#interview vid

[smashing-pierre]

‘’I’ve got something to look forward to on tv then’’ ✨

[wearecounterfeit]

Tattoo.com interview Jamie and Sam at Northern Invasion Festival

Interviewer: Everybody, it’s Mischievous Mel and it’s DAY ONE at Northern Invasion with COUNTERFEIT!

Sam: Woo!

Jamie: Fuck yeah right. Here we are.

Interviewer: Yes. And sir, you are?

Jamie: I’m Jamie.

Interviewer: And you do what in the band?

Jamie: I play and I sing.

Interviewer: Very awesome. You sing beautifully.

Sam: My name’s Sam and I play guitar.

Interviewer: Okay, not only did they play awesome, I’m going to let out a little secret. I was at Rebellion last week and they have these things called Zippo sessions where it’s acoustic. Any band that can do acoustic that’s like taking your clothes off and walking naked down the hallway at school. You guys fucking nailed it. It was a little bit sad though.

Jamie: Thank you. It was a sad yeah, well you know, the content of our songs is a little deep. But I like the analogy of walking through the hallway at school naked. I used to do that anyways so. The zippo session was kinda easy I guess in that sense. 

Interviewer: Well, ladies. You want to go back to school? Whaaaaat. I didn’t say that. I’m probably old enough to be your grandma. Anywho, you guys are well, new to me. And I was shocked, I’m just going to say it, without sounding like a bitch because you are in the other side of entertainment. Television.. Movies.. So I was wondering, is this the kind of band where it’s like ‘oh I’m an actor so I’m just gonna sing and people are going to like it because I’m me.’ So when I went in, I was like ‘alright, can they do it?’ You guys fucking did it! I came out like OH MY GOD. And people were like what? ‘Cos we see a lot of bands.

Jamie: Yeah, I’m sure. 

Interviewer: Over 400 a year at least. There are very few that are new or stick out. You guys definitely stuck out.

Jamie: That’s fucking great. That’s good to hear. I’ve been playing music since I was like born basically. I’ve been playing shows since I was 15 years old, I used to play drums in an indie band back home in London. I used to sneak out of school and play sets on the weekend. So this has been in my blood, it was always something I was doing but never took it massively seriously because, I don’t know it was such a personal thing for me to go up there and do it properly. It was a scary fucking thought. So when we finally decided to do it properly, to have Sam, my brother and my best friend since I was 8 years old to be in the band it’s like of course this shit’s real like, we love music we live and we breathe this shit like if we didn’t love it we wouldn’t be doing this. 

Interviewer: Like I said, I was really excited to see you and I loved the music, like you said it was heavy and very deep. And I did almost cry. That last song blew me away. What is your take on all this? And I love the fact that you guys are brothers.

Sam: It’s been sick. We’ve kind of been touring since we brought out the first record non stop. Just trying to get the word out. Show people we mean business, and not really here to fuck around I guess. So yeah, we’ve just been getting out, playing show after show. We came to America 3 weeks ago for our first tour here. Which has been amazing. Been mental so far. Keep on pushing till we can no longer physically stand up I guess

Jamie: Which seems to be relatively soon, my legs are fucked already. We played Chicago last night so it could have been that. Chicago could have got us.

Interviewer: What’s the difference between shows and festivals there for you guys and things here?

Jamie: Here, kids seem to go hard from the word go, they just seem to want to get stuck in and that’s fucking great., Back home we’re a little bit more reserved. It’s like ‘oh well this is nice, yes okay I can get into this oh i’m starting to mosh how lovely’ where as here it’s like craziness from the onset. We saw that at Carolina Rebellion, that pit opened up second song in, I’m like hell yeah that’s what I’m talking about.

Interviewer: So to be fair, if I went over to your country.. They’d be terrified, hold me at arms length and call for 911?

Jamie: Yes, absolutely. You’d be locked up in a matter of seconds. That’s why we’ve had to come here cos it nearly happened to us.

Interviewer: You guys are great. I am super stoked. Do you guys have any ink that you want to share with us?

Jamie: Uh yeah, I’ve got my fingers tattooed by Dr Woo. A friend of mine was getting something done by him in LA. I was like I need to get something done by this guy, not only does he work at sham rock but he also works with Mark Mahoney, like the fucking guy created black and white fine line art in the west coast, it’s incredible. He’s like a full on west coast boss. He managed to sort me out with these. I’ve got some stuff by Valerie Vargas as well on my legs

Interviewer: We’re not afraid for you to take off anything that you want, I don’t mean that to sound creepy. I’ve had bands drop their pants.

Jamie: I can’t even roll up my jeans they’re so fucking tight. 

Sam: We slept through the night so I’m not sure you want to see that.

Jamie: Stinks.

Interviewer: Ladies I tried, and guys if you’re into that I tried.

