The albums that have stayed with me

This was originally supposed to be a Top Ten piece. However, the more I tried to think, the more difficult it became to squeeze my choices into just ten albums. These albums are not necessarily ones I still listen to. However, there will always be a place in my heart for them. There are many positive and negative memories that come with these records but I would not change that. They helped shape me and made me the person I am today. Whether they are good choices or not, I hope some of these personal choices will make readers feel slightly nostalgic about their own lives.

There were so many albums I wish I could have added to the list including, You Me At Six, Funeral For a Friend and Pendulum. However I just assumed if I wrote too much, who would actually be bothered to carry on reading?

In no particular order, here are my choices.

1.) Good Charlotte – The Young and the Hopeless (2002)

I still remember the first time I ever heard this album. I was on holiday in Wales and made some friends that I used to see every year at the camp site. My friend had brought his cousin down and it was him who had the CD on in the caravan. I mentioned how much I liked it to my dad and the next day he took me to Cob Records and bought it for me. Although I don’t listen to it half as much as I should, it remains one of my favourite albums.  I still love the irony of songs Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous and Riot Girl, when singer Joel Madden ended up marrying socialite Nicole Richie.

This album then made me go and buy their debut self-titled album and every album after that up until Cardiology (2010), which I can't say I have even listened to. The last time I saw them live was 2011, then later that year they announced a hiatus. The Madden brothers have since released single - We Are Done, which I can't say I enjoyed. Stick to the old stuff guys.

2.) Less Than Jake – Anthem (2003)

The first time that I heard this record, I was in year 7 and at my mates New Years Eve party. I had always been into ska but had not really heard much ska punk except the occasional Reel Big Fish and Sublime songs. My friend and her brother introduced me to this album and I went out and bought it with my pocket money a few days later. It’s not like I had a laptop to listen to it or to download it. YouTube was not even invented then. 

To this day, LTJ are one of my favourite bands to see live as they are really entertaining and get members of the crowd up on stage. Once, when I was about 14, my dad even came to a gig, Vocalist, Chris DeMakes got my dad up on stage for a ‘fat guy press-up competition’. I have no words about how I felt at the time, I was that embarrassed but looking back it was hilarious. They may be getting old but they will be forever young at heart. 

3.) Linkin Park – Hybrid Theory (2000) 

Aside from Lostprophets, Start Something (which I will not discuss any further for obvious reasons), the first album my dad ever bought me was Hybrid Theory. My parents had recently purchased Sky TV and I was flicking through the music channels when the video for One Step Closer appeared on the screen. Up until the release of Minutes to Midnight (2007) I bought their albums. Although I have listened to the most recent ones, I just don't get the same vibes when I listen to them.  Anyway, Hybrid Theory in my opinion will forever stand out as being one of the best nu metal albums created.  

Confession: I still need to see this band live but I feel they would have been better to see in their heyday.  

4.) Busted –Self-Titled (2002)

Who doesn’t remember how awesome this album was when it was released?  I still recall that fateful day in January 2005 when the band announced they were splitting up so that Charlie could focus on his new band, Fightstar (who I also like anyway so it worked out well). Although they failed to break America, Busted broke plenty of hearts with their announcement after only releasing three albums.

Looking back at when I went to see Busted at an arena tour in 2004, I realised how awful they were at performing live.  However it was definitely more of a show than anything.  Although these guys were technically a boy band, I still like to remind myself that at least they played their own instruments and didn’t just dance around on stage like most 90s groups. 

Confession: I never did get the chance to see McBusted but if I did not have my final year of university to focus on, I would have loved to have gone. 

5.) Fall Out Boy – From Under the Cork Tree (2005) 

 Face it; the mid-2000s were the years of the genre ‘emo’.Technically it was pop punk but with just a hint of eyeliner, lyrics about suicide and ridiculously long song titles. What’s not to feel nostalgic about?

Don’t get me wrong, I still love all their albums, especially 2003’s, Take This to Your Grave but FUTCT just put me right in the middle of High School and my teenage years. It was the album that I listened to when I was feeling down but also the album I listened to on late drives home with my dad after ice hockey practice on a weekly basis. I still don’t think they released enough singles from this record. In my opinion, every song could pass as one. There are SO many things I could say about this album but I would blabber on for hours. 

 It was later that year that I was to purchase Paramore’s, All We Know Is Falling and Panic at The Disco’s, A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out. In my opinion, 2005 was the year of pop punk. 

6.) Avril Lavigne – Let Go (2002)

Love her or hate her, you cannot deny that Avril Lavigne was massive back in the early 2000s. Her music seems to have gone downhill since marrying Nickelback vocalist, Chad Kroeger and releasing the not so great single Let Me Go: Feat her husband.  Actually, I think I stopped listening to Lavigne while I was still at high school.

Avril Lavigne was my role model when I was about ten years old. I was always a bit of a tomboy and her image was everything I, and many other girls began to follow. Tammy Girl sold all the baggy skater jeans and ties, Claire’s sold all the accessories but most of all she was the one artist me and my mates would agree on listening to when at each other’s houses.

I do not really listen to Avril Lavigne any more but this is one album that has stood out because oddly enough it helped get me into heavier music. I loved the choice of angry lyrics over a catchy pop hook. I think I just liked her teenage, no shit attitude and the fact she played a guitar. Guys fancied her, young girls wanted to be her. 

7.) Bullet For My Valentine- The Poison (2005)

I do not listen to BFMV much any more. I personally feel their albums have gradually become worse over the years, so much to the point that I find them quite boring. The last time I saw them live they went off stage for what felt like almost ten minutes during the encore. I am not sure what bands even bother going off stage any more when they can play an extra song instead.

The Poison as a debut album  is full of metal riffs, melodies and of course, solos.The first time I ever saw them perform was at Kerrang's very first UK tour in 2005, then known as the XXV Tour. The Poison is very much a metal album with an abundance of emo lyrics, attitude and solos that make you want to rock out on the air guitar.

