Can you tell us a bit about yourself? Where are you from and where did music start for you?

I’m originally from Yorkshire, but now live in London. I can remember finding a 45″ vinyl in a cupboard at home that my dad had bought along with the local pub jukebox when I was about 8 years old. It was Little Richard “Tutti Frutti” and the second I heard it – that was it! What a track, what a voice, what was this??!  I guess that lead me to all the greats really – Sam Cooke, Chuck Berry, James Brown, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones etc, but I really got into guitars when a friend handed me a recording of Ocean Colour Scene’s “Riverboat Song”. I had just hit the drinking age and seemed to spend every minute watching bands at shows or trying to learn their songs. This kinda leads on nicely to my blog post below bud: https://www.ejmannmusic.co/its-taken-a-lifetime 

In three words, how would you sum yourself up?

Always VERY loud 

You recently released your debut single It’s Automatic. What does this song mean to you?

It means everything really – it was the first track I wrote for the album “This Is Nowhere” and was the catalyst for the whole next chapter in my music career. It was the first time I’ve genuinely written and recorded a song exactly how I want to. It explores the idea of us as a population being on autopilot and going along with corporate ideas and advertising and the way things “should” be done in life and to be totally honest, perhaps in the music industry too. 

Did you have any help with the writing and process?

Not with the writing process at all. (My long suffering girlfriend will occasionally hear a demo and give me the thumbs up or thumbs down, but apart from that it is a very solo process). I play all instruments and pre-produce everything myself. However, a superb chap named David Watts produces in a cracking studio called Chairworks (back up North near home) and really makes the tracks come to life. He drafted in a cracking drummer called Jake to help make the track sound massive and tweaks the dials to make it sound great (in my opinion) for radio airplay. 

What are some of your favourite things you’ve heard about the song?

The best and funniest are the Facebook comments from people who don’t like the songs: “Not another bloke with a guitar” “Get a new haircut” “Rubbish” 

Some of the nicer quotes come from fans: “What an inspiring story” “Your track has just knocked The Courteeners off the top of my playlist it’s that good” “Insane voice and songwriter” 

During my time as a songwriter, BBC Introducing have described me as their “favourite track of the week”. BBC Radio 1 have described me as “someone worth getting excited about”. The Yorkshire Post described my music as “effervescent rock and roll”   

What were some of your favourite gig stories from the world before COVID?

Playing with The Flaming Lips at a festival was very cool. Wayne Coyne asked one of our friends if he’d like to dress up as a 10ft inflatable Alien on stage (they love to dress everybody up and get fans on stage). Of course he said yes, but just as they hit the first track, our friend caught his foot on the drum riser and the air started to slowly leak from the suit in front of 20,000 people! I think somewhere I have a picture from the side of stage with what looks like a melted plastic jelly where an Alien should’ve been stood Haha!  

What is one thing you are not missing from gigs?

Load in and out for sure! Haha! Lifting heavy, lumpy equipment all in a rush – not fun. 

What is next for you?

I’m a strong advocate of the independent, DIY route in the music industry. I’m dedicated to building my fanbase and meeting them directly through my website and email list. I’ve gained some great friendships this way and love to hear from fans on a much more personal level. I’m often chatting via email and social media and feel it shows a genuine care for those willing to support me and my music. So expect more single releases and definitely lots of free music videos, Christmas giveaways and rewards for the dedicate folks who want to be involved. I’d like to create a membership program for the true fans too, so watch this space!  

How have you been passing the time in lockdown?

Haha! I’ve recently written a blog piece about this right here too: https://www.ejmannmusic.co/lockdown/  

Where can we find out more about you?

The website has regular blog updates:https://www.ejmannmusic.co 
Come and say hello on all socials @ejmannmusic 

Anything you would like to tell us?

Just to say thank you for supporting independent music and that all your followers can receive 2 free tracks direct from my website at: https://www.ejmannmusic.co/free-music

Well, what are you waiting for? Go ahead and check out EJ’s single, available on all streaming platforms now! I’d like to thank EJ for taking the time to answer my questions and wish him the best of luck with all his new music

With the release of their latest single, Best Friend, out earlier this month, I thought it would be a good opportunity to catch up with the Bradford based band about their latest adventures.

Can you tell us a little bit about the band? Where are you all from and how did you meet?

We’re all a bunch of mates from Bradford, but even when we’re weren’t mates our paths seemed to cross in different musical outfits. Now it seems like we can’t get rid of each other.

If I were to use the phrase “for fans of”, who would you liken yourself to?

