An Interview with Some Skeletons
Ahead of the release of Some Skeletons 2nd E.P and their first UK tour, MoR wanted to catch up with the musicians who make up this compelling alt-rock band.
www.someskeletons.com | www.facebook.com/someskeletons | @someskeletons
MoR:- ‘And Signs & Ampersands’ expands on your previous releases, what can fans new and old expect from this E.P?
Aidan:- I think this EP is pretty epic and grand in scope. The first EP was pretty fast and short, whereas this one is slower paced and more expansive.
Adam:- Like Kypes it has some fairly intricate vocals and crunching riffs…but in my opinion its bigger, better and more interesting.
Judas:- More vocal harmonies than I thought physically possible.
Simon:- There's a bit more of everything - louds, quiets, harmonies, riffs. New listeners will just have to trust that there was less of each of those things last time.
MoR:- What are you most excited about with this release?
Aidan:- Everything! We've put a lot of work into it, and it'll be a relief for it to be released, and I'm just interested to see what people make of it, good or bad.
Adam:- Seeing new bands, meeting new friends and totally acting the goat on tour. I’m still not entirely sure what ‘acting the goat’ means, but I am determined to find out.
Judas:- Just other people hearing it, I think. I was pretty humbled by how many people seem to latch onto the first EP, and the same people seem to be keen to hear the next one too.
Simon:- People hearing all of our hard work! To be able to go on tour next week, with a finished record and looking forward to its release in December is very exciting indeed.
MoR:- The E.P’s title is quirky and intriguing, is there a greater meaning behind it?
Aidan:- Not especially. There's an evasive quality to our band and this title somehow chimes with that. It also makes me think of things never ending, which is appropriate to the EP as a lot of the lyrics are about continual struggles that you'll probably never win.
Adam:- It suggests something infinite and indefinable which I know appealed to us because it contrasts with the nature of many of the lyrics on the EP.
Simon:- I think we've just about managed to contrive one.
MoR:- Your vocals are arguably the most standout feature of the band, how do you go about writing and structuring these?
Aidan:- We try not to overthink it really; theres only so many notes you can sing so we just play around until we find what we like and what works. I hope what we come up serves the song well, which is the same as any part I guess, vocals or not.
Adam:- Simon takes the best part of a decade to write a line of lyrics…but it tends to be worth the wait! Structuring and writing the harmonies usually involves me, Simon and Aidan and is done when we have rough demos of the music.
Judas:- I have a well-defined process of letting the others do it while I work out which cymbal to hit in the chorus and whether the kick drum should go on beat two or beat three.
Simon:- We have boyband-like practices round an acoustic guitar where we painstakingly arrange words taken from car insurance letters. Then when we record it turns out we can't remember who's supposed to do what and record a million different parts "just in case".
MoR:- Your previous releases have made way for some incredible videos, can people expect more of the same through this release?
Aidan:- Hopefully! We've had some amazing help from our buddies Holomax with the Throats video from the last EP and the teasers for this release, but we'll be careful not to repeat ourselves.
Adam:- Yes, definitely. Possibly with us acting the goat or with actual goats.
Judas:- The idea wheels are definitely turning, it just depends on what comes to fruition. And whether the things that come to fruition turn out to be any good or not, obviously.
Simon:- We have a shortlist of ideas...
MoR:- You are going on your first tour in a couple of weeks, are you looking forward to hitting the road?
Aidan:- Yep it's going to great to go on tour. We're really excited to play in new places, hopefully meet lots of new people and hopefully not hate one another by the end of it!
Adam:- TOTALLY! We have never been on tour before and are very excited. See above comments about goats.
Judas:- Yes, definitely. It’s going to be a lot of fun playing in so many different places and spending a week and a half annoying the hell out of the others. I have been saving up my awful jokes especially.
Simon:- Yes, very much. We’ve just checked whether everything fits in the van and it does.
MoR:- Finally and randomly; if you had an opportunity to share a stage with anyone, who would it be and why?
Aidan:- Probably Trent Reznor off the top of my head. I love the aesthetic and detail in everything he does. Trail of Dead would be a lot of fun too, just making loud noises and shouting in a melodic fashion.
Adam:- Hmmmm…good question. Probably the Smashing Pumpkins on their tour of Siamese Dream, because it’s the greatest album ever and I would get to watch them play it!
Judas:- Death Cab for Cutie or circa-2001 Muse. Because they are/were both awesome.
Simon:- ZingZillas, to help out with the Big Zing.
Some Skeletons release their 2nd E.P ‘And Signs & Ampersands’ on the 15th December 2012 (just in time for that annual santa celebration) and are on tour from the 24th of November to the 1st of December - keep up to date with them through the usual methods listed below.
www.someskeletons.com | www.facebook.com/someskeletons | @someskeletons
