Decades of history have linked Converse and Music, from Elvis to The Strokes, from the stage to the studio; this association is as recognisable today as it has ever been.
Conversemusic.co.uk is a thank you to all Converse fans, it will be an ongoing effort to give something back to you who make Converse what it is today.
Journey Episode 10
Journey – Episode 10
Exciting times faced the lads last week as they headed off to the airport for a gig in Italy with the guys from SCUM….but things seem only to go from bad to worse for the guys as they continue on their journey to spread the word and music of Lion Club
Check out the latest episode of journey exclusively at Conversemusic.co.uk
One’s To Check Out – Mickey Gang
One’s To Check Out – Mickey Gang
This week Converse Music writer Nicholas Burman profiles Brazilian band Mickey Gang. Check out the full review now and then get yourself over to the downloads section for your exclusive download track ‘Born in the 90’s’
Hailing from Brazil, Mickey Gang have a sun soaked spin on the new wave sound, “all our friends were too busy doing serious-distorted-orientated stuff”. Their debut single ‘Horses Can’t Dance’ is being released on 50 Bones (“I really can’t think of a better label”) which has previously released The Virgins and Little Boots just before their big breaks. At the tender age of 18, the goofy nature of their pop may be confused with teen naivety. First considered a joke cover up for another band or producer by the Brazilian press, “we felt like the Gorillaz cartoons,” they soon pressured themselves into writing tunes which would make them be taken seriously: “When you are young you need to make sure over and over that you can do anything good. People don’t seem to take it really serious.” ‘Born in the 90s’ is the strutting soundtrack to anyone who was too young to witness the Britpop season (“come and wash my purple rain… spend the afternoon watching Friends”) and you can get it from our download section now.
Win Tickets to Loop Festival 10th-12th July 09
WIN TICKETS TO LOOP FESTIVAL, BRIGHTON
After making a storming debut in 2007 and a sell out year in 2008, Loop returns for its third year to central Brighton for what promises to be a bigger, better and bolder festival than ever. Visit www.loopbrighton.com for picture galleries and filmed footage. Launching with Matthew Herbet Big Band on Friday 10th July at the Brighton dome, Loop Festival aims to bring you some of the best new bands and Dj’s and promises a wealthy showcase of hot new talent from around the globe. Expect to see some amazing acts stomping the stages of Loop festival including the like of
We Have Band, Plugs, The Sian Alice Group, Esser, Emilíana Torrini
CasioKids, The XX, The Glimmers & Hatcham Social and many many more!
Many more acts will be confirmed over the following weeks, so keep your eyes peeled and check out www.loopbrighton.com for up-to-the minute new announcements.
Now for the most important part as Converse Music is giving you the chance to win a pair of tickets to Loop Festival weekend.
To be in with a chance of winning simply email guestlist@conversemusic.co.uk, with your full name, number, address and email…its that simple! So if you want to kick of the summer and the month of July with a bang in, then get entering now!!! **Competition closes on the Monday 6th July at Midday**For more information and details please visit www.loopbrighton.com**
Journey Episode 9 – THE EXAMS ARE OVER
EPISODE 9 – SCHOOL’S OUT FOR SUMMER
The lads from Lion Club are finally free from School for the summer, exams are in the bag and the celebrations have began.
Before hitting the Converse Music Party the lads caught up with S.C.U.M in the rehearsal studio, see the jam session in the latest episode.
Next week the lads try to make a plash with the Italians and then warm up for Does it Offend You, Yeah.
Till next week!
UA Countdown – Interview with The Chapman Family
Interview with The Chapman Family
Playing the Underage Festival on the Conversemusic.co.uk stage and some of the best festivals around Europe this summer, The Chapman Family look set for a hot summer of music and touring. We caught up with Kingsley and Pop as part of our Underage Festival countdown to find out what makes them tick and what we can expect from them over the coming months….
Firstly how do you feel about performing at the Underage festival this year?
Pop: I feel pretty privileged to be playing a festival alongside some of the 21st centuries best bands and musicians. I also really love the idea of a festival that can’t be ruined by alcoholic excess and is fueled purely by the passion and excitement of our nations youth for new music and for music in general. Underage crowds don’t hold back, they’re the best crowds by far.
What’s the best festival you’ve played to date and why?
Pop: Glastonbury because it was the first major festival we ever played which meant we were psyched up to the tits about being there. We went round and handed out flyers to sort ourselves a sizeable crowd and I would say we were fairly successful in our promotional endeavours as we got a very nice crowd indeed.
How would you describe your music?
Kingsley: Angry and noisy. But with a couple of tunes thrown in for good measure.
