Give us a potted history of the band
We’ve been rocking together since birth more or less, had each other’s backs from the start. It forms a special bond that we kind of take for granted, but when people bring to our attention our chemistry on stage it reminds me of this blessing to be playing with lifelong friends.
Lectric is new, we put together an album we’re super proud of and had the pleasure to collaborate with Mikey Deamus, Vada Studios and James Loughrey.
Who inspired you to start making music
Jake: Iron Maiden! We watched Maiden Live as young boys and were totally mesmerised. I remember thinking ‘Guitar doesn’t look so hard, one hand plucks the strings and the other goes up and down. its funny, but that naivete got me started! … as we got older we expanded our musical tastes, but always in the classic rock/metal demographic for the most part.
Metallica, AC/DC and Guns N Roses are my staple diet. Airbourne, BLS Pantera and some of the guitar hero stuff too!
Josh: When I was 7 years old my dad pulled out an old dusty record from behind our living room cabinet, which had the name Black Sabbath written across it. My dad dusted it off and put on the record player and remember hearing the intro to iron man and that was me… hooked on metal from the get-go.. black sabbath were thunderous and still are! They made me wonder about playing in a band, then in my early teens, once I’d started playing guitar Nirvana really inspired me, all the riffs actually sounded do-able. Every week me, Jake and Dan would have a new nirvana riff learnt to show off to each other. it created healthy competition and all that.
Jack: Master of puppets! I mean that’s probably all I need to write, to be honest, hearing that at the age of 11/12 was enough to propel me into this! Lars gets a hard time from the drum community but mate he’s the boss of it all! As the others have said all of the classic rock artists are a fundamental part of everybody’s makeup right? It’s what you grow up listening to! And when you touch an instrument you can’t not want to have a go at what they’ve achieved!
Dan: My influences and what got me into guitar were Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Pink Floyd, Dire Straits and many more.
Listening and watching live performances of the Red Hot Chilli Peppers made me respect other instruments such as drums and bass as Chad Smith and Flea are creative, insane players. I guess I take a lot from John Frusciante with his live performances as he never plays the solo on the record like for like. He improvises a lot and to me, that makes a show more fun and gives the audience something special. I often change solos live depending on my mood. And for me is great to experiment live and have fun!
Other influences that patterned my playing are Slash, a great icon and his guitar tone in the 90’s was the one! I’m a big Guns N’ Roses fan and the reason why I use a Gibson Les Paul.
I remember at probably 14 years old watching TV and seeing this guitar named Stanley Jordan. He was playing this beautiful song on 2 guitars at the same time, and finger tapping it. Amazing to see! The song happened to be Stairway to Heaven. So Jimmy Page got my attention in my early playing days. I have set myself the goal to learn Stairway to Heaven. It was a long song to learn and it uses finger picking also. I learnt it all apart from the solo as I couldn’t shred at that time haha!
Other mentions that shaped my playing would include, Doug Aldrich, Gary Moore, Zakk Wylde, Angus Young and David Gilmour. For me it’s the emotional ride the guitar takes you on. Most of my influences are all from the blues background that uses a lot of the pentatonic scales. Anyone can play a note, but it’s how you play it.
And the one or maybe two records that inspired you artistically
Metallica’s Black album was definitely a focal point of inspiration, due to the fact it is so powerful yet so simplistic. We like the way each song gets straight to the point but still has enough individuality weaved throughout them. You get a real sense that every song belongs to each other on some level, you can feel some sort of common theme running through each song that just ties them all together, which creates this legendary, classic album. There was definitely some magic made here.
Not forgetting Guns N Roses Appetite for Destruction, one of the greatest rock n roll albums of all time. We love the album not just for the songs but the feel, the rough n rawkus vibe, the two guitars not quite playing the same as each other, it feels real and what you’d expect to see when you watch a band live. So, to create an album we can perform live was something we aimed for.
Jake: Cowboys from hell for the lead guitar
If you’re trying to explain who you sound like to someone who’s never heard you, what do you say
Heavy rock/metal with classic charismatic vocals, guitar solos passion and expression. Made for Live!!Metallica and AC/DC, old maiden, and some even say skid row! Feel good big time rock.
Tell us about your new track
Damaged Goods was written to start with in my front room, we got the funky G-string Riff flowing on my Laney practice amp and thought motorhead drums right away! Convinced Jack to play with his hands on his lap to write the song! Needs must when inspiration Strikes!!
I was also thinking of a big function band with violins playing an exciting riff and a brass section to accent the stabs, but to represent that with the band somehow… and I always wanted to write a song with that ‘Devil went down to Georgia’ vibe which I think feels like it’s moving along to something exciting and we pinched that kind of feel for the verse!
I think joshes vocals shine in a cheeky way in this song, the subject is open for interpretation but WE’RE ALL DAMAGED GOODS BABY!
We finished the song with Mikey Deamus and he came up with some great ‘out of the box’ ideas which brought the finished product which we’re super happy with and hope ya’ll enjoy!
We recorded it with James Loughrey, who’s done a lot of great work with Skindred and Reef recently. We loved his style as a producer, he was very calm but precise and had a good vision. It helped that he was a fan of classic metal such as we are… in the breaks we would play Metallica riffs to wind him up. The joke was we would owe a beer per riff and it must have got over 100 beers! GOOD LUCK JAMES
He knew when to push and when to let things play out. I think we got a really authentic sound on the album which we’re really happy with!
Where can we get hold of it
You can find it on all major digital ownership/streaming outlets such as Itunes, Spotify, Apple Music etc
Tell us how you write
We wrote Damaged Goods.. and the album to follow a bit…. lazier.
I hate to say it that way but it’s true. We weren’t so pedantic about parts and really stuck to the ‘if it sounds good, it’s good’ mantra.
We’ve been so obsessive in the past but sometimes you lose the magic when you overanalyse.
Solid hard hitting beats, double tracked and dual lead guitar, and hearty bass set the stage for Joshes vocals was the formula!
Tell us about your live show What would be your dream gig
We really aim to give a high energy performance and give you permission to sing along, act like a maniac or mosh like its the end of days. We love to light up a room, set the tone and raise the bar! When you’re in the room with us, your either watching or you’ve got to go.. its just too loud to do anything else!
Jake: My dream gig would be to play in Moscow in 1991 with Metallica and Pantera… there were 1.6 million people there apparently!!?? Just totally insane!
What can we expect from you in the near future
We’re aiming to take over and break into the scene. we’re Getting a team together, making friends, playing gigs, showing what we’ve got!
I know we’re in the social media age, but it all starts with the live gigs and the connection with the crowd and fans and we intend to tour to show what we’ve got!
We have 3-4 Single releases in mind, some videos likely and to top that off an album release in likely summer 2024.
Be cool to play that at Download now, wouldn’t it!
Tell us your favourite records that are rocking your headphones/tour bus/stereo
Jake: Right now, I’m loving Metallica’s new album. got that black sabbath vibe and you can really settle into it. in my car the mix comes across perfect and punchy. Shadows follow riff is just my kind of thing.
Jack: My playlist has changed a lot over the last year or so, new genres are entering the fray! But let me tell you, Metallica, Ozzy and Airbourne will forever by my top 3, Need a pick me up playlist? Bang on No guts No glory and it’ll have you banging your head in seconds!
[…] Read our interview with the band here […]
[…] Read our interview with the band here […]