8.) A Day to Remember - Homesick (2009)

I can't even remember when I first listened to this album but I fell in love instantly. I already had their previous two records but they did not listen to them very often. Whether it is a heavier track such as I'm Made of Wax... or acoustic favourite, Have Faith in Me, Homesick provides listeners with a wide variety of sound and songs you can't help but sing your heart out to. If this album has never made you want to headbang and sing at the top of your lungs then sorry, you are doing it wrong.

There is something about ADTR I just can't put my finger on. When I first listened to them they struck me as your typical, generic pop punk band. However, they remain a band who brought something different to the table when they combined it with heavy, post-hardcore breakdowns. The catchiness of the chorus and rawness of the lyrics just balance each other brilliantly. They are easily one of the best and heavier pop punk bands around.

9.) Bring Me The Horizon - Sempiternal (2013)

I was not sure what to think when I first heard this record. It was so different compared to anything I had heard by BMTH before. I’ll admit I prefer Suicide Season and There Is A Hell …to Count Your Blessings but I instantly liked the fact Oli Sykes had learnt to sing for the tracks found on Sempiternal. 

I felt so bad listening to the illegal stream but I could not help myself. Sykes himself just seemed so overwhelmed by the positive feedback that he did not seem too bothered by it. A few months after the album release, I broke up with my ex at the time. Listening to Sempiternal just made more sense to me afterwards than it ever had beforehand. 

I am not going to pretend I understand about drug abuse because I don’t. However, listening to Sempiternal yet again after Sykes came out about his Ketamine addiction, the lyrics just made so much more sense. It is clearly the bands most personal album and in my opinion the best one they have released. 

To me, this record was a complete game change for the band in terms of metal music. Their songs became more popular across national radios like Radio One and they brought in new keyboardist, Jordan Fish. I do miss ex-guitarist, Jona Weinhofen - who left the band in early 2013 much to the surprise of fans. BMTH seem to be managing just fine without him. 

10/11.) Paramore - All We Know Is Falling (2005)/ Self- Titled (2013)

The first time I heard this band I was just 13 years old. I instantly loved the fact there was a pop punk band I could listen to with a female singer, who was not even that much older than myself. As soon as I heard the single Pressure, I knew I would have to go and listen to the whole thing.

Although I love Riot and Brand New Eyes, the first thing I noticed about AWKIF was how much potential they had as a band. The songs on this record will get in your head for days on end, which is what makes it such a good album. Three remaining original members and four albums later, Paramore have proved that they are not going to dissolve into nothing and that they will continue to make music people can relate to.





















Paramore's Self-Titled album stands out as just so different to their other releases. With it being the first record the band had released since the Farro brothers left in 2010, I did not really know what to expect. It turned out to be one of my favourite records I had heard in ages. Except for a few singles, fans had waited four years for a new album, they were not let down.

For me, the things that I loved most about it were the lyrics about love, forgiveness and sarcasm all intertwined with monster choruses and catchy beats. The three acoustic interludes that are performed with just vocals and a ukulele split the tracks up well. After-all, it is a 17 track record. Listening to this record gave me a positive outlook on life. 

In all honesty, this and Sempiternal were the albums I listened to the most post-breakup. As a whole record, Paramore taught me that it was okay to be angry, feel lonely and be completely bitter. It also taught me that I had the ability to pick myself back up again, that friends and family are always there for me and most importantly, that I deserved better. 

12.)  Brand New - The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me (2006)

I was a few years late listening to Brand New. Sure, I had heard Sic Transit Gloria and a few other tracks from Deja Entendu but I never really bothered to go out to buy an album or go on YouTube. If there was a band none of my friends really listened to or my dad introduced me to it was this one.

Jesse Lacey's vocals completely stand out on this record, so much to the point it actually sends shivers down my spine. Comparing this to Deja Entendu and Your Favourite Weapon, the lyrics on TDAGARIM just seem that little more personal. Every track has it's own story, the right balance and a sense of mystery.

This album seems to go with whatever mood I am in, I could literally listen to it on a daily basis and never get bored of how hauntingly beautiful it is. Since listening to this I then had to go and get all their other records because they quickly became one of my favourite bands and still are today.

Interview: Lower Than Atlantis

Since the release of their debut album Far Q, British rock band Lower Than Altantis have been busy touring the world non-stop. Recent months has seen the band take some time out in order to record their new self-titled album, due for release in September this year.

Consisting of Mike Duce, Ben Sansom, Eddy Thrower and Dec Hart, the band have described their influences as ‘fucking Up, Binge Drinking, Poverty and wishing you were still 15 years old’.

I had an  interview with LTA’s vocalist, Mike Duce, who was jetlagged from his flight from Japan.  We discussed the new LTA album, their upcoming tour and what it is like to write songs for other artists.

Lower Than Atlantis just played Radio 1 Rocks yesterday with Mallory Knox and Marmozets, how did you find it? 

Mike Duce: It went great, absolutely great. It was a bit nerve-wracking at first and we’ve only just come back from Japan. The day we got back we had a band rehearsal. The next day we played Sony Xperia and the day after, I was on a breakfast show with Nick Grimshaw on Radio 1. We then played Radio 1 Rocks, which was mental. I’m going to be in the studio from tomorrow onwards until we fly to America a week today to shoot a video but I think I’ll have tomorrow off because I’m knackered.

You’re doing a UK tour playing at intimate venues in July. What can fans expect from the live shows, are you doing anything different this time around?

MD: We are going to play some of the old stuff and some hits...stuff like that. We are going to be playing some of the B side stuff from previous albums but we are going to play some new stuff as well so we will be able to see people’s reactions. Then we will know what sort of songs work well playing live and what songs don’t. It will be a good laugh. We are touring with two bands called Decade and Yearbook who are really good as well.

