INTERVIEW: track not found — Music Musings & Such

INTERVIEW:

track not found

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MY journalistic work allows firsts and unusual occurrences…

that introduce me to new areas of music. In many cases, that geographical revelation is sound-based. Now, as I speak to the Guernsey-based band, track not found; it has opened my eyes to the music coming from there. The group chat about their track, Science (Gone Wrong) and what we can expect from their upcoming, debut album.

I learn how the band got together and whether they have any memories of scouting through record stores – as their new single was released on Record Store Day – and what gigs they have coming up; which new artists we need to check out; the band members each choose an album that means a lot to them - Grace Taylor (on vocals and guitar), Maisie Bisson (on vocals and bass) and Emma Thomas (on drums and vocals) let me into their world.

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

Emma: I’m good and tired because school is busy, but I recently had my seventeenth birthday, which was fun.

Grace: Good. Writing lots of new songs, like one about my friend’s cat.

Maisie: Yeah, it’s been alright. The weather over here has been really summer, so that’s made my week, really.

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

We are <track not found> and we write angsty songs in whatever genre we choose. We tend to get creative and make our songs as unique, moshable and cool as possible (even if it isn’t so cool to others).

Science (Gone Wrong) is your new single. What is the inspiration behind the track?

For inspiration, we wanted to write a more…funky, jazzy song. Lyrics-wise, it’s a mix of frustration and Grace’s family relationships at the time it was written.

It was released on Record Store Day (21st April). Was there a reason for releasing it that day? How important to track not found are record stores?

It’s a day for all musicians to show off their music in a physical form that brings back the heart of music scenes around the world – record stores.

However, we are a group of broke teenagers, so we couldn’t afford to release anything in physical copies, so we thought the next best thing would be to put out online and put free download codes in our local record store for people to pick up when they buy their vinyl. We have one real record store on Guernsey, Vinyl Vaughan’s, that’s pretty cool and has some really good deals.

Vinyl shops are a good place to find old music and new things.

Do you have memories of being taken to record stores and digging through crates? Any favourite finds you’ve had at any record shops?

Emma: not necessarily a record but I once found eight Placebo singles at a record fair. That was pretty great…

Grace: I’ve recently been going to Vinyl Vaughan’s a lot more as I get into discovering different bands…

Maisie: I don’t really have memories of record stores, but I recently got my parents’ old collections of vinyl and have loved listening to all of them

I believe you have a debut album on its way. What can you tell us about the songs and titles that will appear on the record?

Well; we’re not entirely sure which songs we’re putting on there yet but it’s going to be all our favourite originals from the past year or two and some new ones we’ve been working on more recently. Hopefully, it’ll just be a good collection of songs that people can have a good ol’ bop to.

The Only Way Is Lost, your debut, E.P. was released last year. It got great reviews! How pleasing was it seeing that sort of responses?

It was great to see that people enjoyed our music because we were super-proud of how the E.P. turned out and had so much fun recording it. It’s encouraging to see how our hard work paid off. It was really interesting to see how people were so enthusiastic about some parts of the E.P. that we hadn’t been too fussed about.

It shows you how, even when you know the music inside out, you still haven’t listened to it in the same way that other people have.

Guernsey is where you hail from. Is there a busy music scene on the island? Is it hard getting gigs there at all?

The music scene on Guernsey is brilliant - we cannot praise it enough. The small population and close-knit community really support each other it’s easy to feel like a local celebrity when, almost every time you leave the house, you see someone who you’ve met in the scene.

The two main festivals in the summer help new bands and people get into the local scene. However, it can still be hard to get gigs as a younger band as there are strict licenses against under-18s being in pubs. There are under-18 nights organised by Sound Guernsey that are really great for us young bands.

If you each had to select the one album that means the most to you; which would they be and why?

Emma: Origin of Symmetry – Muse

Muse has been a huge part of my life for about ten years and this album got me into drumming, as Dom Howard is my key inspiration. Muse were the first band I ever saw live - and that also really inspired me to perform

Grace: If it was just one, it would change weekly but, at the moment, probably Two Moons – Bat for Lashes

I think it’s a really beautiful album that I could listen to over and over and not get tired of it. Either that or one of Radiohead’s later albums.

Maisie: I have got to say Lazaretto – Jack White

This album really opened my eyes to the music that was out there and Jack White was the first artist who I couldn’t stop listening to. Even though I had been surrounded by music my whole life, this was the album that got me to start listening to music rather than just hearing it.

Do you have any gigs lined up? Where are you heading?

We’ve got a quite a few gigs lined up for summer on our U.K. tour such as The Finsbury in London, which we’re super-excited for! But, before that, we’ve got a couple around Guernsey like an under-18s gig (with Sound). But, we’ve got all of our gigs up on our Facebook and Twitter so, if we have any new dates, that’s the place to look…

What do you hope to achieve in 2018?

In 2018, we’d like to carry on writing better songs, record the full album; gain some connections while we’re on our U.K. tour and just carry on developing our stage presence. I think the main aim is just to carry on making music, gaining fans and having a good time.

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

Emma: Our Epiphany gig. During the set we had two circle pits going on at the same time and, for some reason, we all ended up lying on the floor with the crowd.

Grace: My favourite memory is the first proper mosh-pit I got into at the local festival, Chaos, last year.

Maisie: When we played a gig supporting a local band and, after having a great time on stage, we could hardly move for people saying how much they enjoyed the set.

What advice would you give to new artists coming through?

You’ve just got to love the music you make...

While other’s opinions matter, you cannot make music for anyone other than yourself. Use it as an outlet to express your emotions, both good and bad. It’s important to be open to suggestions as long as they don’t change your music to a place where you aren’t happy with it. Be in a band with friends and people you enjoy spending time with - so it’s always fun making music with them and you can truly be yourself around them.

IN THIS PHOTO: Japanese Breakfast

Are there any new artists you recommend we check out?

Emma: Not exactly new or unknown - but, Ghost. You will not regret it.

Grace: Japanese Breakfast is very new, but is very good.

Maisie: Local bands like The Recks and Static Alice are really great, but NOVA TWINS are also really great.

IN THIS PHOTO: NOVA TWINS/PHOTO CREDIT: Sanaa Abstrakt

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

Emma: Personally, not much: juggling a relationship, A-levels, friendships and the band makes for no time. I do enjoy painting and sketching if I have any free time.

Grace: I unwind by lighting incense, eating chocolate and watching T.V. with my cat (currently, RuPaul’s Drag Race).

Maisie: If I find any time, a good book or film is usually my go-to with many cups of tea.

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).

Emma: Square Hammer by Ghost