With only a handful of recordings to their name, yet interest and intrigue in the bucket loads, Chapel Club are a band on the verge of going… somewhere. Nestling somewhere within the realms of gloom-pop, their sound has garnered many comparisons to current and past peers, so to explore further, Dave Drummond caught up with [...]
Brighton band Dead Swans released debut album Sleepwalkers in 2009 on American hardcore label Bridge9. It was described as “blistering and nervously confrontational” by Alternative Press Magazine, and since Dead Swans have been hailed as one of the best bands to come out of the UK. Adrian Imms and Chris Shipman fired some questions to [...]
Having produced a storming debut album way back in 2007, Yeasayer have proven themselves as one of the most sublime and cutting edge bands of the last five years. Now, the band is back with a new album, an exciting new sound and a whole host of psychedelic collaborations up their sleeve. James Watts caught [...]
MEN are the latest electro pop fruit to be borne out of the long winding family tree that is the New York queer scene. Joe Nockles caught up with JD, Ginger and Michael before their January 18 gig in Hoxton, to chat politics, Brighton and the imminent album.
You guys are sort of a Frankenstein band [...]
Don’t rehearse, don’t record, just improvise on stage and see what happens. The Bays ethos is simple and the results are invariably an amazing, seamless mix of every dance genre. Chris Legget caught up with keys, synths and general noice-maker Simon Richmond to find out more.
How did the idea for The Bays come about?
Everyone in [...]
What was your childhood like, musically?
There was always music in the house. My dad always had the guitar and my mom had the voice. She taught me to sing without fear. I’ve always sung – and was in choir all through school. I didn’t learn to play the guitar until later on, when I moved [...]
Psychedelic San Francisco folkies the Dodos burst on the music scene with their successful “Visiter” album in 2008. Now they’re back with their follow-up, “Time to Die” and singer Meric Long took time out to bring XYZ up to speed – and give us a tourist’s guide to San Francisco.
It doesn’t seem long since “Visiter” [...]
Sometimes bands come along and make you remember why you love music. Goldheart Assembly are one of those bands, with their stunningly beautiful pop songs and penchant for recording in interesting spaces. Joe Owen spoke to the harmony loving charmers about man-bags, squirrels and unusual recording methods.
Goldheart Assembly are a dashing looking band, all beards, [...]
The Low Anthem, a trio of musicians from Rhode Island, have released one of the year’s finest albums with “Oh My God, Charlie Darwin”. Fusing folk, blues and rock’n’roll with instrument-swapping virtuosity, this is a band to cherish. Joe Owen asked the band some questions about music – and trains.
The new album feels like a [...]
The Half Sisters
Andrea Fox talks to the busk-loving, ukulele-playing, giggling Brighton trio, the Half Sisters, about dancing skeletons, tweeness and the perils of youth.
First things first - are you really related?
Fifi: Well, Freya and Isadora are sisters…
Freya-Rose: And Fifi should be our half sister so…we named the band after her!
You played Loop Festival and you [...]
With their pulsing mood music, Brighton’s Mirrors have embellished the current retro-synth pop sound with an added layer of darkness. Andrea Fox grabbed a chat with the band’s vocalists Ally and James at Loop Festival, to learn more about their new sound of pop-noir.
XYZ: You’re Brighton boys, so how far have you travelled to play [...]
Baddies are the latest Southend band to hit the music scene, with their punch perfect brand of alt-rock. Debut single “Battleships” sunk the competition with its guitar broadsides and debut album “Do The Job” looks set to prove that good guys called Baddies don’t always finish last. Zac Colbert spoke to lead singer Michael Webster [...]
E.V.I.L.N.I.N.E
Brighton residents E.V.I.L.N.I.N.E have been smashing the breaks scene as producers/DJs for a while but with the release of their second album last year they took a step into the live arena. After a storming show last year at Digital the lads return as part of The Great Escape festival, Chris Leggett caught up [...]
