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AN INTERVIEW WITH....
AQUALUNG.

YOUR REAL NAME IS MATT. WHERE DID THE NAME AQUALUNG COME FROM?
it just seemed a good word to describe this slo-motion, underwatery music.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE OF MUSIC?
slo-motion, underwatery.
WHO ARE YOUR INFLUENCES?
the great song writers - beach boys, the band, paul simon, stevie wonder, handel. faure.
YOU WERE IN A BAND CALLED THE 45'S. ARE YOU STILL FRIENDS WITH THE OTHER BAND MEMBERS?
yup. we're like family in an odd sorta way.
YOUR RECENT SINGLE WAS CALLED 'BRIGHTER THAN SUNSHINE'. WHAT IS THE TRACK ABOUT?
it's a suprised love song. us cynical world weary types don't expect to fall in love, but then we do. and it's wonderful.
IT IS TAKEN FROM YOUR NEW ALBUM, 'STILL LIFE'. WHERE DID THE NAME OF THE ALBUM COME FROM?
it was kim (she my wife). we'd been talking about how the songs were like studies of different facets of our lives. then she said - we should call it 'still life'. and she was right.
ARE YOU EXCITED ABOUT IT'S RELEASE?
it's very cool to be able to make a 2nd album. i've never made a 2nd album before. i'm proud of it, and hope you like it.
WHAT CAN FANS EXPECT FROM IT? HOW WILL IT DIFFER FROM YOUR DEBUT ALBUM?
it's got a grander, fuller and more varied sound. thers are a few more 'in love songs' and a few less 'out of love songs'. i like it.
MUSICALLY AND LYRICALLY, WHICH OF THE SONGS YOU'VE WRITTEN IS YOUR FAVOURITE?
that's like choosing which of your children you love the most. i don't put a song on an album unless i believe in it 100%. they're all my favourite!
WOULD YOU EVER CONSIDER DOING ANY COVERS?
yes. it's fun to play songs you love. we've been working our way through 'pet sounds'. next we'll work our way through 'keep on wombling'.
YOU'VE TOURED WITH LOTS OF DIFFERENT BANDS IN THE PAST. WHO HAVE YOU MOST ENJOYED PLAYING WITH AND WHY?
i really enjoyed our uk tour this year with Grand Drive. they make lovely band-esque american sounding music. it was a pleasure.
ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO THE MASSIVE SUPPORT SLOTS WITH FEEDER YOU HAVE COMING UP IN DECEMBER?
sort of - kinda scary too. but when wembley comes a-callin' you best be in!
DO YOU PREFER PLAYING TINY PUB LIKE VENUES OR THE BIG ARENAS?
ask me that after wembley. i like the big gigs cos it shows off the panarama of the music better. but i love the intimate gigs for the interaction and seeing everyones happy faces.
DO YOU GET NERVOUS BEFORE GOING ON STAGE?
yes. always. but i only get really worried if i don't feel nervous.
HOW DO YOU STRUCTURE YOUR SET?
depends how i'm feeling. sometimes it's nice to start with a bang and end with a lullaby. sometimes it's better the other way round.
WHICH TRACK DO YOU MOST ENJOY PERFORMING?
changes every night
WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU DO AFTER A GIG?
thank my band. open the scotch.
DO YOU EVER GET HOMESICK WHILE ON TOUR?
of course. home is nice.
WHAT IS THE BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT YOU COULD MAKE?
just getting to carry on making the music i want to make. that'll do me.
WHAT IS IT LIKE HEARING YOUR SONGS ON THE RADIO AND SEEING YOURSELF IN MAGAZINES ETC?
suprising!
DO YOU FEEL FAMOUS?
nope.
IF YOU COULD INTERVIEW YOURSELF, WHAT QUESTIONS WOULD YOU ASK?
that question!
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF TV SHOWS SUCH AS POP IDOL AND FAME ACADEMY?
i think. please stop. music is supposed to make the world better, not worse.
DO YOU EVER READ ANY OF THE MESSAGES YOUR FANS LEAVE ON YOUR WEBSITE?
i dip in from time to time.
WHAT FIRST MADE YOU WANT TO PICK UP A GUITAR AND JOIN/FORM A BAND?
the first instrument i picked up was a piano. there was just one around when i was growing up and i was drawn to it. it's like a massive grinning wooden toy. forming a band just came from writing music and wanting to make it sound all big like on Toto 4.
WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE FOR ANYONE THINKING ABOUT STARTING UP A BAND?
do it. it's excellent. try and be actually good though because there are too many shit bands out there.

ALL QUESTIONS BY MR MARTYN.

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