#Blakfish | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

carlculationinfinityinterviews · 7 years

Text

FES Interview

Progressive three piece FES hailing from Peterborough features Pollyanna Holland-wing (Guitars+Vox) Tom-Hollandwing (Drums+Vox) and Matt West ( Bass ). FES deliver a refreshingly unique and atypical approach to songwriting. Their music features swiftly changing dynamics and transforming song structures that effortlessly displays a sense of fun and variety that never fails to take the listener to new grounds without being extremely gaudy. FES are currently on tour to promote their split EP titled Sleep Less featuring the sonic triforce that is Exploder( previously titled Exploder Than You).

Tell me about your individual music background and what inspired to you all to become musicians what was the first instance you can recall when you thought about playing music?

Matt: I've been playing the guitar since I was about 7. I can't really imagine doing anything else and I think i've been in bands solidly since I was about 14. I don't think I ever questioned pursuing music from a really early age so I don't think I had a specific moment where I was like "This is it, this is for me".

Tom: When I was in year 4/5 me and my neighbour started listening to a lot of bands like Nirvana, Led Zeppelin, Metallica, Green Day etc, and because he had just got a drum kit I thought it would make sense if I got a guitar. I also think my dad always regretted not learning the guitar, so he was keen for me to do it.

I went on to do my grades and whatnot and in year 8 I saw a second-hand drum kit in a shop, which again my parents were very open to letting me try out another instrument. I never had lessons for drums, I just slowly taught myself bit by bit over the years and when it came to starting a band with Matt and Polly, it made more sense for me to jump on the drums rather than the guitar so we could kick-start things faster!

Polly: I first had an interest in learning the guitar after watching Tom learn when I was about 7, that’s when I bought my first acoustic! I started off listening to bands such as Metallica and Nirvana but it wasn’t until I discovered singer-songwriter, Regina Spektor when I was about 13 that I decided to start writing my own music.

When did you realise that being a musician was the career path that you wanted to follow? What was the catalyst that caused this decision?

Matt: I grew up as a proper little metal head. Iron maiden back pack, long hair, wardrobe of black T-Shirts. The full works. I knew I wanted to be in a band as soon as I saw Iron Maiden live back in 2006. That was a big one for me.

Tom: I probably realised this around the start of secondary school, I just couldn’t imagine myself doing something not related to music. I would sit and play guitar for hours and hours a day and just couldn’t imagine my life any other way.

Polly: Music is always what believed I’ve been best at so ever since I started I wanted a career in it. I always thought I’d become a session musician when I was younger.

FES-Inside Out ( Directed and filmed by Lewis Cater and Nick Shield)

What was the first album or piece of music you sought out to purchase with your own money and what drew to towards that particular band/artist/album? What bands/artists/albums made you want to play in a band?

Matt: I think the first album I bought with my own money was Saint Anger by Metallica. I was in year 6 and I'm pretty sure the teacher confiscated it and gave it to my mum after class because it had a parental advisory label. Good times. Terrible Album though.

Tom: I believe the very first album I bought with my own money was Led Zeppelin’s ‘Led Zeppelin’. I was drawn to it purely because at the time all I was playing on the guitar was Led Zeppelin songs. The album I bought after this however was Shakira’s ‘Laundry Service’, because it’s a banger. Not even a guilty pleasure. But the band I credit to making me want to be in a band the most is Metallica. I adored all of their albums and I think I always will, but it is those guys who I truly credit for the position I am in now.

Polly: I had to think hard to remember this but I believe Biffy Clyro’s ‘Blackened Sky’ was the first album I bought. I fell in love with their album ‘Puzzles’ after a friend lent it to me and decided to go through their whole discography afterwards! As for who made me want to be in a band, I’d have to say Regina Spektor. She’s been my biggest musical influence to date and taught me I didn’t have to stay in any box. There’s no way I’d be where I am now without her music.

How would you describe the way you thought about music when you were first becoming musicians? How does that compare to what you want to create now?

Matt: I used to write in guitar pro5. I was obsessed with that software and I actually owe a lot to it! But back then in my mid to late teens, song writing as a concept was more about stitching riffs together than writing songs.

