Exciting News!

I think that it's time for me to announce some brilliant, fantastic, amazing news!

If you follow me on twitter, you may have noticed that I've re-tweeted a lot to do with Tredfest. This is because I have the opportunity to review it and interview some bands who  are playing the festival.

It's all starting tomorrow, where I get to interview The Dead End Friends, which I will get up as soon as possibly can.

I will also be darting from venue to venue to catch as many bands as I can, so that I can get as much of the atmosphere, so that I can write the best review for you.

Also, on the night, I get to interview Henrys Funeral Shoe. Which I will have up either before or after the main post about the festival.

I'm honestly so excited for this, I didn't want to reveal this too soon, but the fact that it's 2 weeks until it kicks off I thought that it would be apt to start to start the build up.

You can still buy tickets here, you can follow the festival on facebook or twitter.

 5 Venues - 7 Stages - 1 Unforgettable Day

Stage Times

 

An Interview with Edward O'Neil

As you are all aware I had the pleasure of interviewing some musicians this weekend, the first one that I interviewed was Edward O’Neil. Despite the awkward time differences, he was a pleasure to talk to, he was happy to answer any questions that I threw at him, and did so with ease.

You can find Edward's music online on YouTube, the link to his Facebook, YouTube and Twitter will all be at the bottom of the page so that you are able to check him out! Which I thoroughly recommend!

So firstly, tell us all about yourself?
I’m Edward O'Neil I live in Ontario, Canada and I sing and make electronic music.

How would you describe your sound in five words?
Electronic, Catchy, Dreamy, Explosive, Authentic

Who was your biggest inspiration?
My biggest inspiration has always been Owl City I love what he does and I think Adam Young's talent is severely underrated as a musician. I also really enjoy Imogen Heap. She's an incredible producer. And Daft Punk too more recently... So many great artists out there!

Are there any special traditions you have when preparing for a show or
writing a song?
Not really I just try and just keep everything go with the flow but after a song is finished I like to eat pizza and go for a run or something outdoors.

What inspired you to go into the genre that you are?
I think just hearing electronic music done really well. I always wondered how they made it and wanted to try it for myself.

What’s your favourite song to date? And why?
This one is impossible, but I really like a song called "Not like the Movies" by Katy Perry. It’s magic.

Which famous musicians do you admire? Why?

Chris Martin from Coldplay. He just seems like a really down to earth guy, writes good songs, and helps out the environment, all round great guy.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
I don't like having spare time I need to be always working on something. But if I do have some I try and just go outdoors, my generation spends and insane amount of time of their laptops and cellphones it’s nice to just get away from that for a second.

When and why did you start playing?
I started at age 15, I really don't know why I started playing. There were a couple of guys in bands and at my school and they always looked like they were having a blast so I wanted to be a part of that.

What are your fondest musical memories?
I really like when people in general say "I thought you're music would suck but then I listened and it’s actually really good!" I always feel pretty satisfied when I get those messages.

How long on average does it take for you to create a song, from start to finish?
On average it usually takes about 2 weeks per song. Writing songs is easy but recording them and adding all the different layers, instruments, and effects is the hard part. A lot of people don't know that electronic music can easily have 100+ tracks in just one song, I spend an enormous amount of time on the final mixes as well.

Youtube | Facebook | Twitter 

Competition Winners! Sleep Star Ignition!

If you follow me on twitter, you will know that I recently did a competition for that when I reached 200 followers I would randomly select a follower of mine, to win a sort of promotion on here.

I reached 200, followers no problem, however, I being an airhead, managed to loose the emails between me and Sleep Star Ignition, who were lovely enough to even send me a link to get their latest EP - "I Love What You've Done With The Place" which is available for everyone to get. 

They also do weekly podcasts called "I Love Sleep Star Ignition" which is available here and on iTunes.

I got talking to Bob, who is guitar and vocals, however there is also Nick, who is main vocals, Zach M who plays bass and Zach B who plays drums.
I asked if there was any additional information that the guys would like to tell me and this is what they said;

"Additional things about us include the face that we're pretty hardcore comic book nerds and have a guilty pleasure for professional wrestling. We played the Cincinnati, Ohio date of the Vans Warped Tour in the summer of 2014 and are looking forward to more accomplishments like that in the future. We are completely independent as far as releasing our own music and running our own social media, so any time you interact with us it is, in fact, US. We're very proud to be a band that looks at our fanbase as a family and we're always down to chat with whomever would like to learn more about us. "

At first when I watched their video for Lunar Transmission, I thought that Nick looked like a mix between Dave Grohl but more beard-y and Adam Lazzara, which isn't a bad thing when it comes down to it!

