Interview, Superfood

On the third floor of the old Kensington Park Hotel is Superfood, or three out of the four members of Superfood. Later on speaking to Dom (frontman) he has been “in some park all day really hungover” while Emily (bass), Ryan (guitar) and Carl (drums) have been in their home city of Birmingham.

And it’s Birmingham that have almost defined the band. In the past couple of years there has been a Birmingham take over of the UK indie scene which drummer Carl explained that ‘there has been a scene for so long’ there but ‘the time is now’ for the whole of the country to listen. This Brummy revolution was mainly due to Superfood’s mates Peace, who have taken the country by storm and put ‘a lot of focus on another band to come through’ according to Emily.

Despite being a self confessed part of the ‘second wave’ of Birmingham bands, the four are nothing but exciting. Their first release, MAM EP was instantly loveable. Four sing-along tunes that had the feel of 90s Britpop with the energy of a 12 year old after a bowl of Lucky Charms. Being labelled with an almost redundant genre is a bit of ‘weird one’ according to towering guitarist Ryan as he claims that Superfood never ‘set out to have a certain sound, it was just writing songs that we thought were cool’.

Accidently sounding like bands that they have never heard of does not faze them and nor does playing the KPH that night either. Tonight is the first of a set of free shows supporting their new song ‘Right On Satellite’ . Part of an all day festival with them headlining seems daunting but Emily reassures that ‘It’s pretty cool playing here, because it is all bands that we know and the venue is really small and relaxed’. Relaxed is certainly the word for the day, the lower ground is a pub in which all acts set up shop, and chatted to excited fans. The atmosphere before Superfood is electric and Ryan admits that ‘they are really excited to just be playing shows’ and after trying the set in Amsterdam they are really ‘chuffed’.

Without much pressure the three excitedly tell me that their debut album is done. After a lot of focus writing and completing the album it is all finished, for the minute they are excited to be back on the road again. They may have an issue with naming the LP coming up with ideas on the spot like ‘Power To The People’ (or shortening it to Power).  I was even pulled into the short brainstorming- suggesting ‘Blueberries’ as that is ‘all that comes up when you Google Superfood anyway’.

Footage from the residency (I'm in the crowd about 20 seconds in)

Hannah Rodgers, Interview

I caught up with Hannah Rodgers, or Pix on Saturday post her opening slot at the Squeeze free festival at the KPH. We talked influences, life in a all girl's Catholic school and the slow descent into alcoholism.

Where do you draw your influences from?

When I grew up I was like obsessed with Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan, especially Joni Mitchell though. I love Enya- Orinoco Flow, Caribbean Blue. I love the Cocteau Twins; they have a song called Alice, which I listened on repeat for like a month.

Where did you grow up?

I live in Chipstead, which is in Surrey. It’s a small little village, I live opposite massive woods- I live in the countryside basically! I’m a nature girl, Mother Nature ahaa.

So where many of your friends making music growing up?

Well my dad is a musician, he sings and plays guitar he’s amazing. So when I was growing up he was constantly playing, I just picked up the guitar from watching him. I went to Brit School for two years as well.

Was it a good experience for you?

It was really good! Before I went there I was going to, not a convent but a very strict Catholic all girls school. So it was strange going from literally only speaking to girls and it all being very strcit and lots of hardwork then going to Brit and being like “woah wahey all I do is music! This is the dream!”

It must have been a huge change?

It was mad, it was really mad- but it was a good change.

Do you think Brit School gave you the help to become the strong artist you are today?

Before I went I wouldn’t have performed in front of people, they kind of forced me to perform because if I didn’t I wouldn’t have got my qualification at the end. I had to perform which was really good because that got me onto the stage.

So did you get nervous when you performed today?

No I really enjoyed today, usually I’m very quiet on stage. But today I am really hungover and feeling a bit mental still, and that’s why I was doing loads of confusing talking between songs. I got everyone to come up to the front because everyone looked miles away and like ants.

How long have you been writing songs?

Since I was like twelve, but you wouldn’t want to hear those songs!

Were those recent songs you’ve been playing today then?

Yeah, I write probably about five songs a week. Writing is what I love to do but not every song I write is one I keep. It’s good to write a lot because then you’re bound to find something good.

 Do you hope for there to be releases soon?

Well not an album, I hope there will be one day! I’ve got a single coming out, just on Soundcloud. I’ve got management, they’ve been helping me for the past year so I have been able to work with loads of different producers and stuff. It’s going to be called A Way To Say Goodbye under the name Pix. There will be a video and everything, it will be a free download. Hopefully it will get the ball rolling, get some fans!

Are you going to stay and watch the rest of the festival?

I’m staying! I am really hungover and I have worked out the only way to get through is to carry on drinking! I’ve been doing this for like 14 days now? I may be slowly becoming an alcoholic. I’m not sure!

BREAKING NEWS, Superfood Bring The House Down At The KPH

Birmingham band Superfood have just shut down the KPH in Ladbrokes Grove after JUST ONE SONG. The band were due to headline the Squeeze festival alongside groups such as The Black Tambourines and a DJ set by the Swim Deep boys.

The excitement in the crowd was compelling, as a huge Superfood fan I was right in the thick of it. Before the set started we all promised to go 'absolutely mental'. As the B-Town sensation begun the crowd favourite TV the entire 200 capacity venue began to mosh, alongside regular punters were Harrison Koisser (amazing man btw) and most of Swim Deep.

Almost as quickly as the song began did the manager hit the stage and stop the band mid-song. He urged us all to leave the KPH as quickly as possible, as the ceiling had fallen in on the lower lever (beneath the mosh pit). As we were hurried out the venue we all could see the 15ft hole of fallen plaster revealing original beams of the old venue.

Image of the caved in ceiling (courtesy of @Infectious_uk)

FULL INTERVIEW WITH SUPERFOOD COMING SOON

LIVE REVIEW OF THE FESTIVAL COMING SOON

INTERVIEW WITH VERY EXCITING NEW ACT 'PIX'

The Acid, Liminal Review

Not often do a band come from absolute obscurity and release an album as precise and perfected as Liminal. Australian folkster Ry X has joined forces with DJ Adam Freeland and Steve Naplea to make The Acid, an electronic group that have been keeping their ears pinned to the recent UK electronic scene. Influences throughout the album can be traced from James Blake, The xx and Alt-J and not once do you hear something and think "eh it's been done".

Liminal is a fantastically atmospheric album from the beginning, what feels like a spaced out sample of King Krule's 'Foreign 2' then evolves into a spacious track with drips of feedback at soulful feedback. Ry X vocals are on the edge of haunting and affected, but without desire to be obtuse (which is where many left field groups fall short).  What makes Liminal so superb is the progressiveness that makes many tracks even danceable. When live you just know that The Acid are going to make you want to dance, instead of instinctively nodding along thinking about Instagram filters and where you can buy good falafel.

The song Ra instantly clicks with me, gentle riffs add a personal touch to an album which could easily be mistaken as icey or impersonal. The track Ghost could easily have been lifted from any of Grimes' albums which is never a bad thing, but with lyrics bordering on sexual harassment I want to touch you, ghost send a shiver down your spine that isn't all too pleasant. Clean leads the way for atmospheric music, a path paved by French producer Gesaffelstein (creator of Yeezy anthem Black Skinhead). Clean is a standout amongst the rest, only topped by the insatiably freaky Creeper. Creeper is a brother to Every Step You Take by Sting with lines like I wanna love you like a creeper knows. The stuttering bass creates a ravey banger that turns Liminal into something amazing.

Stream Liminal Here