Young indie rockers on being in a band and plans for the future...
When did the band form?
Herbie: Jonathan and I have known each other since primary school, but we weren’t initially the best of friends. But then in secondary school we both played guitar, so this meant we ended up in some pretty rubbish school bands together. For example, I played the keyboard over Skype instead of all meeting up, looking back on it, I must say it was pretty awful. When we got a bit older we started writing some music, leading up to about a year and a half ago, when we made Super Furniture.
What are your roles within the band?
Jonathan: Herbie is the guitarist, singer and songwriter.
Herbie: Jonathan is the guitarist, backing singer, and songwriter. Will is the bass player, and Sam is the drummer with the sweets beats.
Do you write your own songs and where did you get your inspiration?
Herbie: Me and Jonathan have a joint effort the writing the songs.
Jonathan: It just kind of flows.
Herbie: A song I felt real inspiration for was our debut single Vultures, I wrote it while in France last year when I was over there camping. I just found it a really good environment for clear peaceful thinking and creativity, just working somewhere out of the ordinary. Jonathan then wrote the main guitar parts, and then we put them together creating Vultures.
Jonathan: When writing Discontent, I was inspired mainly by emotion, it may not sound much but working basically 9 until 5 at the age of 15 really made me feel pretty sad, it just didn’t feel right.
How often do you perform? Is there a gig that stands out as your best?
Herbie: Quite regularly, I'd say once a week, as much as we can really.
Jonathan: More recently they’re all becoming really good gigs. However I’d have to say recently I’ve really enjoyed Spanky Van Dyke's In Nottingham, purely because I just connected with the instrument and the music, sometimes you just feel energised. A real 'feel good' experience.
How has being part of the band developed you?
Sam: Well, previously playing mostly jazz in a gig setting, playing alternative indie rock has been great. It’s given me a lot of experience gigging that I’d never had before.
Who is your musical influence and who do you aspire to be most like?
Jonathan: Currently John Frusciante from the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, now he’s going solo he’s producing some amazing stuff, he doesn’t over complicate things, and he’s just a solid guitar player.
Herbie: Brett Mackenzie from Flight of the Concords is pretty awesome, he’s great at writing music and he’s just very funny.
Have you taken part in any competitions as a band? What has been your best musical achievement together?
Herbie: Yes, first of all we entered Noise from the Next Generation, and winning that meant we could go to the Future Sound of Nottingham and play at Rock city, and amazingly we won, giving us the incredible opportunity to open the main stage at Splendour 2016. I’ve got to say it Rock City was truly a great experience, that we won’t forget. It’s mind blowing to think of all the great names that have played on that same stage.
Do still get nervous before each performance?
Jonathan: Nah, just hyped.
Herbie: Sometimes but it just depends
When and where did your passion for music begin?
Jonathan: When I was eleven my dad bought me my first guitar from a tip for 5 pounds, and then I learnt my first chords and I was like yeah chords, I like this. At the time I was listening to a lot of Metallica and heavy metal, so I was thinking that was what I wanted to play. More recently I started listening to progressive stuff and more alternative things a couple of years ago and I thought, this is where it’s at.
Which of your songs are you most proud of and why?
Herbie: At the moment Coloured in Smiles is the best that we’ve released technically.
Sam: Yes, technically that’s definitely our best.
Where do you see yourself a year from now?
Herbie: We will be releasing an album.
Jonathan: A ten track album.
Super Furniture play Southbank Bar on 7 September, Rough Trade on 14 September and Hockley Hustle on 8 October 2017.
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