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tflanthoughts-blog · 7 years ago

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APPENDIX 1 - INTERVIEW WITH JACK BOWDEN, DRUMMER, TORS

Interviewer (me): Hi Jack, thank you for joining me for this interview today. Things seem to be going very well for Tors, can you take us back to the beginning? How did Tors become Tors?

Jack: I was coming to University and I had just left the band that I was in at home and then I met Matt and Theo online. I looked online and saw a band that was looking for a drummer and then we met for a beer in Spoons and I joined. We were originally an indie band and there were five of us at the time.

Interviewer: So there has been quite a big shift in terms of genre since you first began?

Jack: Yeah we were a proper indie band. That was three years ago. 2 of the guys left so it’s the three of us now! This current set up we’ve been doing for 6 months. All new music pretty much for the past 6months.

Interviewer: Are your old band bitter at you?

Jack: Haha, no! They’re smashing it actually, they’re doing really well.

Interviewer: Was it easy to gel with the guys when you first met them?

Jack: It was good. We met for a beer in Guildford Spoons and yeah we’ve pretty much been mates ever since, which is good. Obviously having to spend three hours a week with each other for three years, you become pretty good mates. From the get-go it was good. I don’t think we would have been a band if we weren’t mates to start with.

Interviewer: Even though you guys have only been in this new dynamic for 6 months, you’ve still achieved some big success, one being that you’ve just come off a UK tour with Tom Walker. Can you tell us a bit about that?

Jack: Yeah, it was mental. We played 7 shows with him around the UK, ended at the Garage in London which was sold out and the best show we’ve done. It was a 600 capacity venue about 650 were there with industry people.

Interviewer: So some big names are watching over you?

Jack: Yeah, it’s quite a bit stressful, quite a lot of people were invited who we had to impress essentially. It went well.

Interviewer: So that was the very time you guys went on tour. What was it like spending so much time and essentially living together as a band?

Jack: Yeah it was mental. Yeah living with each other for a week, there were up and downs, but it was good. But I think if you spend that much time with anyone in close confines, it forces you to be close. It was good! I feel so bad for our sound guy and tour manager who has to also share hotel rooms with us, cos we made an effort to to like actually annoy them as much as possible. We definitely succeeded.

Interviewer: So on this tour I’ve seen you’ve got a bit more of a following now. Have you encountered any crazy fans? Any stories to tell?

Jack: People were waiting outside to meet us and then following us to our next gig and then waiting out near our vanto talk to us , that was pretty weird…. a bit creepy.

Interviewer: And I hear you have your first fan account. That’s a big thing. You know you’re making it when you get yourself one of those.

Jack: Yeah the first. That was weird.

Interviewer: Are there any cool tour stories to tell?

Jack: We were all really hungover in a museum in Glasgow, we all had a bug and we were sharing a room together, we’d been eating pot noodles non-stop at like 2 in the morning, hunched over the hotel sink trying not to make any mess. We had a day to kill and we wanted to do an actual adult thing rather than just sit hungover in a van for 6 hours. We were all walking around and we all just started feeling really really awful, like everyone started getting weak legs so hard cut to Theo sat in between this really small gap between two pillars in the upstairs of a museum, shaking so we try and get him out and then we end up sitting in a van for 6 hours. So that was our only bit of culture and it didn’t work.

Interviewer: So this new sound. How would you describe it and how would you compare it to your previous music?

Jack: We’ve stripped back a lot. We’ve also started to use track a bit to add a bit of oomph to it. We’re trying to go for a sort of Staves vocal style and Mumford and Sons-esque but with a bit more sort of Kings of Leon - atmospheric. But still a big focus on the harmonies. The Eagles is probably my biggest inspiration band.

Interviewer: You’ve just released a new single “Seventeen” what was the writing and release process for that track?

Jack: We aimed put it out as a Winter Warmer. We have some up beat tracks we were gonna release in Summer but we didn’t get things ready in time so we thought we’d wait and hold off for the big tracks for next year, leading up to festival season. So we’re sort of doing nice Winter-y tracks with warm vibes at the moment. We wanted to keep our presence up and not go quiet until next year.

Interviewer: So is it quite hard managing and planning when to release things?

Jack: We sat down with our manager and agreed what’s being released when so we had an actual timeline so we could see when we need a video ready by, all of the wavs ready by this date, packages ready by this date and illustrations and things like that. Cos Theo draws a lot of the things himself.

That’s great that you take so much control, does Theo create all your artwork?

Jack: Yeah we try and do as much of it everything that we can on our own. We do all the videos ourselves.

Interviewer: Any plans for the next release?