 

And they have a sound that's the best of both Foo Fighters and Taking Back Sunday, with lyrics that will have you truly thinking about everything, and I mean everything. I really can't wait too hear more off these guys and too see exactly where their music takes them, and I pray that it's far and they can get everything out of it because they are the most down to earth and helpful guys especially when they were so understanding about me loosing an email and everything! 

These guys are honestly amazing, they will blow your expectations out of the water, because they did that for me! It's like putting your hand in your pocket and finding some money, it's like a little gift to yourself from yourself, but in this case it's a little gem from twitter to me. And now I'm sharing that gem with you! I know, I know, you're welcome!

 

Oh and they've just released some merch, which is looking extremely tempting! 

Twitter | Facebook |Website

Throwback to all my Skindred memories!

At the age of 14, I'd be going to see a band I would fall in love with, and go and see a further 3 more times, that band being Skindred.

Merthyr Rock 2012

Merthyr Rock was my first ever festival, it was only a small local one which was set up 10 minutes down the road from where I live. My parents, close family friends and I decided to go because how often does a small Welsh town get it's own festival?. The line up was full of Welsh bands and not so Welsh bands, like The Blackout, Funeral For A Friend, Straight Lines, Reaper In Sicily and of course Skindred, but at that time I didn't know what to expect with them, because I had never heard of them.


They blew my mind. They got the entire crowd going, it was unreal, I had never seen a crowd move in such a way, with such energy. I was hooked. No other words could describe the pull they had, not just on me but my entire family. And the thing is, they weren't even the headliners, they were essentially the support for The Blackout.

 My dad ended up coming home and buying their CD's at stupid o'clock in the morning after an entire day of consuming alcohol... That could have ended up horribly wrong...

I then ended up seeing them again, for the second time, again at Merthyr Rock 2012, this time they were the headliners. This time I was a lot more prepared for the carnage that they were going to unleash, especially with the Newport Helicopter, which I've mentioned in previous blogs. I sung until my lungs gave out, but that did not stop me, I went absolutely nuts. I loved every minute of it, I came home sweating, bruised and ringing in my ears, because once again I was on the barrier.

They weren't playing Merthyr Rock 2013, so I had to go to go a year without my Skindred fix. I was gutted because I was dying to see them. 

However, in 2014, they announced that they were playing a home town show, in Newport. I told my mam and she bought five tickets for me, her, my dad, and my aunt and uncle. It was an amazing night, especially to see a band I've loved for years now, develop in to something so mind-blowing, with raw passion and energy, which is something I've never seen done to such an extent.
I've written a blog about the gig which you can see here.

And then months after recovering from that gig, they announced that they were playing again in Cardiff, in a venue which I found out to be absolutely tiny. That alone made me want to go because each time I've seen them they've been in a fairly big venue. So I begged and pleaded with my mother to get tickets but she said 'that she's getting to old for gigs'. Psh mam, you're not that old. 

But my aunt and uncle became my saving grace. They told me that they would get me tickets for my 18th birthday. I honestly at the moment could have cried. No joke.


November came around, and a couple of days before the gig, the Doc Martens store in Cardiff announced that they were holding a signing with the band before the concert. I was like YES! This was finally my chance to meet them after wanting to for three years.

I finished college early, because it was a Wednesday and I finish half 12, so me and my aunt, went down to Cardiff so that we could have a bite to eat and do some shopping before the concert and the signing. 

We ended up in Spoons having some pre-drinks, just as a way to pass the time, because we still had half an hour to go before they opened the door to the DM store. 

Once we finished our drinks, we headed towards the store, there was about three people in front of us, so it wasn't too busy, me and my aunt both bought raffle tickets, because there was a very good chance of us winning, the prize was a pair of white DMs signed by the band.

The guys were so down to earth and lovely, they honestly didn't seem like the were in a band, they were just a group of guys.  They signed my book with no problem, and asked if we were coming tonight, and we replied excitingly with an 'of course' and  I had to mention that this would be my fourth time seeing them, and Benji asked where and when I saw them previously, so I listed them.


We then left after having our photos taken with the band, because we were meeting my uncle, but I felt guilty, my mother wanted so bad to come to the gig, but she couldn't. So we went back to the store, and asked them if they could possibly sign something for my mother, they said yes. 