A Lark In The Sun
Leeds based indie janglers Sky Larkin have just released their debut album and are currently touring with The Rakes. James Watts caught up with their lovely toe-tapping frontlady Katie Harkin for a nice café-based chat.
How was the gig at Concorde 2 last night?
It was a lot of [...]
Love Your Folk
Mumford & Sons are set to be one of the breakthrough bands of 2009 with their accessible brand of indie-folk. With a third EP out in April, a tour underway and festival season awaiting, Lucy Tesco talked to an in-transit Marcus about moustaches and avoiding the “s-word”.
“It’s loads of fun, just like a [...]
Seldom Seen No More
With eighteen years’ experience under their belts and four albums to their name Elbow are by no means fresh faces. So how does a band which receives constant critical praise for their work slip under the commercial radar for so long? Dave Drummond caught up with guitarist and founding member Mark Potter [...]
The Gaslight Anthem
When The Gaslight Anthem’s sophomore album “The ‘59 Sound” was released last August, the New Jersey punk band found rave reviews flying their way. Dropping lyrical Springsteen references like sweet wrappers while pumping out sweatbox anthems of nostalgic American dreams, here was a genuine band to love. Kerrang! even called them “the best [...]
Luke Steele and Nick Littlemore, otherwise known as Empire of the Sun, are an indie- electro duo from Australia. Feverishly tipped for 2009, Tom Sargeant decided to make a long distance call to their famously unpredictable front man.
The voice on the other end of the line is not that of the crimson lovechild of [...]
Eugene McGuinness burst onto the singer-songwriter scene with last year’s ‘Early Learnings’ EP, which showcased his joyous brand of witty, tuneful, inventiveness. With a self-titled debut album just out, Joe Owen grabbed a word with the mischievous crown prince of indie pop.
Sitting upstairs in the Freebutt with Eugene McGuinness, it’s noticeable that he’s been doing [...]
Going with the Flo: Florence is taking over…
As the underground buzz finally begins to filter through to the mainstream, and with a Steve Lamacq interview and ID Magazine feature already under her belt, it seems Florence Welch has the world at her feet. Jody White decided to spend some quality time with pop’s hottest songstress.
In [...]
Metalcore’s Young Constructors
Since forming in 2004 and recording their first album as 17-year-olds, Brighton’s metalcore outfit, Architects, have been on a continual rise to the top of the metal and hardcore scene. Now describing themselves as a little older and a little wiser, they’ve toured alongside bands such as Gallows, Enter Shikari, Napalm Death and [...]
With catchy, credible pop-rock songs and an unforgettable band name, this Welsh band will most definitely stay in your head. Nats Spada speaks to frontman Neil Starr about naked dips, Welsh babes and recording their debut album in Los Angeles.
XYZ: Your self-titled debut album has just been released – how does it feel to finally [...]
They’ve just completed a tour with the Ting Tings, been named as one of Levi’s Ones to Watch and play foot stomping, throat burning tunes. Fight Like Apes are on the move - upwards to be precise. Dave Drummond caught up with them to discuss festival food and how to calm down angry celebrities.
How did [...]
United States of Adolescence
Houston Calls are kids born of an American punk and emo-tional ideal from New Jersey. Since “A Collection of Short Stories” in 2005, the group have been cutting and pasting to the best of their knowledge in preparation for the recently released “End of An Error”. Tom Sargeant turned on the inquisition [...]
Blind Boys of Alabama are a gospel group that first formed at the Alabama Institute for the Negro Blind in 1939. With a career spanning over 69 years, including 61 releases and 4 Grammy Awards, these Blind Boys are truly inspirational. Drummer Eric ‘Ricky’ McKinnie gave Nats Spada the low down on all things spiritual.
One [...]
With a storming appearance on BBC2’s ‘Later With Jools Holland’ in the bag, and a headline UK tour all prepped, Norway’s rock princess IDA MARIA talks to XYZ about her rising fame, getting into African music and composing with colour.