Our old manager once wrote a bio on us likening us to the visceral energy of ‘The Fat White Family’ infused with the melodic grooves of ‘Primal Scream’ and ‘The Beta Band’. Now I don’t know much about that, I’d say we’re for fans of people who ‘choose life’.

You recently released your latest single, Best Friend. Can you tell us about what the songs mean to you as a band?

 The song is reminiscent of a time before all the lockdown madness an isolation. A time spent with your best friend be it a man, woman, animal or whatever else. For us as a band it is also emotional in an extra sense as we are now taking time away from this project. So it’s a nostalgic look back to the moments we’ve shared.

Is this a hint at more new music on the way?

 For the time being no, as we are taking time away from this project to explore new sounds and arts!

Where do you find inspiration for your music?

On the northern fields n moors between the months of late August an early November.

Who produces your music? How do you find working with them?

Lee Smith. His works flows amazing, one second you’re here on a fender Rhodes, next you’re on an AsdaPrice guitar. And that thing he told me about Charlie’s mum, I’ll never forget.

What advice would you give to someone looking to make music?

Discover what makes you tic, what you love, your strengths and weaknesses, and most importantly don’t take advice off anyone. Especially people in bands.

Are there plans to get back on the road when it is safe to do so?

Whenever that’ll be, we shall see. For now TBC.

What is next for Fling?

Well, we’re waiting for all this to blow over before we decide whether or not to take this any further.

Where can we find out more about you?

Don’t wanna mention any names but get ya self down to Bradford, England and witness it. We do our best to put the message across in the videos an music.

Anything you would like to tell us?

Jacks goldfish died today, he’s only regret is not giving them a name before they died. Peace an love.

And with that slightly sad ending, I’d like to thank the band for taking the time to answer my questions and wish them the best with whatever the future shall bring.

With the release of their latest single only a few days ago, I thought it would be a good opportunity to catch up with the band about all things music.

Can you tell us a bit about Neon Islands? Where are you from and how did you all meet?

We are from a bit all over the place. Spain, England, Malta, Argentina… but we all met at uni in Guildford, and we live in London now. We all met during freshers week at uni – we were so lucky to find each other so fast!

The name is pretty unique, where did it come from?

We like to think of the Neon Islands as the place where we take people to when they hear our music. When we play shows, we like to think we are creating a space where everyone can feel safe and do whatever they want for at least 45 minutes. We love how, depending on the night, people react to the songs in different ways. There is something so real about that, so pure. That’s what Neon Islands represent to us, and that is what we try to portray in our recorded music too.

You recently released your latest single, Moon. What does this song mean to you as a band?

‘Moon’ is a very important song for us, for many different reasons. Musically, I think ‘Moon’ finally achieves something we had been looking for. There’s a balance in this track that I think really defines our sound and how we want to sound like, it’s almost as if all our influences had aligned perfectly to create exactly the sound we wanted. Also, lyrically, the song is very relevant to the moment we are living in. It talks about long-distance relationships, and the challenges, pain and boring routines that come with them. There are so many people in the world now who can’t see their loved ones that I think could relate to the feelings that ‘Moon’ represents! 

Is this a hint at more new music on the way?

Well, we’ve realised that the one thing covid-19 can’t take away from us, is the ability of writing, recording and releasing music. So we have decided that’s what we are going to be doing until this thing is over!

Who produced this? Have you worked with them before? What was it like working with them?

For this single, we went back to Numen Studios, to work with the amazing team there. After having a great experience recording at Metropolis Studios with the amazing Liam Nolan, we actually discovered that working in a smaller studio, where the time pressure is not that high, allowed us to focus more on the little details that define our sound. The team at Numen are almost like our extended family; such a core part of our sound! It was great to be back. 

Where do you look to find musical inspiration?

I think we are all music lovers above everything else. We are constantly looking for new music, and I think that is so important for a band. Of course we all love some of the same bands (Talking Heads, The Strokes, Foals, David Bowie…), but if we only listened to them, our music would sound boring and limited. It’s so important to listen to music as a band too, and to share what everyone is loving at the moment. I’m personally obsessed with Do Nothing, Our Girl and Fenne Lily.

Before the world went mad, did you get a chance to play any gigs?

Absolutely! And that is what we miss the most. We’ve always been a live band. We belong on a stage, and nowhere else. Without live music, we would make no sense basically. I think it’s so important we talk about this. Gigs were such an important thing in our lives up until March 2020. I recently realised we hadn’t really talked about it enough. Creative people who are not able to do what they used to do anymore should be talking about the psychological challenges that come with that, and we should definitely support each other. Live music will be back. I have no doubt of that. But we need to make sure we are supporting our independent venues and our independent bands enough, to ensure we can all go back to work when it’s safe to do so. 

