Courteeners released their new EP How Good It Was, the title of the EP will feature on the new Album Concrete Love.

Frontman Liam Fray said that following their last album they found it “really difficult” to leave tracks out which is why they have released the EP.

“With ‘Summer’ we were just teasing,” he revealed. “This is the real deal. I had the same feeling with ‘How Good It Was’ that I had with ‘Are You In Love With A Notion?’. As soon as I’d written it, it just felt right. It was a perfect fit straight away.”

Liam Fray has never been one to shy away from his emotions and this EP is no exception to his candid eye for relationships. The opening track ‘How Good It Was’ reminds us of Liam Frays talent to reminisce in an almost exhilarating way that you can’t help but sing along. Any doubts after the earlier release of ‘Summer’ will be quickly disappeared by just how good this is.

Hometown one is yet another catchy tunes with infectious guitar/drum riff combination, a great song but nothing original to make it a stand out. Sunflower however is the biggest surprise of the EP, a stripped down acoustic track which really brings attention to Liam Frays soft and almost folky voice.

No reading between the lines with the last song of the EP Why Are You With Him? Yet another track to follow the theme of past relationships in this EP. When talking about this song Liam said it was about a ‘Good Friend’ of his:

“Why Are You Still With Him was written in New York a few years ago about a good friend of mine. I’m happy to be able to finally give it a good home.”

If this EP is even the slightest reflection of the album then I’m sure we will not be disappointed with Concrete Love which is released August 8th.

Young Guns talk festivals, cruise ships and One Direction with Matt Sheather and I before their gig at The Fleece.

I remember seeing you guys back in 2009 supporting Aiden at Exeter Cavern. You guys have come a long way right?

Yeah I guess so, it’s a long time ago now, 6 years! I remember that was really good fun, we were still working, it was a very last minute tour for us.

In fact that was when you said you had lactose intolerance.

Yeah I was working full time at that point and I had used up all my holiday time so the only way I could tour but still keep a job was to basically come up with an illness. I said I was in hospital for two weeks for lactose intolerance, which I don’t even think is possible, but it worked anyway and I managed to get two weeks off and did the tour.

Did they ever find out?

No, no. My boss was well safe.

Big question, what would you say has been the highlight so far for you guys?

Yeah, big question. Must be recording the first album I guess.

Recording the album Bones in Thailand that was a pretty special five weeks we had. You know like five idiots in paradise recording a record.

And for me achieving childhood goals, getting on the front page of Kerrang!, playing Reading Festival – I grew up down the road from there so being able to do that was a few ticks. Getting an American deal. We have been lucky enough to tick off stuff we thought we’d never be able to do.

Do your 3rd album Ones and Zeros is out later in the year. We’ve heard a couple of songs but how does he album compare to albums 1 and 2?

Well it’s definitely a progression, like a natural progression. We’ve always wanted to push ourselves musically, you feel like you don’t want to repeat yourself and do the same thing, otherwise you just get bored. But I guess essentially it is just a little bit more stripped back. It is not as intense as before. For me we focused more on the groove side of things. I guess as a whole we would like to think that we have progressed and become better songwriters and better musicians.

But essentially it is kind of just really listening to what we love musically. Our music tastes change all the time and I think that it is important to embrace that, to take influences from old and new as well. So for us it is a bunch of things.

I think we have a lot more time on this record. The other two we were quite rushed at times, it was between lots of touring. With the first record we had like four/five weeks to write it. This time we had a bit of time to you know write some of it in New York, and try some stuff out in San Fran, you know I think when we came down to recording all the songs properly we had been able to sit with them for a while. And that way you can get fresh minds.

You want that amount for time, it allows you to reflect on things, like if there was a song that we wrote a year ago perhaps and we think that was kind of cool but there are loads of bits that we want to change. We were able to do that for the first time.

Do you all write together?

I think usually someone sparks and idea. It will be something usually that we have written on the computer while on tour or something. We will all get together and either sit around and build a song or just start jamming it out in a room.

It is nice that there isn’t a formula. I guess it starts off with Fraser and John, they kind of take the foundations of everything. With the nature of how we work everyone has got an opinion. So no matter how little or how much it’s always a group effort to pick out what we like about a song, because that’s how we have always worked really. It takes a little longer to get there but I think at the end none of us will say its finished until all five of us are happy.

We have some songs, like Bones, we wrote that in a day. Even with most of the lyrics and then you have another song that will take a year and half to write. It keeps it fresh. Sometimes it is really fun, some times it is a bloody nightmare. But it is just part of the nature of it.

