Out everywhere TODAY, Manchester based The Battery Farm’s new single and first release of 2022 is out today. We spoke to Ben from the band about the new single and all things music.
Can you tell us a bit about The Battery Farm? Where are you from and how did you all meet?
We’re from Manchester, individually all around Greater Manchester but spiritually we’re a north Manchester band. Myself and Dom, our guitarist, are brothers and formed the band from the ashes of a band we’d been in together for the previous 8 years. We’ve been playing and writing together for about 12 years now. I’ve known our bassist Paul for a long time as I used to act and we’ve been in a few plays together. He also happens to be an amazing musician all round so we asked him to join and he said yes. I met Sam, our drummer through work and jumped at asking him to join once I found out he was a drummer as we’d been let down a few times. Luckily he’s brilliant.
If you had to sum up each band member in one word, what would you say?
Dom: Genius
Paul: virtuoso
Sam: juggernaut
Me… bald
If I were to use the phrase For Fans Of, who would you liken yourself to?
Pere Ubu, Evil Blizzard, Witch Fever, Black Sabbath, PIL, IDLES, early Manic Street Preachers… our sound is actually quite varied, but in general I’d go with those bands.
You release your new single Working Class Lad TODAY. What does this song mean to you as a band?
It means everything. It’s the lead single from our debut album, which is a massive milestone for us and, in a personal level, the fulfilment of a lifelong dream. I’ve never released a full album before. It also marks another step-up for us. The sound on this is absolutely huge, we’re really proud of it
Where did the inspiration come from?
It’s a song about identity and how people judge the content of that identity. Whose right is it to judge that but your own? Me and Dom grew up in a family that was Working Class on one side and lower Middle Class on the other, so it’s a song that wrestles with the guilt of not feeling Working Class enough, of feeling like an impostor because we have had minor class privilege in our lives, while at the same time struggling many of the struggles that Working Class people struggle – the money worries, the poverty, the being written off and sneered at and then conversely the idea of having to fit in a box to fit someone’s image of a worthy working class person. The song asks the question of what constitutes the ‘right’ kind of working class person and who decides what that criteria is, and ultimately it makes the statement that from lower middle class down we are all being victimised and manipulated. So yeah, the song is inspired by class identity and class struggle and what those things even are.
Who produced it? Have you worked with them before? How did you find working with them?
David Radahd-Jones at Red City Recording produced the track and he’s done an amazing job. He gets exactly what we are and what we’re after and he’s wrung every last drop of power out of this. We worked with Dave on our previous 2 EPs as well and he nailed them. We trust him completely, which is hugely important, and also helps that he’s great to work with and full of ideas.
Is this a hint at more new music to come? Can you tell us anymore about it?
It is. We’re dropping our debut album on 18th November, which we’ll be announcing full details of at the start of August. I can’t tell you too much more yet, other than it’s shaping up to be an absolute monster of a record.
Are there any plans for any live shows coming up?
Yep, we’re playing Rare Vitamin Annual Diversion in Northwich on 15th July with The Lovely Eggs and The C33s, then Ulltra Festival in Hull on 16th July with Avalanche Party & DITZ. Then after that we’re back in Manchester for the first time since February to headline Aatma on 23rd July. July is a busy month!
What is something that happened that you weren’t expecting to happen, when you made Working Class Lad? What did you do about it?
Honestly, not much. Everything went according to plan with that one. We did record it in a batch with some other songs for the album though and a few of them turned out much heavier than expected. I think that’s the band we’ve become now without even realising it. Over the last couple of years, just through playing together a lot, our sound has evolved into this ferocious noise. It’s a beautiful thing.
Apart from the new music, what is next for The Battery Farm?
More festivals, more gigs, more graft. We’re supporting Evil Blizzard for the 2nd time at the end of the year which is exciting and we’re going to Wales for the first time in October, which is nice. This year we’ve done some massive stuff and shared stages with some of our heroes. Everything we do from this point on is just about moving forward. The future’s bright.
What music are you all listening to at the moment?
I’ve been listening to the new Bob Vylan album a lot, which is an outstanding, incendiary piece of work. We’ve also collectively been listening to a lot of Turnstile recently, their new album is glorious.
Where can we find out more about you?
We’re on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @thebatteryfarm and on Bandcamp at thebatteryfarm.bandcamp.com, plus we’re on all your usual streamers.
Anything else you would like to tell us?
Not much really. Fuck the Supreme Court. Bodily autonomy for everyone. That’s it.
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