Northampton’s gritty rap-rock quartet The Wax Lyrical Sound have re-emerged after a fairly quiet twelve months to finish 2018 strongly, including the release of ‘Precious Little Things’ [hear it below]. New Boots spoke to singer Simon Meekey about this new beginning.
How did you guys get together?
TWLS were formed in 2013 by drummer Ryan Ashmore. He recruited his old bassist, Neil Bland, from Princes Street and after some persistent pestering, frontman Simon Meekey joined. Initially a three-piece, the puzzle was complete when guitarist Ali King joined onboard a month later. The band formed because Ryan wanted to achieve more and wanted to produce a more unique sound. Our sound is eccentric, unique and not like any generic music. It has a balance which works like no other and from the feedback we get, most people like it.
What was the reaction like to the first couple of EPs?
The first few EP’s were good. It’s funny when you make a record and think its the dogs dinner at first glance. When you develop and become technically better in what you do, everything becomes more nitty gritty and every little detail counts. Its small margins and its those small margins that determine whether you achieve a ticket sale for a show or not.
Who are the current influences that are getting the guys fired up? You’re a bit heavier these days, aren’t you…
In terms of influences, we have many that have inspired us along the years. Beastie Boys, The One Hundred, Rage Against the Machine, Crazy Town, System of a Down, Scroobius Pip, Jamie T bigger artists such as Eminem, Dr. Dre. Funnily enough, the whole band started due to an influence by Skindred. Much is not related to music either, most influences comes from day to day life, current affairs, media and things happening in the brain. There is no specific style we have though or we aspire to have, we just do what we feel is right at the time. I think our natural progression has made us heavier and I think we needed a part of that to appeal to more crowds and be able to play more shows.
Tell us about this new song ‘Precious Little Things’. It’s the first of a bunch of singles from you, right?
So the next release will be sometime in 2019! No set date, we’re not in a rush. We take things at our pace and we control what we want to do. Some say there’s a demand but, as we’ve learnt from previous experiences, music shouldn’t be rushed. We have ‘Precious Little Things’ currently out on all platforms, soon to be followed by ‘Human Race’ and others. Keep your eyes and ears peeled and keep streaming!
What are your live shows like?
Well the only way we can describe them is if you’re there to soak them in. Normally full of energy and bespoke, we aim to capture audiences and engage them with our lyrics and raw sounds. I used to be much more energetic but due to excessive alcohol intake, my gut has decided to slow down for now!
How was the Skindred support show at The Roadmender?
The show with Skindred and Sonic Boom Six at Roadmender was mint! Collectively couldn’t of asked for anything better. We didn’t expect a very large crowd because a majority don’t really watch the first acts or are late arriving. To our surprise however, and fair play to the crowd, the room was packed and we received some nice comments and feedback. Benji from Skindred even caught some of the set! Hopefully gigs like that will open some doors for us and get us similar support slots in the future!
Are you part of a wider scene in Northamptonshire, playing with like-minded bands? Any favourite bands/venues to play with?
We take things as they come. A lot of bands are stuck up their own arses nowadays and we haven’t got time for it. Its a shame really, but each to their own. Some see it as competition and its not: the music scene should be a hub where artists influence each other. Luckily we have made some good friends from the scene, and always look forward to playing shows together. There’s some cracking promoters on the scene too who really look after set bands. In terms of favourite venues, Roadmender is always good, The Craufurd Arms, Bedford Esquires, The Lab are all great little spots – and the list goes on!
What was the last album you bought/streamed?
Last album I physically bought was Pray for the Wicked by Panic! At The Disco. Prior to that was Tranquillity Base Hotel and Casino by Arctic Monkeys, and what a belter it was! Very different, but all do excellent things!
What is your burning desire for the band to do in the future? What plans do you have?
We want to continue to enjoy what we do, continue to entertain and continue to create good music! I think those three things are vital to bands and artists, because when it feels like a chore, it might be time to have a reshuffle. We collectively had a reshuffle this year, and are happy with the outcome and where we want to be. We plan to continue to build our reputation and play some of the best stages across the UK, and even overseas!
Precious Little Things is out now across the digital platforms