Tom: When I first started playing music, it was - as I’m sure it is for most musicians - very exciting. I was filled with anticipation of where I could go next with it because I knew I had a lot to learn about music.

But it is also completely different to how it is now. I’m not saying that it isn’t exciting now, but it’s a very different experience. My taste in music has altered tremendously from year to year and as I’ve understood how music works more and more throughout that time the ways in which I have conceptualised it has varied.

When I first started I just wanted to be alternative, whether it was heavy metal or grunge or whatever, I enjoyed listening to things that other people found hard to listen to. I still appreciated and liked other forms of music like pop, but I thrived on being different, it felt more fun to me. But as I’ve grown up I have come to appreciate other forms in a more rounded approach.

It’s no longer I am more this than that, I just look for the good in music no matter what it is really. I’m not saying I like absolutely everything, I just feel less need to only be listening to metal and grunge basically! However, I do credit my past experiences with music to where I am going now. I know that I could write some 3-song music and be done with it, but that’s not fun to me, hence why I love being a part of FES. We get to do whatever we want and not put a strict label on. Even though we fit in the math crowd, I wouldn’t label us math, because we’re not intentionally being as mathy as we can, we’re just doing what we like without following typical rules of music writing.

Polly: I thought of music as quite a simple concept when I was young. I pretty much followed a four chord progression for every song. Still, I had a lot of fun with it. I’ve realised over time that with music, the sky is the limit. You don’t have to stay in any box.

How would describe your approach taken with your instrument, what artists/bands/musicians/albums have lead to take this direction?

Matt: I only started truly playing the bass until FES. And since then, I have only really played our own material as a bassist. I suppose my influences from certain bands shine through the kinds of lines I write for FES but I wouldn't say that I am truly influenced by many bass players. I tend to try and say things like, "the bass should be more Blakfishy here" or I try to compliment to guitar or drums y'know.

I am definately a sucker for certain bass sounds and styles, particularly in the math scene. I think the bass lines from colour were incredible and pretty unique. But that was just colour.

Tom: If I’m honest, it’s hard for me to name specific inspiration when it comes to drums. It would be different if we were talking about guitarists, but I felt as I learnt guitar I just gained a good understanding of rhythm. When it came to playing in FES, Polly just hit me up with some riffs and I just went with whatever I matched it with and improved on it until it was something I was satisfied with. Saying this, the first drummer who stood out to me was John Bonham.

I believe he was ahead of his time for the band he was in, and he played like no one else did in that era. I always think of the song ‘Good Times, Bad Times’ for his use of kick control in those gaps, as far as I’m concerned no other drummer was playing like that and that resonated well with me.

Polly: Over the past few months people have mentioned artists my guitar playing reminds them of and I think a lot them do subconsciously shine through in my playing. Artists like Paramore and Biffy Clyro. But if I’m honest I believe I’ve grown as a guitarist after watching Tom play for over a decade. Other bands that have influenced my playing are Blakfish and Fishtank.

As for vocally, obviously Regina Spector is a HUGE influence behind my melodies, followed by others like Fiona Apple, Hop Along and Alanis Morissette. I think my main aim is to make every melody, both in my guitar and vocals as hooky as possible

FES-Tongue Tied ( Noise Cabin Session )

youtube

How do you maintain your proficiency as a musician and push yourself to venture on create new ideas and challenges?

Matt: I listen to Polly and try to keep up!

Tom: I teach music in both primary and secondary schools as well as privately, so that reeeeally helps me keep on my toes, especially when it comes to theory. I’m really grateful that I get that out of my work. Other than that I love practising anyway and will most of the time I have free.

Polly: I definitely find guitar difficult so I find I have to practice pretty much every day to stay on my toes. Often I have practice for hours at a time just to be able to sing and play one riff at the same time! It’s a frustrating process but it’s a satisfying outcome which I love!

What did you learn, practice and listen to when developing your skills as a musician, what steps did you have to take to play the music that you have written? Do you have a practice method that you work towards?

