WALK ME TO THE SEA: Something a bit different from Liverpool band Silent Sleep!

Below is our feature on Liverpool-based band, Silent Sleep. To stay up to date with future interviews like our facebook page at the following link - https://www.facebook.com/aldorabritainrecords
 

For our interview with Silent Sleep the band suggested that we do something a bit different - get their fans to ask the questions. You can see the end result below....

 

John Gibbons, Liverpool: "When you go to the Chinese what do you have?"

 

Chris, Silent Sleep: "The Blue Canary is a filibuster! Is it safe? We can go where we want to!"

 

Andrew Donovan, Liverpool: "Do you have a special place, online?"

 

Chris, Silent Sleep: "A place where they will never find and we can dress real neat from our hats to our feet."

 

Laura Beltram, Spain: "You OK hun?"

 

Chris, Silent Sleep: "Not to put too fine a point on it but I am."

 

Paul Williams, Sheffield: "Hi Chris. You have a song about being coloured in. What is your favourite colour of person?"

 

Chris, Silent Sleep: "Blue."

 

James Mounsey, Sunderland: "Hi Chris. Why so f****** miserable all the time?"

 

Chris, Silent Sleep: "You can act real rude and totally removed and I can act like an imbecile. Though I respect that a lot, I'm your only friend."

 

Christopher Torpey, Liverpool: "Hi Chris. What's your favourite flava?"   

 

Chris, Silent Sleep: "We can go when we want to! We can act if we want to! My story's infinite..."

 

Golden Tony, The Internet: "Hi Chris, thanks for the add mate. I want to know what's the least amount of time you'd watch Hulk Hogan in the shower for? Cheers."

 

Chris, Silent Sleep: "Who watched over you? I'm leaving out the whistles and bells!"

 

Leo Kyp, Liverpool: "Pop or slash?"

 

Chris, Silent Sleep: "Everything, as long as we abuse it."

 

Michael Legge, London: "What can the fattest you've ever seen?"

 

Chris, Silent Sleep: "Like the Longines Symphonette it doesn't rest."

 

Andrew Ellis, Romford: "Robocop?"

 

Chris, Silent Sleep: "But I am! I respect that a lot...it is my job."

 

Joe Shooman, Bangor: "Hi Chris, given the central theological tenet of faith and its inherent uncertainty from a scientific point of view, is it valid to postulate that the initial stance of any theist is unstable and therefore ultimately resistant to empiricism?"

Chris, Silent Sleep: "Actually, everything is out of control. Look at your hands...who watched over you? I have a secret to tell you. My primitive ancestry, they are no friends of mine - as long as we abuse it, we're never gonna lose it."

Graeme Bell, Formby: "How many films have you seen?"

Chris, Silent Sleep: "Jason and the Argonauts."

Paul Rafferty, Frodsham: "Do you have a favourite mic cable?"

Chris, Silent Sleep: "As I've posted about a dozen times, try Belden 9182 Ian network cable. Or use the General Cable/Carol equiv 8014. Runs about 23 cents a foot. Comes in a 500 foot reel. Real stiff, don't trip! Use Neutrik connectors and pound out the plastic insert in the strain relief. 8 pf capacitance per foot, 14 omhs impedance. Holds up to $1500 Kimber stuff, not as 'pretty', but just as open. All other audio 'mic' cables are filters in comparison. Listen and believe."

Matthew Smith, Liverpool: "If you were forced to choose how to die, would you rather drown in a vat of period blood, or a vat of semen?"

Chris, Silent Sleep: "Everything! Look at your hands!"

Helen Wilkie, a boat: "How sweaty do you like your women? Asking for a friend."

Chris, Silent Sleep: "Is it safe to dance?"

Lee Monkman, Chester: "Do you prefer AV1 or AV2 on your TV settings?"

Chris, Silent Sleep: "It varies Lee. Just depends on what kind of mood I'm in or how hungover I am. If I'm feeling delicate I'll always choose AV2 but if I'm out partying I'll stick with AV1."

Tom Loxley, Liverpool: "Why, why, why Delilah?"

