INTERVIEW: 10 o’Clock Chemical — Music Musings & Such

INTERVIEW:

PHOTO CREDIT: Will Hutchinson

10 o’Clock Chemical

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ONE of the questions I was super-keen to learn…

the answer for concerned the story behind 10 o’Clock Chemical’s name – whether there was a special reason they chose it. I find out about the band’s debut single, Babylon Is Fallen, and whether there is a political edge; what the scene is like around Stoke-on-Trent (where they are based) – and what tour dates they have approaching.

I discover what sounds/artists drive the boys; the new artists they suggest we keep an eye out for; whether the members get time to recharge away from music; what the band hopes to achieve before the end of the year – and whether there is more material coming.

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Hi, guys. How are you? How has your week been?

Busy but on-track and buzzing - having some great responses from our debut single.

For those new to your music; can you introduce yourselves, please?

We are a band called 10 o’Clock Chemical: a four-piece based in Stoke and Derbyshire - and we play Synth-Pop, Dance and Rock.

Babylon Is Fallen is your debut cut. What is the story of the song?

It's about letting go of old habits, unveiling truths and the drive for new information. I wrote it a couple of years ago when I was obsessed with George Orwell's 1984 and what it would be like to live in a nightmare Big Brother state - but now, it's naturally become a call to revolt against an increasing control on our activities and words we're not too unfamiliar with in 2018.

I believe you spend fifteen months squirrelled away! Was it quite a relief to get the song out after all that time?!

Yeah, so long. We should have maybe renamed the band 'The Mole Rats!' Relief, yes, but necessary...

PHOTO CREDIT: Mark Vyse

Babylon Is Fallen was produced by Matt Johnson. Do you think his input helped add something special to the song?

We've been working with Matt on a lot of tracks now - and the guy is a wizard. He really brought Babylon' up to date from being a bedroom demo...and taught us a lot about sonic consistency.

Do you get ‘motivated’ and angered by what is happening in the country? What are your feelings regards the U.K. and our Government?

Well. We are four different people with four different views politically (The E.U. debate is a good one at parties!) but I think the main feeling at the moment is, perhaps, confusion. Straight answers are short: everything seems uncertain and the anxiety is causing a lot of friction. It's more saddening when it significantly affects families and relationships - so, I think it's important, as a band, we use our music to bring people together rather than get too caught up in the crossfire.

We are a small island with challenges to come - and we can still be courteous without compromising our individual truths.

PHOTO CREDIT: Mark Vyse

How did the band come together? Is there a story behind the name, ’10 o’Clock Chemical’?

I think a lot of interviewers have avoided this question - in fear of it being an acid reference or something. It's actually much nerdier...

I got the name during a rough patch with insomnia and started studying the process of the circadian rhythm-cycle - at least in the U.K., the latest time for the sun to set on the horizon is approximately 10 P.M...a time, naturally, our brain releases the chemical melatonin which basically signals darkness and, in turn, gets us off to sleep at night. Without this darkness on the surface, we are unable to rest or dream; so it brings a real nice yin-and-yang feeling to the concept.

10 o'Clock Chemical is just another term for melatonin - or n-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine to the chemists...

I believe there is an E.P. coming in June? Can you reveal any of the stories that go into the E.P.?!

Indeed. Every track is pretty much centred on modern social challenges and potential consequences of everything from endless consumerism to entertainment and social media.

It's going to be a conspiracy theorist's wet dream.

Which artists are most important to you? Who do you count as influences?

Muse and Gorillaz are the big boys; Twenty One Pilots are also cool A.F.; then, the later material of The Sunshine Underground. Steel Pulse is one of Danny's Hardcore influences - so there's a growing Dub/Reggae pulse brewing in some of our contemporary material - which could start seeing the light of day soon also.

Can we see you tour soon? What gigs do you have coming up?

Tour dates to be released soon!

IN THIS PHOTO: Bishop Briggs

Which new artists do you recommend we check out?

One girl I can't keep off at the moment is Bishop Briggs. Her voice is soaring I believe she supported Coldplay on their last tour. Another cool dude we know is Youngr: truly a multi-talented genius in Electronica at the minute.

What do you each hope to achieve, personally, in 2018?

Recognition and to grow our fanbase bigger; accumulated by a big bunch of live shows outside of our Northern domain.

Have you all got a favourite memory from your time in music – the one that sticks in the mind?

Our bassist, Josh, never seems to shut up about the time he danced to a full crowd on stage pissed-up with a pumpkin - but I'm sure he's going to do better than that with the year to come!

Ours, collectively, was probably when we won Best New Artist at the Staffordshire and Cheshire Music Awards last year. Champagne ahoy - and we partied right through the night with that one.

What advice would you give to new artists coming through?

Practice, patience; strategy. Network!

Do you get much time to chill away from music? How do you unwind?

We're part of a tightly-knitted community around the Stoke music scene so, if we're not making music; we're more than likely out socialising at other gigs and events. Otherwise, skateboarding/BMX; fast bikes and plotting world domination in our favourite fast food joint, Chunky Chicken.

Finally, and for being good sports; you can each choose a song and I’ll play it here (not any of your music - I will do that).

Rone – Gravity