Matt: I used to be all about metronome / scale practising. Being a metal guy I was really into alternate and hybrid picking so I was determined to get real good at that for a while. There is a Protest The Hero song call "C'est La Vie" which I was real pleased with myself for playing! But I'm terrible at it now because I don't even use a plectrum anymore! #Basslife

Tom: In terms of song writing, I always used a programme called guitar pro 5, something that Matt used a lot too, as did many of our music friends back in the day. I credit the 10 years I spent on that programme to my song-writing and especially my understanding of rhythm. Writing drums before I could actually play the drums made venturing onto the actual kit a much easier process than what it probably would’ve been had I not used it in the first place. Other than that, getting home from school and then playing guitar with my neighbour and sisters until I went to bed probably helped.

Polly: Really I believe I started peaking at guitar after I started listening to Math Rock back in early 2016 just before I started the band. I was hugely into Blackfish’s album ‘Champions’ and Signals at the time. In my teenage years I would play music with my brother and sister all the time so that helped with my musical development.

How did FES come to form and how does it compare to playing in previous bands? What did you want to achieve this time around when forming a band?

Matt: We lived together for 2 years and Polly was working on a new project that eventually roped tom into and then me. It took a while before it became something that looks like FES now.

For me and Tom, where our previous band was a 7 piece Skacore band called Leroy's Mama, being in a 3 piece was kind of a revelation. We had a lot of fun in that previous band and probably had a lot of potential but we made loads of mistakes and I think it takes a few bands for you to work out what you're doing with them. This one was where we said "we're actually gonna try and do this properly this time".

Tom: Me, Polly and Matt moved in together just outside of Peterborough and we knew that something musical would happen. We didn’t set out to start a band, but as we lived together longer we realised that we understand each other very well musically so it made sense to get something cooking. I’ve been playing music with Polly since primary school too so I’m not afraid to tell her when I think something is bad and vice versa, and I could say the same to Matt, having been in multiple bands with him before. It’s funny though, because as a group we started off playing reggae music as we all have a deep love for it.

However in time this transitioned into whatever you want to call what we’re doing now, but it certainly isn’t reggae! My previous bands were great, I loved being in them, but they have taught me a lot about what it takes to be in a band and keep going. I’m not saying I know exactly what I’m doing, because I don’t, not by a long shot. But I, like Matt and Polly, have had a lot of learning curves with previous bands and projects and it all helps lead up to where I am now, and where I am going to be in time to come. I know for sure there are still learning curves ahead!

Polly: We all lived together at the time and I was going through a bit of a rough patch and needed a way to get out all my emotions . So writing angry/sad songs was originally how I achieved that. Before FES I was in a sibling band. I’ve always been comfortable telling Tom when an idea of his doesn’t quite resonate with me but it’s something I’ve had to learn to do with Matt. Although, 99% of the time their ideas are on point!!

How are the songs in FES written? Please describe this from A to B. What does each member bring to the band in this part of the process?

Matt: Most FES songs come from Polly. She will write riffs / melodies / lyrics at various stages of completion and then we put our individual perspectives into the mix. It's kind of a healthy way to do it. It is focused and lets each of us play to our strengths as me and Tom get to look at it and pull it apart and put it back together.

Tom: Every song typically starts with Polly. She is our main songwriter. She brings ideas to the table and then me and Matt bounce of them and we keep going, sometimes for weeks or months until we have a somewhat finished product.

Occasionally me and Matt will bring a riff to the table and Polly will branch off from that. Like for example, Matt started off ‘Talk It Out” with that 6/8 bass line, and I wrote the first section of ‘Flesh Out’ and then we carried on from there. But mostly, it’s Polly who does the main bulk and then the band fleshes it out (literally why the song is called Flesh Out by the way).

Polly: I typically write the base of the songs. I the write the riffs, chords progressions and lyrics and then bring it to Tom and Matt to help structure it better and make it more mathy usually. Although sometimes the boys will start off a song and I’ll finish it. Also, improvising in a band practice sparks a lot of ideas between us too.

How has this changed since you started playing in FES and how would you describe the musical impact each member has had on you?

Matt: We are definately not afraid to bin material anymore. I think we used to keep pretty much everything we wrote but there have been multiple times where we just have to admit a song has got away from us or sections that we think are cool simply don't work.