You said the band were treating album number four as if it was going to be your last and that if things don’t go big then you will think about calling it a day. If the new album is not a hit overall are you still sticking by what you said?

MD: It’s not that we want it to be a big hit or anything like that. We don’t need validation from chart numbers and stuff like that. We’re not those kind of guys man, we don’t really give a fuck about that kind of thing. We are just going to see how we’re feeling. I mean, we didn’t expect things to kick off in such a big way that they have with our new single. We will address it later on. We’re not thinking about that at the minute that’s later on down the road.

It must have been good to be teaming up with Dan Lancaster again. (Producer of 2010’s Far Q)

MD: He’s one of my best friends of all time. That’s who I’m with in the studio tomorrow working on B-sides, the next few singles and the deluxe tracks on the album.  It’s good to do it all again, we work well together. There are twelve songs on the album and then we are going to do a special edition deluxe version. Then we go to the studio and finally we get more time off which is a while away. We are doing some acoustic versions of the songs which will be interesting.

You wrote a song with new band 5 Seconds of Summer called ‘Heartache On The Big Screen.’ Was the song-writing process much different compared to when you write songs for Lower Than Atlantis? 

MD: Not really no. The only thing that was different was that we were writing pop, I’ll call it pop… I don’t know what it is. With LTA it has to be credible but catchy and I set these criteria for myself. However, when it came to stuff like writing for other artists, I kind of just threw caution to the wind and just went for it.  It went really well, that was the B side to their single and it went to number 1 in about 40 countries.

Do you find it strange writing lyrics for other artists knowing that it could be a Lower Than Atlantis song? Or does it not matter because they’re completely different genre? 

MD:  It doesn’t matter as much. It’s still about something that means something to me and it also means something to someone who would be listening to it as well.

How do you handle the pressure of writing songs for other artists knowing that it could, in your own words, “Make them or break them?”

MD: Writing music is the one thing that makes me happy and it’s the one thing I would like to think I am quite good at as well. I just sort of do my thing and that is obviously why the artists came to me. Then that’s it really, you  just see what happens when it is released.

I read in a previous interview that you’re always away on tour for months at a time and that you only have very little time to record an album. Do you feel that the new LTA record will be the best one yet because you allowed yourselves a longer time period to write new material?

MD: It definitely is, without a doubt. Everyone’s got their own opinion but in musical terms it is definitely our best album and that’s why it’s self-titled because we thought that this is the sound of the band. We’re really happy with it.

What can fans expect from your self-titled record? How would you describe the overall sound across the 12 tracks and did you try and take on any different approaches when writing?

MD: We recorded it when we weren’t with any label at all. We didn’t have a manager at the time either. There weren’t really any constraints on it at all, we wrote it and then we were signed. We just felt free to do whatever the hell we wanted. This is the end result and we’re really happy with it. Overall I would describe the album as fucking brilliant. Then again I’m going to be biased because it’s our band.

Your approach to writing lyrics tends to be very conversational. What themes did you explore when writing the new record? Were any tracks particularly difficult to write?

MD: None of them were too hard to write. We just write about what is going on in the world. I really like the lyrics to the song Live Slow, Die Old Because I find it really fascinating that the one thing that is inevitable is that we are all going to die and there’s nothing you can do about it. You can be the richest, most powerful person in the world and you can be the smartest person in the world, but at the end of the day you’re still going to grow old and die.

You're playing Reading and Leeds Festival in August. What are your other plans after the July tour?

MD: We are going to have some more singles and videos coming out but the plan is changing constantly. It’s going to be interesting.

What has been your biggest challenge so far as a band?

MD: America definitely. The van we were in was like a small people carrier and we were driving around ourselves. Some of the drives were about 20 hours, we were stuck in there together and it put a strain on our friendship but we are all better mates because of it. It was definitely one of the best and worst experiences in all our lives I would say.

Is it hard being traveling musicians and being on the road constantly? Would you ever give it up and find a steady job?

MD: I don’t really know. The grass is always greener. You always want what you haven’t got. I don’t think I’m that type of person at all. I need to be busy and I need to be travelling around. That’s what makes me happy. I like to take each day as it comes. I just want to see what happens tomorrow.

I saw a tweet about LTA possibly doing a cover of Barenaked Ladies – ‘One Week.’ Are you going to do one?

MD: (Laughs) I don’t know. We’ve just had a really successful single. After playing at Radio 1 Rocks last night, I had the whole band and crew back at mine and Eddie’s house and we just had some music on, listening to songs we used to listen to when we were younger. We had a few beers and Eddie’s girlfriend cooked us up some chicken wings. We might do some covers; I don’t know, it would be cool if we did.

Is there anything else you would like to mention?

MD: Our new album is out on September the 29th.

Lower Than Atlantis are playing the following dates throughout July…

15 - ABERDEEN Tunnels
16 - GLASGOW King Tuts
17 - NEWCASTLE Cluny
18 - YORK Fibbers
20 - Manchester Deaf Institute
21 - HULL Fruit
22 - NOTTINGHAM Rock City
23 - STOKE Sugarmill
24 - BIRMINGHAM Temple
25 - GLOUCESTER Guildhall
27 - CARDIFF Clwb Ifor Bach
28 - BRISTOL Fleece
29 - PORTSMOUTH Wedgewood Rooms
30 - NORWICH Epic Studios
31 - LONDON Dingwalls

http://figure8magazine.co.uk/default/lower-atlantis-interview/

Student mother: managing university and kids

In the style of Mother and Baby Magazine 

Being a first-time mother while studying at university can be daunting prospect. Your friends are all out celebrating their dissertation hand-ins while you’re stuck indoors watching Eastenders. The first year being a parent can be the biggest struggle a mother will face. However it is time for parents to embrace the magical times ahead. Fortunately there is plenty of help both mentally and financially in order to be able to complete your education.

