Hello, what have you been up to today?
Hello, we spent the first half of the day in our studio rehearsing. Then we went into town to look for trousers and ate some cheese and onion pasties.
How did the band get together?
We met through David's wife Hattie. Matt and Hattie both studied Fine Art at Trent. We started hanging out, sharing music and swapping books, then we started playing music together. We were trying to put together atmospheric, soundtrack style pieces in the beginning. Then we started condensing those ideas into 3 or 4 minute pop songs and adding vocals and it became Lono.
Where does the name come from?
It comes from The Curse Of Lono by Hunter S Thompson. He's a writer we are both really excited by and respect a great deal. Lono is the Hawaiian god of fertility and music, like a surfing Aphrodite.
How would you describe the music you make?
Claustrophobic, pounding, paranoid pop music.
Your music is a bit moody, are you both miserable people?
Totally.
You have just put out a limited edition cassette. Why go down this route and not put out the usual download or CD?
While recording earlier in the year we were experimenting a lot with tapes. We both really like the warmth and graininess of tape. And we're also big fans of having something physical when you buy music. Cassettes are great objects to hold and to look at, as well as to listen to. And they're all important aspects of the experience of buying and listening to music. They have download codes too, just in case you sold your tape player.
What have been your favourite shows to play in Nottingham?
We played Dot to Dot in June, that was great. It was really good to play with so many other bands, both from Nottingham and from all around the country. And we had a lot of people come see us which is always good. We played the Wowie Bowie night at the Chameleon last year which was a great idea and amazing fun. We're both huge David Bowie fans and love being given an excuse to dress up and do Bowie covers. Any Hello Thor night is always a joy to play because everyone there is 100% splendid, and those guys put so much effort in. Last year's Hello Gore was no exception, and we got to dress up and play War of the Worlds covers.
Have you had any nightmare performances?
We played a gig in London once when we were still getting to grips with playing live with a backing track. The venue was pretty small so we had to turn right down on stage and we couldnt really hear anything. We had to kind of hope we were playing the right stuff at the right time. Gigs like that help you learn a lot.
David and Matt from I Am Lono
What is going through your head when you are up on stage?
If it's going well, nothing.
What can we expect from your show at One Thoresby Street?
Expect an audio visual cullinary feast. We'll be playing along with Kagoule and Leicester band, We Three And The Death Rattle; there'll be visuals from Kneel Before Zod; DJ sets from Larry Crywater and Fists; 100% splendid Hello Thor people; Gourmet Scotch Eggs, Jam doughnuts and a of barrel of beer.
What other music coming out of Nottingham do you think we should check out?
We're both big fans of Grey Hairs, Kagoule and The Cult of Dom Keller. And we really love the stuff that Hello Thor puts out, like Fists and We Show Up On Radar.
The Nottingham music scene seems to be getting a lot of press at the moment. How much has it changed since you first started gigging and making music in the city?
The great thing about the music scene here at the moment is that everyone seems to be incredibly pro-active in putting on their own nights and events. People are really up for working together and supporting each other. People like Ben at DHP have been really helpful as well by giving local acts support slots with great bands from outside the city.
I Am Lono's next show
What is next for I Am Lono?
We're playing the Branch Out festival on the 28th October, and we're playing a Dark Edge event in November.
What is your earliest musical memory?
Matt: Listening to my Dad's Wishbone Ash records and tapes.
David: Being terrified by War of the Worlds on Christmas Day.
What do you like to do in Nottingham on a night out?
Ale and Chips and Cheese
Any final words for the LeftLion readers?
Please come down to One Thoresby Street this Saturday it's going to be an amazing night, and it's only £4!!
We Three And The Death Rattle, I Am Lono and Kagoule play at One Thoresby Street on Saturday 13 October 2012. Click here for the Facebook event.
Read comments and make your own
Comments