Last week (March 15th) saw the release of your debut single, 'Out of Time/Crosstown Feel', how do you feel about the record?
We love the song and believe it is a great introduction to the band. It's got the epic qualities we love, and also a song that still sounds good on an acoustic guitar at the heart of it. Hearing it makes us feel kind of nostalgic now as it reminds us of early on when we first started the band.
It's been received very well by the press, and you've recruited some highly regarded new acts such as Is Tropical and Active Child what are your thoughts about what they've achieved with your work?
Its kinda cool getting remixes back of a song you've written, because another artist will hear the song in a completely different way to us and take it in a whole new direction. Its been good to get other good up and coming acts to remix us, its like a little new band remix family.
You've just played your single launch party in London, and have another coming up at the Roadmender in Northampton in a few days, how have the shows been going?
Our single launch in London was packed, and the vibe was great, and generally our shows have been good. We've been getting better as a live band, and feeling more comfortable on stage with each other.
Do you enjoy playing live? Or are you more of a fan of working in the studio?
Both are important. We buzz from playing live and writing new songs, there's a time and a place for both.
You've also played some shows with Miike Snow, how was that?
Miike Snow are a really great live band, really dynamic and energetic, it was a real pleasure to support them.
How was it that you came to be Newislands? With David previously being in the Departure, had you worked previously before? Or is this a very new experience for all of you?
Everyone in this band, apart from Tom, has been in bands before, but I think this has been the most full-time everyone has been with a band. Myself and Luke were originally just going to demo a song I'd written, but then we started writing together and found it was really fun and sounding great. We recruited a band from people we knew and friends of friends, within 3 months of starting the thing. NewIslands just took on a life of its own right from the very start really.
Your music is very keyboard based, and I can see a real 80s influence to your music, who would you say influenced you in your music?
This first single in particular is very keyboard driven, but live and on a few of our other songs we kind of like to use both guitar and keyboards. Between us we have a lot of different influences, like The Doors, Depeche Mode, The Cure, Oasis, Pink Floyd, The Beatles. We love bands who write great tunes, and deliver them in style.
What does the rest of the year hold of Newislands; are you going to be touring and playing festivals for the majority of the year?
Getting our album together, playing shows, writing songs, playing shows, writing songs, playing shows, yeah pretty much....
Thanks very much for your time.
article by: Anthony Hetherington
published: 29/03/2010 12:50
FUTURE GIGS
sorry, we currently have no gigs listed for this act.