You’re playing here at The Fleece tonight, it’s a pretty awesome venue. Where is the coolest place you’ve played so far?

Playing on a boat was pretty cool – we went to the Bahamas two years ago. We were on a rock cruise and it was going through the Caribbean. We only played two shows in the week and we got to on this lovely cruise liner with a load of other bands in the Caribbean and just have a laugh. It was random but cool because we have never played a cruise ship before – we’ve also never drunk so much alcohol before either.

You should have seen us after. We were literally like a shell of a human being. All five of us at the end of it were like, we just need a piece of lettuce or something.

Seasick?

It was choppy, and after a five day hangover as well. They are so big you don’t really realize, you are at the bar just drinking and suddenly you are all moving. You are like what is going on. When you get off the ship the fluid in your brain moving, even five days later.

Any plans for a Parahoy style Young Guns cruise?

It is such a great idea, and it seems to be doing better and better each year, and I’ll happily go out on a cruise ship more. I’d hope so.

You’ve got pretty big fan base now. Have you got a name for you fans?

Cool dudes? Well do you know what, we haven’t, but it something we have talked about. It is kind of weird because like, 30 seconds to Mars have the Echelon, which is kind of cool. I don’t know if you abbreviate it you can’t have like the Gunners as they sound like Arsenal fans and that would be hell.

We can’t do that. It’s something we have definitely talked about. Maybe in the future we will. The next time we interview we will think of something. We should let the fans decide, that would be easy, no pressure.

Are you playing any festivals this year?

Yeah, we are doing a few. Y Not festival, 2000trees, T in the Park. There are a couple more we are in talks with at the moment. It’s going to be nice to come and play some festivals again.

Some different ones as well, I am really excited about T in the Park. It is a little bit different to what we are normally used to. We have played I guess all the festivals around rock music, which are still great but this is the first time we are doing something a little but more mainstream. I can’t wait to see the Prodigy as well – they are playing on the same day as us.

If you could headline any festival, what would it be?

It would have to be Reading surely. It’s the festival that we all went to religiously every year as kids. It is the festival that, even before we played as a band, was our dream festival to play. We are not fussed though, anything will do. Glastonbury maybe.

If any of you would be the next Zayn in 1D which one of you would fill the slot?

Si! He would love it.

I think it would be a dream. I think I have dreamt about it every night. Not joking. I think we all would secretly.

Interview led by Matt Sheather

“We are the mods, We are the mods’ chanting from the fans filled the entire 02 Academy in Bristol whilst they waited excitedly for Miles Kane to come to the stage.

Touring the UK to promote his second album ‘Don’t Forget Who You Are’ Miles was greeted with many fans supporting him. Dubbed by many as the new generation of the mods, MIles Kane is far from the quieter co – frontman of the Last Shadow Puppets.

Miles who was sporting a leopard print shirt doesn’t let us down with his wacky and cool choice of clothing, at Glastonbury festival wowing the crowd with a union jack suit –  MIles sure isn’t one to stay safe with his fashion.

Opening with a track from his latest album, ‘Bombshells’  getting the crowd going and teasing them with anticipation for a singalong song. Miles is glowing with passion and a fire in his heart (excuse the pun) to produce a great show and play for us.

The setlist had a really great balance between his first and second album, both very strong albums and full of hits such as ‘Rearrange’ and ‘First of my Kind’. The hits really kicking off the singalong from the crowd, the crowd matching Mile’s energy and really going for it. Sweaty most pits, the lot.

Miles Kane demonstrated his increased confidence both on stage and in his vocals by really engaging with the audience, showing his gratitude by thanking us and encouraging us to sing along with him. ‘Give up’ in particular was filled with Miles really getting the audience going and singing with him, gesturing with his hands and guitar.

MIles finishing his set with ‘Don’t Forget Who You Are’ which brought the whole of the 02 jumping up and down singing word for word. Miles and the band then left after that song leaving the crowd to chant the chorus ‘Come Closer’ knowing he would come back to sing his much loved hit from the first album.

After a few minutes Miles came back on with an acoustic version of ‘Colour of the Trap‘ which got the crowd singing along but also listening and not going mad, showing Mile’s singing talent – it was really nice to just hear the skill in his voice and remind ourselves at how lyrically talented he is. He then ended with the greatly anticipated ‘Come closer’ which was chanted before the encore, the last song of the night which meant the crowd went absolutely mental, making the most of the last song.

