LO2: Questions for Interview Responses

 LO2: Questions for Interview - Responses

Q: What other bands or artists inspired your genre of music?

A: "A band that inspired me personally would be the Beatles and The Who but the current band inspiring me at the moment is Red Hot Chili Peppers."

Q: What first got you into music?

A: "I think it was my brother. He got a guitar when we went to America (I think it was Disney we went there for) and he knew how to play it straight away and I was terrible. It took me a few years to get used to it but it was that drive to be better than my brother, which is terrible really."

Q: If you could collaborate with any other Artist, who would it be?

A: "Simply Red, I'd like to collaborate with Mick Hucknall or Shaun Ward from Simply Red... Paul McCartney, either of them."

Q: How do you feel the internet has affected the music industry?

A: "It's great in one way, not so great in another. You've got to think that Spotify; every time someone streams a song that artist gets 0.0005 pence every time. They're not getting all the money are they? Back in the day there used to be singles that used to be £1.99 and a lot of the profits used to go to the artists themselves but it's a lot harder now to be a musician, it's a nightmare!"

Q: Are there any pre-existing songs you wish you had written?

A: "Any pre-existing songs that I'd written? I'd say... Ed Sheeran's Photograph. It's so obvious. I don't really like the song particularly but it's so obvious. Writing a song about a photograph. Everybody's had a photograph, they've got it on their keychains. When I listened to it on the radio I thought 'that's gonna be a number one hit'."

Q: What's your favourite gig you've performed at and why?

A: "We did a charity event in Frecheville, The Fairways (a pub). We were in the back of a lorry and it was amazing. We did a full two hours. Actually the electric went halfway through (*laughs) because a generator had gone down but it was amazing; It felt like we were playing at a festival. We do a lot of pubs; we do a lot of working men's clubs so it was a bit different."

Q: What made you and your fellow members want to start The Midnight Train?

A: "Actually the others, Richard was part of a famous band back in the 90's. Rocket 88 I think it was called. These guys have been in many bands: Pete, the guitarist, he's in three bands including ours. They love it that much they'll play wherever whenever. I had to audition to this band, I think there was about twenty people; did my first audition and was straight in, straight giggin'."

Follow-up Question: What made you stand out from the other twenty who auditioned?

A: "What made me stand out? I'd say my voice but it's not that great (*laughs). Probably my personality I suppose. I think as I was leaving I said 'does anyone want a hand, I can move some stuff out for you?' Then they messaged me about five minutes later saying I got the part. I'd say my voice, it has to be my voice."

Q: Do you have any advice for other people want to start their own band?

A: "Make sure you have a variety of different songs. Don't just have your Blink-182. Easy power chord songs just to push yourself a bit. Try and do stuff from the 80's and other eras. This pub tonight, there's a variety of people here; you've got to try and get at least one person so if you do a wide variety of songs in your gigs, you're going to at least hit one person."

Q: Do you feel nervous before every gig or does it start to feel more natural?

A: "No, I feel nervous all the time. I feel nervous now doing this. I'm a nervous person altogether but when I'm on stage it's different. I'm, what do you call it... introverted. I keep myself to myself but when I'm on stage it's like playing a character. You're a band member. You're a rockstar. It's easier. I find singing easier than talking... most of the time." 

Q: What's next for you?

A: "What are my next gigs? We have one, I think It's in Rotherham, Sitwell Arms. In the next three weeks we've got four more gigs. We do constantly get them but from doing them we've got more regulars. we've got more places wanting us which is great because a lot of landlords come to places like these and say 'oh we'll have you as well'. We sometimes have a month where we only do two but depending on if someone says 'are you free next Saturday?' we usually say yes. Sometimes we've got a full month of gigs, around 6. Tiring.