I caught up with my favourite brummies, Swim Deep, back in November in a pub in Digbeth just before their gig supporting Mystery Jets. Lucky me also got to have a phone interview with Austin (lead singer) recently to catch up with what they'd been up do. The interview has been published in this month's edition of Brum Notes magazine which can picked up all around Birmingham - have a read of it at the bottom of this post!
It's incredibly exciting that I had the opportunity to meet them and speak to them. I can't wait to see them live again next week! They are such a great band and have so much success ahead of them. Big up Swim Deep
Interview at a pub in Digbeth. I have a ten minute video of
Higgy eating pizza ... is that weird?
I am now known as the cookie girl
Austin is an absolute babe
If that doesn't work, feast your eyes upon the normal online version here
I've just had the privilege of coming across my beautiful best friend's blog. Nicola is the blonde bombshell that always appears in my photos after all the gigs and festivals we go to together. I couldn't ask for a better assistant (an official title makes us both sound more professional) but more importantly a better friend to squeal about the latest indie heart throbs or obsess over our new favourite bands.
You should definitely check out her blog now. She's a budding fashionista and she's got heaps of effortless indie style - if only I could be as fashionable as her.
Picture Book has got to
be one of the most exciting yet desperately underrated bands around at the
moment. New York born brothers, Dario Darnell
and Lorne Ashley, have had a whirlwind of a year. After their debut EP release
in January earlier this year, they caught the attention of the masses,
including Coca Cola, as they played a show remixing and reworking songs on the
fly. After showcasing their true talents as they cleverly re-interpreted Mark
Ronson’s and Katy B’s song, ‘Anywhere in the world’ they were handpicked to
play shows in conjunction with the Olympics along with other big names such as Dizzee
Rascal and Katy B.
Their second EP, ‘Songs About Aimee’
was released on 15th October, produced by the band themselves and
remixed by House legend, Tony Senghore. I don’t know about you, but I find that
House music typically has hollow and generic lyrics that don’t really mean
anything at all. Picture Book on the other hand, don’t just write music that’s
easy to dance too, but their songs are works of lyrical genius’.
The tunes on ‘Songs About Aimee’ are
cleverly written and structured; The EP takes you on a journey with the band,
travelling through the cycle of familiar feelings during a relationship. The
first track ‘Being in Love (For the First Time)’ discusses those infamous
butterflies that you get in the pit of your stomach when you fall in love and
the stage in the relationship where their annoying little habits are for now,
what makes them perfect. The brother’s atmospheric harmonies over a driving
techno beat makes for a perfect pop hit.
‘In my head’ is the lead single on
the EP. With a noticeably darker tone, but still in keep with the familiar
techno beats and infectious melody, the track goes through the stage where
their annoying habits are making you ‘despise’ them. Although you’d rather say
it to them, it’s best to keep them ‘In your head.’
‘Why Are We Wasting Our Time’
discusses how the ‘summer romance has died’ and, as the press release perfectly
puts, ‘articulates the inner strength that is needed to acknowledge the end of
a relationship.’ This track hits you with a sudden burst of heavier beats that
instantly makes you want to get up and dance.
At the End of the EP, we’re back to the
butterfly feelings of hope for a future relationship after we’ve established
that there’s ‘Nothing Wrong With Saying Goodbye’ despite how painful it might
be at the time. This track is much softer, slower and delicate, complete again
with beautifully atmospheric harmonies.
I hope to and inevitably expect to
hear much more from these talented brothers in the near future. Their cleverly
written songs are easy to relate to and easy to dance to; I’m struggling to
think of a more perfect combination.
Birmingham is starting to lose its reputation as Chav City and is instead becoming Indie Kingdom. Being a Brummie girl myself, I'm so proud of the new bands emerging from B-town. The Carpels, Peace and Swim Deep are all phenomenal bands in their own right; bringing heaps of vintage style, straight from the streets of Digbeth, with fresh new indie sounds to the current music scene. You'll be missing out if you don't give these boys a listen.
Ok, so I am now a contributory writer for http://www.danceyrselfclean.com/! It's a great music blog that's right up my street so I'm excited get something written!