Jamie: Blimey if you really want to see it, should I get that one out? My favourite one, it’s gotta be this guy. Bob Dylan right here. I had this done when I was, how old was I.. 17 it was with my friend Ivan. Actually, who the song Letters To The Lost is about. We were up in Camden getting drunk together. And he was a massive classical music fan,  so he was like, you get Dylan cos you love Dylan and I’ll get Beethoven. I was like this sounds amazing. I went first, I got Bob Dylan, and obviously he didn’t fucking go and get Beethoven. I’m sitting on the train or trying to sit on the train home like oh my god it was my first tattoo. I thought my whole butt cheek was going to fall off.

Interviewer: How about you, any ink on you sir?

Sam: I’ve gone for my legs so far, I’ve got a bunch of traditional, we went to Frith Street where me and J go to get some stuff done. Got a lot of stuff done in Copenhagen. Mostly traditional stuff, but I’m starting on my legs before I get a big snake on my head or something and go full out. 

Jamie: You and your mates though decided you’d make a machine though right?

Sam: Yeah I fell in with a crowd in Copenhagen, that decided they would tattoo each other constantly. All the time, whenever. So you’d go around their house for a couple of drinks, they’d be like ‘let’s just get it out, get the machine out and start doing it.’ So terrible decision. They’ve done my toes. Stuff like that. Toes took about an hour. In-between each toe I was like fuck this, no more. And they just ended up carrying on. 

Interviewer: Was it at least good experimental stuff, or is it something where you say ‘I love my friends a lot because I let them do this to me.’

Sam: Yeah it’s more about that. I’ve just got bullshit written on it pretty much. Random numbers and codes on some bits of it, makes no sense to anyone else. But the fact my mate tattooed it on me so it makes a bit more sense.

[supergirlbenoist]

Supergirl Fan Fest with Melissa and Chris

[smashing-pierre]

Lando norris: i’m insane

[smashing-pierre]

Max is just too cute

[wearecounterfeit]

Z Rock interview Jamie at Northern Invasion

Jamie: Can I sit with this right here like this?

Interviewer: Only if you kiss it.

Jamie: See how tender that was? That was tender.

Interviewer: You were very gentle.

Jamie: Well, thank you so much.

Interviewer: If Johnny Rotten and Jonathon Davis had a baby.. He would be you. The whole time I was watching you, that is what I was thinking.

Jamie: Thank you so much.

Interviewer: I think you were in the crowd more than you was on stage.

Jamie: Probably yeah.

Interviewer: Do you like doing that?

Jamie: Fuck yeah. For us like the show is all about the fans. If we can share that fucking moment with them then why the fuck not.

Interviewer: And this is your first time in America?

Jamie: This is our first time in America, our first tour. Our second festival we’ve played here.

Interviewer: We just met Dube. They had some very nice things to say about you.

Jamie: I bet they didn’t. I bet they fucking lied.

Interviewer: Is there anything about England that Americans wouldn’t know about. Anything weird?

Jamie: God. The weirdest thing we have.. We have eel pie. If you don’t know what an eel pie is. Ok so it’s like.

Interviewer: I know what shepherd’s pie is.

Jamie: It’s kind of like shepherd’s pie but with eel. So it’s really gross. It’s a London thing. So if you’re an American going to London. Go eat some fucking eel pie. 

Interviewer: At a pub.

Jamie: At a pub yeah.

Interviewer: Any weird things about America that you’ve noticed?

Jamie: Everything’s bigger.

Interviewer: Like the food portions?

Jamie: Food portions yeah, you’ve got the massive trucks. The roads are bigger. Nah man, you’re all the same, all the same.

Interviewer: So what else are you excited about musically right now?

Jamie: So we’ve just come out of living in a house together. For six months. So we’ve been writing a new album. Once we’ve finished this tour, hopefully head straight into the studio and get that down. We started a pledge campaign for it as well. Like to get our fans involved in all that and stuff. I’m stoked to continue this tour right now. We’ve got another like 2 weeks I think, we head up west. And getting into the studio and getting the album done. 

Interviewer: The music fans up west are hardcore passionate music fans. So they’ll be all over you. Just like the east coast. Mid west, we’re kind of bored and have nothing else to do. 

Jamie: Yeah you guys are like super into your music though. I was talking to someone earlier before the show and they were like this is  the part of the world where everybody absolutely is a true music fan. So it was sick to play today to that. 

Interviewer: What was your favourite part about playing today?

Jamie: You know what? The fact that we’re on the road with Dube. Then basically did the same for what they do for us every night. Like when we play together. They were on before us, it was so cool. Like that was sick it was like a headline show.

Interviewer: They said you helped them out with their van and stuff too?

Jamie: Of course. We all help each other out. It’s what it’s all about. 

Interviewer: With our local bands it’s the same thing, constantly loading each other in, helping each other load out. 

Jamie: These guys are amazing, it’s so nice to be part of a community that genuinely cares about each other and just wants to fucking rock out. 

Interviewer: And it doesn’t matter what country they’re from?

Jamie: No, absolutely not. Apart from if you’re from Canada. Sorry Dube, which you are. You know, whatever.

Interviewer: They just watch a lot of Hockey. So what’s your favourite soccer, football for you. 

Jamie: My favourite soccer team, well um, I grew up in the south coast. So Portsmouth Harbour is like my proper soccer team. Where I grew up it was either between Southampton or Portsmouth. 