Chris, Silent Sleep: "I was shackled with a 24 year old girl from New York City for two weeks - about the time of the garbage strike out there, and one night my 34 year old woman arrived and she said, 'I want to see my rival'. She did and then she said, 'oh, you're a cute little thing!' Next I knew there was a screech of wildcats - such screaming and scratching, wounded animal moans, blood and piss...I was drunk and in my shorts. I tried to separate them and fell, wrenched my knee. Then they were through the screen door and down the walk and out into the street. Squad cars full of cops arrived. A police helicopter circled overhead. I stood in the bathroom and grinned in the mirror. It's not often at the age of 55 that such splendid things occur. Better than the Watts riots. The 34 year old came back in. She had pissed  all over herself and her clothing was torn and she was followed by two cops who wanted to know why. Pulling up my shorts I tried to explain."

Julian Bennett, Slough: "Hypothetically, would you be scared if someone put a tattoo of their buttocks on your face?"

Chris, Silent Sleep: "I was born with a tattoo of somebody's buttocks on my face. That's why so miserable."

Gregory Macoy, Liverpool: "Who is your favourite member of Silent Sleep, and why?"

Chris, Silent Sleep: "Probably me because I write I am the creative driving force. Without me Silent Sleep would be nothing. Even more nothing than what it is now."

 Hope you enjoyed this feature on Silent Sleep! Check out our previous feature on Tommy Coyle!

 

Check out Silent Sleep - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Silent-Sleep/131370783542576

 

You can also like our facebook page to keep up to date with all future interviews at the following link - https://www.facebook.com/aldorabritainrecords

 

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LOOKING OUT TO SEA: Our latest interview with a Tilt Shift Music band - Red Sails!

 

PART 1 - "THE INTERVIEW"

 

What was your earliest musical memory and what pushed you towards pursuing a career in the music industry?

 

Kieran: "Having a bright red and white plastic Fisher-Price Music Box, then taking it apart to see how it worked (probably by breaking it first) and strumming/plucking it, loved the little brightly coloured records, you could add extra little marks on it to make it a bit different too."

Jamie: "Our mum and dad playing lots of Kinks, Beefheart, Beatles and Stones and old Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee on tapes in the car while we drove to France for holidays in between fall outs and arguments over directions. One of our uncles was a drummer and our folks had some musician mates that would come round as well when we were young playing guitars and that, so that definitely helped."

 

Had you been involved in any other band prior to Red Sails?

 

Kieran: "I've been in bands with Jamie and that's it, Ollie's been involved in some of these too."

Jamie: "We've all been in other bands over the years, me and Kieran being brothers have been in the same ones from when we were kids to now, Ollie's also been involved in some of those along the way, Gray was with The Stands among others, Chris was with The Skylarks among other Liverpool bands."

 

How did Red Sails begin?

 

Kieran: "Initially Red Sails was me, Jamie, Chris and Gray, but then for playing live we needed someone so got Ollie in to play bass and sing and its been working out very well."

Jamie: "It sort of just happened, Chris, Gray, Kieran and myself had got together to do some recording and kept playing together and realised we had something so drafted Ollie in as well and that was it really."

 

Where did the name Red Sails come from?

 

Kieran: "Chris can answer that one."

Jamie: "Chris had heard a Jimmy McGriff tune, 'Red Sails in the Sunset', and liked the name from that, also it sounds kind of abstract as well which can cover a few things and seemed to fit with what we were doing. It kind of fits with the city and of course the football! Although Chris and Ol being Evertonians will no doubt question that..."

 

How would you describe the sound of Red Sails?

 

Kieran: "Harmonies, interesting unusual music with strong melodies, organic, eclectic, sometimes melancholic."

Jamie: "Honest, eclectic, melodic, lots of harmonies, at times a bit melancholic, what's not to like!"

 

One of your more recent songs is ‘Looking Out to Sea’, a fine example of a melancholic pop song. What influenced the song and what is the song itself about?

 

Kieran: "Jamie wrote that one so it's over to him for that." 

Jamie: "Cheers for that, there's definitely a La's influence, but lyrically I suppose about missed chances with a relationship, I didn't realise it at the time but that's basically it."

 

Do you have any 'rituals' before you go on stage?

 

Kieran: "Yes, panic at where my plectrums, capo, water and beer, leads and batteries are, whether I've changed my pedal batteries or not? Check everyone's got a setlist, guitars tuned, that kind of thing!"

Jamie: "Generally just busy trying to remember whether everything's set up and tuned in, whether I got a pint in and where I left the set list!"

 

Any live dates coming up?

