DJ Interviews: The Black Lakes

Hey there one & all DJ Dizzy here & here's my interview with the band Black Lakes pull up a chair & enjoy!

BAND NAME: Black Lakes

NEW PRODUCT: Black Lakes debut single ‘The Divide’

RELEASE DATE: 28/08/18 

How'd you get started in music?

We've all played in bands from an early age: The Passenger, Echologunge, Revival and Her Dark Embrace to name a few.

Black Lakes formed in 2016. Scott, James and Lee had worked together in previous projects and as is the way today, Will and Daf contacted us through our tinder profile .

Will S Preston- Lead Vocal

Scott Bradshaw- Guitar/Vocals

James Rowlands-Guitar/Vocals

Lee Harris- Bass Guitar

Dafydd Fuller -Drums

'The Divide' is our debut release from our studio session with Romesh Dodangoda. At the core It’s about rejecting the predetermined path laid out in front of you by mainstream society. It’s about demanding your individuality in a world hell bent on making you the same.

'The Divide' is grounded in personal experience and the persistent disappointment of being let down by those in positions of authority and power. It’s exactly what is happening in the world today.

Who are your musical influences? 

James:

Alice in Chains

Soundgarden

Pearl Jam

NIN

QOTSA

Scott:

Alice in Chains

Tool

Radiohead

NIN

SOAD

Will:

HIM 

Evanescence

Deftones

Incubus

Korn

Dafydd:

Tool

Black Sabbath

Gojira

Rush

Lee:

Acid bath

Iron monkey

Turbonegro

Electric wizard

Uncle acid and the dead beats

All the influences feed into the creative process, however the songs have evolved from not having an agenda and writing and creating without boundaries or preconceptions.

As we listen back,  we can hear our heroes influencing and  shaping but we don’t feel it sounds like any one of them specifically 

What advice would offer aspiring performers?

In our experience in the last 10 years, live is always great fun but in the digital age you really need to think about your online presence, as well as being a tight outfit with a good sound. 

Create a presence online, speak and listen to your fans (you can engage with them so much more easily) create cool unique content and play targeted live gigs. As Trent Reznor said ‘try and create the coolest thing you can come up with.’ And that’s what we’re trying to do.

Any new gigs or albums in the future?

We are rehearsing the live set and will be booking more show imminently

We’re booked into Patriot, Crumlin 8th June 2019. Buy your tickets now!

Any big festivals lined up?

This is our focus for 2019.  We would love to play Bloodstock, 2000 trees, steel house festival, Greenman, amplified just to name a few

I wish them nothing but luck in everything & nothing but the best so until then  I'll catch you on the flipside! Stay awesome & rock n roll!

BLACK | LAKES - "Dissident"

This Is Home - Swilly

Willows (Lockdown Version) #saboteurs #alternativerock #jamroom

Beyblade- Lets Go Beybladers

By All Means – What You Make Of It (Full)

DJ Interviews: The Striped Bananas

Hello everyone it is I The DJ & I sat down with a band who have unique sound & name all their own.
So ladies & gentlemen I present to you The Striped Bananas!

How'd you get started in music?

In my teenage years, I learned to read music and played double bass in our school orchestras. I started playing in rock and roll bands in high-school. The first group I was a member of, I solely played bass. Our guitarist, Dmitry, started to write songs and I was inspired to try my hand at the task. I was in a couple of other groups at the time that didn't go anywhere but were important for learning about band politics and what not to do. 

After the band with Dmitry dissolved, I went on to form a Rock & Roll band that I played guitar and sang in. I started writing songs quite prolifically and I see that time period as when I really started to develop my craft. Around the same time, I was a bassist in a blues band and that's when I started playing with Andrew Lowden. He has been a lifelong collaborator and friend. He plays drums in the Striped Bananas.

Who are your inspirations or influences?

As an early songwriter, I truly admired three individuals - Joe Strummer (The Clash) Jack Bruce (Cream) and Chris White (The Zombies). Joe is the reason I picked up the 6 string guitar and Jack and Chris were both bassists who could write and sing. 

Prior to the genesis of The Striped Bananas, I listened to a ton of psychedelic and garage rock - Moby Grape, The Seeds, Vanilla Fudge, Ant Trip Ceremony, The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band, Smile Era Beach Boys, The Doors, Gene Clark & the Byrds. I also listened to Indian music, such as Ravi Shankar and the Gundecha Brothers.

When I started writing more complex songs, I really grew to appreciate Gene Clark, George Harrison and Skip Spence.