 Meet Amber Jade Dinsdale, a 21 year old chef from Manchester.  To her surprise, at the end of her second year at university, she discovered she was pregnant. Previous difficulties meant it was unsure if she could ever conceive.  With only one more year left at university, Amber spent nine months going through a life-changing experience. With the support of her fiancé – who has two kids from a previous relationship, and her family, she has managed to overcome the challenges of working full time, moving house and university deadlines. Despite giving birth to a baby boy in February, she is aiming to obtain a 2.1 for her degree.

“I don’t let my education suffer as it is something I have worked hard for. I’ve been at university for four years so I didn’t see the point in deferring a year. I’m aiming to graduate with a 2.1 hopefully.” She continued: It’s hard for a dyslexic student to get a first unless they’re incredibly intelligent. That’s not me, I’m just moderately intelligent but I’m willing to try my hardest.”

According to the Daily Mail, women graduates wait until they hit 35 before having their first child - almost a decade later than those who don’t go to university. Additionally, a recent study carried out by the National Union of Students (NUS) shows that, 29% of 2,167 students with children who were questioned said they fell pregnant during their studies.

Amber admitted that she did plan to have children, just not whilst at university. Nevertheless, she is grateful to have the energy and flexibility as a young mother to take on responsibilities she will have for the rest of her life. Currently taking maternity leave, Amber has less time for herself than when she was working full time. With her fiancé at work, she has found herself surrounded by last minute assignments and nappies. Weeks before Jacob was born, the family found themselves moving house last minute. They wanted somewhere with a spare room and required a house that cost less to rent – not something easy to find on a busy schedule and with rising rental costs.

“I have no time for myself, not in between university work and looking after Jacob.” She admitted: “Moving house has got to be the most stressful thing I’ve ever done in my life. The previous house was suffering from damp. With a baby on the way and an asthmatic partner we just wanted to leave and start again, for the sake of the children.”

So how nerve wracking was the pregnancy? Amber expressed that the changes were not easy but that she would not change a thing. Fortunately she has had full support from her family and admits she does not understand how single mothers manage. Suffering from baby brain while pregnant and having to have time off for appointments meant requesting an extension at university. Of course, tutors were understandable.

“It is difficult getting used to your body changing and feeling sick but you have no option. It is helpful having a partner because they do the little things for you.” She recalled: “Your body goes through so many changes when you are pregnant, you don’t actually notice as much as you think you would. I didn’t get a baby bump till I was 30 weeks gone, whereas some girls get baby bumps from ten weeks.”

Did Amber have any advice for first time mothers?

“Don’t get pregnant,” she joked. “Just make sure you wait until you know what you want to do with your life or already have something set up. I don’t enjoy watching 16 and pregnant on MTV, or ‘who is the father?’ on Jeremy Kyle. Be patient, even if you wait until you’re in your late thirties.”

Diary of daily routine

5:30am I wake up and give Jacob his bottle. I have breakfast and we cuddle downstairs on the sofa.
7:30am The kids (Fiancé’s children) arrive and we sort them out. Jacob will have another bottle at about 8ish.
9:00am I take the kids to school as my fiancé doesn’t drive.
10:30am I feed Jacob another bottle. He usually stays awake till one and is fed once every few hours.
3:15pm I pick the kids up from school. I cook their tea and then they get picked up at 5:30.
6:00pm Dog walk.

I continue throughout the evening and night feeding Jacob his bottle whenever necessary. In between my daily routine I am cleaning or doing university work.

Architects: Interview

Having sold out the majority of their shows, metalcore band Architects are currently undertaking their biggest UK tour to date. With the recent online stream ahead of new album ‘Lost Forever, Lost Together’ and a European tour approaching, the band are raring to put on the best performances fans have ever witnessed. 

2013 was a hectic year for the band. After spending a month recording in Sweden and a recent signing to Epitaph Records, 2014 might just well be their year. 

I spoke to the band’s guitarist, Tom Searle for half an hour, prior to the gig in Manchester. He seemed anxious about the night ahead but was eager to perform some of the band’s new songs for the first time. Topics consisted of his personal experience with skin cancer, the new Architects record and what it is like to be one of the few metal bands backed by BBC Radio 1.  

Let’s have a chat about your current album 'Lost Forever, Lost Together.' What is your personal favourite song from the new record?

Tom Searle: We've actually made a record with more than two good songs on for once. So it’s difficult to choose. I'm really pleased with ‘Colony Collapse.’ We've tried a lot of different things over our six albums. A lot of the time when we branched off it had mixed results. It’s great to do something different and feel like it came together well. It’s been nice to see lots of other people since we streamed the album saying “Oh I love that song it’s awesome.” 

What song was the hardest to write lyrically? Why?  

TS: Well, I wrote C.A.N.C.E.R about myself. I wrote it when I had skin cancer and was waiting for a month to find out the results of the CT scan and things like that. It was more just hard in the sense that if I wrote it I had to make sure it was going to have the right message. I didn't want it to be woe is me but I didn't want it to be too personal either at the end of the day. Sam sings the songs so it wouldn't have made much sense. It’s been a huge, surreal thing in my life but it had to be taken on in the right way. I wasn't sure what the right way was until I ended up doing it. I ended up changing some bits. Some of it sounded so negative and hopeless. At the same time I didn't want to retrospectively change it too much because I wrote it during the month where I didn't know if the cancer had spread. I didn't want to take away any of that brutal and harsh time replicating how you feel. Once you have been told you’re okay, you can’t then go back to how it felt like when you don’t know. It’s a touchy subject so you have to be careful.  

What sort of feedback have you had from fans and critics since you streamed the record? Is it what you expected?