XYZ: You played The Great Escape festival this year, what did you make of Brighton?
IM: I [...]
Changes: The Return of Will Young
Back after a break of some three years (via a stint of acting both on stage and screen) Will Young returns this month with a new album: “LET IT GO”. XYZ caught up with the man himself to find out what he’s been up to.
XYZ: It’s been three years since [...]
Signed to their native Copenhagen Records, ALPHABEAT’s melodious cheese-pop was inevitably destined for overseas success. Current hit ‘Boyfriend’ proves that these Danish creations beat any pastry I’ve ever come across - and I’ve had my share. We decided to explore this bright corner of the popular music sector with the band’s drummer Troels (pronounced like [...]
Filthy Dukes are the ringmasters of one of the nation’s favourite club nights, have just released a critically acclaimed single and have just completed their debut album. On the eve of their first live set at Digital, Helen Bosher catches up with the effervescent Tim Lawton, Olly Dixon and Mark Ralph.
Tonight sees you playing for [...]
To a person who has never heard a Rex the Dog track, how would you describe your sound?
Hmm, it’s a bit of a mixture! some of it is quite like techno but then some of it is quite like pop music. It’s pretty much always about synths and electronic sounds, with some singing too. We [...]
Apart from a three-year break spent producing, Brighton drum & bass live act The Qemists have played together as a band since school. Now signed to Ninja Tune with an album due in January, they merge their two passions to produce heavy, rock-infused drum & bass. XYZ popped down to their studio to have a [...]
XYZ: Full name:
Ste:Ste McGregor
XYZ: Profession?
Ste I sometimes make music to try and make people happy and I sometimes make animation to make ad agencies and record labels and hopefully, people happy too. Sometimes it works.
XYZ: Label?
Ste Skint Records
XYZ: Sum up your style in a sentence?
Ste I can do it in a word…vast.
XYZ: How long [...]
When the Editor asked me to interview The Foxes whilst on a pub crawl with them, obviously I thought it was a great idea,I was just hoping they weren’t boring; I needn’t have worried! XYZ photographer David and I met up with lead singer Nigel, drummer Geve, guitarist Jonno and bassist Alex at the Fortune [...]
If you haven’t come across This City yet (Err, where have you been?) today is your lucky day! I met the 5 Indie-Hardcore tattooed boys to discuss their first single, being on TV and of course, what’s it like being a band in Brighton. This City has already been on Radio 1 and Channel 4, [...]
XYZ: XYZ Introduce yourself in 5 words…
JB: Hi i’m (a) turntabalist called JFB.
Just talk us through ‘Battlejam’ your night at Audio. Its pretty innovative huh?
JB: Basically, I’ve got this devise called ‘Scratch Serato’, which allows me to record anything plugged into my DJ mixer then scratch it back instantly using records. Originally [...]
Bob Spalding gets hot under the collar with Brighton based glamour star Jamie Brooks
XYZ: Tell us about your affinity with Brighton…what would be your top 5 things to do in Brighton?JB: I was born and grew up in a town in West Sussex about 20
mins outside Brighton, so its somewhere I used to visit with [...]
From touring with The Kooks to ‘four in a bed’, CTD were signed by Virgin in 2005, with their first single set to be released in February; we catch up with the band before their gig in Camden and ask them a load of questions…
XYZ: XYZ: So how’s everyone feeling before the gig tonight?
Dan: [...]
XYZ: A lot is going on at the moment for Stone Gods. You had a single out on last month and your album on 7th July. What sets you apart from other rock/metal bands?
Dan: Our average height! [laughs] That’s a hard question. When we played Download festival this year, we stuck out a mile. We [...]
XYZ: How old is Sandweaver and how did you all meet?
Matt: The band formed in the summer of 2003. I was busking around the local open mic nights of Worthing and through a friend of a friend of a friend met John Hickling (drums), who said he knew a couple of quality chaps up for banging their musical heads [...]
