Paul Liddell – July 2010

Paul Liddell interview – July 2010

Firstly thank you for doing this interview for Never Enough Notes, we heard you were playing The Secret Garden Party this month, what attracted to you to playing this great little festival?

Thank you for interviewing me! I’d heard lots of good things about the festival, so when the opportunity to play came up I jumped at the chance like an excited puppy.

I have had the great pleasure of listening to your latest EP, ‘Help Yourself Float’, what would you say was the inspiration behind it?

The songs on the EP are all about different things. Inspiration for songs comes form lots of different sources, I just try and make sense of it and turn it into something that sounds good.

I couldn’t help but notice the slight Americana sound to your music and voice, what US artist/bands influence you most?

I don’t think there is an Americana influence, particularly as I’m singing in a Northern English accent and not an American one! I do love some American bands though, most notably Pearl Jam. Stylistically the music is quite different to PJ, but in terms of attitude and lyrical content there is definitely a direct influence. I also obsessed over Nirvana for many years.

My favourite song on the EP has to be ‘Trouble in Hell’, such emotion, is it about anyone in particular?

That’s my favourite too. Thanks! It is about somebody in particular, but I’d rather not say in case I get into trouble over it! I also like people to be able to draw their own conclusions, so I don’t want to spoil it for anyone.

You have been on the gigging circuit for a few years now, do you have any favourite cities or venues you like to play or remember playing?

There are lots of nice gigs that I go back to time and time again. High Barn in Essex, Acoustic Club in Herts, The Ent Shed in Bedford, Georgian Theatre in Teeside…too many to mention all of them. I’ve been really lucky to meet some great people while gigging in the UK, and it’s like going back to visit your friends rather than just playing a gig a lot of the time. I love it.

Playing with the likes of Karine Polwart, Billy Bragg, Beth Rowley and many more, who has been the best band/artist you have shared a stage with and why?

I played on the same bill as Florence and the Machine last year at Hull Freedom Festival, that was quite a big stage, and a really enjoyable experience. I also supported Nick Harper recently, he was superb, and it was nice to be in the presence of genius, albeit briefly. Miles Hunt from The Wonder Stuff has always been one of my favourite writers, so gigging with him was great too.

I see your signed to London based label 360 Degree Music, how did that come about?

We met while I was gigging in London, and things just seemed to work out. They are nice guys first and foremost, and I enjoy working with them.

With some of your songs being used in TV shows/adverts, Brighter Lights springs to mind, is composition for Media something you would like to do more of?

It is. It’s not my main focus at the moment, I’m writing songs to record and perform primarily, but it is something I wouldn’t mind doing a bit of in future.

Have there been any bands/artists of late that you thought were great and deserve a mention?

Nope, sorry! I’m a bit stuck in the past I’m afraid!

What are your future plans, new release? Tour/Gigs?

I’m putting together songs for a new album at the moment. I gig pretty much all of the time, it’s like a neverending tour. I’m playing about 20 gigs a moth on average at the moment, so that’s taking up a lot of my time.

And finally…if you were to sum up yourself in 3 words, they would be?

Boy sings songs.

You can get a free download of Paul Liddell HERE and Paul’s store is located HERE

Also at all good digital store.

Interview courtesy of Pete/NEN

360 and pals LIVE In 2009

The first gig of the year took place at Proud Galleries in Camden, I can still recall the walk from the tube station to the Lock, on a freezing cold evening when I saw just one person on my way to the gig. Camden a ghost town? It really was that night, but forty or so brave souls showed up to see Krakatoa play a set that soon warmed the crowd up.

Fast forward three and a half months to a beautiful spring day in April. 360 Degree Music are hosting the Camden Crawl at Tommy Flynn’s, a hostelry situated between Mornington Crescent and Camden stations. Actually, it’s the Camden Trawl, as the venue is not officially part of the Crawl, but that doesn’t stop us from having bigger crowds than many of the official venues.

Thirteen bands play in twelve hours, everyone goes on at the scheduled time, there are only three minor skirmishes, no ones head gets busted, and stars of the day are Krakatoa, (yes it’s them again, and this time they are headlining this extravaganza); The Supernovas, (a storming set that wins the best reception of the day on their North London home turf); Rum Shebeen, (proving once again what a great band they are, but why only one single in three years?); a wonderful debut set by Savants; Reader’s Wives’ London debut, which is a totally assured, singalong affair; a rollicking, Beatlesque, Motown meets the modern age set by Inwits; and a sparse solo performance from Paul Liddell, which wins plaudits from journalist Gavin Martin.

Stroll On’s remarkable residency at central London’s The Social provided several highlights of the year, with The Metros’ penultimate gig in March, which drew a sellout crowd by 9.30; Mozzy Green’s beautiful intensity enrapturing the audience in April, and an astonishing aural barrage/sonic symphony from Screaming Tea Party in June. Later in the year, Gringo Star ,The Supernovas and Yves Klein Blue gave garland winning performances on a glorious night in November.

Also in November, Reader’s Wives returned to London with storming sets at two packed-to-the-rafters gigs at Peter Parker’s in old Tin Pan Alley, and Tommy Flynn’s (I see a theme developing here…). The same week bore witness to three shows from Sweden’s psychsters Mono Stereo, who played a fine show at Kentish Town’s Flowerpot, and an absolute stormer supporting Violens at Proud Galleries.

Upon returning to Dublin, Reader’s Wives played a launch show, in support of their ‘Secrecy & Sex’ EP, at Dublin’s stunning Odessa Club. Contraceptives were dispatched into the crowd from the stage, people drank and danced, and a jolly good time was had by all. Support band Mozzy Green were disappointed with their own performance, but they were the only ones, and they received a warm reception from a very warm and appreciative audience (that’s Dublin for ya!).

Talking of Dublin, Krakatoa and The Supernovas both visited the fair city in July for their debut Irish shows, both winning many fans and compliments. Both bands also followed their return to London with single launches, Krakatoa selling out the Legion on a warm July night, and The Supernovas repeating the feat in a sweaty night at The Social at the beginning of August.

Oh, did I mention that Krakatoa played 18 gigs in 18 nights, supporting Alabama 3 on a trek that took in the length and breadth of the country. And Gaoler’s Daughter and The Supernovas playing high profile support slots with Babyshambles?

2009’s live activity ends with a show at the Stroll On Christmas party, at Hoxton Bar & Kitchen on Monday 22^nd December. Krakatoa, The Supernovas and Inwits will all play – IT’S GONNA GO OFF!