TS: The response has been much better than I thought. You can always expect someone to come out and say “You’re shit,” or whatever. I was very nervous about album reviews. Once you spend so much time on a record, you lose sight as to whether it’s good or not. I think it hurts even more every time you release one. To me, it’s like failure if people only say it sounds alright. People just seem to love the record so much and this is what I've always wanted. I find it hard to process overall. I suppose doing this tour will be the decider.

How many new songs are you playing on this tour?

TS: We’re playing seven. The record isn't out properly until the 10th but I'm hoping that people have checked it out. We weren't going to play as many but when we put the stream out, people liked it so much so we said “Fuck it, let’s play them.”

Did you write or record any extra songs that didn't make the album?  If so can fans expect to be able to hear them at all in the near future?

TS: We did two B sides that didn't make the cut for the album but I don’t know where they’re going. The best songs are on the album in my opinion. 

For those who have yet to listen to the album stream, how would you describe the sound for the new record as a whole? How does it stand out from your previous records?

TS: I think it’s got an overall vibe to it. I got obsessed with making ambient sounds and having it run over big riffs. It’s definitely heavier and darker than at least our last two records. I hope it’s still accessible but still heavy in the way that it’s listenable, exciting and enjoyable. I like music that’s over the top and that was the main thing for me.

Why did you decide to stream ‘Lost Forever, Lost Together?’ 

TS: You've always got to be prepared if someone leaks the album. We ended up putting it online four days earlier than planned. We wanted to have everyone talking about it rather than people just finding a leak online. I think the people that want to support us would buy the record anyway. It was exciting to see it go online, it was really overwhelming.

I read that you spent a month living in the studios in Sweden so you could record the new record whenever you got inspiration. What problems occurred during the process and how did you handle being cooped up for that long? 

TS: Being cooped up was difficult, I mean we did go insane really. It was probably quite unhealthy for our mental state. By the end everyone was pretty burnt out and ready to go home. There were lots of problems but there always is. However, they are only real problems if they can’t be fixed. For example, we would spend a whole day tracking guitars and then find out one of the cables had been broken. I had to go and re-track all the guitars the next day. Despite difficulties, we got to make the album the way we wanted it to be.

Not that this had a huge effect on the record but there were a few key things we would be stuck on for ages. One thing that comes to mind was the chorus of ‘Colony Collapse.’ I was desperate to put a melody on it for Sam, trying shit that wouldn't work. It came to one in the morning, we had a few drinks and I just started humming a tune. I went to the studio, played it, hummed along and straight away told Sam to get in there. I hummed him the tune and he went insane. Together, just in five minutes out of one little bit of inspiration we got it sorted. That’s one of my favourite parts. 

When you were recording Hollow Crown I heard a fact that you use a different guitar tuning for each album, has that continued on the last three albums?

TS: No it hasn't. We had to stop eventually it was just inconvenient. We don’t have enough guitars with us on this tour to even have enough strings for each tuning. We just have to try and compromise.

You are one of the few heavy bands that are being backed by BBC Radio 1. Does this put pressure on you and your music at all? What impact do you think it will have on the genre for the future? 

TS: For us it has no impact. When we got played on the radio a few years ago I didn't feel great about it. When Dan Carter and Zane Lowe played ‘Naysayer’ from our new album I thought, it was fucking insane. It’s great that they support it. You only have to look at Bring Me the Horizon, who have radio friendly songs on their new album and look at their success. 

It’s possible that metal as a genre will become more accessible and cater to a wider audience because of radio. The thing is, you have to break past the barrier that a lot of people have with anything that includes screams.

What country was your favourite to visit when filming your documentary 100 days and how did you overcome the pressures and of being out of your comfort zone during the world tour?

TS: China was pretty difficult to be honest. Bali (in Indonesia) was easy to overcome because the next day we had a three day holiday. We just had to get through the show.  If we showed up to Manchester and 20 people showed up I guess we would be over. In a funny way Bali might have been my favourite place to visit. The only person that knew any of the words was my mum who was there bizarrely.

When we landed back in Europe and looked at the ticket sales for our UK tour, the sales were the worst they’d been since 2009. We had always said if it gets bad then we have to call it a day. That was the hardest bit, thinking “Oh fuck no one likes us any more.” Here we are now doing the biggest UK tour we have ever had. 

Are there any superstitions or routines you follow before each show?

TS: There are no superstitions but the only routine we have is the same as a lot of bands have…drinking. I know that’s a terrible thing to say but you get nerves. We have a rider which has a bunch of vegan food which most of the time doesn't end up being vegan. 

We have a little tour TV that we have had for about five years. It travels everywhere with us so we can play FIFA in the dressing room too. 

What are your plans for the rest of this year?

TS: Touring, that’s it really. We are going to America with Letlive in April and that will be great. We have lots of festivals in Europe and we’re doing Reading and Leeds.  

Is there anything else you would like to add or talk about?

TS: Thanks to anyone listening to any of our records even if they hate the new one. It’s an amazing opportunity even if it is ridiculously overwhelming for us all. It’s amazing that we get to do it, so thanks. 

The band's new album 'Lost Forever, Lost Together'  has recently made it to number 16 in the UK album charts. Pick up your copy from their official website or via iTunes. 

Find the interview piece on http://figure8magazine.co.uk/

Horror Housing

There are so many choices when house hunting - what area of town you wish to stay in, living costs and who you want to live with. It makes renting a house one of the most important choices you will have make… at least for a year anyway. However, in all the rush to find a place within budget, did you actually get ripped off?

From previously hidden damp and undiscovered deposits of unknown origin, to serious safety issues, it doesn’t surprise us when we hear housing horror stories from our fellow students. Who, because they are stereotyped to have low standards of living, find themselves taken advantage of by some landlords who will do anything they can to save money, by providing cheap furniture and crappy appliances.