Jack: The next release is in January, we’re releasing it under our own label that we’re making called “Wilder Day’s Records” - The last few tracks have been through that.

Interviewer: More live shows coming up?

Jack: We’ll probably do another live show in March leading up to our second single of next year and then hopefully a few dates in May and then festivals hopefully - see which ones we can get.

Interviewer: I know you also produce a lot of music yourself. Have you got any plans to do your own stuff with that side of things?

Jack: I’ll always keep my hand in that pot, it’s also good to bring things to sessions. I’ve got a friend from my old band and we collaborate quite a bit. There are always different bits going on which is nice.

Interviewer: So what’s your biggest dream as a band?

Jack: As far as we can go. As long as I can keep going without having an office job. I do not want to sit behind a desk. It sucks, absolutely sucks. If I can keep doing this well into my 30’s, that’s the dream. Keep going and then just retire then I’m done. Keep playing live music essentially because that’s what it’s all about, playing in front of big crowds; it’s the best rush you can get.

Interviewer: Good luck to you guys. Many thanks for chatting with me today! I look forward to the next release!

Jack: Thank you for having me!

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Interview with Jack’s housemate, Luke Amis

Interviewer: What’s it like living with Jack from Tors?

Luke: It’s good. I get to hear a lot of new music from him before anyone else. Sometimes popping into his room but other time just through the walls.

Interviewer: Did you know him before he was doing music? Were you friends first?

Luke: I met him through a mutual friend. He used to live next door to me last year. I didn’t know too much about his band. I could hear him playing music through my window. I’ve had a bit of a jam with him on guitar. He’s taught me quite a bit of stuff which is quite cool.

You got a guest pass on the TORS TOUR! What was it like seeing all the behind the scenes?

Luke: There’s a lot more to it than I thought. Everyone was really nice. The boys are awesome and so welcoming. I helped out a bit with load in but tried not to get in the way. The show itself was amazing.

Jack’s a great mate. I wish him the best for the future!

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tflanthoughts-blog · 7 years ago

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MEDIA PLAN AND PR STRATEGY

Dear Mr. Jonze,

I am writing to enquire about producing a piece for The Guardian’s Arts, Music section of your website. Specifically to write a new artist feature on Declan Mckenna.

I believe I am the appropriate journalist for this piece as I study at the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford, so have gained a wide knowledge on the music industry. I have also studied a module in Music Journalism which has taught me the appropriate style of writing for specific articles. As well as this, I am an active artist and Singer-Songwriter (www.taraflanagan.com) and have experience in live shows across the UK, analysing my own material, stage presence and vocal and performance techniques, so with this critique of myself, I naturally analyse other artists. I attend a lot of gigs, to stay immersed in the music scene.

Within the review I would talk about Declan’s rise to success, beginning at the young age of 16, when he won Glastonbury Festival’s Emerging Talent Competition. I’d also talk about him embarking on his debut US tour, playing big venues like the Mercy Lounge in Nashville and Three Links in Dallas, and his debut album “What Do You Think of The Car”, but my prime focus will be his politically inclined music. In his first single ‘Brazil’. he speaks on FIFA and international soccer with an anger towards the economic inequality in the country Brazil. When he released this track he was just 16 years old - very mature views for this age.

Some sources that I found which present Declan’s strong political views were in a NME Interview at Glastonbury, where they talk about he is vocal about young people voting. Declan exclaims that he was excited to vote but it’s “Kind of frustrating, I live in the most conservative seat in Hartforshire”. Also on “toomanyblogs.com” during an interview Declan isn’t afraid to speak about politics saying ““No seriously though do register to vote and vote for Corbyn.” He speaks out against sexism aimed at his female band members. On Twitter, he says “Idc if Taylor Swift is jarring the Kanye video is actually fucked up” and …”Also fuck people using sexist slurs to describe women ffs”.

I feel that this piece would be suitable for your publication, as The Guardian is very effective in informing the audience about upcoming, exciting new acts and bands, in a concise, intellectual way.

I am an extremely passionate lover of music and this would be evidenced through this work. Due to also being an artist, I am aware of the fast pace of the industry and that the publication would need to be produced quickly and efficiently. I have previously studied A Level English Language and English Literature so have experience in analysing writing and also meeting to a deadline. As well as this I am aware of the importance of visuals. I will ensure to include interesting images and videos for readers to engage with.

Many thanks for your time. I hope that you will consider my proposal. I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards,

Tara Flanagan

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tflanthoughts-blog · 7 years ago

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TORS ARE RISING - UPCOMING BAND FEATURE

These boys are definitely on the up. Freshly off the road from supporting Tom Walker on his UK Tour, there’s an undeniable buzz for Tors.