What are some of your favourite stories from these shows?

We have endless stories from shows. Loads of them from sell-out shows at The Boileroom in Guildford, which is the venue that pretty much saw us grow up as a band. I once came off the stage in the middle of a song while I was asking the crowd to mosh pit, ran to the bar and poured myself a pint! That was pretty fun. But I think we all hold incredible memories from the sold-out show we played at KOKO, from the first time we played a UK festival (Isle of Wight), and also from when we headlined Rock the South in Malta last year – it was the most insane crowd we’ve ever had. I think I was more time crowd surfing than actually on the stage. It was Sam’s (our drummer) first crowdsurf too! Which was pretty epic. 

What is next for Neon Islands?

We are just going to keep going! It feels incredible to release music again after such a weird year. So you can expect quite a lot more from us in the coming months!

Where can we find out more about you?

I always used to answer this question saying that the best thing you can do to support us, is come down to a show. But of course, this wouldn’t make much sense anymore. So the best thing you could do to keep in touch, is to follow us on social media, but most importantly to join our mailing list and so we can talk to you directly!! And of course, if you love the music, make sure you tell your friends and family about it. You can’t imagine how much that helps.

Anything you would like to tell us?

Thank you so much for having us, and stay tuned for more 🙂 And stay safe!! xx

And with that, I’d like to extend my thanks to the guys for answering my questions and wish them the best of luck for the future, and I hope to see them at a show soon!

“Calon in Welsh can mean a few things (Spirit, Centre, Emotion), but it literally translates as “Heart”, something that I write from by being honest and open in my songwriting”

After the release of his brilliant new single, Familiar, I thought it would be a good opportunity to catch up with London based, but Swansea originated Calon. For fans of that jazzy acoustic sound, this ones for you.

Can you tell us a bit about yourself? Where are you from and where did music start for you?

Where to begin! I’m originally from Swansea, South Wales and started playing guitar when I was about 12/13 (I had 6 guitar lessons as a birthday present). I soon found a love for music in classic rock through bands like Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd & The Who after playing the guitar for about 2 years. After a year of guitar lessons, I started to teach myself different chord shapes and melodies, I can’t actually sight-read music (or read music for that matter). In terms of the music I write now, it’s been heavily influenced by Jeff Buckley, Radiohead and Johnny Marr’s work in The Smiths. I think my music taste has always been changing, but discovering new bands through my friends in school lending me a CD or two (back in the day, I still have about 300 in my parent’s house!) was what was most influential in starting that process.

Where do you find some of your biggest inspirations?

It sounds like an easy answer, but a lot of my inspirations come from life in general; I’m quite the existentialist, and I think time is the most important commodity we have. It’s so easily given away, whether it be to jobs or in sunk cost fallacies, so what inspires me in that respect is thinking “what can I do that makes the best use of my time right now?” A lot of my songs follow this format, live for the moment but also keep an eye on where you’re at, and this goes for mental health (something which I think in this day and age is still often overlooked). 

You recently released your latest single Familiar. What does this song mean to you?

I always introduce this song as “a love-song for people who haven’t found love yet”; for me a lot of love songs are about the love that’s lost or happening to them right now, but not so much in expectation of it. For this song, I wanted something that people could relate to, that feeling of “just take a chance, life is short”. I haven’t found love in a significant other as of yet, so I thought I would write a tribute to that, and as a reminder that good things come to those who wait.

How would you say that Familiar compares with your other single, Feral, released earlier this year?

I would say they differ quite a lot, with ‘Feral’ I wanted to give it that 90s Alternative Rock sound (think Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Suede) and to really put a lot of energy into it. The heavy sound surprised a lot of people who’ve only seen me play the acoustic! ‘Familiar’ I think it’s more in keeping with my jazz-folk leanings, and I hope to release more songs in that vein in the future. Both songs I love, and almost have a yin-yang feel to them, one is chaotic and the other calming.

Do you have any help with the writing, recording and producing process for your songs?

I recorded 5 songs with Crown Lane Studios in Morden last year, those were produced and mastered on site by Bill Sherrington (also helped with the arrangement of the songs, thanks again Bill!). In terms of the songwriting side, I’ve always written my own songs, although I’m happy to look into future collaborations with the right people! I do want to get into self-producing at some point, but till then I’ll leave it to the experts  

Pre-lockdown, did you get chance to play any live shows, and is there any plans to get back on the road when it is safe?

It’s weird to even think of the world prior to lockdown, in London I would play a lot of the open mic scene during the week, I would travel to different areas in East London primarily. I would love to get back to some semblance of normal playing live music (provided it being safe for performers and audience members of course!) I think for now although it’s frustrating not being able to play a few times a week, however it’s helped me focus on songwriting and finishing songs off. When it’s safe, I think I’ll do an evening of the songs I’ve written during lockdown just to give it a bit of catharsis.

