? How far ahead are you looking?

Definitely, this century. We are hoping to release our first E.P. this year, along with a second single and two or three music videos to accompany them.

How did Pleasure Barge come together? Is there a story behind the band’s name?

Buddy works and explores a lot of car boot sales. He came across a vintage set of five ‘60s Playboy magazines. Whilst we wrote a list of over one-hundred songs on our wall, we ended up going with our fifth choice, Pleasure Barge, which comes from a line somewhere in one of the Playboys about when your date goes wrong and you ‘find yourself treading water among the shattered remains of a pleasure barge’. Eventually, even as our music drastically changed, it stuck.

Manchester is where you are based. Is it a great city to record and create in?

Sure. The beer is cheap and the tea is strong.

In terms of music; what did you all grow up around and idolise when young?

Ludo: James Blunt, Nickelback; Busted, Coldplay. That’s it. And Garfunkel without Simon. Also, N-Dubz and Guns N’ Roses.

Cameron: Chopin, Rachmaninoff; Death Grips, Red Hot Chili Peppers; the songs of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma, Robbie Williams, Zeppelin; Elliott Smith and Soft Hair. And, I love The Beatles, man. Tinchy Stryder - Catch 22 was the first album I ever bought on C.D.

Lawrence: George Clinton, Muse; Quincy Jones, Black Eyed Peas and Will Smith’s Greatest Hits.

Buddy: Barry Manilow - Bermuda Triangle and, when I was feeling adventurous, Copacabana and Could It Be Magic.

What do you hope to achieve by the end of 2018?

Finding a new drummer - as Leon is going back to his home planet.

Have you each got a favourite memory from your time in music so far – the one that sticks in the mind?

Probably selling out Soup Kitchen in Manchester and shooting our first video with Grimshaw Mink. Shout-outs to McConnie Edford Providence for our first gig as well.

Which one album means the most to each of you would you say (and why)?

Ludo: Abbey Road by The Beatles because it's perfect.

Cameron: ‘The White Album’ (The Beatles) by The Beatles. What I listened to when I was young and what I’ll listen to as I check out for sure.

Lawrence: The E.N.D. (The Energy Never Dies) by The Black Eyed Peas because it made me feel real.

Buddy: “The Spaghetti Incident?” by Guns N’ Roses.

If you could support any musician alive today, and choose your own rider, what would that entail?

Probably Kid Cudi or maybe Danny Brown. We always request a copy of Point Break, ideally on DVD, and freshly-pressed ginger is cool. A cowbell and lavishing us with additional garnishments is also always appreciated.

Are you going to be touring more later this year? Where are you heading?

We’re coming to London next week for a couple of shows then coming back to Manchester to support our favourite Italian Popstar Colapesce at Eagle Inn on 9th. We’re planning a New Year’s gig and a tour after that and hope to do the festival circuit after.

What advice would you give to new artists coming through?

Have fun and don’t change for your label. Stay unsigned, eat fresh - ’tis better than riches to scratch where it itches; three is company and any amount of alcohol under two pints you feel like a superhero…anything more and you’re in the danger zone (high voltage).

IN THIS PHOTO: Bin Juice/PHOTO CREDIT: Charlotte Bauer

Are there any new artists you recommend we check out?

Sylvette and Tugboat Captain we love. FUC*ING BIN JUICE. SERIOUSLY. WHY AREN’T THEY FAMOUS? Ronald Raygun and Porij are Gs. House of Bondage shout-outs. Also, there’s this band we think are gonna blow up called Jimmy Neutron and the Lemon Squeezers. Look out for them.