Speak Easy Circus Interview 14/02/2021
MM: Can you tell us about your Band and whos your biggest influences
We are Speak Easy Circus, we are an experimental indie/funk band from the East End of Glasgow.
Me (Jack) - Guitar/vocals/keys
Jon - Sax/Keys
Frazer - Drums
Chats - Bass
We all have very different musical tastes as we all come from different musical backgrounds, and we try to combine those influences in our music. This includes indie rock music like Arctic Monkeys or Arcade Fire, jazz acts like Bob Reynolds and Snarky Puppy, or funk bands like Vulfpeck.
MM: Where do you draw your inspirations and ideas from
Our musical inspiration comes from many different places, and we always try to incorporate elements of jazz, funk, soul, rock etc into our music. Lyrically Most of the songs are written about things that I have experienced or observed. For example the inspiration for our latest single ‘Lions Should Hunt’ came after I saw an advert featuring a busty blonde model seductively selling something and I was annoyed that this was what people thought would be an effective advertising technique, and annoyed by the fact that it probably was effective! I took that further to think about how men are taught to think about sex, the effect that concepts of masculinity have on us etc. It all sounds very serious or preachy but we try to make sure it isn’t! I think that it is important to discuss these topics but that doesn’t mean that you can’t do it in a tongue-in-cheek way.
MM: What would you say is your Bands favourite song ?
Our favourite collective band song is ‘Renegade Master’, because it is a great song. Our favourite song of ours is ‘Lions Should Hunt’, or most recent song (plug-plug-plug)
MM: Plans tour and festival wise for 2020
Coronavirus has unfortunately ruined many musicians plans, but fingers crossed we can get some tours and festivals for 2021!
MM: What can we expect from (Band Name) live
We are heavily influenced by jazz/soul/funk, music which involves a strong element of improvisation, so this is something we try to incorporate. Our live show includes jams, extended solos etc. It makes it a lot of fun for us and gives us the opportunity to challenge ourselves on stage. Combined with our high energy performance it makes for an exhilarating show.
MM: What do you like best and worst abt touring
We are still a relatively new band and due to coronavirus haven’t had the opportunity to tour much as a group. That being said our previous experiences in bands have resulted in the useful positives and negatives: meeting new people and seeing new places, playing to new crowds every night, then also having to wait around a lot, a lot of traveling etc.
MM: Which three Bands would be your ultimate touring buddies
Vulfpeck, Jack White, Snarky Puppy - All amazing acts and we are pretty sure that fans of those acts would also enjoy our music.
MM: What's the most memorable concert you've been to (other than your own) and why.
Seeing Kendrick Lamar in Glasgow was an amazing experience, it was a huge show in the Hydro and he made it such an intimate experience which was amazing.
MM: What do you feel has been your biggest accomplishment so far with
We are still a relatively new band, and to be honest the biggest sense of accomplishment I have had so far is just seeing our music on Spotify for the first time. Might not seem like a lot now, but the whole first EP was recorded and produced entirely by ourselves in my bedroom when we had no idea what we were doing, so to actually create something that existed in the world was amazing.
MM: Which are your Two favourite Albums of all time
“Appetite for Destruction” because that was the album that made me want to play the guitar. And “Bon Iver”, Bon Iver’s second album, just an amazingly written album that I listened to all the way through secondary school.
MM: Can you remember the first time you ever played live and how it felt to have people watching you?
The first time people watched me play live was probably doing an open mic night. I was incredibly nervous and I remember I could barely stand because my knees were shaking so much. It is something you quickly get used to though and soon I couldn’t get enough of the feeling of playing live.
MM: Growing up which Bands posters did you have on your bedroom wall.
Slash, Metallica, Bon Iver, Angus Young, Blink 182, Iron Maiden - a typical rock and metal teenage wall!
MM - Who do you think influenced the world of Metal / Rock more than any other person
If I had to pick one it would probably be Metallica. An amazing metal band that really brought rock into the mainstream.
MM - What's the most important thing to the band right now?
The most important thing right now is just staying creative throughout the many lockdowns we have had, continuing to work on music and keep growing despite the current situation.
MM:If you could do a cover of any song which one would it be and why?
I would do a cover of Gypsy Woman (She’s Homeless) by Crystal Waters. It is an amazing song and it would be great to cover a song that isn’t in the same style as the band. I think we could work out an amazing horn arrangement for that song.
MM: Tell us why we should buy and listen to your Band
I think people should check us out because we do our best to sound a bit different. We are always trying to bring together all of our different influences in new and exciting ways, all tied together with socially conscious lyrics. All of our songs sound very different, from singer/songwriter ballads to out and out disco bangers.
MM: Four words to describe (band Name)
Eclectic, exciting, unique, entertaining
Final Words for your fans and our readers
Check out ‘Lions Should Hunt’ on all streaming platforms! And stay safe out there, hope to see everyone at some point in 2021!