Polly has a cool saying she says all the time that is: Every line should be a hook. Which I think is a really cool way to approach writing, especially as a bassist. Adding my lines to her riffs has also allowed me to figure out what my style / sound / preference on the bass even is which is nice.

And with Tom, we have known eachother for like 10+ years and been playing in bands together for most of that. So I've learnt a lot from him about guitar playing and song writing. Annoyingly he has written my favourite bassline in any FES song which is the verse in 'Flesh Out' which does a little major third run. Screw him for that.

Tom: It’s pretty much the same now. It’s a process that seems to work for us so why not stick to it!

Polly: I believe the process is pretty much the same!

Tell me about the writing process for the new EP. What did you want to achieve in comparison to You Do You? How would you describe the progression of yourselves as artists creatively from the beginning to the end is the result different what you expected?

Matt: We wrote these two songs not too long after releasing You Do You I believe. I don't think we truly compared them and said we want to head in this direction more than any other but we kind of have a running joke where when we finish a new song, if it's not our new favourite FES song ever we bin it and try again. These 2 have been faves for a while.

Tom: When we wrote these two songs for ‘sleep less’, we had a lot going on in our lives in terms of mental health and relationships etc, and we just wanted to pour the passion of that into these two songs. For example ‘Inside Out’ is mostly centred around a bad mental health stage I personally went through in early 2017 and ‘These Days’ is mostly about the people around us, from Pollys point of view obviously, but it’s all relationship stuff. Even that song has mental health stuff in it too though. It’s a reoccurring theme for us! In terms of ‘You Do You’, the main thing I wanted to get out of these two songs was a sense of progression as a band.

I still don’t think we’ve found our true sound and I just wanted these two songs to be a reflection of how we’re changing as people as well as musically. I suppose I never had an expectation of what kind of musician I would be now, I tend to find I just go with the flow musically because I never truly know what I’ll be into next. I don’t want to say that FES will always have that typical ‘You Do You’ or ‘sleep less’ sound because I truly believe that next time we will sound different again, but right now I honestly don’t know how that’s going to turn out to be, but that’s also the exciting part about it.

Polly: The main difference between both EP’s is ‘You Do You’ was based around my own mental health whilst ‘Sleep Less’ is based around other peoples I suppose. The lyrics for ‘You Do You’ were typically written quite quickly in the moment, whereas I spent about a month writing for both ‘Inside out’ and ‘These days’. I always want to progress as an artist and don’t want to stay in any box but whatever we write, no matter what vibe, will always be FES because it’s us who’s writing it. If any of us left the band it would never be the same.

What was it like working with Iain Sadler., what was his approach to the songs you have written and how do you feel it would have turned out with another producer? How would you describe the process of working with a producer and would you say that there are any disadvantages or advantages to this process?

Matt: Ian was great to work with. We recorded 2 songs over 4 days and having that time gave us a lot of room for creativity. For example, we spent 2 hours hitting random objects in the studio on the last day, recorded Tom eating pringles and got a Microwave ping into 'Inside Out' which was pretty fun and made that track really come alive.

We loved recording You Do You with Will Cook of Classically Handsome Brutes fame, that experience showed we had a lot to learn and looking back we still think of things that we should have put on that record but didn't think of at the time. I would love to go back into the studio with Will and have a crack at those songs again! We only chose to work with Ian because personally, I like bands who change up production style on each release.

I like a sense of progression or movement. We went with Ian because of his work on Fish Tank's 'Henry' EP which is hugely influential on us as a band.

It was important for us to find a producer with a real creative input when making a record. We affectionately call Will Cook the 4th FES all the time so I think that would make Ian the 5th! He brought a lot of influence, especially regarding tones, that just made the songs sound huge!

Tom: We loved working with Ian. I think within the first half an hour of sitting down with him it was obvious to us we had gone with a goodun. It was a little scary beforehand having never met him before, but he understood our songs instantly and knew how to bring them to life in ways that we both wanted and didn’t expect, in a positive manner of course.

It’s hard to say what it would have sounded with another producer because I suppose we’ll truly never know. We often get described as being quite punky live, so perhaps that element of us would’ve shone through more, as I wouldn’t personally call us that punky on ’sleep less’. However, maybe others would, I don’t know, it’s all subjective.