Miles Kane definitely put up a fantastic gig – sharp, lively and explosive just like his suits.

08/05/2013 | Great Escape Festival

Myself and Sam Rawlings had the pleasure to catch  Marika Hackman for a chat before she played her set at The Great Escape Festival. Marika talks Influences, her latest EP and what else is in store for the Brighton beauty.

So, how you enjoying Great Escape so far?

MH: Well i’ve only just arrived so I haven’t really been able to get stuck in but erm, I enjoyed sound checking!

Any line up you’re particularly looking forward to seeing? 

MH: I’ve been so bogged down with the studio doing my album so i’ve kind of been sheltered away from life which is really bad and i’m actually going back to London this evening, so I don’t have time to enjoy the rest of the festival.

How’s work on the debut going so far?

MH: Yeah really good, we had 2 weeks and now we have a break then 3 more weeks, hopefully be done by mid june! We’re powering though – got 6 tracks in a couple weeks. Long days but worth it.

What can we expect from the record?

MH: I guess in a way its using more kind of organic sounds maybe more so tow hat I’ve done previously – theres one grungey – nirvana esque riff in it and more drums, live drums in it and guitars. Yeah its kind of more organic, I guess is the right word.

You put it out your EP death Heat earlier this year, have you been happy with the reception from fans and critics? 

MH: Yeah, its really nice. Everyones always really nice about everything, which is really nice. I’ve said nice about 5 times in 2 seconds but yeah i try not to listen too much about what people say anyway cos either tis gonna effect your ego or its gonna dent it. and i would rather get on with focusing on what I’m doing and as long as i like what I’m doing and I’m  happy and proud of it then thats fine.

On the EP there is a psychedelic sort of aesthetic to it. How do you go about recreating that sound live? 

MH: Well i’ve got 2 lovely band members who sort of very very adept in us using technology which I’m not  – so they make lots of samples and things – its all live but they’re live samples. We capture that from the studio and bring that into the stage but also the songs do sound a little different and more stripped back and organic.

Am i right in saying they weren’t originally always with you – you sang by yourself ?

Yeah, we’ve only done one song together.

What made you go in that direction,  bring more people in?

MH: It’s just for the live shows really, to give it more ‘oomph. Ive been touring by myself for 1 years os it since to ring a kind of different show even thug the songs are chaining its nice to give it a bit of ‘oomph’ and if we’re playing at festivals then its nice to have more going on and different crowd. gets a bit lonely out there as well on your own.

Wondering if we could speak a bit about your influences? Your music has got a really contemporary sound to it but at the same time if someone put it on at a party or at a playlist between nick drake or some acoustic zeppelin number or something it wouldn’t sound out of place. How much do you draw from contemporary influences and how much do you look back?

MH: Older bands are stuff i grew up with when my parents played it, like led Zeppelin, I kind of grew up listening to that so i think that wasn’t a conscious decision to listen to those bands and be inspired by them. Recently bands like warpaint and stuff like that. My brother got me into Nirvana and all these little bits just kind of seep in. I also find it quite hard to pin down my influences and I’m also really bad and listening to new music cos i get asked a lot who do i listen too at the moment and I have to be like ‘Erm I don’t know’ cos i don’t have time – when I’m not in a studio or playing shows then i should be writing, and i cant listen to music when I’m wiring. So its actually really hard to find time and just listen to new music.

As a genre often you are put as ‘Nu folk’ is that fitting?

That was sort of around when i was 16 and I would say thats not really a thing anymore, its kind of changed – all artists that were in that genre have changed and i certainly wouldn’t put my sound into that even though i listened to it at the time. It’s a lazy thing to say. I am folky and theres a real folk in the heart of my music but you can’t go calling it ‘Nu folk’ cos i mean its no point calling it anything – it is what it is!

You’re playing Glastonbury, excited?

MH: I’m so excited.  – Its my first time playing there, its my first time going to Glastonbury! first time going to a big festival actually i’ve never been to a big festival

and you’re playing!

MH: I’m staying the whole weekend as its my drummers 21st birthday, i can’t wait!

What stage are you on? For people who want to come see you!

MH: Avalon stage. Saturday – lunchtime.

What else in store?

Latitude, Reading and Leeds. Apart from that its sorting out the album and releasing the album hopefully end of August. Thats the main focus.

Check out Marika on tour this autumn and her EP Deaf Heat is out now.