Your live gigs are pretty intense, how do you get ready for a show and wind down afterwards… that’s if you do wind down?
Pop: We get ready by standing in a circle and with our hands in the middle piled on top of one another like a stack of skin pancakes, we then call on the powers of earth, wind, water, fire and heart and chant our secret mystical mantra over and over and over and over until its time to explode onto the stage like ten atomic bombs going off in a volcano factory filled with dynamite and cap gun caps. We like to wind down after the gig with a few games of billiards and maybe a glass or two of sherry.
What impact has music had on your life, and what impact do you hope it has on other people?
Kingsley: Music is everything. I can’t play very well at all, my Grandad taught me how to play guitar but he couldn’t really play it that well either so I was never going to get anywhere near to a high standard of playing. But to me song writing isn’t about playing amazingly well – it’s about making some noises that you like and putting some words over it that you’ve wrote and singing them in whatever way you want. I love it, I don’t know what I’d do without my little sketchbook and my guitar and keyboard! I think I’d probably be sat at home eating chips watching some TV programme I’m not interested in. If the impact we can have on people is to get them off their arses and get passionate about something – be it music, art, model train sets, anything – then I’ll be happy. If being in this band has taught me anything at all it’s that sometimes the underdog can win.
You have a pretty great ‘cult’ style fan base. What’s your secret to your music, success and keeping your ever growing cult of fans?
Kingsley: The secret to this band is basically to be honest and not listen to people when they say that you’re “the worst band in the world” or that your songs don’t make sense and that you’ll never get anywhere as you don’t fit in. As long as you have 100% faith and commitment in what you are doing you can’t really go wrong. I take the fact that we don’t quite fit in as a compliment, plus that sort of thing is usually said by someone who has quite a narrow-minded attitude to music. Idiots. We’re not keen on idiots.
WHATS…
…the thing that makes you guys tick?
Pop : The Chapman Family is kept running like a well oiled machine on beer, disdain, hatred towards mediocrity, the colour black, the music and philisophical teachings of Andrew WK and some seriously shit hot dance moves.
…The best piece of advice you’ve heard?
Pop: touch my bum, this is life by the cheeky girls. Is there a better sentence that decants the meaning of life down so perfectly? I think not. If youre ever faced with a difficult decision or if life is getting on top of you and youre feeling stressed then simply repeat that line and all will be well. Make it your mantra, get it tattooed on your eyelids.
Kingsley: Never eat with your mouth open. I have serious problems with people who do it!! I have to leave the room and go outside if I see it, it drives me mad!
…your embarrassing music vice?
Pop: I love Blackout by Britney Spears, it is an astonishing piece of work. I also love the Rock Classics series.
…your worst fashion secret?
Kingsley: I have no secrets! Baby blue grandad underpants. Seriously comfy pants. I recommend them highly.
…your ultimate pet hate?
Kingsley : Apart from people eating with their mouth open? Probably people burping and not putting their hand over their mouth or saying pardon. I’m all about good manners aren’t I?! And I bet you thought I was a dirty northern vagabond? Manners cost nothing you know.
…your advice to all aspiring young musicians?
Pop: Work your little asses off. Accept all gigs in any location at any time and play like you mean it, this industry is already brimming with posers, haircuts and fakers.
Kingsley: Don’t give up and never listen to anyone who tells you you’re rubbish. You don’t have to be the best musician in the world to write the best songs – usually the best musicians write terrible songs with long solos, no one in their right mind wants that, solos should be banned.
What can we expect to see from The Chapman Family over the coming months and where do you hope to be in 5 years time?
Pop: You can expect to see more gigs and more songs with more full frontal male nudity and more laughs than ever before. Expect a harder, faster, better, leaner Chapman Family with 60% more muscle content per square inch and 25% extra lyrics absolutely free. Its a Chapman Bonanza. In the next five years I hope to be more well know than god and more well endowed than John Holmes and Ron Jeremy put together.
If you could design a Converse shoe to represent ‘The Chapman Family’ what would it be like?
Kingsley: Errrrr, a nice pair of black Allstars smashed to smithereens and worn out then stuck back together with gaffer tape – pretty much like all of our guitars.
UA Festival Ticket Winners
!!!Underage Festival Ticket Winners Announced & More Tickets to be Won!!!
Big thank you to all you Converse Members who entered our first Underage Festival ticket competition to win one of four pairs of tickets! We have now chosen the winners…so keep a eye on your inbox next week to see if you have won!
!!!!ROUND TWO!!!!
