INTERVIEW: Exiled — Music Musings & Such

INTERVIEW:

Exiled

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IN my first interview of this week...

I have been speaking with Exiled about their new song, Lita’s Place, and what it is all about. I wanted to find out how they found one another and which artists they count as influences – they select some albums that mean a lot to them.

I ask whether there are tour dates booked; which rising artists we need to look out for and who they’d support on the road if they could; how they spend their time away from music – the chaps each pick a pretty good song to end the interview with.

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

Hiya! It’s been really exciting. Cheers for asking!

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

Hey, guys. We’re Exiled and we’re a four-piece Indie-Rock band based in Sheffield.

Lita’s Place is your new single. What is the inspiration behind it?

Lita’s Place pays homage to our local pub in which we spend far too much time in our younger years. Our generation spends a lot of time worrying about the future, listening to drab news headlines and doom-and-gloom news reports. Being up the pub is a time when we forget all that stuff and just enjoy being together.

Guess it’s also about girls too, though.

Can you recall when Exiled found one another and how life started for you guys?

Me (Max), Henry and Ethan met at secondary-school. The band was formed during an R.E. lesson via paper aeroplanes - we never enjoyed R.E. much. Six years later, we met Jack during freshers’ week. He joined up after sessioning for us on tour last summer to make us who we are today.

Which artists do you count as influences?

Catfish and The Bottlemen have a big influence on us. We were all captivated by their sound when they released The Balcony. I (Max) have a love for Surf-Rock and think that comes across in our tunes sometimes. Historically, we’ve enjoyed so many artists from The Smiths to Dire Straits. It’s a mixed bag to be honest. I’m (Max) personally a big fan of The Strokes, Jack loves The Killers.

Is there going to be more material coming from you down the line?

Yes. 100%. There’s so much of it ready and waiting.

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

Think it would have to be our first sold out show on a Scruff of the Neck bill. That show was nuts. Either that or playing at this year Great Escape in Brighton; that was really special.

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

Max: The Strokes – Is This It

That’d be my desert island album. I can burn a day listening to that on-repeat.

Jack: Feeder - The Singles

The first album I ever owned and still one of my all-time favourites.

Henry: Catfish and The Bottlemen - The Balcony

Bangers throughout!

Ethan: Bon Iver - Bon Iver

I love putting that album on and just completely chilling out. Some awesome tracks on there.

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

Catfish and The Bottlemen, for sure. And it’d have to be Percy Pigs and Long Island ice teas.

As you are called Exiled, if you could exile anyone from Britain/another nation, who would that be?

Oof. Not sure how to deal with that much power! Maybe we'll exile Max to The Bahamas so we have an excuse to visit him.

What advice would you give to new artists coming through?

Keep doing what you’re doing; say ‘yes’ to everything and, if it doesn’t work out, see it as a learning curve. Get your music on Spotify; get into your local BBC Introducing and have fun with it. If it ain’t fun, don’t bother.

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

We play at Cafe Totem in Sheffield on 14th June. We open the Main Stage at Nibley Festival on Saturday, 6th July and there will be more exciting announcements down the line.

Is touring something you all love doing?

Love it! So great seeing new places and faces. There’s a real sense of pride in touring and we can’t wait to head out again sometime.

IN THIS PHOTO: Hockey Dad/PHOTO CREDIT: Alex Wall

Are there any new artists you recommend we check out?

You should check out Hockey Dad and a band called The Reytons. The First is a sick Australian Surf band and the latter are Indie-Rock; kind of early-Arctics vibe to them, which is really nice to hear.

IN THIS PHOTO: The Reytons

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

Oddly, I actually find writing a very relaxing thing to do. Nice getting lost in spacey sounds and coming up with lyrics and licks. We're all big fans of being outdoors; getting the fire pit lit up and draining a few beers. That and food. Food is our passion.

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).

Max: The Strokes - Under Cover Of Darkness