As a group, The Striped Bananas moved into writing and producing our own material. Andrew is a phenomenal drum recording engineer and we rely on my ears for the final mixes and production. Tel provides a great sense of harmony and aids in vocal arrangements. 

We are all inspired by different musicians and styles. In terms of inspiration from a production standpoint, I would say my biggest influences are Brian Wilson, Phil Spector, Alan Parsons & George Martin. 

What advice would offer aspiring performers?

The key to longevity in the world of music is to always be genuine to yourself. You will find that you reinvent yourself at various times - whether it be a metamorphosis between albums or simply over time. Stay true to how you are feeling. Audiences will not always support or promote all your work. 

However, by being genuine, you will have a body of work you can look back on and be proud of. An album we released 7 years ago (Lady Sunshine) still has people discovering it and purchasing it to this day. When we originally released it, we didn't break even on the costs. 

How do you set yourselves apart from other bands or singers?

While we have a lot of vintage and retro influences, we weave modern elements into our sound. We aren't simply a tribute act to the 60s and the relevance we can offer today is important. 

Any new gigs or albums in the future?

We have a new album coming out in June that we are quite excited about. Obviously we are unable to play shows at venues for the time being. Our music and the new album are all available on our bandcamp: www.thestripedbananas.bandcamp.com

Special thanks to them for doing this interview & lot of luck to them in their music so until then I'll catch you on the flipside! Stay awesome & rock n roll!

The striped Bananas - The Carnival

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkRH0tMLRek

Goodbye Lil Richard

Hey there everyone its your old pal DJ Dizzy here & I have some seriously devastating news & its with a sad decree that I announce that rock n roll pioneer Little Richard has died at the age of 87.
He was best known for his flamboyant persona when performing & he was also well known as the architect of rock n roll.

He made countless TV appearances in the 90s & did a cameo in the 1997 movie Why Do Fools Fall In Love? He also has spawned countless hit songs & records through many decades & has been a real inspiration for many artists.

Now from my point of view I had the pleasure of being introduced to his music when I was really little & the first song I think I ever heard him do was his cover of Itsy Bitsy Spider along with Tutti- Fruitti & since then I've been a fan, I didn't really know what to think of him at first because when I first saw him I saw this black guy dressed up in a sequin suit with curly hair shouting out loud & I was like a bit mesmerized but overall he had that presence that made you want to get up & dance & he did just that when it came to him jamming on the piano & that was something he did righteously.

So my prayers & condolences are with his family & as a fan he'll forever be loved & missed & remembered through his music & will live on through his TV & film cameos but overall he's a bit of an influence to me as well & we'll all miss him dearly so rest well in paradise.

So with that said, I'll catch you on the flipside, stay awesome  & rock n roll.

Lil Richard tutti Frutti

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVIttmFAzek&feature=emb_title

DJ interviews Spiral Crush

Hello there folks its your old friend DJ Dizzy here & I sat down with the band called Spiral Crush who had a lot to say on their success & their career. So lets hear it for Spiral Crush!

How'd you get started in music?

Shaun Smail (guitar/vox) - When I was a young kid there was another kid on the bus whose dad was a Metalhead.  Through this other kid I was somehow expose to Quiet Riot and Twisted Sister. After that it was all over, I was all about heavy metal and wanted to start a band.

Scott Smail (drums) - Having a passion for music at a young age is really where it started for me, but once my brother Shaun got a guitar I knew that I also wanted to learn an instrument. Since Shaun chose guitar, I went with drums.

Jimi McCammon (bass) - My earliest memories involve listening to music with my Dad. The Beatles, Elton John, Led Zeppelin, Kiss, Black Sabbath, etc. When I was in grade school I started singing in Choir which eventually led to auditioning for a band in high school (which I didn't get), so I bought a guitar and started my own band; I was 16.

Who are your inspirations or influences?

Shaun - My inspiration and influences started with 80's hard rock and heavy metal. That led me to Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin. I'm also a huge Kiss and Van Halen fan. Now, I pretty much listen to everything from 40's music all the way up to today's music. I'm a really big fan of 80's rock and pop rock like Bryan Adams, John Waite, The Cars and Pat Benatar.

Scott - If it's rock and roll it's probably on my list! Kiss, Van Halen, Motley Crue, Stone Temple Pilots, Alice in Chains, and many more, too many to list here!

