Tell us a little about the band. How did you all meet?
John: Two of us are quite obviously brothers. Pad and I grew up in a very musical household. We’ve all been friends for decades, it makes everything so much easier when it comes to making decisions and working together.
Paddy: We were a combination of different band members from other projects that we had all done from experimental performance-punk to melodic pop. The musical equivalent of taking clothes from washing lines as you jump through other people’s gardens.
Where did the name Box Time come from?
John: I briefly moved back in with my parents after a big life-change a few years ago. I was basically living and sleeping in their front room which is more or less a box room. Box Time became my code for when I was recording. Fast forward a couple of years and the songs I was writing then were coming to life in the studio with the band. We needed a name and there it was, etched into the forefront of my mind. Lots of people have asked what the meaning is behind the name and my usual response is to ask: ‘what does it mean to you?’ I’ve heard some interesting interpretations.
If you had to sum up your sound in three words, what would you use?
Ryan: Visceral Melodic Rock
What do you think of your soon to be released single – Another Excuse? What does it mean to you?
John: Another Excuse is a fast-paced, guilt-edged rock song that is designed to portray the current mood and the frustrations of the average Joe. The fact that it’s being released during a pandemic only adds emphasis to the lyrics and tone of the song. It’s by far the best single we’ve put out (so far) and we can’t wait for you to hear it!
Barny: It started out as some acoustic type thing but now it’s our heaviest number.
Can we expect more stuff on the way?
Barny: Before civilisation inconveniently collapsed we got a couple of tracks recorded in the studio. Along with Another Excuse we recorded our next single, In My Brain. It’s real summer pop stuff, catchy chorus and everything.
It’ll also be our first music video, which we actually filmed nearly two years ago when we only had a demo version of the track. I think you’ll love the video – it involves face-eating, murder-by-cello and a distinctly relevant apocalyptic theme. Clue’s in the song title.
Did you have any help with making and producing this music?
John: We met producer Nico Secretin after one of our well attended shows at The Finsbury. He told us that he’d loved our set and that there was “something nostalgic” about the songs and gave us his card. He came to a few of our subsequent gigs and we got on well. At the start of 2020 we set dates to record with Nico at Puzzle Factory Sound Studios. In late February we did an 11 hour recording session which went exceptionally well. Unfortunately the Covid 19 pandemic lock-down followed and Nico got himself stuck in Belgium. Luckily for us, Nico had taken the stems and managed to build himself a home studio over in Belgium in which he completed several mixes of the two tracks. He was amazing throughout, he took our notes on board after each mix and produced the perfect representation of Box Time’s sound. A proper producer and a great guy.
What’s your song writing process? Where do you look for inspiration?
John: Songs can come from anywhere for me but usually they’re either like a diary entry or a stream of consciousness. We have a song that I wrote about being plagued by THAT Ed Sheeran song* everywhere I went. I’d walk down the street and it was coming from cars, I’d open the window in my flat and it was blaring out from the pub that I lived above. It was nearly the end of me, it was either write a song or see what Ant Powder tasted like. I decided to use the premise of Ed Sheeran being refused entry to a fairground ride on account of him being too tall.
*Shape of You
Who is currently on your release radar?
John: According to Spotify we have The Coral, Cass McCombs, Soccer Mommy, Neil Young, Ariel Pink, Fontaines D.C, Ice-T, LL Cool J, Jay Som, Ketama, Weezer, The Charlatans and Nico. That’s quite an eclectic mix! Also, our friends Average Sex are about to drop an LP on 20th June which we’re excited about!
Where can we find out more about you?
For a bit of backstory we have a teletext style, 8-bit website that will be updated a little closer to release day which is: boxti.me
Otherwise we’re already on all major streaming and social media platforms. For a more extensive view into our story as a band you should visit:
Facebook: Facebook.com/BoxTimeBand
Instagram: @boxtime_band
Anything you would like to tell us?
John: Another Excuse will be coming to all major streaming platforms on Friday 12th June. Spotify, Deezer, iTunes, Amazon Music, Tesla Music, Google Play, Tidal, Napster, YouTube Music, Claro Música – the list goes on. If you’re a Spotify listener then go on and follow us, Another Excuse will be on your Release Radar a week early. Likewise you can pre-order on iTunes from the 9th June.
Paddy: Be excellent to each other.
I’d like to thank John and Paddy for taking the time to answer my questions and wish them all the best with the upcoming release
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