Image credits: Isaac Watson & Artwork by Billie Arnold
4 piece alternative act Novatines, emerged into the rock scene in 2017. Since then the lads recorded their debut album in Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios and the year after that their singles ‘Hate Love’ featured in Classic Rock Magazines ‘Tracks Of The Week’ list. Inspired by older rock legends Led Zeppelin and 90’s grunge powerhouses Nirvana and the Foo Fighters , Novatines have crafted a sound that pays homage to these glorious periods for music. Their latest music video ‘Joyride’ is an off-kilter masterpiece that will have one singing at the top of their lungs.
We chatted with the lads and found that they have a delightfully off-kilter sense of humour as well.
Looking back, what were some of your earliest entries into music appreciation? And music production?
Probably seeing that legendary video of Jimi Hendrix playing at Woodstock… Basically witnessing the coolest human who’s ever lived at one of the greatest shows in history. Plus that white tassel jacket thing that Hendrix wore was a proper statement piece.
Take us through your songwriting process. Are there any particular steps you take when putting music together?
I’ll usually start writing the songs at home, working out the lyrics, melody and chords – and when it gets to a certain point we’ll bring it into the studio and that’s where we start arranging it and giving it the Nova-seasoning. We don’t tend to overwork the writing process… It’s better to just let the song develop as it wants to!
What gets your creative juices flowing?
The smell of gasoline and long walks on the beach at midnight.
As a musician, it becomes apparent that there is a huge difference between the art and the business. Is there anything about the music scene that you would personally change?
Art and business are polar opposites for sure. It’s so weird because the business is essentially numbers focussed, it’s like accountancy on coke (or more coke). But numbers don’t mean zilch to the soul right? So you can look at huge hit songs, albums and artists that have stood the test of time, with music that genuinely touches people in a profound way. But if they were released today, would Spotify really give a fuck? Would A&R Harvey from the major label be banging down doors in order to get a young Bob Dylan on his roster in 2021? It’s unlikely.
I think there are some amazing writers and performers today. But unless the music business starts taking more risks instead of safe bets guided by numbers and stats, we run the risk of stumbling deep into the middle of the fucking road until the end of time. Imagine a world where most festivals are headlined by Coldplay, Ed Sheeran and Dua Lipa… Oh wait…
Studio work and music creation or performing and interacting with a live audience, which do you prefer?
Both! There’s nothing quite like the feeling where you think you’ve written a good one – but when that happens you just can’t wait to show people and to play it live! I guess the writing side is somewhat personal and maybe a little indulgent at times. But live, everyone is there for the same reason, and there’s no better feeling on the planet than the shared experience of a great show! Just talking about it gets me all tingly and weak at the knees…
What is the most memorable response you have had to your music?
We were sound-checking at a venue years ago. The venue does burgers and whatever during the afternoon, and a random woman came up to us mid soundcheck for a show we were headlining and asked us to stop playing because she was trying to eat her dinner at a music venue… Us being the obnoxious little gremlins we are decided to do the soundcheck louder and even dedicated the whole thing to her – she never did thank us for that…
What’s on your current playlist?
How to listen to music – a self-help guide
Demob Happy
Led Zeppelin
Foo Fighters
Nirvana
Queens of The Stone Age
King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard
Psychedelic Porn Crumpets
The Beegees
And many more
Breakdown the news for us: what can we expect from you in the near future?
Music
Shows
More music
More shows
1 interpretive dance tour
2 turtle Doves
Alan Partridge in a pear tree
Famous last words?
It’s just only a fart.
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