Polly: It was great! He’s obviously very experienced and has worked with many well established bands already so I felt confident from the get go walking into his studio. Ian was quite experimental with ‘Inside Out’. We found random items around the studio to hit which definitely added to our sound. If you listen carefully you can actually hear a microwave which never would’ve ended up in the song if it weren’t for Ian!

What made you want to release a split EP with Exploder Than You?What are you also looking forward to with your upcoming tour?

Matt: We were not originally intended to release a split at all. Back when we released 'You Do You' in March, Christie (Manager of Rabbit Ear Records) wrote a really lovely review of the EP and we got to talking. Our plan was to release a solid A and B side this year on Rabbit Ear and from knowing exploder pretty well and obviously they being on Rabbit Ear, it just made sense!

Tom: It was actually Exploder’s idea to do the split in the first place. They coined the idea to us at our EP release for ‘You Do You’ at the Cornerhouse in Cambridge back in March 2017 I believe.

However, we were over the moon about them saying that because they were one of the main bands we were listening to just as we were initially thinking about putting the band together, and to have it happen so fast was pretty amazing!

For me, it’s just the tour in the first place. Over the last 6/7 years I have played loads of shows and the odd festival (nothing major however), but I have never toured before, so this is a first. Same thing for Polly and Matt too.

Other than that though we’re psyched to be hanging out with Exploder as we’ve only met them 2 or 3 times I believe. Also we will be meeting our lovely label manager Christie for the first time too! We’ve chatted loads over Skype and whatnot so it kinda already feels like we’ve met, so I often forget that we haven’t, so that’s something nice to look forward to.

Polly: I’ve always been a huge fan of theirs, even before FES was a thing. I love how they capture emotion through their instrumentation, they literally give me goosebumps every time I listen to them. They make me feel feelings I never knew existed.

It’s my first tour ever, so just getting the typical experience of playing every night and being in a different city everyday will be awesome. Getting to hang with Exploder and meet our Manager will be very sweet too!

FES, Exploder and Rabbit Ear Records Manager Christie O'regan

What is the process for writing lyrics in FES? Are you writing from personal experiences or subjectively about situations you are describing or have witnessed? Is there a method that you use? Where does the lyrical inspiration come from on Sleep Well and how is that different from You Do You?

Matt: This is one for Polly but I know that she writes from experience about all sorts of subjects. A lot of our lyrics focus on mental health or anxiety as all 3 of us have dealt with that. There’s also a lot of Buffy references.

Tom: Polly literally writes all of the lyrics, and most if not all of them are very personal to her. When big things happen in our lives, that tends to be when Polly thrives on her lyric writing.

Sometimes when things are going well for us she complains that she has nothing to write about which is pretty funny really. Lyrically, inspiration is hard to differentiate between the two records just because I didn’t write them. Polly’s going to have to answer that one!

Polly: Writing lyrics is either a breeze for me or it’s the most frustrating thing in the world, there is no in-between!! I always write from personal experience and it’s typically about mental health. I tend only write in my room where I feel most comfortable getting out all my ideas. ‘Sleep Less’ is more about the people around me whereas ‘You Do You’ is much more about myself!

What does your setup consist of ? Does this differ to what you use live and when you are recording in the studio? ( Please go into as much detail as possible for the gear nerds out there)What are your personal preferences with your equipment, why do you use it in comparison to other companies/manufactures/string gauge/plectrums/drum heads/sticks/cymbals etc.

Matt: I play a 5 string fender Jazz bass. A lot of people ask why bother with the 5th string but I've never played a bass without it! I think it just opens up the fretboard and gives you the option of a lower B if you want it.

A few Pedals I run and recommend for bassists would the EHX Bass soulfood distortion. It's a subtle but gritty tone which isn't too overdriven. I use a EHX Knockout EQ as well for sections where I want to boost the low end to ridiculous amounts. And if you're a bass player, get a Sansamp. That goes without saying right?