Benji asked me what my mothers name is, I was like Natalie, he wrote on the poster '2 Nat' and then signed it, the rest of the guys signed it too. My aunt sent a picture of it to my mam, I think it cheered her up, because she now has two Skindred mementos, first Mikey Ds plectrum, which bounced off four people and landed in her handbag at Merthyr Rock 2012. 



We then went to meet my uncle, who then drove us to The Globe, which is a tiny little venue, not in the main city center part of Cardiff, unlike the Motorpoint or the Y Plas (the students union).


We then queued, we again were about third in queue, so we again managed to get on the barrier, which I've noticed is a running theme for Skindred gigs. The supports were okay, I couldn't really hear them, something wasn't right with a the sound system in my opinion, but they rectified it for when Skindred was on. Thank god. I'll post the set list below so you can marvel in the musical genius and how far they have come from the 10 songs they played when I first saw them at 2011, many of those songs are still played, such as Warning, which is the anthem of the Newport Helicopter.

I loved every minute of the gig, nothing will ever compare to seeing them live. Each time, I swear they blow the last time out of the window and some how find a way to better themselves and put on more of a show.

I'm going to be absolutely amazed to see where they go from there, because there was nothing like them playing such a small venue, well other than seeing them play their home town, which gave the gig an atmosphere that can honestly never be replicated, well not unless they play another home town show, which I would honestly love. I more than likely will be at the next four or more gigs that Skindred play in Wales, because it's got to the point where I need to see them otherwise I'd get withdrawals

To sum up, Skindred have created some of the most amazing memories, not just for me but my entire family. They've made me realise that even if you are from a small Welsh town you can still make it big, which means if they can do it, so can I.

Setlist

Thunderstruck (AC/DC cover)
The Imperial March
Rat Race
Stand for Something
Doom Riff
Ninja
Cut Dem
Proceed with Caution
Destroy the Dancefloor
Kill the Power
Thrift Shop (Macklemore & Ryan Lewis cover)
Sad But True (Metallica cover) (Partial)
Trouble
Pressure
Nobody
Duality (Slipknot cover) (Partial)
Warning (With Newport Helicopter)

Boywithauke Interview

I have had the amazing opportunity to interview Craig Gallagher, otherwise known as Boywithauke. What an amazing way to start 2015 off, with an interview. He was such a pleasure to work with such a down-to-earth guy who was able to laugh and joke along with me as the interview went on, and I got told to tell you guys, he's pretty, but don't take my word on that

Firstly, tell us a bit about you and your music.

Well, my names Craig, I'm 19 and I live in Glasgow, Scotland. My music is indie-pop and my name for my music is 'BoyWithAUke'. 

Why and when did you start playing music? 
Well I was mainly a singer and actor. I went to the Royal Convervatoire of Scotland for 11 years doing the drama-works programme every Saturday.


Who inspired you to start playing? 
I started to play a bit of guitar when I was 12 and I guess it all unravelled from there I guess.

I remember in primary school I sung Anastacia 'left outside alone'. That was funny thinking back to that. 

First song that you learnt to play? 
The first song on the guitar I learned to play was Iron man bh black sabbath. Just the easy riff, not the complicated parts haha.

Favourite musician? 
My favourite musician. God, I can't pick. There's Geddy Lee from Rush, Charlie Simpson and more. I guess it would have to be those 2.

Talk us through how you would go about writing a song 
 How I would go about writing a song. First, if I have a lyric stuck in my head I'll try and write around that. Sometimes I'll make up little stories and characters in my head and work out what they're going through and write about that.

What song of yours are you most proud of? 
The song I'm most proud of is probably 'FGMG' which will be on ny first EP. It's just a catchy lyrical song. There will be a full band version of the song in a future EP and I can't wait to show everyone it.

If you could have written any song in the world what would it be and why? 
If I could ever written a song in the world. It would have to either be Working Man by Rush, Kick Me by Sleeping With Sirens, Na Na Na by MCR or Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen. 

How do you go about unwinding/relax? 
How I relax. I guess I just like to play my uke, play my ps3 or watch netflix. 

What do you do when you face haters/trolls?
I usually tend to ignore the haters, but there has been a few comments that have hurt me and set me back a bit.

Anything you would tell a younger version of yourself?
I'd tell my younger self, "Don't worry, it'll get better, you'll be fine. Just work hard and do what you want to do" 

The EP is coming out 1st March and is available for pre-order right now on iTunes worldwide and my single 'on the run' is available on Google Play, iTunes, Spotify, Amazon and Beats Music 

Youtube | Twitter | Instagram