INTERVIEW: Moderate Rebels — Music Musings & Such

INTERVIEW:

Moderate Rebels

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MY one and only interview of the day...

is with Moderate Rebels who have been talking about their new track, The Value of Shares, and the album, Shared Values; the artists and sounds that inspire them and how the band found one another – they recommend some rising artists.

I ask what they have planned going forward and whether there are any gigs coming up; the advice they’d give to emerging acts and whether they get chance to chill away from music – the group select some great music to end the interview with.

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

Hello. We're well. We're doing a couple of gigs and the album is coming out - it's a good week.

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

We’re a bunch of friends who get together (whoever is available at that moment - so the line-up can up to nine or ten people in different combinations) to make noise we like. We intend to think, or try, as little as possible about it so it feels very natural.

The Value of Shares is your new track. Can you explain the story behind it?

Like a lot of things so far, we just did it…then we tried to find out what it meant. That’s a fun exercise. We have theories but it’s much more fun to hear what anyone else thinks it’s about.

Shared Values is the album. Are there particular themes that inspired it?

We think we’re living in an era when lots of people feel they have lots of questions (perhaps that’s every era?) and we seem to touch upon that. Doubt, uncertainty; vague language, conflicting information and opinions are all inspirations.

Do you recall when Moderate Rebels got together? What is the secret of the band’s solidity and longevity?

We did one song and did one gig and then things took on a life of their own. By not being solid (flexible line up) and having no long-term plan, apart from making some music we like, perhaps that helps us work quickly and have fun with it. I’m sure it’s different for everyone.

In terms of music; which artists are you drawn to?

You can imagine, across ten people who like music, that there is no easy answer to this question. We could give some names but they would be true for some people and not for others. It’s a big mix up and we don’t really worry about it.

As Christmas is coming; what one present would you each like if you could have anything?

Surprises are always good, generally. We like people using their imagination.

Do you already have plans for 2019?

Next Moderate Rebels album is well under way and it could well be a double-album. Ideas don’t seem to be a problem just now.

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

It’s always a good feeling when you hear a song you did on the radio next to people whose records you buy. Live shows have all been fun, too. The first gig, especially, when we played the only song we had at the time (God Sent Us) for twenty-eight minutes continuously could have gone really badly, but the crowd really went with it.

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

Blood Orange has been pretty popular with some of us this year. Great, modern Soul record. Again, though, this is a big question for ten people and, honestly, we’ve never really talked about it. We just do stuff; we don’t really discuss the reasons why or the influences we have.

We’d spend most of our time talking if we did.

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

St. Vincent would be fun. We’d ask for a quick guitar lesson from her. She makes it look very easy.

What advice would you give to new artists coming through?

Don’t take anyone’s advice about anything: make your own way and see how you feel about it.

Do you have tour dates coming up? Where can we catch you play?

5th Dec: Aces and Eights Saloon Bar, London

Are there any new artists you recommend we check out?

Gelatine (in Glasgow) we liked recently. Uncle Tesco are great as well.

Do you get much time to chill away from music? How do you unwind?

If we are playing music, in the right way for us, then it should be relaxing to play (doesn’t have to be necessarily relaxing in sound). If we feel we need to unwind from playing music then something is going wrong somewhere.

Finally, and for being good sports; you can each choose a song and I’ll play it here (not any of your music - I will do that).

Gorgeous Bully - I’ll be True