What are some of the biggest hurdles you have had to overcome when making music?

Tough one, but the biggest hurdle that springs to mind is self-doubt, that feeling of “am I doing this right?” or even “is this a good song I’m writing?” I think that these will always remain with us at different stages of life, the idea is just to keep improving on what you know. Another hurdle is comparisons with other musicians; with social media everyone can be “famous” or have the illusion of fame, as a famous phrase goes “comparison is the thief of joy”. Stick to your own path, ask plenty of questions, and trust in your intuition!

What is next for you?

Probably some more recording, I have released 2 out of the 5 songs I recorded last year, and I’m keen to get some more songs recorded after those are all released. Aside from that, I’ve been looking at some old song ideas I’ve left on the back burner (some of those ideas are a few years old). It’ll be like opening several little time capsules from different parts of my life!

Where can we find out more about you?

I am currently working on a website, but for now you can check out my Instagram page (@calon_music) and Facebook (@calonlondon) for more content and live streaming.

Anything you would like to tell us?

It’s a hard time at the moment for a lot of people, so I just want to echo what a lot of others have said, and that is to keep in touch with family and friends as much as you can. It only takes a few mins to check up on someone, and I’m sure it would mean the world to them that you called or messaged. Aside from that, stay safe and don’t overwork yourselves!

And with those fabulous answer’s, the only thing that’s left for you to do is go and check out Calon’s work. I’d like to thank him for taking the time to give me some great answers, and I hope to catch him on the road one day soon!

Jack Swing are back with their second EP, released back in September. This EP combines three great tracks to create something that is definitely worth watching out for. I thought it would be a good opportunity to catch up with Isaiah from the band.

For those out there who haven’t heard of Jack Swing before, can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Absolutely. Jack Swing is a rock band from Pittsburgh PA that consists of Isaiah Ross (vocals/guitar), Rowdy Kanarek (bass), and Alex Nelson (drums). We are best buds, live together, and started officially in 2016. We enjoy movies, kung fu, anime, badminton, and one of us is extremely into cheese. Stylistically we’ve heard we’re a bit all over the place but I’d say we’re rooted in rock and frequently touch upon other things such as funk, soul, ect. 

Where did the journey into music begin for the band?

We’ve been playing together musically for a long time.  When I was about 14 I (Isaiah) asked Rowdy for bass lessons. At the time I was a rapper and my act and Rowdy’s band, The Incredibly Suave (who Alex drummed for at the time) would tend to share stages. After a while of doing these lessons with Rowdy I realized how much I love rock music and how much I needed to actively be in a band. All three of us played in numerous projects over the years both together and separately. After coming out of a tough emotional time I realized that none of my current projects were satisfying the things I needed from music. At this point I started Jack Swing and though we have had some lineup changes things have come full circle and currently the band is myself and the two people I’ve personally jammed with the longest.

Where does the name Jack Swing come from?

When I initially attempted to start this project I wanted its name to serve the same purpose as how I saw the names of my musical heroes (Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, ect). Unforgettable names yet powerful titles that have stood the test of time. New Jack Swing was something I heard a lot growing up, I suppose on some level that stuck with me. I went with that because it felt right in that regard and it’s felt right thus far. 

You recently released your latest EP Get What’s Mine For You. What does this song mean to you as a band?

As a band with this entire EP we really wanted to capture the energy of us playing together at the time as our previous drummer (Jonathan Lightfoot) was leaving the band as well as Isaiah Small (keys) was moving from Pittsburgh to Minnesota. This song represents that unique and special energy and all the memories that come with that. To me personally, this song represents doing whatever necessary to get the things from life that you want and deserve. We all have parts of ourselves that we’ve sacrificed as we’ve grown older. This song represents the energy of choosing to get those things out of life that you may have given up on in the past. Getting these things out of life that you deserve for yourself. 

Did you have any help with the recording and producing process?

Absolutely. We recorded the EP at The Church Recording Studio in Pittsburgh PA. The EP was recorded and mixed by Dave Hidek and mastered by Garrett Haines out of Treelady Studios. 

The music video looks like it was a lot of fun to make. What and who were involved in making it?

This video was a true blast to make. Some aspects were definitely easier than others, for example Alex is a big fan of rotisserie chicken so that passion definitely comes across in the video. Fake ghost-riding on a 90 degree day in a tracksuit on the other hand… A lot of very talented hands went into the creation of this video, I like to refer to them as the dream team. The dream team consists of the following: 

Anthony Peduzzi – Director 

Director of Photography: Raffaele DiLullo 

Production Design: Shannon Dailey

Swing/Set Dresser/ Transportation Captain: Max Cianci 

What were some of the biggest hurdles that you had to overcome when making your music, and how did you deal with them?

