#elly watson

[cultofpoppy-tm]

DIY Magazine's February 2020 issue features a chat with Poppy by Elly Watson. 📸: Phil Knott

Order the print issue: diymagazine.com

@diymagazine

[cultofpoppy-tm]

From YouTube sensation to metal’s newest talent, Poppy is breaking away from her previous confines, and she’s not doing it quietly...

DIY Magazine online version of the artist interview

Words: Elly Watson, Photos: Phil Knott

[cubmagazine]

Review: Graham Coxon at Roundhouse, August 2nd

Forget how many times you’ve listened to Daman Albarn’s ‘Everyday Robots’ in the last few months and forget what type of cheese Alex James is trying to make right at this very moment; Graham Coxon is the member of Blur that you really should be backing.

With eight albums under his belt, having released his last album A+E in 2012, Coxon clearly has everything it takes to captivate a crowd, and he certainly didn’t disappoint at his show at Roundhouse in Camden last week.

Playing an epic thirty track set, the night was divided into two acts. The first act showed Coxon’s talent as a songwriter with an intimate and beautiful acoustic set. Sure, not all the notes were pitch perfect, but that didn’t matter. Coxon drew you in so that you felt like he was playing to you personally, not to the thousand strong crowd. It was also a great opportunity to see Coxon’s sweet personality through the many nervous and “adorkable”anecdotes that he joked about between songs. In conclusion, it was the exact opposite to what the second act was like.

After a fifteen minute break, the acoustic guitar was tossed aside and Coxon showed exactly why he is seen as one of the best rock guitarists around. To be honest, it was a bit of a shock. After an hour of gorgeous sway-a-long songs, the wall of sound that erupted when Coxon reemerged on stage was something else. It was pure rock music - loud, raw and unreserved. Pretty much everything you would expect from one of the biggest Britpop icons ever. The first three songs were almost indistinguishable from the fact that they were so unexpectedly loud and aggressive, but as Coxon rolled and thrashed around on the stage, the audience couldn’t help but lap up every single minute of the exciting set.

It was a classic Graham Coxon gig. Beautiful songs, crazy guitar skills and something for everybody. As The Telegraph rightly pointed out, Coxon is almost the Jekyll and Hyde of music with talent in both the singer-songwriter genre and the ability to be a full out rockstar. It was a great evening with everyone leaving with a smile on their face, despite the lack of encore or the rumoured Blur reunion that people had hoped might happen. But Blur or no Blur, Coxon is without a doubt one of the best musicians around at the moment and can command a stage like the best of them, so it would be wrong to still refer to him as the “nerdy guitarist from that band”and not as the accomplished frontman he really is.

[cubmagazine]

10 Helpful Tips If You're Going to iTunes Festival This Year

If you’re one of the chosen few who is lucky enough to go to iTunes Festival this year, here are some helpful tips to make you have one of the least stressful and most fun nights of your life.

Apply for everything, even if it's not especially your cup of tea.One of the best things about iTunes Festival is that there’s something for everyone, so you could end up with tickets for someone who wasn’t exactly top of your list. However, the atmosphere at Roundhouse is worth its weight in gold and there’s nothing that a couple of pints and spotting a celebrity can’t fix. So apply for it all, you’ll probably end up being pleasantly surprised.

Bring cash. Roundhouse do not accept card, no matter how lovingly you bat your eyelashes at the bar tender. There are ATM’s in the building, but they do charge. So bring money with you or get some out before at the Sainsbury’s across the street.

Scope out the queue. It’s iTunes Festival, the crowd is going to be fucking huge. Actually, let’s rephrase that - the queue is going to be fucking huge. If it’s a band you really like, get a few queue beers and make some friends. If you’re not too fussed, head out to a bar in Camden or to Nandos and wait for the die hard fans to move on so you can just swoop in later.

Pace yourself. There’s no point in going to see a gig if you’re not going to be able to remember it the morning after, so pace yourself. Put that tenth beer down and dance it off. Also, throwing up in front of three thousand people is not a good look.

Don’t be a dick to the volunteers. Basically everyone who works at Roundhouse is a volunteer, so they are normal people who are there to have a good time and because they want to be. This means that you should be nice to them and not act like a prick. Have a conversation and have a laugh and they will be helpful and lovely. Yell at them and they’ll send you to the furthest away toilets and not tell you where the after party is.

