| M |
| M |
| iNTE |
| iNTERViEWS |
| iNTERViEWS |
| k |
| k |
| AN INTERVIEW WITH... LARRY FROM SHARD. SO WHO IS IN SHARD AND WHAT DOES EACH MEMBER DO? Larry - Voice, Guitar, John - Guitar, Voice, Charlie - Bass, Voice, Jon - Drums, Voice, Haz - Keyboard, Synths, Guitar, Ken - Lyrical, Arrangements, Agony Aunt HOW DID YOU ALL MEET AND COME TO FORM A BAND TOGETHER? We have all known each other since we were babes and we developed together apart from Jon on drums he joined after seeing a show in earlier 2003, I think everything got sweeter from then. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE OF MUSIC? Thats always a hard one for us but I would probably say its a variation of Glamorous pop. Someone Desribed us as taking our influences from the last 30 years - 70's glam, 80's synth and 90's indie before it went shit and became brit pop and making something that is our own modern sound. I kinda Liked that. WHO ARE YOUR INFLUENCES? We ahve always listened to bands like Radiohead, The Cure, Joy Division, Bowie, Smashing Pumpkins. WE also listen to stuff like My Vitriol, Interpol and then more glammy bands like Stamp and KA. Charlie is a TRad. Jazz girl and we are partial to some of the sweet French film music like Yann Tiersen. WHERE DID THE NAME SHARD COME FROM? A pretty doodle in the back of 'Dorian Gray' I'VE HEARD RUMOURS THROUGH YOUR FORUM THAT SHARD HAVE SIGNED SOME SORT OF RECORD DEAL. ARE THESE RUMOURS TRUE? Its more of a collage type record deal. We are managed by a small independant called "Sympathy Records". We have a deal with music organisation "Live Circuit" who have helped fund us and to get the record out. We have distribution with Native Records through Pinnacle so the album will be hitting shops on the 28th June. Its a mouthful but we have full control so it works well. YOU RECENTLY RELEASED THE 'BUTTERCUP BABY' SINGLE. WHAT IS THE TRACK ABOUT? Its like a Shard daydream. Its about the lover you have always wanted but you have never been able to have. YOU'RE ABOUT TO RELEASE YOUR DEBUT ALBUM, 'INPERFECTION'. WHERE DID THE NAME OF THE ALBUM COME FROM? Its a play on words. Its how we would like people to feel when they listen/ see us. I think if something is too perfect it loses something, so its those little Imperfections that make something perfect. BET YOU'RE EXCITED ABOUT IT'S RELEASE? Yeh even more excited than usual. John finds it hard to hide the excitement at times, its hectic but great fun. We would love people to buy it, enjoy it and come out to the live shows! YOU WILL BE HOLDING AN ALBUM LAUNCH PARTY. DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING SPECIAL PLANNED FOR THE EVENT? We love making the live shows exciting nights. This one is extra special. There will be a drag queen compare and Shard lightshow along with the usual decorations, sweets, confetti love cannons and hopefully some freebies. Mister, you are of course invited! DO YOU GET NERVOUS BEFORE GOING ON STAGE? Its more excitement than nerves. Sometimes the waiting seems forever and you just want to get up there before your hair flops and your eyes smudge. HOW DO YOU STRUCTURE YOUR SET? We have been playing sets of 30 - 40minutes so they ahve been pretty drivey with maybe only one or two slow songs. We usually finish with something that leaves an impression. Sometimes we like opening the set with something more atmospheric to lead in, its not always what people expect when they first see us. WHICH TRACK DO YOU MOST ENJOY PERFORMING? I probably most enjoy tracks without my guitar, gives me a bit more freedom to move move and strike a pose (tart). It changes a lot but at the moment its a track from the album called One Joy Kid and yeah i do play guitar in that one... WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU DO AFTER A GIG? Urm.. Wipe off the running make up, touch up on it, and go and socialise with everyone. We always like