Jimi - I'm all over the map on this one as well. Early in my career I want to shred guitar! As a result many of my early influences are guitar players. Eddie Van Halen, George Lynch, Jimmy Page, and Randy Rhodes just to name a few. Once I started playing bass though things changed and quickly developed a liking for prog/rock/metal bass players. Steve Harris, Geddy Lee, Micheal Anthony, Billy Sheehan, John Paul Jones, Chris Squire, just to name a few. Today I'm in to bands like Muse, Foo Fighters, Rival Sons, Arkells, The Sam Roberts Band and more. I listen to a pretty diverse rock and roll platform.

What advice would offer aspiring performers?

Shaun - If you want to be the kind of musician who performs live in front of crowds, don't wait until you think you're good enough. No matter how much time you spend practicing in your bedroom, or your rehearsal space with your band, once you get up in front of people, wether it's five of five thousand you're going to be nervous. Performing live takes just as much practice as learning your instrument. If you make a mistake or have a bad show you have to learn how to let that go. Fro me, at the end of the day I would rather be a mediocre musician who performs live, trying to get better, than a great musician who doesn't. Focus on enjoying it and the rest will just fall into place.

Scott - Try to be as creative and unique as possible, and stay true to who you are.

Jimi - Do what you love! Don't change who you are as a band or player to try and make other people happy, make yourself happy and if people dig it, then cool. If they don't, fuck'em. Also, practice, practice, practice!

How do you set yourselves apart from other bands or singers? 

Shaun - I don't worry about setting myself apart from other bands or performers. I worry about writing and performing music that I enjoy and can be proud of Hopefully other people will enjoy it as well. I feel like if you start trying too hard to be different it won't be honest. I think if that happens you ultimately won't be happy.

Scott - I would have to say musically, we just have a different sound.

Jimi - We are just a raw, loud, power rock trio! We have high energy songs that we try and match with high energy performances! If we could play live 365 day's a year we would.

Any new gigs or albums in the future? 

Shaun, Scott, and Jimi - We are currently writing new material for an album that should be out sometime in 2019. We are very excited about the new material and looking forward to finishing it so other people can hear it as well.

So far in 2019 we have nearly a dozen shows on the calendar including opening for Derek St.Holmes (Ted Nugent) and Jim McCarty's Mystery Train in early June. 

Special thanks to them for this interview & I wish them nothing but luck in their success. Until then I'll catch you on the flipside! Stay awesome & rock n roll!

Spiral Crush- Rockstar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hq3P961qWGM&feature=emb_title

Calling All Astronauts - Give Them A Leader (Official Video)

DJ Interviews: Calling All Astronauts

Hey there people DJ Dizzy here & I had the esteemed pleasure of interviewing a band who call themselves Calling All Astronauts & they had so much to share on their success & humble beginnings.

How'd you get started in music?

Paul and J learnt to play guitars in their teens , me, I’m just a blagger, I taught myself music production and programming watching youtube videos,

I can sort of hold a tune as long as it’s in a suitable key, so I do vocals. We used to be in a band together year ago, there was then a big gap when we

All did other things, J and I formed Calling All Astronauts and when our original bassist left, Paul was the obvious choice, we are totally DIY we do everything

Ourselves, that way we don’t have a label telling us what to do

Who are your inspirations or influences?

I think every song you hear influences you in some way, I hear different genres and try to work our the production techniques. Musically Calling All Astronauts

Are strongly influenced by 80/90’s alternative bands like Ministry, sisters Of Mercy, New Order etc, but we try to put a modern spin on everything we do

What advice would offer aspiring performers?

 Work really hard, don’t believe the hype that the internet has made it easier for independent artists, because now there are fifty times as many bands going for the same slots.

Never send out a demo unless it sounds amazing, you need other people to love it, not just your mum and your girlfriend. When playing live always watch all the other bands on the bill.

Use social media, but never act like an asshole, no matter how good your music is, it doesn’t make you any more important than anyone else.

How do you set yourselves apart from other bands or singers?

 I think making music for a very niche market makes us quite different than most acts straight away, we know what music we want to make,

We make music that we like and if others like it, it’s a bonus. We don’t try to be popular, popularity isn’t a way to measure good, after all Hilter and Mussolini were both popular

Any new gigs or albums in the future?

We have our third album “#Resist” out on the first week of June, we’ve worked with multiple Grammy winner Alan Branch on it, and it sounds fantastic, it’s taken us more than two years

To make, it started off with the three of us making it, but J has an ongoing family crisis, so most of the album is just Paul and myself, so it’s quite different than our previous two albums, I’m very excited about it

I have a feeling it’s going to be very well received.

Special thanks to them for doing this interview & I wish them nothing but luck in their music & their career so until then I'll catch you on the flipside! Stay awesome & rock n roll!