For me I think it was more the realization that the hurdles would be nonstop, and to not let them slow you down when they do happen. With any craft, troubleshooting is just as important as any other aspect, making music is no different. In music and life in general few things go according to plan, the best you can do is learn how to roll with whatever comes and keep moving towards your goals.  

Before the world went mad, did you have any opportunities to play any shows?

Live shows were definitely a huge part of Jack Swing’s existence pre-covid. As a band that was known for our live shows, making the adjustment was tough. Fortunately by living together we were able to immerse ourselves in different aspects of the music. But normally, we are very active in the live show regard. 

Are there any plans to get back on the road when it is safe?

Without a doubt. As soon as it seems genuinely safe we plan to hit the road harder than ever, until then there is always more tightening up to do. 

What is next for Jack Swing?

During quarantine we have written our debut album and currently are in the process of completing demos for it. We plan on getting back into the studio to work on it as soon as possible and ideally by the time it’s finished getting back on the road may be an option (fingers crossed). Otherwise we will keep writing and working on making music that we can stand by. 

Where can we find out more about you?

You can find us on any of our social media @jackswingpgh (facebook, Instagram, Twitter). As well as on all streaming platforms.  

Anything you would like to tell us?

A huge goal with our music is putting out light in a time where it’s hard to find any. Check us out and we hope you like what you hear. Keep an eye out for our full-length and check out our new EP and the video in the meantime! 

I’d like to thank Isaiah and the band for taking the time to answer my questions and wish them the best of luck for the future, and I hope to catch Jack Swing at a show at some point.

You may notice things have been a little quiet around here recently. I recently had an email sent to my inbox, asking if I wanted to do an interview for a charity project. Of course I said yes!

Billy Graziadei, from the NYC band Biohazard, has been spearheading a new project recently, and we caught up with him about it.

Billy has been helping with CRU SOX, an initiative which means you can buy a great quality pair of socks, while also helping give something back to those in need.

Can you tell us a bit about how the whole idea of CRU SOX came about?

I’ve always been into helping others from an early age. In every aspect of my life I will extend myself to share a helping hand, my knowledge and experience with anyone in need. My Mother was a Nurse (and an amazing singer) so maybe it came from her. I teamed up with a couple from Arizona and set forth on creating a sock company based on the philosophy of giving back. When you buy one pair of socks, we donate 1 pair to someone in need. When you buy two pairs, we donate 3 and when you buy 3 pairs, we donate 5 pairs to someone not so lucky to be able to afford a new pair of dope socks!

Are you working with any other organisations to help further your cause?

I have a whole list of organizations I work with. Currently planning a annual Thanksgiving Day meal giveaway in Los Angeles paired with a new clean pair of socks. Working with Greetings with Gratitude for a holiday donation run in December. That organization is run by George Lynch of the Dokken, Lynch Mobb, etc. He’s a great dude and an amazing guitarist!

Are there any other famous names that are helping you along the way, or any others that you are hoping to get on board?

I brought a few friends on board, you may know Shifty from Crazy Town and Zoli from Ignite. Have had some great support from Al from Dropkick Murphy’s also! Everyone loves the idea of giving back.

How has the ongoing COVID-19 situation affected the mission that you and CRU SOX are furthering?

For me as an artist, I thrive in chaos so I look at life as a series of challenges rather than problems. There’s always an escape and an opportunity!

What can ordinary people, like myself, do day to day to help the homeless community (other than buy a pair of CRU SOX)?

Just do your part, of course buy a pair of socks but just do your part.

Other than your amazing charity efforts, what have you been up to over the last year?

I lost my Mother to Cancer when I was really young and any foundation benefiting that research is close to my heart! I would say all of the mental health, physical and substance abuse areas mean a lot to me also.

What lies next for Billy Graziadei?

I’m constantly creating, albeit new ideas for an awesome giveback company like Crusox or new music, a new band, etc. I set my realistic goals and go after them. With
years of success with my first band Biohazard, I started a band with Cypress Hill singer Sendog and we are currently working on our second release from our band Powerflo. I also have my sophomore release from my solo band BillyBio due out in early 2021. Assuming the music world opens back up and I can tour again!

Thank you for your time!

You can keep up with Billy at @BillyBiohazard everywhere on social media.

You can find CRU SOX here.

I’d like to thank Billy for his time and wish him and his project the best for the future.