Their warm organic guitar sounds fuse cleverly with thriving wholesome drumbeats and smooth melodies, creating a powerfully emotive live performance. Somewhere between the likes of Mumford and Sons, The Eagles and Kings of Leon, their intriguing storytelling and beautifully blended harmonies, create a charming sound. They have been working hard together for 3 years, but it is admirable to see how their new dynamic has come to life so securely in the short space of 6 months.

Watch a live video of ‘Now We Fall’:

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I sat down with Drummer, Jack Bowden to have a chat about the band. (See appendix 1 for full interview.) Jack and the two brothers Matt and Theo Weedon got together in Guildford Spoons three years ago over a beer to discuss about their music. Now, the band have over 1 million streams on Spotify and have just toured the UK with Tom Walker! It was certainly an impressive tour gearing from Jacks reaction. “It was mental…we played 7 shows with him around the UK, ending at The Garage, London (29th November 2017) which was sold out and was the best show we’ve done…” It’s very interesting to see that they already have a loyal following as Jack tells us there were…“People waiting outside to meet us and then following us to our next gig… that was weird…”

But it’s not all as glamorous as some may think as Jack tells me how they spent their days off: “We were all really hungover in a museum in Glasgow, we all had a bug and we were sharing a room together, we’d been eating pot noodles non-stop at like 2 in the morning, hunched over the hotel sink trying not to make any mess..” Jack jokes… “We had a day to kill and we wanted to do an actual adult thing…” before admitting that it was their only time to go out and explore a bit of culture in the area but they couldn’t due to getting ill! Perhaps Pot Noodles for every meal of the day isn’t the best diet. Despite the hard work of tour, they’ve had some great laughs… “I feel sorry for our sound guy and tour manager…We made an effort to actually annoy them as much as possible…”

Tors on Tour:

A post shared by Tors (@thetorsband) on Nov 25, 2017 at 8:31am PST

Tors have recently released their new single “Seventeen” which is described to be a delicate Winter Warmer. Check it out here.

It’s admirable to see just how hard working these boys are. “We’re doing as much as we can on our own independently.” They write all their songs, record in their garage in Devon whilst Theo draws a lot of the artwork. They have clear visions in sight for the near future as Jack tells me; “The next release is January… we’re trying to make our own label ‘Wilder Days Records’”.

When I asked Jack how far they want to go he says …“As far as we can go without having an office job… I do not wanna sit behind a desk…I’ve done it and it absolutely sucks… If I can keep doing this well into my 30’s, that’s the dream.” But ultimately, it all comes down to the thrill of bringing their creations to the audience: “We want to keep playing live gigs because that’s what it’s all about. Playing in front of crowd’s is the best rush you can get.”

Expect their next single release in January 2018! Check out Tors on Facebook , Spotify, Instagram and Twitter for the latest news and updates.

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tflanthoughts-blog · 7 years ago

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FORMER PUSSYCAT DOLL KAYA JONES CLAIMS THAT THE BAND WERE A ‘PROSTITUTION RING’ - Really? Opinion Article

Former pussycat doll member Kaya Jones has claimed that their successful 2000’s group ‘The Pussycat Dolls’ was a ‘Prostitution Ring.’ On Friday 13th October 2017, there were a stream of tweets that Jones posted, admitting that the girls allegedly had to “sleep with whoever (their mentors ) say” in order to gain success in the music industry.

Jone’s revealed that the ever so successful girl group were paid only $500 dollars a week. She also claims that if she spoke up she would “end up dead” and her career would be ruined. Allegedly, the band’s founder, Robin Antin, was a “den mother from hell” who “mentally and verbally abused us every second of the day.”

After other acts in the creative industry such as Bjork and Tom Jones have spoken up about their experiences with sexual harassment and the growing number of accusations against Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein and his sexual harassment, this had sparked women to pull back the curtain on other industries. It would seem an appropriate time for Kaya to speak up. But could it just be a publicity stunt to jump on the buzz? With none of the other Pussycat Doll supporting her case, it is hard to believe Kaya.

The Pussycat Dolls image is “risque”, with Metro News, referring to them as a “Burlesque dance troupe” with “saucy dance routines”, whilst wearing little to no clothing. I can see how this image may make it easier to see how Kaya’s claims could be true. However due to the fact that she provides no specific names and has no supporting evidence, it’s difficult to believe her.