 

Kieran: "1st November at Leaf on Bold Street in Liverpool. We're playing as part of City Walls EP launch. Also on the 14th November at The Cavern on Mathew Street in Liverpool, playing for Dave Monks, BBC Introducing."

 

Any new songs in the pipeline?

 

Kieran: "Always, I write all the time, as do Jamie and Chris too."

Jamie: "Always."

 

When can fans be expecting the next release?

 

Kieran: "As soon as we're happy with it and it's done really. We've been recording for a long time and spent an age making sure everything is as we want it. We're in the final straight and almost finished now, all the hard work we've put in is really starting to show and we're really excited with how she's shaping up."

Jamie: "The next one's pretty much already written but we just need to finish this one first and get out promoting it. We're always demoing stuff so its looking."

 

Who would be your dream collaboration?

 

Kieran: "Brian Wilson, Arthur Lee, Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, Danger Doom and Sly Stone."

Jamie: "Grizzly Bear always have something interesting going on, same with Tame Impala for me."

 

Who would be in your dream supergroup?

 

Kieran: "James Jamerson, Mr. Bass; Buddy Rich, Mr. Drums; Marvin Gaye on piano and vocals (strictly no dancing); Steve Cropper and Jimi Hendrix on guitar; Stevie Wonder on keys and The Sweet Inspirations on background vocals. I'd be happy checking them out for sure."

Jamie: "We've got it already!"

 

PART 2 - "THE QUICKFIRE ROUND"

 

Favourite Beatle?

 

Kieran: "Tricky, I'd have to go with the left hand side of Paul McCartney and the right hand side of John Lennon."

Jamie: "George."

Ollie: "Depends on the day."

Gray: "Ringo."

 

Favourite band?

 

Kieran: "The Funk Brothers / Sly And The Family Stone."

Jamie: "Stones."

Ollie: "Swing Out Sister."

Gray: "The Band."

 

Favourite new band?

Jamie: "It changes too much for me to give just one band."

Ollie: "Lumin Bells."

Gray: "Haven't got one."

 

Favourite song?

 

Kieran: "All I Wanna Do by The Beach Boys."

Jamie: "Like A Rolling Stone."
 

Favourite album?

 

Kieran: "SMiLE by The Beach Boys."

Jamie: "Emm, Get Yer Ya Ya's Out or Let It Bleed."

Gray: "Harvest."

 

Vinyl, CD or download?

Kieran: "Vinyl for the cigar, HD tracks for the ears."

Jamie: "Vinyl but I'm lazy and like the idea of downloading tunes within a few seconds - the recording quality is generally shite though compared to vinyl or CD."

Ollie: "Vinyl."

Gray: "Vinyl."

 

Style icon?

Kieran: "Stevie Wonder, eighties era."

Jamie: "Borat."

Gray: "James Dean."

 

Favourite clothing brand?

Kieran: "It's not about the name, it's about the style."

Jamie: "Merc."

Gray: "Cos."

 

Favourite film?

Kieran: "The Big Lebowski."

Jamie: "Life Of Brian."

Gray: "The Goonies."

 

 Favourite TV show?

Jamie: "Don't really watch a lot of TV but Breaking Bad was boss."

Ollie: "Gavin & Stacey."

Gray: "Breaking Bad."

 

Who would play you in a film of your life?

Ollie: "Dale Winton."

Gray: "Ewan McGregor."

 

Favourite food?

Kieran: "Rhubarb crumble, basically any crumble."

Jamie: "Lasagne."

Ollie: "Crispy chili beef with half rice and half chips."

Gray: "Right now...Turkish."

 

Football team?

Kieran: "Liverpool!"

Jamie: "Liverpool."

Ollie: "EFC."

Gray: "LFC."


Hope you enjoyed this feature on Red Sails! Check out our previous feature on Mick Flaherty!

 

Check out Red Sails here - https://www.facebook.com/RedSailsBand

 

Check out Tilt Shift Music here - http://www.tiltshiftmusic.com/

  

You can also like our Facebook page to keep up to date with all future interviews at the following link - https://www.facebook.com/aldorabritainrecords

 

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NEXT TO THE SEA: Our interview with Liverpool based Mick Flaherty!

 

PART 1 - "THE INTERVIEW"

 

What was your first musical memory and what pushed you towards pursuing a career in the record industry?