Interviewer: There’s a Man U fan right here. 

Jamie: Oh yeah? Good for you. Life is good then right? 

Camera guy: My brother is a Barcelona fan. 

Jamie: Nice.

Interviewer: I’m AC Milan.

Jamie: You’re Italian then?

Interviewer: Yeah, never been there though.

Jamie: You should, it’s nice. It’s beautiful.

Interviewer: Is there anything you would tell Americans going to England for the first time - other than the eel.

Jamie: Other than the eel pie. 

Interviewer: What else should they know?

Jamie: I know that we sound weird. But we’re not that weird. I assure you, we just mumble a lot. And we’re a little bit more reserved. 

Interviewer: We have love for people like Benedict Cumberbatch. We love that awkward, weirdness.

Jamie: Hugh Grant kind of like.

Interviewer: Hugh Grant we kind of think of like an exaggeration. 

Jamie: Yeah. He’s not.

Interviewer: Benedict Cumberbatch is like our dude. ‘Cos he can play both characters. 

Jamie: What about Tom Hardy.

Interviewer: We love Tom Hardy too. Is there anything else you’d like us to know?

Jamie: Well yeah, check out the pledge campaign if you’re interested in our shows.. We’re stoked to go in and make the new album. We’ll get it out soon. 

[wearecounterfeit]

Soundlink Magazine interview Jamie and Sam at Carolina Rebellion

Interviewer: How are you guys doing?

Jamie: Very good.

Sam: Yeah not too bad.

Interviewer: Introduce yourselves.

Sam: My name’s Sam and I play guitar.

Jamie: My name’s Jamie and I sing and I also play guitar.

Interviewer: Awesome, sweet, so you guys are here in the States for Carolina Rebellion today, it’s hot out here, how are you guys handling it? How are you guys processing all that’s going on outside and all that cool stuff?

Jamie: I’m melting. I’m melting from the inside out. I’m from London, England. I’m not used to this. This is way too hot for me. No, it’s amazing man, it’s our first festival of the year. We love festivals. We get to see some people that we know, we’re on tour with Dube as well at the moment, who are just on the stage behind us here. It’s kinda like an extra date on the run but also we get to see some amazing bands. How are you enjoying it Sam?

Sam: Not too bad, dealing with the heat - terribly. Awfully. But yeah I love festivals, vibe’s good, it’s chaos, I’m keen. I like it.

Interviewer: How do you guys as a band adjust your shows to the festival shows, for you guys personally, what is your bands routine with that? With how much you bring out, how much you show, and what kind of songs to play?

Jamie: We go out there and play festival shows like we would play a headline show. I bumped into a friend of mine backstage at a festival in Germany called Rock Camp. A guy called Frank Carter of Gallows, and now Frank Carter and the Rattlesnakes. And I turned to him and was like ‘Frank,’ this was like our first festival in Europe, it was like a heavy festival, I think we were on after Turnstile I was just like ‘ah man we’re just going to go down like this is shit, this isn’t going to work out at all.’ I turned to Frank and I was like ‘Frank, I’m terrified do I just go out there.’ And he was like ‘dude, just go out there, play the show like you fucking always play the show, and they’ll dig it.’ If you start changing shit up, people are going to be able to sense it you know. That’s what we do, we go out there, go hard and we go heavy. Play the fast ones, and get out, cause a riot and fuck off home. 

Sam: I think the chaos of festivals and getting stuff onto the stage is a warm up in itself, everyone gets so riled up. By time you’re on stage it’s like you’ve played half a set already and you’re ready to go. So I love it. I’m keen for it.

Interviewer: How do you guys going about releasing singles, how do you go about writing them and scheduling to put them out and that stuff?

Jamie: So we started off by releasing two singles, we did a single called Enough and a single called Come Get Some. I guess our thing has always been like if we’ve got the music, let’s just fucking give it. Let’s just give it out. ‘Cos we’re not about that kind of like strategic placement kinda thing. We come from that school of thinking which is like well this is for everybody so let’s just fucking put it out there and give it up. That’s kinda what we do, we have our first album Together We Are Stronger which came out in March last year. Just got some of the singles on it, but really for us it’s just about sharing it as quickly as possibly we can.

Interviewer: You’re on tour right now, what can fans expect from you for the rest of the year in the States, or are you guys going back home for the rest of the year?

Jamie: So we will be finishing up this tour end of May, we’ll be sticking around the States for a bit. Then we’ll be going in, and recording the new album. Getting that all ready for people. Hopefully not breaking up. You know. That would be good, that would be a plus. We’ll be sticking around, playing some more shows, just spreading the good message of Counterfeit. chaos across the country. 

[wearecounterfeit]

Counterfeit. join the rebellion.

Jamie: I’m Jamie. Sam: I’m Sam. Roland: I'm Roland. Jamie: And we're Counterfeit. And if I had a license to rebel I would start a rock n roll band and fart around and playing music forever. Sam: I'd get rid of wasps. Roland: I'd change mild chillis to hot ones and trick everyone. Sam: Sick. Jamie: You evil, evil bastard.