Keep your ticket on you. What? Keep your ticket on you? Shocking, I know, but many seem to drop it as soon as they walk through the door and shrug awkwardly when asked for it again. Every time you go out for a smoke or to pee you will need your ticket to get back in, so wear something with pockets or keep your bag with your ticket on you at all times.

Check where the nearest toilets and bars are. Three thousand drunk people using one toilet is not going to end well, same goes with the bars. So check where the nearest ones are to you. There are toilets and a bar in the Main Space and on every floor, so have a look around for which ones will be least likely to have a massive queue.

Wear sensible shoes. You will be standing and you will be dancing so don’t wear shoes that will slowly destroy your soul throughout the night. Also, a sensible shoe will allow you to outrun many people to get the last tube home. Ps, nearest tubes are Chalk Farm and Camden Town.

Try not to fangirl the fuck out. There will be celebrities everywhere. It’s iTunes Festival, there always is. Try to play it cool and you’re more likely to make them fall in love with you, or at least talk to you. Then you’re free to run quickly to the toilet to scream and cry.

Have fun! You got a ticket, you got dressed up and now you’re watching one of your favourite bands per form, so make the most of it. Have a dance, sing your heart out and Instagram the shit out of the beautiful Roundhouse venue to make all your mates jealous.

[cubmagazine]

CUB Q&A: Wolf Alice

Branded as one of CUB's ones to watch at Bestival, we were lucky enough to secure an interview with Wolf Alice's Ellie Rowsell to find out what they've been up to. Formed in 2010, Wolf Alice are a four-piece alternative rock band from North London, consisting of Ellie Rowsell, Joel Amey, Joff Oddie and Theo Ellis.

1) Tell us a little bit about your latest EP Creature Songs and, for those who haven’t heard it, what they can expect from it. 

It was recorded in 5 days with producer Catherine Marks. It was one of our most enjoyable experiences as a band. It went pretty smoothly and we were at an incredible studio called ICP in Brussels where everyone is really quite lovely. We've described the two sides of the EP as the party and the hangover which I think is quite suitable.

2) What were your influences when writing Creature Songs and how does it differ from your 2013 debut EP Blush?

We had a lot of different influences. Lyrically it was less personal, Moaning Lisa Smile is about Lisa Simpson; Heavenly Creatures is about the film under the same name; and We're Not The Same is a made up story about two friends. Musically, I think our influences are kinda the same as the Blush EP but we have hopefully progressed since then and have more freedom to experiment having had the previous experience in the recording studio.

3) You've been compared to Hole and the XX, but how would you personally describe your sound?

Varied, distorted pop music; I guess playing guitar music with female vocals might remind people of Hole but I personally don’t think we sound alike. The XX probably comes from the way both Joel and I sing which is quite whispery but I don’t think we are influenced by them either.

4) What can we expect to hear from Wolf Alice in the coming months? 

We are waiting to go and record our debut album which we are very eager to do. We are still doing the festival circuit, though, so we are pretty busy so I'm not sure at the moment. We'll have to wait and see.

5) As a relatively new band coming from London, you've managed to make an excellent name for yourself. Are there any bands that you are listening to at the moment that you think deserve the same credit?

I still maintain that Parlour are one of the best bands from London at the moment. I really love their sound but you have to go see them live as they don’t have much online. We love Bloody Knees from Cambridge cos they have incredible energy and killer hardcore pop songs. Marika Hackman is pretty special and I'm in to Happyness who have just released their debut album, which is cool.

6) You're lined up to support The Libertines in their reunion show at Hyde Park as well as playing at many festivals, Glastonbury and Reading / Leeds included; who are you most looking forward to seeing and who are you most excited to play alongside? 

I really wanted to see Lana Del Rey at Glastonbury but we clashed with her unfortunately. Reading and Leeds will be amazing; we love Paramore and Queens of the Stone Age.

7) What do you think makes a great festival; is the line-up or atmosphere more important?

With so many festivals around at the moment the atmosphere is really important to stand out. We played Secret Garden Party and although there was no one I wanted to see it was great because the atmosphere was incredible and the site was beautiful. However, I don't think you can charge the price you pay if there isn't a good line up.

8) In December 2013 BBC 6 Music chose you guys as the single most blogged about band that year; how do you think social media has impacted your success?