Of course, some of us are just lucky to have a landlord that sorts problems out in a flash. However, after spending some time reading numerous horror house stories online, it seems others are not so lucky.Website StudentBeans surveyed over 2000 students about university living. According to the results, 50% suffered from mould, 37% experienced animal infestation and 8% even admitted their house wasn’t even fitted with a working smoke alarm.

It seems a certain letting agency in Huddersfield, claiming to be ‘The UK’s number 1 letting agent,’ is taking students for a ride. My own personal experience with this company throughout second year didn’t go down well. Problems included a hole in the ceiling above the toilet, a broken freezer and an attempt to charge money to get my bedroom door unlocked when I hadn’t been provided a key. This experience has made me wonder how many other students are being treated unfairly.

David (not his real name) 21, from London, shared the nightmares of his current house with me, stories that other students can probably relate to in some way or another. Currently in his final year at Huddersfield University, he was lucky enough to have had no problems with his previous housing, until now. “We were almost not allowed to move in because the basement living room flooded the night before the move. The pump in the house had failed and we couldn’t use the room.” He continued: “It’s fine now but the lino for the floor wasn’t even thrown out until about a month ago. They haven’t replaced it at all. The lights in the room have all stopped working now too. Someone came along and fixed the pump but that was only just before Christmas.”

To top it all off, it isn’t just the living room that happens to be a problem. He explained: “The hallway ceiling collapsed leaving a big hole due to water damage. Someone has been to the house, screwed a board into it and plastered it so you can’t see the damage. The light in that hallway doesn’t work and the taps upstairs are all leaking too. We have no drawers in the kitchen, broken freezer drawers and no working hoover.”

David has come to the conclusion that the problem could be a lack of communication between the landlord and letting agents. With this, he added: “The letting agents have said that if the landlord hasn’t sent someone then we are supposed to call them so they can send their own contractors. So far, the landlord has done nothing. The letting agents haven’t been to look themselves apart from when they first showed us the house.”

In his second year at Uni, T’Hud editor, Kevin Lawson had his own terrible experience: “I’m a mature student so I live in Huddersfield during the summer too and in the first few days of moving into my new house, I realised there was bed bugs. I told the landlord who was good enough to replace all the beds straight away, but the problem still persisted. After a few more weeks and few hundred bites on my arms, the place had to be fumigated and I had to replace my pillows at my own cost.”

Unfortunately for Kevin and the rest of his housemates the problems didn’t end there. When winter came around, mice started appearing in the house. Again Kevin called his agents who accused the students of being dirty. “The house was pretty much spotless, so we knew it wasn’t that. In the end the problem was only resolved in the final month of our lease, and we were never offered any compensation.”

Jess, 20, is another student that had problems with the same letting agent when moving into her new home. Thankfully she is now living in a different house after going through a separate company. “When looking for a house for our final year of university, we decided it would be best to go with a reputable company. We assumed it would make finding and securing a house as easy and simple for students as possible,” she confessed.

Sadly, things spiralled downhill days before Jess and her housemates were due to move in. Like David, there were problems with money amongst the unexpected. “The letting agents took a bond and deposit from us but said we could pay the rest just before we move in. When we tried to pay the remaining amount, we were told that the house had been let to others that were already living there. We never received an email, phone call or letter that gave the slightest indication that we could not have the house.” She explained: “They refused to give me my £100 bond back as it was ‘against their policy to do so.’ I eventually got it back by contacting regional managers. I would never recommend them now.”

David’s advice is something for fellow students to take into account when house hunting. He told me: “I’d say general advice to students is to be a lot more thorough. As soon as you get into the house ask about the electrics and when they were last checked. It really does make a difference if you know what is going on in the house.”

Price, location and admin fees are all something to consider when house hunting and can make all the difference to your bank balance. If money is low, it might be better to consider a private landlord. There are no middle men involved and you don’t usually have to pay an admin fee.

If any students are having problems with landlords or letting agents they can visit the advice office based in the Student Central building at the University. Alternatively, as previously mentioned in T’HUD, there is the Legal Advice Clinic (LAC) based in the Packhorse shopping centre where students can book appointments. Most importantly when signing a tenancy agreement, always read the small print. That five minutes to read the documents can save you from a whole lot of hassle...

Live Review: Reel Big Fish & Less Than Jake

Support:  Ryland Steen, Zebrahead.
Manchester Academy 3/02/14

It is no surprise that Manchester’s gig sold out in a flash with a co-headline tour consisting of ska punk legends Reel Big Fish and Less Than Jake.

There is a sense of nostalgia as the crowd, ranging from aged 20- something fans to middle-aged punks, enter the venue anticipating the lively night ahead. They are in for an energetic Monday night of skanking and puerile humour. Once more, a friendly ska community returns in hope of an amazing performance.  It really is one of the best line-ups for lovers of ska, punk and entertainment. 

Support surprisingly comes from RBF’s very own Ryland Steen, who takes an interval away from his drum sticks to perform an acoustic set. He is followed by fun-loving Zebrahead, who don’t hesitate to get the crowd chanting songs about beer.

Recognized for their bold sideburns and wacky attire, Reel Big Fish take no time at all to get the crowd enticed. They delve into classics such as ‘I Want Your Girlfriend to Be My Girlfriend’ and ‘Everything Sucks’ within ten minutes of the set. RBF’s live sets are all you would expect to witness and more. The guys on brass succeed in entertaining the crowd with synchronised dance moves whilst frontman Aaron Barrett gives it his all with his tongue-in-cheek lyrics. New trombonist Billy Kottage fits in perfectly and proves a great addition playing animated solos. By this point, the set is well and truly on its way and the crowd are a mass of jumping beans waiting to be let lose. 

Manchester hosts privilege to a ‘special guest appearance’ in the form of hybrid act, Sonic Boom Six. They perform ‘Hiding in My Headphones,’ a song from the band’s hottest record, and reappear prior to the encore for ‘She Has a Girlfriend Now.’  