 

"Probably hating music as a child, then discovering metal and then punk around twelve years old and for the first time having something resonate with me. Obviously Chris De Burg and New Kids on The Block just didn't have an emotional impact on me. Though I can recall hearing Iron Lion Zion aged about ten and having a fondness for it, as well as some of the music my dad listened too when I was a child, the likes of The Police and early U2. So that always has a nostalgic value to me."

 

Had you been involved with any other bands prior to becoming a solo artist as Mick Flaherty?

 

"The last band I was in prior to becoming solo was a band called Serren Fore. I was the bassist, and did no vocal parts at all. So it's been a bit of a change the last few years I guess ."

 

Why did you choose to become a solo artist instead of forming a band?

 

"Necessity more than anything else. I had spent a few months of putting out adverts trying to find other musicians of a similar mind set and approach and found it was not getting anywhere so I eventually bit the bullet and just went for it, otherwise I could have easily been still sat at home two or three years later writing music and never getting out there. I suppose I haven't looked back since and I now have total creative freedom in regards to writing and no personality clashes. Though I have been doing a few rehearsals with a drummer and a bassist with the intention of having the option to create a bigger live sound, so hopefully that will come to fruition in the near future."

 

How would you describe the sound of Mick Flaherty?

 

"I really wish I knew, It would make things easier. I know that I'm not your typical Scouse/Northern sound. I did have a local music publication describe me as a tortured soul pouring his neurosis into the melting pot and unleashing something between fragility and potent slabs of power with avant garde folk styling's and the darkest of electronica. So read into that what you will haha."

 

You have recently released a double A-sided single featuring ‘Next to the Sea’ and ‘Where Did We Go Wrong”. The single has quite powerful artwork that reflects the music well, do you consider the artwork to be an important component when releasing music?

 

"I try to put images to words and sounds. That particular piece was me with a camera on one of my walks to pass the time and I'm also a visual artist too, so I view music the same way in the sense that I see it as painting landscapes with sound. It wasn't an intentional piece for that song, but when it came to using something visual it seemed the most fitting and I have tended to stick with it as such. I'm actually really pleased you like it to be honest as I try not to judge anything myself due to being terribly self critical at times."

 

‘Next to the Sea’ is a great modern folk song. What influenced the song and what is the song itself about?

 

"It comes from the recollections of a couple of days spent with a girl who completely captured not just my heart, but my mind and soul in a way that no one else ever has. We spent a few days camping on a beach and it was a magical time for me. However, these things never go smoothly and by that point we had become very close as friends in the months prior to that, without ever getting to spend much time together due to the physical distance that was often there. So to spend that time together was like a tightrope of do I risk breaking this amazing bond or do I accept the situation for what it is. Then time moves on, the physical distance becomes an issue and as such over time the emotional connection begins to reflect that distance. I think it was a case of looking at one of those what if moments and trying to move on from there, though half still wishing that things could have possibly turned out differently under different circumstances really."

 

‘Where Did We Go Wrong’ contrasts the other track as it almost has an electronic backbeat. What is this song about and what influenced it?

 

"Again lyrically I'm trying to put my own demons behind me. The breakdown of a relationship that started in the most amazing of circumstances, the sleepless nights spent with things eating up the back of your mind and the realisation of only you can get out of it yourself. I suppose in a way it's a sense of closure and a message of self empowerment with the realisation of discovering that at the end of it, was that person you were at that point in your life actually really you, or were you filling a role to satisfy the perceptions of someone else. Musically the piece came about from me playing around with one of Ben Howards songs on guitar, and due to having a short attention span with guitar tabs I find I just end up playing about in a particular tuning or picking pattern and an hour or so later I've forgot what I was intending to do and ended up with the basis for a song idea. The lyrics were taken near enough as full from an older song that I had discarded and just worked rhythmically with very little editing. Though I did find myself reworking the second verse and outro."

 

Do you have any 'rituals' before going on stage?

 

"I never drink before I play and other than that I think it would just be the on stage set up and the order of how I do it. I suppose that is more logistical than anything, but it has become a ritual in itself. The pre show alcohol ban could also be classed as such, I have too many leads, inputs/outputs, volume levels and things that can go horribly wrong to approach it any other way haha."

 

Any live dates coming up?

 

"As of the time of writing, I have a support slot for the excellent 'Black Mountain Lights' at the Zanzibar Club in Liverpool on October 26th. If any promoters wish to offer me any more shows then I'm more than willing to oblige. Little hint there!"