XYZ: What do you love most about playing in the UK?
Nick Robinson: Well, it’s where it all began musically for all of us. So much world culture has come from the UK; from the Beatles to Pink Floyd to Andy C, it’s all imbedded into us, even if we are so far away. We come [...]
XYZ’s Mo Mostowfi calls up The Whip frontman Bruce Carter to ask him bog standard interview questions…
XYZ: Your debut album ‘X Marks Destination’ was recently released. Now the touring starts: What’s the best and worst thing about it?
Bruce Carter: The best thing is to travel and see new places and meeting new people. I [...]
Before their recent Concorde2 show, XYZ reporter Mo Mostowfi met Will Simpson from Brigade and asked him about their vocally-led new album and the stigma of a famous sibling.
XYZ: Tell us about your new record ‘Come Morning We Fight’ (out 12th May)?
Will: Two things mainly. Firstly, diversity. We’ve pushed ourselves and upped our game. [...]
Joseph Mount and his partners in crime were supporting CSS at the Brighton Dome on December the 14th - we caught up with them for a quick chat after the gig…
XYZ: Hello guys, loved the gig, how are you all feeling tonight?
Joseph: Yeah good thanks! A bit hot…!
Could you describe Metronomy [...]
XYZ: For those who haven’t heard Parka, please describe yourself.
Parka: Our music is all about having fun and enjoying life. I don’t know about anyone else but when I go to see a band, I don’t really want to hear someone singing about how shitty their life is. We just want to transfer as much fun and [...]
Brighton rockers My Device need no introduction to local music aficionados. If you’re worth your salt, you’d know that this three-piece were awarded NME’s ‘Sony Walkman Breaking Band’ award in 2006. XYZ’s Nats Spada caught up with them as their UK tour wound up at Barfly.
XYZ: How do you think the Brighton music scene has [...]
A few hours before appearing at Redroaster as Twenty-one Crows, Jon Griffin and Becca Tann pulled up a couple of chairs with XYZ’s Mo Mostowfi and explained just what it is that makes them tick.
XYZ: You’ve had a limited edition EP (‘Whatever Will Become Of Us’) out for a few months. Aren’t you already [...]
With a variety of residencies under his belt, an album out and a new single and EP due, SKILF has to be the most hardworking hip hop MC in Brighton. Working with a variety of producers and their subsequent genres, he blends together dubstep, drum & bass, grime and garage with coherent and clever rhymes. [...]
Interview: Rob Da Bank [2008].
As you may already know, the prolific ROB DA BANK (Bestival founder & BBC Radio 1 DJ) has just hit the road for the UK Bestival Reunion Tour. Along with Sinden, Annie Mac and Hot Chip, Rob Da Bank play Tru Brighton on 28th February. Busy with the tour, Bestival preparations, [...]
MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA are definitely not what you expect them to be. They’re not from Manchester, they’re not an orchestra and their debut full-length ‘I’m Like a Virgin Losing a Child’ is certainly not your average post-indie album. Gaining notoriety for their extensive tours with Kings of Leon and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, these five twenty-something [...]
One big reason to come to Brighton is the music and club world. Many of the people who come to Brighton to go to university end up running club nights, putting on events, opening record shops or starting their own record label. Robert Luis did just that; came down from London to go to uni [...]
12 February 2008
Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. (AKA Sam Duckworth, his band and a laptop) kicked off their 2008 UK tour at Brighton’s Komedia on 12th February in support of his second album ‘Searching For The Hows And Whys’ (out 10th March). What with heading a full band around the country and being just 22 [...]
Reflective Rockers From Across the Sea
Childhood friends, turned pop-electro-indie extravaganza The Coast, released their first self-titled EP back in 2006 and have since been making waves in their home country of Canada as well as Europe. With their first full length album “Expatriate” already released in North America, the catchy-tuned, thoughtful and fast paced foursome [...]