A predictable, yet nostalgic encore comes in the form of ‘Beer,’ combined with a quirky take on rock band The Offspring’s, very own, ‘Self Esteem’. RBF end on a high with the inevitable cover that is Aha’s ‘Take On Me’, leaving the drenched crowd eagerly awaiting Less Than Jake. 

RBF smash through 13 songs in all. It’s a shame they don’t play the 20 songs they have performed during previous UK dates. Still, after 23 years in music, their live sets still remain a joy to witness and are the reason fans keep returning for more.

Finally, joint-headliners Less Than Jake appear on stage at 9:50, resorting to a later curfew of 11pm. With a catalogue as ongoing as theirs, it is hard to predict which songs they will perform. They play fan favourites ‘Look What Happened’ and ‘History of a Boring Town’ and soon give it their all, playing their strongest tracks; something you’re bound to see during a smaller set.

Notorious for getting enthusiasts on stage to perform acts such as ‘fat dance offs’, LTJ waste no time persuading the only female bouncer in the room to get up and skank. Further into the set, they attempt to get two teenagers from the crowd to kiss for a whole song. It seems people are party pooping on fun tonight, as all three participants do a half arsed dance before hastily getting off stage. 

There’s never a dull moment at a LTJ show. It’s so great to see that after years of touring, they still know how to throw a party. They bring the set to an end with an encore of established, dance-worthy tracks, ‘All My Best Friends Are Metalheads,’ ‘Johnny Quest Thinks We’re Sellouts’ and ‘Gainsville Rock City.’ 

Throughout LTJ’s set, there isn’t a single moment the crowd have their feet on the floor. Fans have nothing but grins on their faces as they leave drenched in sweat and out of breath. The set-list remains short but displays an upbeat, varied and taut show. A Reel Big Fish and Less Than Jake headlining act is probably one of the finest ska line-ups fans could ask for. The memories will stay with devotees for a long time.

Reel Big Fish: Interview

Formed in 1991, Reel Big Fish are renowned for their sarcastic lyrics, wacky outfits and let’s not forget skanking. The band are currently in the UK on a joint headline tour with fellow ska punk band Less Than Jake with support from Zebrahead.

Fans were left shocked in October 2013 when long time trombone player Dan Regan left the band in order to spend more time with his wife and children. After 23 years in the ska music scene, frontman Aaron Barrett remains the only founding member.

I joined Barrett and trombonist Billy Kottage for twenty minutes prior to their gig at the Manchester Academy. There, we covered a range of topics including songwriting, tour life and crazy fans.

How do you go about writing music and who generally takes the lead when it comes to writing new material?

Aaron Barrett: I started the band, so I’ve always written the songs, at least 90% of them. Sometimes I’ll be stuck on a horn line or something, or some other part. I guess I bring in the skeleton of the song to the band and say, “Hey, this is the idea, do your thing.” I don’t just sit down and write songs, I just come up with ideas. They pop into my head, a little tune, some words here and there, and then I just wait to put it together as a whole song. I don’t sit down and noodle on guitar if anything. It’s all in my head; I’m always in my own head.

Despite line-up changes, RBF has been going as a band since 1991. In your experience how much has the industry changed over time?

Aaron Barrett: Oh my God, I compare the way things have changed in the last twenty years to how it must have been when cars were invented. People were riding around in horse and carriages, and then suddenly there were cars.

Billy Kottage: Then there was the internet.

Aaron Barrett: We had radio, recorded music, aeroplanes and spaceships too. I know that it was over a long period of time, all those things I just mentioned. The internet coming along was that important and life-changing for everyone I think. Being there before and after in the music industry and watching the internet just turn everything upside down, that’s crazy.

How did you manage to promote all your work before the internet?

Aaron Barrett: I can’t imagine. We used to have a physical mailing list that we would have at the shows and people would write down their home addresses. I would go to the copy store and make a bunch of little flyers, lick the stamps and write the addresses out because I didn’t have a printer. I would then drive to all the record stores and put flyers in there for the shows. Now it’s just like, Facebook post, we’re playing.
How are things with you Billy, you’ve only been playing with RBF since October haven’t you?

Billy Kottage: Yeah, October-ish.

Aaron Barrett: He has been playing with the band since last January because he’s been playing with one of the bands that have been touring with us.

Billy Kottage: I had been joining them on stage for a year. It has been good. I was with the band Big D for warped tour. When Dan had his baby, I did the first three or four shows just covering for him and doing things for him here and there.

You guys are well known for your cover songs. How do you go about translating a pop song into a ska punk song? How long does the process usually take?

Aaron Barrett: I don’t know, it just kind of makes sense in my head. It’s easy to make any song a ska punk song, for me anyway. That’s my one talent, my gift.

What’s your favourite cover song that you have done? 

Aaron Barrett: We’ve done some really weird ones. We’ve done a few cover songs. I think my favourite is the Oingo Boingo cover, ‘We Close Our Eyes.’ It has a mash up, a dub sounding piece of shit with all these weird noises and stuff in it. It’s awesome. Then we did a cover of a Poison song with this band called Tat. I think that might be my favourite cover song, but those are not really ska punk songs. Those ones are almost impossible to play live. I think ‘Take On Me’ is one of my favourite songs ever. I always like that one. The fact that it became one of our most popular songs and having an excuse to play it live almost every night… I love it.

So, this is your 4th sold out UK date so far. What are you bringing to the table this time around? Can fans expect many surprises? 

Aaron Barrett: Well, we don’t really make plans. We just kind of evolve I guess and do different things, maybe play a few different songs. We will play a few of the newer songs that we didn’t do last time.

Billy Kottage: and a couple of old songs that we always play.