 

Any new songs in the pipeline?

 

"There are still two or three half finished recordings from what was intended to be an EP release which I will hopefully get finished at some point. Though I have got another five on the go. To which I've finished three and been testing them at a couple of open mics. Other than that I've also been revisiting a few older ones that I haven't got around to recording, or played in a while. So there will always be something in the pipeline. I find I get bouts of writers block, then suddenly three or four song ideas just come out of nowhere. So as I say, there will be always something, even if it remains half finished for six months it will be revisited and completed at some point."

 

When can fans be expecting the next release?

 

"Unfortunately it all comes down to finances on that point. I did hope to have a five track EP set for physical release before September, but my funds dried up on that front and as such I had two tracks that I felt were at a level I was happy with to put out there. On the plus side I have had some label interest regarding some of my techno ideas so I'm currently discussing the terms of publishing rights with them. So who knows. Fingers crossed it won't be too long in that sense. Again, I'm going to be a little cheeky and throw the offer out there to anyone willing to invest...well if you don't ask!"

 

Who would be your dream collaboration?

 

"Paco De Lucia, Claude Debussy and Aphex Twin...interesting!"

 

Who would be in your dream super group?

 

"Liz Frazer on vocals, DJ Shadow programming beats, Jimi Hendrix on guitar and Les Claypol on bass...maybe with Immortal Technique doing his thing over the top of it with some spoken word from Gill Scott Heron."

 

PART 2 - "THE QUICKFIRE ROUND"

 

Favourite Beatle?

 

"Here's where I get controversial now and say I've never really been a big Beatles fan. However, I would be torn between John, for the fact he stood for something and found ways to channel that anger of his youth into something else later in his life, and George because he was understated and overlooked for the quality musician that he was and obviously very much in touch with his spiritual side. As such, I'm picking George."

 

Favourite band?

 

"I think I'm going to have to go for Radiohead."

 

Favourite new band?

 

"I'm going to have to pick two different solo artists who have been a big influence on me as of late...First up Silent cities aka Simon Maddison, and Denis Jones. If your not familiar with either, check them out."

 

Favourite song?

 

"It's not a song, but I think that Fryderyk Chopins nocturne op. 9 no. 1 in b flat minor is probably the most amazing composition that has ever graced my ears."

 

Favourite album?

 

"Again, these things change with my moods, but as of late I've been giving OK Computer and For Hero For Fool by Subtle repeated listens."

 

Vinyl, CD or download?

 

"I love vinyl, but I think for practicality (and my age group) I'd have to say CD...though the idea of downloads are still a little magical to me. However, I like a physical product as such. I think it becomes more valued in that sense."

 

Style icon?

 

"I think one would look at me and would suggest I probably don't have one!"

 

Favourite clothing brand?

 

"I think most of my wardrobe has been donated to me by others once they've found their clothing has gotten too small. Materialism has never been big on my agenda."

 

Favourite film?

 

"The Good The Bad And The Ugly."

 

Favourite TV show?

 

"I'm not a watcher of TV. I find it a tool of perception management and culture creation from the top down. So at a push I would have to pick something subversive like Family Guy. Though I take things on recommendation, so I might just get around to starting Game of Thrones at some point soon, then Breaking Bad (once the hype has died down)!"

 

Who would play you in a film of your life?

 

"I'm going to be really unoriginal and say Johnny Depp, just because he is an amazing actor and not just because he is better looking than me. Plus he had Hunter S. Thompson down to perfection. Who is a bit of a hero of mine."

 

Favourite food?

 

"I've spent many years working in catering, so I avoid fast food as much as possible. I don't think I'd have a favourite food. Good food is like good music, it is varied in tastes and has different impacts for what it is. The main thing is a good balance of flavours and textures. Though I enjoy the social aspect of a good meal really, and if possible, over a charcoal grill on a Mediterranean beach with friends and good wine!"

 

Football team?

 

"Everton FC."

 

Hope you enjoyed this feature on Mick Flaherty! Check out our previous feature on Derek King!

 

Check out Mick Flaherty here - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mick-Flaherty-Music/160357820655819?id=160357820655819&sk=info

 

Check out Serren Fore here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aehppRP5NiI

  

You can also like our Facebook page to keep up to date with all future interviews at the following link - https://www.facebook.com/aldorabritainrecords

 

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