to check out other bands on the night as well. IS IT DISHEARTENING ON THE NIGHTS FEW PEOPLE TURN UP TO SEE YOU? Not at all although it probably tests the band more. We are so grateful of anyone that comes out to see us. WE are still largely unknown so we dont expect huge turnouts when we travel away from home. We always want to make the night enjoyable, if there are only a few people you have to perform even better to create an atmosphere. If even one person enjoys themselves thats fantastic! ANY PLANS FOR A FULL UK TOUR LATER IN THE YEAR? Well from the Album launch party at club85 on the 26th to The end of autumn we are planning on playing live as much as possible. We are looking to get a support with a touring band later this year. MUSICALLY AND LYRICALLY, WHICH OF THE SONGS YOU'VE WRITTEN IS YOUR FAVOURITE? Lyrically Le Petite Morte works really well, the words seem to capture that 60's french feel just right. Musically some of the new stuff we have been working on sounds dreamy but with lovely melodies and drive at the same time, One Joy Kid has nice guitar variations and i enjoy playing that one too. WOULD YOU EVER CONSIDER DOING ANY COVERS? I like the idea of taking someones songs and developing them into your own style. We don�t really do covers but we have done Iggy�s Down on the street a few times which was a laugh. WHAT IS THE BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT YOU COULD MAKE AS A BAND? There has been a grassroots backlash to �pop music� with things like pop idol etc. Its time to reverse the trend. World domination by Shard Glamourisation. DO YOU WEAR SOCKS IN BED? Socks aren�t very sexy! Wearing nothing is always good and it feels so much better against the furry leopard skin duvet. Am I exciting you Mister? WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR POCKETS RIGHT NOW? Haha� would you like a feel? No we don�t have pockets they are just far too practical. DO YOU LIKE MORRISSEY? Not really, Rob Smith does more for me. WHAT ARE YOUR OPINIONS ON THE WHOLE BIG BROTHER THING? I do like a good bit of voyeurism but I get quite bored with this stuff. The German one looked quite entertaining. Hey maybe a Shard Big Brother in the future that would be fun. EYELINER PENCILS OR THE LIQUID EYELINER STUFF? This is always a big issue down at Shard mansions. John goes for the Cleopatra job with liquid, while Haz prefers the more delicate Audrey Hepburn Stylo. The debate continues� WHICH DO YOU ENJOY DOING THE MOST� WRITING SONGS, RECORDING THEM OR PLAYING THEM LIVE? I don�t think there is any buzz like playing live, I think I enjoy that more than anything. Recording is fantastic though and it�s a great feeling having something in your hand you can be proud of. I think we are like kids with candy and new toys when we record it�s a special time. WHO ARE YOUR FAVOURITE BANDS AT THE MOMENT? I have been listening to a new band called �Septembre� I think you had an interview a few weeks back. I love the vibe of it, Terry seems to manage to create this aura around him. WHAT FIRST MADE YOU WANT TO PICK UP A GUITAR AND JOIN/FORM A BAND? I was brought up with music � my dad was in Indie bands for years. It wasn�t until I was about 14 that I decided playing and writing would be good fun. It was even better than I imagined. WHAT IS YOUR ADVICE FOR ANYONE THINKING ABOUT STARTING UP A BAND? Don�t be a clone. Let it develop naturally. Don�t take yourselves too seriously. Rehearse hard before you play, people are paying to see your show � let them remember you. Don�t forget once you�re on the trail you�ll be penniless for years�. ALL QUESTIONS BY SCREAMING TARTS. Thanks for having us Mister! |
| iNTE |
| iNTERViEWS |
| iNTERViEWS |
| iNTE |
| iNTERViEWS |
| home : interviews : gig reviews : cd reviews : movie reviews : forum : features : links : mailing list : contact : help us |
| iNTERViEWS |
| iNTE |
| iNTERViEWS |
| iNTERViEWS |