Aaron Barrett: I think that’s why people like us because we’re half always the same and you can count on it and half you don’t know what we’re going to do, unexpected, which is nice. You can count on us to play Beer, Take On Me and Sell Out, you know, all the favourites. You can count on us to surprise you.

What would a person who is attending a RBF concert for the first time expect to experience? I’m guessing a lot of dancing? 

Aaron Barrett: Yes, definitely an outgoing audience, sweaty bodies, writhing, feet flying in the air.

Billy Kottage: Maybe a kick to the head.

Aaron Barrett: Yeah you’ve got to be careful, it gets dangerous. On stage expect a bunch of wacky guys doing wacky things. We’re playing music, jumping around and having a good time. It’s just a party. I think that’s why people like to see us again and again. You can watch the show. We are entertaining if you watch. It’s also fun to dance to. Even if you’re way back at the bar, it’s just good background music for dancing.

How do you feel about people that just watch gigs through their phones? 

Aaron Barrett: That’s another thing that’s changed because I remember before everyone had a phone in their pocket.

Billy Kottage: It’s not really bad if people are taking pictures, maybe even a short video but when they stand right in front of you, the moment is happening right there, it’s live, it’s real. You’re only going to remember that you looked at shitty little images and that’s all you’re ever going to see. That’s just the way it is now, especially with younger kids. That’s just how they see the world.

Have you got any plans whilst you’re in the UK, What have you been up to so far?

Aaron Barrett: I think everybody has terrible jetlag.

Billy Kottage: I woke up at 4 O’clock today.

Aaron Barrett: I think everybody made a mistake. We landed, got on the tour bus and went straight to bed and got onto the worst schedule. We were up all night long.

Billy Kottage: We got on that ferry from Ireland too, where we stayed up till seven in the morning.
Aaron Barrett: Plus everybody has been fighting off a cold for the past month or two, so don’t get too close.

You’ve been on your own record label since 2006. Is there much difference to being signed independently as opposed to a major record label?

Do you have to do a lot more for yourself?

Aaron Barrett: Well, when we were on a major label and things were working for us it was awesome because they had a whole group of people, an advertising department and the radio department. They were getting us played on the radio and putting ads in magazines, so that’s cool. We still have that but on a smaller scale for the record label we’re with now. It’s more of a distribution deal, it’s not like we’ve signed to them. Our deal right now is just, “Hey guys, whatever you record just bring it to us and we will put it out.” Before, we had to ask permission to see if it was a good idea and business choice to put on a new album.

Billy Kottage: There’s no pressure to record.

Aaron Barrett: They understand what kind of band we are and what we’re not.

So do you prefer being independent then?

Aaron Barrett: I do, when it was working for us way back in the 90s in the USA it was really cool to have a major label behind us, pushing and helping us get more exposure. When they didn’t care about us and it was more about working against us, it was holding us back from doing what we knew was right to do. In the early 2000s our label got bought out by another label, Jive Records. That kind of all happened again over here in the UK, which was nice. We had the support of a major label over here that were pushing us. It was good but also very nice to be independent. You get to do things the way you think they should be done. From experience up close we know what our band needs, what are fans are like and what they like.

According to Setlist FM you’re playing 20 songs on this tour. Which are your favourites to play live on the current set-list?

Aaron Barrett: We’re doing 20 songs? That’s crazy. They’re short songs though. I like to play all the songs that make people go crazy. A lot of bands don’t like to play their hits but I love to play them because I love to see the crowd explode and cheering, “YAAAY.” You hear a little guitar riff or a horn part and just start moving. That’s what I like, to see the crowd move and react. A song that’s really fun to play on guitar but makes the crowd stare at you in a fused way is not as fun live.

Billy Kottage:  Aw man, that’s kind of hard.  My favourite Reel Big Fish song to play live is probably ‘She Has a Girlfriend Now’, just because it’s a great song. Usually we will have a guest and if not, Matt will sing it. That’ll be fun. It’s got an awesome trombone solo. We’ve been playing some Forces of Evil songs and there’s a song called ‘Angry Anthem’, I love that song so much. I think it’s probably all the “mother fuckers” parts.

You’re a band renowned for getting a mass of fans to skank to your songs. Besides crazy dance moves, what’s the strangest thing you have witnessed in the crowd whilst playing a gig?

Aaron Barrett: Last year there were some people actually having sex, way off to the side. It was at that college, one of the universities. Two crazy kids getting it on right in front of people, it was very strange. Yeah…that was weird, it’s not like we have the sexiest music or it was the safest place to do it.

Are there any current plans for a new album? Have you been writing much since ‘Candy Coated Fury’ (2012)? 

Aaron Barrett: Well, ‘Candy Coated Fury’ was my ultimate masterpiece so I don’t think I’ll ever write another song again. There are no plans right now; we’ve got too many songs already. Eventually we will probably make a new album. Matt just wrote a little piece of a song that sounds really good.

What is your favourite RBF album?

Aaron Barrett: Definitely the live album, which is my ultimate masterpiece, it’s so awesome. We edited the shit out of it, took all the funniest jokes and put them all together. We overdubbed the crap out of it so it sounds so fake. It’s not even real. That was one awesome show the night we recorded it, bam that was it. ‘Candy Coated Fury’ came out really good and we are happy with the songs.

Billy Kottage: The same for me with the live album. It’s kind of hard to not like it, for me at least anyway.

Aaron Barrett: They’re all good in their own way.

I didn’t realise how much editing it takes for live albums.

Aaron Barrett: Well, I don’t know, I think we over did it more than we really needed to. We had a lot of new band members and we’d been playing a lot. We felt like a better band. It was just an excuse to re-record everything. I mean, it was recorded live but we’ve added extra and doubled the guitars, little things like that. The jokes are all live. Then we did a DVD in 2009 called Live In Concert…what a creative name. The DVD wasn’t overdubbed or anything, it was completely live. It really sounds just as good. We were going through a time for a crazy period in our lives.