| All That I Need by JoeDanks |
Hello, how are you?
Good, above average.
How would you describe your music?
Folkesque Pop. Not ashamed of it being poppy! Hopefully people can engage with it, the lyrics are all genuine and about things that happened to me. Just trying to find common ground with listeners.
What was your first thought when you found out you were going through to the Future Sound of Nottingham final?
Crikey, me? Really couldn't believe it.
You get to play at Rock City, pretty awesome right?
Mental, just to think of all the artists/bands that I love who've stormed it up on that stage is overwhelming.
What can we expect from your set at Rock City?
A mixture of raucous dancy folk and me getting all emotional haha. Some tracks are really jolly but some are definitely less so. It’s my first gig with a full band so its me, a fiddle, double bass and percussionist so who knows!? Hopefully people will dance and get in the spirit, even though its really different to the other bands.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever seen at Rock City?
Tough one, probably seen my favourite gigs in Rescue Rooms (Captain Beefhearts Magic Band, Wild Beasts), but of the people i've seen at ‘City its a close split between LetLive, Enter Shikari, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs or Friendly Fires. Really not a massive Friendly Fires fan but they turned that place into a massive party, it was fantastic. The LetLive frontman is amazing as well, managed to get a wall of death for the first support act. Insane.
Why did you decided to enter the FSN competition?
Just to get exposure and get my music heard really. The more people I can share my songs with the better!
What was it like to play in the Market Square in the semi-final?
Really cool, although there was a massive downpour just before we went on which scared a lot of folk away. My grandma enjoyed it though! Had a great time.
Why do you think you should open the main stage at Splendour?
I think my music is perfect for a sunny summers day whilst sipping a beer, not too scary or loud. Just think it would be a really nice and gentle start to proceedings.
How long have you been playing and making music?
All my life, my parents are in a band and i was on tour with them from inside the womb, so I've just grown up with it and have always been in bands. In terms of singer songwriter stuff, I've been writing for years and years, but started trying to get gigs around February time.
What is going through your head when you are up on stage?
Normally something to do with the guitar sound or something mundane, nothing too exciting, I'm afraid. It's all about concentration as well, remembering the structure of the songs and stuff. I do like picking individual people out in the crowd, trying to see if people are listening and engaging and stuff.
What other local bands and musicians do you like?
Can't not mention my parents band The Wholesome Fish, and my hardcore punk band Carcass Fit For Hounds. But bias aside its got to be people like Hot Japanese Girl, Alright The Captain (who blew my mind in The Chameleon), Georgie Rose and Kappa Gamma. Really into OrigamiBiro who do all this visual camera work stuff on stage as well as the music. I saw them in The Contemporary and it was like some kind of trippy, out of body experience.
What do you like to do on a night out in Nottingham?
Well, as I’m 16 nights on the town only ever come about seeing a band. So that. But just as the weather picked up last week went down to the River with a couple of mates and had a really cool night talking bullshit round the fire. Great to get your head straight. I love fishing, so i do that probably once a week at the moment. Sorry, not very rock and roll.
What is your earliest musical memory?
Playing drums and hitting stuff whilst my parents were jamming away with their mates in the back room. I'll also never forget hearing Led Zeps IV for the first time. Absolutely life changing.
How can people find out more about you?
Basically any social network. Twitter, Facebook, Soundcloud and Reverbnation. You can also get my single, All That I Need on iTunes.
Any final words for the LeftLion readers?
Take some time out to stand and watch and stop thinking about what you're doing and just look around. There are some amazing places and people in Nottingham if you just take the time out to find them. Also, ALWAYS buy your music at Robs Records on Hurts Yard, we gotta keep these places alive and its just got a magic atmosphere.
Joe Danks plays the Future Sound of Nottingham Final at Rock City on Sunday 17 June 2012.
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