FOREBER WEDNESDAY
Questions asked by Jon Wilde, added to Rock Realms 13th February 2011.
Farnham, Surrey, band Forever Wednesday - Andy Allen on drums, Charlie Grout-Smith on vocals, Jack Robinson on guitar and vocals, Josh Irvine on guitar, and James Worthington on bass - are releasing their debut album "Depths"in the not too distant future.
We caught up with Andy to find out more...
What’s the history behind Forever Wednesday? How did the band form, and what’s the background of the various members?
Andy: Forever Wednesday was born out of a few school friends who had the same taste and love for music. We had a few jams together and realized we were on to something good so we decided to play some shows. We started off just covering Blink and thinking we were rock stars. The new members were brought in from bands we had met on the road. They're awesome dudes and we're blessed to have them.
Who were the early influences? Do you all have similar listening tastes?
Andy: Blink 182 and New Found Glory were the bands that influenced us to start this band. Bands such as Underoath introduced us to music we all loved. I feel like we are all on the page at the moment and understand and respect each others influences and this leads to us making more honest music, it's liberating.
Did you know what sort of sound Forever Wednesday was destined to have at the start, or has it developed a lot since you began?
Andy: Quite honestly no, over the years we have experimented with lots of our influences but it seems now we have something we are all 100% behind. We are treating the new line-up as a fresh start. The first track on our upcoming debut album 'Depths' is called 'Rebirth' and I think that says a lot, this is us saying we're starting again and we are not going to give up.
How would you actually describe your sound to somebody who hadn’t heard you before?
Andy: Our sound is honest and British. There is no whiney American accent, it's British rock that has drawn influences from genres like: metal, pop rock, southern rock and loads more. I think you can really here our passion on this record.
Where did the name come from, and does it have any significance to you? Is it a War Of The Worlds spoof or something else?
Andy: It was Rasputin's walkie talkie codename. No relation to Wars of the Worlds.
How has the Farnham music scene helped or hindered the band’s development?
Andy: Farnham has been indifferent. We started this band to get out of this town but on the other hand when we play shows here they have sold out and that means loads to us. Just there are no venues so we have to play in a theater. I guess the support from our hometown has helped us branch out and gave us the push to travel to other places. It's pretty easy to get stuck here.
New album “Depths” is your debut studio release. How long did it take to write and record, and was the process enjoyable, hard work, or a combination thereof?
Andy: Yeh, Depths is out on the 11th April and its been a long time coming. We wrote the album pretty quickly because we had a deadline but the recording process was hindered by member changes so it was delayed heavily. We feel shitty about it because we know our fans have been waiting for so long but there was nothing we could do. We're glad we waited because were happy with the album and think people are going to be blown away. The recording was hilarious because we got on really well with the producers Antony Smith and Pedro Teixeira and we just joked about. We'll be releasing the studio videos in the not so distant future. So check them out.
How do you typically go about writing a song? Talk us through the construction of a typical track...
Andy: One of us has an idea and brings it to the table. We tried writing from scratch together but it doesn't work because everyone wants to work on their own idea and it leads to arguments. We all tend to do a rough demo of our ideas and email them to each other and see if we're vibing. If we like something we take it into the practice room and develop it from there.
Where do you look for your lyrical and musical writing ideas?
Andy: Life. We take inspiration from events that have unfolded in our lives and shit we have experienced as a band. Depths deals with the struggles of being in a band and how we have been fucked over so many times by greedy industry members and other bands. We try not to listen to bands when were writing as you inevitably want to write songs like their if that's what you're really feeling at that time, and that's just pointless because we want to sound unique.
Is there a story/theme running through the songs, or is it more a collection of standalone moments?
Andy: Like I said, Depths mainly deals with struggle. It talks about our fears of being stuck in a mundane lifestyle and dead end jobs. None of want that, thats the reason we are still here working hard.
Do you do anything special or unusual in the studio to get your sound?
Andy: We spent hours getting a guitar tone for this record. I personally spent ages experimenting with different cymbals and drum setups for different songs so it's not the same sound the whole way through. I'm also obsessed with delay and toyed with different delays for ages when Josh and Jack were recording the guitars. Towards the end of the album a Watkins Copicat analogue tape delay came into our possession and we played with that in the studio. Those things are awesome and still create mad sounds. Apparently the one we have was used on a Led Zeppelin record which is really cool.
What pieces of equipment (or recording gizmos) couldn’t you live without?
Andy: I know Josh loves his Line 6 delay pedal and that creates a lot of sounds on our record. We also love to use an E-bow really subtlety on some of our recordings and that helps create new ideas and timbres in our music. The Peavey 5150 has to be arguably the best head to record with, the tones that come from that thing are incredible, we definitely couldn't live without one of those in our ranks.
Are there any particular tracks you rate highly, or is it all brilliant?
Andy: I think each track offers something and it's hard for to choose my favorite because I love them all. They're like are babies, each and every one. I think people will like the album has it has something to offer for everyone. There is only one way to decide if you like it and that's by picking it up when its released.
Do you enjoy the whole studio/creative experience, or do you prefer getting up on the live stage?
Andy: We love the studio, it's when we are at our most creative. There is nothing better than hearing a song come together. Its a similar thrill to walking on stage and giving it your all. It feels good.
What is one of your live shows like? What should fans expect from one of your performances?
Andy: Our live shows are energetic and fun. Expect big singalongs mixed with some aggression. Come and see us if you want to see 5 pissed off lads try and impress you.
Talk us through your existing touring plans, and how you plan to promote the album...
Andy: We have a tour from the 1st to the 9th April with our pals Golden Tanks and The Valiant. We also decided we are going to be selling our album exclusively on that tour. So if you want to pick up 'Depths' before its official release date come to a show and get one. Dates will be announced soon. More tours are being looked into and will be announced when they are finalized. We are playing a lot of one off shows in the months leading up the release so check our page for details.
What have been the highlights and lowlights of your musical lives so far?
Andy: Highlight has to be having the opportunity to record a full length album and selling out a venue in our hometown. The low light was the last year of turbulence from members leaving to delays in the recording, financial issues. You name anything bad and its happened to us.
Any question you love being asked that I’ve missed? If so, what’s the answer?
Andy: I think you pretty much had it covered here.
What are you up to once you’ve finished answering these questions?
Andy: I'm off to work on some acoustic versions of our songs that we are going to be putting up for free download. So keep an eye out!
Anything else you would like to mention?
Andy: Make sure you pick up our forthcoming debut album 'Depths' which is being released on the 11th April. Please buy a physical copy as that's the best way to support our band and allow us to keep making music.
Thanks again to Andy for his time.
http://www.myspace.com/foreverwednesdayband
http://www.facebook.com/foreverwednesday