Tom: in practice, 99% of the time I am playing on Matt’s electric kit. It works for us because we can practice at any time of the day/night and not piss off the neighbours. Other than that though, I don’t actually own a kit! I am still relying on kit shares due to being broke most of the time. I just get my practice on real kits at the schools I work at when no one is looking! I’m slowly making my way there though with my own kit, in fact it’s my birthday next week and I should be getting some Ziljian K hi-hats so that’ll be nice.

Polly: I still feel I’m trying to find my sound regarding my guitar pedals. It’s quite a simple setup at the moment consisting of an OCD distortion (my fave), a Tom’s Line chorus, a Cathedral reverb and a Marshall Echo Delay. I’m using a Black Star amp at the moment just because that’s all I have but ideally I’d like to buy a Fender amp sometime in the future. I actually use my brother’s Tele but I’m saving up for a Strat as we speak!!

What advice can you give to other artists and musicians that are playing in bands or thinking of becoming musicians? What is the best advice you have received that has helped you musically?

Matt: If you try to think of your band as a business it will help with how you decide what you want to achieve. Every decision you make matters so you have to think about doing what and when will help you achieve as much exposure. We started out with a live session of 'Tongue Tied' and as a very first release of any of our music it did wonders for establishing us.

Tom: The main thing I would say (as I would want this said to me at an early stage) is not to expect things to happen straight away. Unless you get lucky things will not turn out the way you want, a lot of things will just out-right fail too. But you have to treat them as learning curves and power on using your new knowledge to your advantage.

Otherwise, you will give up and that’s the dream is well and truly over. Most things come down to networking and who you know and making good use of the sources around you, but those contacts aren’t gained overnight, you have to give it time and keep trying. We’re still doing it massively ourselves!

Polly: Don’t leave after you’ve played your set (unless you absolutely have to)! It comes off as rude and also it’s the best way to network. It’s also the best advice I’ve been given!

What are you currently listening to and what was the last band or piece of art that surpassed the limits of what you thought was possible in a creative?

Matt: I am either listeniong to tons of math. So Ganglions Thirsty EP, Exploder, Dananananakroyd. But also tons of Hip-Hop like The Four Owls and B. Dolan. Anderson Paak's Malibu has not left my recently played list since it's release. That's a killer album.

Tom: A the moment there’s not much in particular that I’m listening to. I usually will come across something I like then whack it into a playlist and put it on random. However, particular bands I’m listening as of the last few days are: Owane, Led Zeppelin (funnily enough), Darwin Deez, Delta Sleep, Exploder, Hiatus Kaiyote & Submotion Orchestra just off the top of my head. Although I’m feeling another Sufjan Stevens session coming along soon… his work, especially his record ‘Illinois’ makes me feel things!

I’ve been listening to an artist called Owane again recently, I discovered him years ago but I’m listening to him again just in the past few weeks. He started off as a bedroom guitarist, but now he’s releasing records, all recorded himself, and I would describe it as technical electro-jazz with metal influences, but simultaneously not metal at all. I don’t know, I just really like him and I believe he’s not given as much credit that he deserves, so there ya go :)

Polly: Recently I’ve been listening to Marika Hackman’s new album. It’s a banger! I also have to agree with Tom though when we discovered Sufjan Stevens’ ‘Illinois’ last year. It’s a concept album and it blows my mind and I understand it a bit better every time I listen to it.

You can stream and purchase Sleep Less Here:

https://xpldr.bandcamp.com/ http://flatearthsocietyuk.com/album/sleep-less

Make sure you follow Fes, Exploder and Rabbit Ear Records in the links below: https://www.facebook.com/FESuk/

https://www.facebook.com/xpldrrrr/ https://www.facebook.com/rabbitearrecs/ https://www.rabbitearrecords.com/

Get yourself out to see them on tour:

October 26th - Darwen: Exploder, FES, May The Night Bless You With Heavenly Dream http://bit.ly/2wkzGpi

October 27th - Sheffield: Exploder, FES, Ganglions and Mathletics http://bit.ly/2wkj7tL

October 28th – Leeds: CLASSICALLY HANDSOME BRUTES, Exploder, FES and Mathleticshttp://bit.ly/2wkR7pX

October 29th - York: Fat Spatula, Seatbelts - Falcon Tap http://bit.ly/2wkQAnI

0 notes