Sonntag, 20. Januar 2013

GREAT WHITE SHARK interview

Are you and your music as sharp as the teeth of a Great White Shark?

Luckily we've never felt the teeth of a Great White, however, as a band we do try to create a sound that is atmospheric, energetic, as well as dreamy.  At the same time our songs also carry an aggression that definitely provides a big bite.

The Great White Shark has grown rapidly within almost one year and now you are touring through Germany, Switzerland and Austria together with The Blue Angel Lounge... What is it like touring with the Blue Angel Lounge and how does it feel to be big and strong?

We're still touring with The Blue Angel lounge at the moment, we've only done 2 shows with them so far and they've both been awesome! They're great lads and talented musicians and we're very much looking forward to the rest of it. I think both bands complement each other nicely. In terms of being big and strong, well, let's wait and see… But thanks for the compliment!


Jim, Adam and Jack you three moved from London to Berlin with the spirit of optimism and adventurousness and together with Vincent you felt ready to start something new. How do you complement each other?

Jack and Adam have been playing in Eight Legs for years, so they have a musical connection. Of course our style is very different from Eight Legs but you do get a good grip on someone’s musical personality when one plays so long with another person. We all complement each other however by bringing in both similar and different inspirations and experiences. It’s like 4 individuals fitting together as one unit. Kinda like Voltron if you remember that ;)

And Berlin is just…

…awesome


Your first gig was on the 7th of May, my birthday, in the White Trash in Berlin. Have you rocked the house and bestowed that day and your stage debut all honor?

This gig was actually cancelled. Our first show was at the Rufreaktor on the 6th floor of an abandoned brewery. As far as 1st shows go it was very memorable. There was barely any light, limited equipment and loads of people! It was a bit of baptism of fire to be honest. But we played well and came out the other side unscathed. It was a test, but we loved it.


It was followed by a concert in late May at Molotow. What do you think of Hamburg, the Reeperbahn and the Molotow?

Molotow was with our mini Art Brut tour! That was fun! Lots of fans and lots of Mexicanas (our favourite drink) the venue was ace. Hamburg, at least from what we've seen, is a beautiful city. As far as the Reeperbahn goes.. Well.. If we ever decided to buy slingshots, knives and dildoes, I guess we know where to go.


Tell me an anecdote of this evening.

To be honest, that evening is still a bit of a blur. As we said in question 6, we drank A LOT of Mexicana's that night.


The third song of your Bring Us Back Together E.P. is called "Tidal Wave". Tonight you're playing with The Blue Angel Lounge on the MS Treue in Bremen. Will you conquer the ship and crew with a tidal wave of great sounds?


We actually went drunk shopping this morning in the biggest music shop on the planet and ended up getting very excited. We came out with two crocodile guitar cases and two new effects pedals, so we're gonna put them to good use tonight and create a beautiful tidal wave wall of sound. Trying to obtain a landscape of sounds and noises is a big part of our live show, we are still learning a lot so I'm sure this will continue to grow and grow.

Fantastic!, so tell me the headline of Bremen’s newspapers tomorrow:

We did see something about a pelican getting cut in half by a wind turbine. We suspect that was rather big news.


December 2011, Interview: Flavia Lamprecht


REUBEN HOLLEBON interview




Reuben, have you always been a solo artist or did you previously play in a band?


I’ve not ruled out being in a band, or doing music with a different feel, but these songs are more suited to me defining them first, whilst getting friends to join in towards the end.


In what ways is it advantageous being a solo artist?


Well it’s much easier to go on tour, at times I’ve turned up at venues in Europe having yet found where I’m sleeping that evening, but people are good and generous and things have worked out so far. You also only then have yourself to argue with about music, but that is a never ending even if alone.

And which artist would you like to work with most?


I’d like to see what music Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Johnny Greenwood or RJD2 could make with my music, there’s something enigmatic about anyone creating something with your material, I encourage it.

You grew up in a small town near the coast in Norfolk, and now you live in London, at the heart of the music scene. Do you have the feeling that you have to or want to go with the flow?


I have a pace, it changes for it’s own reasons, it’s influenced by everywhere I’ve been. Norfolk was a mainstay for a long time and probably will be again soon (although I’m considering Berlin next). London certainly does hold a huge music scene, I don’t think any city in the world really competes with it for sheer amount.

What makes London so interesting for you?

You have access to what you want in this city, and the vibe can be quite distinct in each town, Brixton’s currently a preference. I don’t think I’m at home yet here, it suits right now, but there are many places in which I’d like to spend a fair amount of time.

How would you describe the expectations you have for your future as a musician?


Remaining fluid, I like making things, music stories and such, currently when I wake I have to write songs, not a want but a compulsion, going to see where that takes me.


The artwork on the cover of your debut EP ‘Clutch’ shows an outline of a person filled with objects that conjure up thoughts of travelling and adventure. Is this representative of your songs and perhaps even your own character?

The title means everything that drives you, everyone you hold on to, I told this to my friend Anne from Leipzig and she sent me this picture, it was as it should be, journeys, journeys, journeys and a little bit of sleep.

We met in Berlin while you were touring through Europe and you performed in many cities. What were your impressions of the different locations and how did the people react to your music?

People are good, the more I travel the more I get reminded of this, they do have there differences, subtle and not so. The perennial issue of touring crops though, time in each city or town always feels limited, so I got to see the gloss and not enough content.

What does 2013 hold for Reuben Hollebon? Will you be touring again?

I’m working on something, no specifics yet but there will be more music soon, and I’ll tour anywhere that I’m invited, in Europe or otherwise.



Interview: Flavia Lamprecht