PLEASE INTRODUCE YOURSELF FOR US WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH YOU AND YOUR MUSIC AND TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF.
We are Speak Easy Circus, an experimental indie/funk band from Glasgow.
Me (Jack) - Guitar/vocals/keys
Jon - Sax/Keys
Frazer - Drums
Chats - Bass
We would best describe our music as experimental indie/funk. But when people first listen to our music the initial thing we would like them to think is that this is something different and unique, something that they might not have heard before. We want to make music that we would listen to, and the music that we listen to is eclectic, exciting, meaningful and doesn’t take itself too seriously all at the same time, so if people went away from our music thinking anything like that then we would take that as a win!
TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR NEW ALBUM OR SINGLE?
The new single ‘Lions Should Hunt’ is a combination of all of our musical influences, each member of the band comes from a different musical background so all of our songs tend to somewhat of a melting pot. This song began life as a disco/dance demo, my instructions to the band were to aim for ‘angry disco’. We combined this with some horn lines and some thumping drums and that is what created the song.
WHAT INSPIRED THE ALBUM OR SINGLE?
Most of the songs are written about things that I have experienced or observed. For example the inspiration for our latest single ‘Lions Should Hunt’ came after I saw an advert featuring a busty blonde model seductively selling something and I was annoyed that this was what people thought would be an effective advertising technique, and annoyed by the fact that it probably was effective! I took that further to think about how men are taught to think about sex, the effect that concepts of masculinity have on us etc. It all sounds very serious or preachy but we try to make sure it isn’t! I think that it is important to discuss these topics but that doesn’t mean that you can’t do it in a tongue-in-cheek way.
CAN YOU SUM UP THE SINGLE IN A FEW WORDS?
An upbeat dance funk anthem about a hypocritical masculinity.
WHAT RECORD CHANGED YOUR LIFE AND WHY?
Either of the first two Bon Ever records: For Emma, Forever Ago or Bon Iver. They came out when I was a teenager and were incredibly influential in the way I thought about music and also in my life in general. Either that or ‘Appetite For Destruction’ by Guns ’n’ Roses. That is the album that first made me want to play guitar, after my Dad blew my 9 year old mind by playing it in the car on the way back from an ice skating rink (I still remember exactly the place).
DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE MUSIC VIDEO FILMED BY YOUR BAND OR ANOTHER ARTIST?
Our favourite music video that we have done is the video for our 2019 single ‘Write It Down’. It was a collaboration with some Spanish filmmakers based in Granada and I really feel like the captured the essence of the song in a visual way, a completely different, but moving, way to interpret the feeling of the song.
You can watch it here.
In terms of other artists videos, ‘Tous Les Memes’ by Stromae is an amazing video with some amazing choreography. Also ‘Dare’ by the Gorillaz is a fantastic video, like most Gorillaz videos are to be honest.
An honourable mention should also go to ‘The Ultimate Showdown’ by Lemon Demon.
WHAT WOULD WE FIND YOU DOING WHEN YOU'RE NOT MAKING MUSIC?
Recently we have all been stuck inside due to the worldwide pandemic, so lots of binging box-sets and films. I have also been learning French whilst we have been locked down.
Normally we would be going to see live shows, maybe playing basketball or football, or maybe video games. I think that once the lockdown is over we are all going to spend all of our time outside or in a pub to make up for lost time!
DO YOU GET NERVOUS PERFORMING LIVE, IF SO HOW DO YOU DEAL WITH THAT?
I used to get nervous before playing live, I remember the first time I played an open mic my knees were shaking so much I could barely stand! But it is something that you get used to in general, every time you take a step up in the venue and play to a few more people you get some butterflies in the stomach, but we are all comfortable playing together so as soon as you start playing that feeling disappears and we can just enjoy it.
HOW DID YOU FORM THE BAND?
I met Jon and Chats playing in bands in Glasgow, and we were introduced to Frazer through a mutual friend. When it came time to put together a band to play the Speak Easy Circus songs live, I reached out and the band as we know it was formed.
HOW DO YOU WRITE? - DO YOU HAVE A KEY SONGWRITER, OR DO YOU ALL WORK TOGETHER?
The band started as a solo project so most of the songs originate from myself, and then once they are brought to the band everyone brings their own musical influences together and that is what creates the final product. The collaborative process is something that I really enjoy and is really key to the sound of the band. We will typically start with a loose idea or a home demo and then everyone will bring in those different influences as we work on the song. Everyone thinks that the song needs more of their own instrument, and then we compromise until we are all happy.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
Music is such an important part of all of our lives that for all of us it has become second nature to express ourselves through music. Whenever we see a band play an amazing set, we want to write music. When we feel down, we want to write music. When we have a good night out, we want to write music.
All of the films and music and tv shows and books we like eventually find themselves in our music.
WHAT IS NEXT?
We have plenty of music coming in 2021, the first release will be ‘Lions Should Hunt’ on the 22nd of January. This will be followed by more singles and potentially an EP at the end of the year.
Hopefully, we will have the opportunity to continue to play gigs in Scotland and further afield, however at the moment with so much uncertainty we are happy taking things as they come.
PLEASE TELL US ANY SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS SO WE CAN SHARE.
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/speakeasycircus
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/speakeasycircusband/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/speakeasycircus
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLmiqTD17Zh3QEBTAHuXpWw
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