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Tuesday 20 November 2018

wasuremono: An interview with the newest bears on the block

After seeing the enigmatic Wasuremono live, supporting Phosphorescent on their recent UK tour, I managed to weasel an interview out of them; as you’ll see from my photos herein, I also came away with quite the haul of booty!!! 

  

Will Southward (Vocals and Guitar)

Phoebe Phillips (Bass)

Isaac Phillips (Drums)

Madelaine Ryan (Keys/Backing Vocals)

                                                            
AS: Listening to you guys reminds me of Talking Heads, Dirty Projectors and othersuch bands; what influences your sound above all else? W: Vocal, hooks/melody.

AS: When you take aim with your peashooter/pellet gun/sniper rifle, who are you aiming at? W: The person eating with their mouth open… NOM NOM NOM!!!
AS: Where do you go when it all gets too much? W: The Pub.

AS: Is bedtime more half nine with a half read paper or more half four with fully red eyes? W: Half four with fully red eyes.

AS: What do you do with any ‘you’ time? W: Walks... which normally end in the pub!
AS: Who would be your dream collaborator? W: David Byrne or Jonny Greenwood. 

AS: What’s the last gig/concert you went to? W: Phosphorescent.
AS: If you were a musical instrument what would you be? W: A Theremin.
AS: What’s ‘love at first sight’ all about then? W: An instant connection, without talking to each other.

AS: Where do you draw your inspiration from? W: My drum machines and guitars.

AS: Care to share any regrets, missed opportunities or things that might’ve been? W: I got tickets to see the Led Zeppelin reunion, but the email went in my spam folder. 
AS: What’s the best / your favourite music video? W: Rubber Johnny by Chris Cunningham and Aphex Twin.
AS: Were/are you aware of your escalating popularity? W: Yes, but all the hidden listeners are nice surprises.
AS: Will your past come back to haunt you or will karma be kind? W: Good Karma all the way... I never stand on bugs!
AS: Where do you most enjoy playing live? W: Festivals in the summer.
AS: Why? What's your biggest why question that mystifies you most? W: Why don’t you talk much on stage?
AS: Where do you sit in the grand scheme of things? W: On a pillow made of clouds.
AS: Why the name (not your christened name of course)? W: Liked the meaning behind it! It’s Japanese (for ‘something left behind’)!
AS: Who’s the most likely to go solo or crazy? W: William would like to go solo and create an album about food; he’s got half of the songs already!
AS: Any choice epitaphs or famous last words for which you’d like to be quoted? W: Don’t push that button!
AS: What makes you better than everyone else? W: I have more guitars than friends.
AS: When do you plan to take over the world? W: When I get fast enough.
AS: What changes can we expect with your latest outing? W: Gone from Roland 808 to the Linn Drum Computer.
AS: Are you all agreed/in control of the formats for your releases? W: Yes, in full control.
AS: Wish you were doing anything else with your time other than music? W: No!
AS: Who were your heroes as a teenager? W: Dave Grohl and Billy Corgan.
AS: What do you think of the paparazzi? W: Is that a type of pizza? I love Italian food!
AS: What music are you listening to of late? W: Kurt Vile and Gaz Coombes.
AS: Any message for underachieving or odds-facing musicians out there? W: If you love the music you make, someone will love it also! Also, record and produce your own music; no one knows your sound better than you!                                                                                       

AS: Do you enjoy playing live or are you more at home in a studio? W: Enjoy writing in my home studio more than anything else. Creating new music is the most rewarding... still love playing live though, but its so different!
AS: Your career defining dream moment would/will be what? W: Slot on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury.
AS: Know of any upcoming bands that are destined for greatness? W: Isaac's side DJ project.
AS: How important do you feel visuals are in relation to music? W: A bonus if you can get them for live show; The Flaming Lips are a prime example!
AS: What’s been the highlight of your year? W: Getting a booking agent.
AS: I’m sure you’ve done a few but which gig has been your best? W: Shepherds Bush Empire with Phosphorescent.
AS: Any forthcoming plans for the band? W: New album coming round the corner!
AS: Is there more pressure playing live with a band than there is playing solo? W: No
AS: Are you unlucky in love and if so, why? W: I'm lucky in love.
AS: Best song, movie OR album ever? W: Kid A (Radiohead) or Smashing Pumpkins’ Mellon Collie album.
AS: Where did you sleep last night? W: In the land of nod.
AS: What’s your secret vice... what are you a sucker for? W: Gear and beer.
AS: What makes the world go round? W: Chuck Norris!
AS: Where’s the place to be? W: Ecstasy
AS: What’s your weak point? W: I once made a point that wasn’t a great point at all... it was a weak point!

AS: Any career highs or low you care to share? W: Highs are session at Maida Vale Studios for Steve Lamacq, supporting the Flaming Lips and playing Shepherds Bush Empire. The low usually involves selling a guitar.
AS: Which instrument does it for you most? W: Guitars.
AS: What inspired the LP title? W: The band name!
AS: Are you a good dancer and can you prove it? W: No, unless I'm wasted, then I'm awesome!
AS: What kinds of music (if any) do you dislike the most? W: Electro Swing.
AS: Where will you retire to when you're tired of comeback concerts? W: The studio.
AS: When will the world end? W: When the music stops.
AS: Who’s the main driving force or do you work as a team? W: William.
AS: How important are the single / album charts? W: Not important.
AS: What revival would you most like to witness? W: The dance craze “Skankin’.
AS: Which era would you have been born in ideally? W: This one.
AS: Are exercise and diet important to you? W: Exercise yes, but no to diet.
AS: If you could protect and save 1 thing in the world, what would it be? W: Dogs.
AS: Who’s the most gifted person alive today? W: Flexible Phillip or perhaps Slippery Steve... it’s a tough one!
AS: Have you got any famous relatives and if so, who are they? W: My old dog Olive was probably the most famous in our family... RIP.
AS: Does complaining accomplish anything? W: Yes!
AS: Whose autograph do you have and why? W: Dave Grohl's 'cause my mum got it for me.
AS: Which fictional character would you most like to be and why? W: Superman, for obvious reasons.
AS: Which rules... the digital age or the vinyl/cassette age? W: I like vinyl but I also listen to Spotify... I was raised on cassettes though.
AS: Which musical style should become extinct first? W: Electro Swing.
AS: Do you have any tragically unused band names you’d like to use? W: I have a secret list all better than the band name we have now.
AS: Was it easy becoming who you are today? W: No, it was a long graft.
AS: What’s the biggest myth about stardom? W: That you use money as toilet paper!
AS: Have you ever been conned into or out of something? W: Listening to Dream Theatre... thanks Isaac!
AS: Do politics have a place in music? W: If you want to, but I don’t.

          
For further insight into this fantstic band...

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