If you missed out first time round, don’t panic! We are now launching the second ticket giveaway and this time we have 5 pairs up for grabs. If you want to be in with the chance of winning a pair of tickets this time round, email guestlist@conversmusic.co.uk and tell us why you love underage and why you think you deserve a pair of tickets. The people who show us the most love win! Good Luck and get entering. *Competition closes on 6th July at Midday* All entrants must be 18 years or under to enter this competition* For more details on Underage Festival visit www.underagefestivals.com
Kissy Sell Out’s Birthday Party hosted by Conversemusic.co.uk
Kissy Sell Out’s Birthday Party Hosted By Conversemusic.co.uk
Held on the 19th June at The Brickhouse, London, the Kissy Sell Out birthday party hosted by Conversemusic.co.uk was most definitely a night to remember! As well as late night birthday shenanigans, Kissy Sell Out and band treated the lucky people who managed to get into this exclusive night to tracks from his recently released debut album ‘youth’! Music, Mayhem and Madness is simply the only way the night could be described. if you missed out on getting tickets to this exclusive bash…get your dancing shoes on and check out the exclusive video of the night filmed by conversemusic.co.uk!
Win Tickets to Standon Calling Festival
!!!Win Tickets to Standon Calling Festival!!!!
Standon Calling is a three day boutique music festival set in the grounds of a 16th century Herfordshire Manor House, about an hour north of London. Renowned for its incredibly friendly and intimate vibe as well as providing an eclectic and exciting musical banquet, Standon Calling is back for its ninth year with another line-up that will keep you dancing morning, noon and night.
Known over the years for championing some of the most hotly tipped acts expect sets from Friendly Fires, Lady Tron, Paloma Faith, Golden Silvers and many many more. For the full line up visit www.standon-calling.com, we’re sure you want be disappointed.
Converse Music has got two pairs of tickets for Standon Calling to give away to all you Converse Music Members! We are going to be asking the ticket winners to send us a little write up of the bands that you are tipping as ‘One’s to Watch’ for a feature on Conversemusic.co.uk, so if you fancy winning tickets and being a converse music reporter for the weekend email guestlist@conversemusic.co.uk and tell us why you deserve to win! Remember to include your full name, address and contact number.*Competition Closes on 5th July at Midnight*
One’s To Check Out – Tawny Owl and the Birds of Prey
Free Download from Tawny Owl
Tawny Owl and the Birds of Prey & Track: Ghost Writer
A self-proclaimed “fascistic band when it comes to song writing”, TOatBOP are a gloriously gloomy indie lot from Norwich. We talked to Tawny Owl, the deep voiced creative force fronting the band, about the group. Originally a solo project he thought his sound would sound better with a band behind it. His love for Motown shines through in the dark but optimistic sound, helped by Jeremy Warmsley on production duties. Talking about the recording process with him: “The experience was wholly positive… it took place in London at Jeremy’s house and The House of Strange which is a really fantastic studio.” The AA-side single ‘Ghost Writer/Cinema’ is being released on the brand new north-east based Milkbar records. Being asked, after a gig, to be part of the project by the label heads Jake and Lewis, Tawny Owl felt happy having “full creative license and not feeling obliged to do anything I’m uncomfortable with.”
The three of them make their own T–Shirts and badges, Tawny Owl admits that, “I much prefer DIY”. Plus the label’s had some nice comments from the BBC Introducing project. ‘Ghost Writer’ deals with “a book by Phillip Roth called Ghost Writer which concerns Jewish experience and culture.” Literacy influences in the melting pot with Martha Reed and The Vandellas records? Not a mix you’ll find everyday. Keep your eyes peeled like a hawk for this lot. www.myspace.com/tawnyowlband
Nicholas Burman
One’s To Watch – Mirrors
One’s To Watch – Mirrors
Debut Single ‘Look at Me’ Out on Monday 22nd June & Exclusive Download from Mirrors Available Now
Four dapper chaps from Brighton make up the band Mirrors, and while still in the early stages these guys are already carving and forming a unique and identifiable pop noir sound. A steady tempo mixed with mellow 80’s influences, drops of electronic beats and executed with great attention paid to the small details of sound (without being overly fussy and complicated) results in music that keeps you tapping along and wanting more. Enjoyable and intriguing, what we’ve heard so far from Mirrors is sounding good and if they keep producing and developing their individual sound, the potential is there for them to go far. We’re keen to see what else these guys have to offer before we make a full judgement on their musical future, so keep your eyes peeled and ears open because it seems this wont be the last we hear from Mirrors!
Their debut single ‘Look at Me’ is out on the 22nd June, but if you can’t wait until then to hear what these guys have to offer, Converse Music has got an exclusive track available to download now. Head over to the download section of the site and see what you think!
http://www.myspace.com/mirrorsmirrorsmirrors