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The Pussycat Dolls’ Robin Antin denied Kaya’s claims saying they were “disgusting, ridiculous lies.” The girls released a statement: "The Pussycat Dolls has always and will always stand for female empowerment… We stand in solidarity with all women who have bravely spoken publicly of their horrific experiences of abuse, harassment and exploitation. However, we cannot stand behind false allegations towards other group members partaking in activities that simply did not take place.”

I think that Kaya did this for attention. She was only in the band from 2003-2005 before the group signed a recording contract, so her success was brief. Kaya is also releasing music as a solo artist currently, with her new single “What the Heart Don’t Know” released in August 2017. Released just a couple of months prior to the claims around sexual harrassment, I think Kaya cleverly created this claim to try and highlight her name in the current market. To those that believe her, it also benefits her because it presents her as “brave”. She had several years to voice this serious topic, but chose to when the buzz was big. The timing seems suspicious to me. I’m finding it hard to believe her allegations.

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tflanthoughts-blog · 7 years ago

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SYLVAN ESSO LIVE: THE UK DEBUT AT BIRMINGHAM’S O2 INSTITUTE

Live shot taken at the O2 Institute Birmingham 08/11/17

Beams of colorful light fill the room, delicately moving through bursts of thick smoke as the excitable crowd thunderously chant the name ‘Sylvan Esso’ before the duo take to the stage at the O2 Institute, Birmingham on Monday 8th November 2017. This was the first time the powerful electro-pop duo, made up of singer Amelia Meath and Producer Nick Sanborn, had ever performed in the UK.

The duo opened the show with the song “Could I be” from their self-titled debut album, which integrated powerful rhythmical beats and synths with effortlessly sung emotive vocals; A class piece of synth-pop. Though this was released in 2014, it was obvious that the song was not forgotten as the audience immediately joined in singing when Amelia placed the microphone to her lips.

Amelia’s quirky yet elegant floaty arm movements were very intriuging, reminding me of some hypnotic dance. Her stamina was impressive, as she jumped around the stage in platform shoes, without any weakness of loss of breath or loss of control in her voice.  High energy dance numbers and hard-hitting lyrics in numbers like “Die Young” got the crowd dancing uncontrollably. A man next to me shut his eyes for the whole song, swirling his arms around, fully embracing the music. Pockets of people all around the room showed off this contemporary interpretive style dance.

Sylvan Esso concluded with ‘Rewind’, one of their more stripped back tracks. Though this wasn’t as dancey as the majority of their music, this seemed like a heartfelt way to finish the night and thank their fans as Amelia showed off her warm vocals. The audience passionately and dedicatedly sang every word whilst collectively swaying their hands in the air.

Song to listen to: “Die Young” by Sylvan Esso

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Check out Sylvan Esso’s latest news here.

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tflanthoughts-blog · 7 years ago

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ST. VINCENT’S - PUNCHY ‘MASSEDUCATION’ Album Review

34 year old American pop artist St. Vincent, (Annie Clark) is someone who certainly isn’t afraid to strike controversy. Her nonchalant attitude is evident in her latest album “MASSEDUCATION” where she states: “I hope people love it… or hate it.”

Track 2, ‘Los Ageless’ is a punchy pop beat lathered with thriving grungy guitar strums which definitely expresses her potent and confident aura as an artist. In this track, St. Vincent mocks the lives of Los Angeles socialites. We hear this in the line “How can anybody have you and lose you and not lose their minds too?” which suggests that she believes there is a lack of substance in the activities of a ‘stereotypical’ woman in LA.

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Her music video further emphasises the mocking as we see Annie endure extreme prosthetics, with her face being quite literally pulled apart, portraying how women feel the need to suffer in the name of beauty. Annie loves the idea of playing with what consumer culture insists when it comes to beauty, an example she imagines is “missing the memo of butt-plants” and “getting my calves cartoonishly enlarged instead.”

The clever wordplay with ‘Ageless’ instead of “Angeles” communicates this heavy ideal to stay looking “young” and “perfect”. Annie explains in WMagazine how “This video was playing with the absurdity of the edicts of self-perfection culture. A slime pedicure.”

The catchy number “Pills” has a bright vibe with choppy distinctive vocals particularly on the chorus line “Pills Pills Pills” sung on top of rhythmically fast synths. Despite this positive feel, conceptually the song is about a time in her life where she had to take sleeping pills.

“Young Lover” is similarly a thriving upbeat track, with an electro infused chorus, which contrasts the songs story which is about someone close to death due to a drug overdose. Annie’s deep concepts throughout the album, combined with a brighter lift in its complex electro-pop production makes for an interesting twist and engaging body of work.

Check out more of St. Vincent here.

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