I would like to think we would be successful regardless of social media but, yes, it has definitely helped us; we have always played live and that’s just as important too, especially for guitar bands.

  Wolf Alice's second EP, Creature Songs, was released in May. Download it here: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/creature-songs-ep/id859015269 

[cubmagazine]

CUB Q&A: The Dancing Years

Before Dancing Years performed at Roundhouse, CUB were able to sit down with Joe ‘Monty’ Montague (drums), Joe Lawrenson (piano) and Dan Fielding (guitar) and have a chat about their new single and what they’ve been up to.

CUB: So how did you all meet?

Joe: Most of us went to school together but we picked up Dom, the violinist, when I went to Cardiff Uni. So a mixture of high school and Uni, and also through the Leeds music scene.

CUB: What’s the Leeds music scene like at the moment? Are there any bands that you are enjoying listening to?

Joe: Paul Thomas Saunders, he’s a good one. Sam Airey too. Monty: We’re also on a little label called Hide & Seek, who are amazing. Joe: Yeah, they’re really good. They’ve got another band, who are not similar to us at all but equally good, called Post War Glamour Girls. Monty: Oh, also a guy called Eaves who we recently discovered. He’s going to be really big. Joe: He supported us in Leeds the other week for our single launch there.

CUB: How did your single launch in Leeds go?

Monty: Yeah, it was brilliant. We’ve been touring quite a lot this year so it was nice to play at home.

CUB: You are here at Roundhouse to launch the single in London too. Could you tell us a little bit about it?

Monty: The new single is called ‘Places We’ve Roamed’. Lyrically penned, and musically a bit, by Joe. Joe: Me and Dave went to Sweden two years ago this July. I think we just wrote the chorus out there. Then it was a little bit after then that we wrote the verse, and then a bit later we added the lyrics. When I wrote it originally, in my head I was just thinking about lots of really long drives I’ve had along the Lake District. I think that’s what the first verse was about, and then it sort of opens up into a love song accidentally.

CUB: They always end up turning into love songs…                                                                

Joe: Exactly!

CUB: On the single, you’ve also got the track ‘Borderline’ .

Monty: Yeah, that’s been around a while now, and I guess we sort of rejigged it a little bit. Dan: It was a bit spacey and ambient before, and a bit dramatic. I think we tried to write that out a bit to make it fit more with ‘Places We’ve Roamed’.

CUB: You’ve been compared to bands such as Dry The River and even an early Arcade Fire, but how would you personally describe your sound? Are there any bands that you’re particularly influenced by?

Monty: We really like Bahamas, especially that song ‘Lost In The Light’. Joe: That was one of our reference tracks for the new single actually. I guess we’re not trying to sound like any of them, but we do take influence from them. Dan: I think that everyone is influenced by certain people individually. Monty: We write altogether and we all listen to similar stuff. Whoever’s written the basis, whether it’s Joe or Dave, generally has an idea of where they want the song to go. So it ends up being the sound we’ve got.

CUB: I hear that you’re off again on tour fairly soon?

Joe: We’re actually off back to Sweden, but all five of us are going to drive out this time. Monty: Yeah, we’re playing a festival in Germany, so thought we’d just nip up to Sweden. Only fifteen more hours or so. Joe: But that’s just for writing purposes really. We’re going to try and put an EP together. We’ve got quite a few more songs knocking about at the moment, and we’re going to try and refine them and work on them. Monty: We’re also supporting Boy And Bear and doing a full UK and European tour with them. Next time we’re in London we’ll be playing Shepherd’s Bush which is going to be amazing

[cubmagazine]

10 Reasons Why Musical Comics Are Actually Better Than Most Musicians

1. They are just as good looking and sexually appealing as any musician.

                2. And they flaunt their sex lives with the same flair that all good rockstars exhibit.

3. When they do covers of songs, they are normally better than the originals.

4. And their own original songs are examples of lyrical genius.

5. So good, in fact, that they frequently win awards.

6. It also probably helps that musical comics are always such charmers.

7. Seriously.

8. And, unlike the majority of bands, they don’t give a crap about acting “cool” when performing.

9. But they still get lots of enamoured fans.

10. It probably makes them sad how they’re not seen in the same light as those unfunny musicians. So show them some love.