Circuit 68
Circuit 68 have just released there new album Eleven, an album that they have recorded.
I caught up with the band to talk about the new record, why they chose to record the album by themselves and what lies ahead.
- You have just released your new album Eleven so for people who haven't heard it yet what can we expect from it?
Hopefully they'll think it's a full on English Rock n Roll record, tinged with a 60's sound, that's a sort of remedy to the majority of the music we're served up in today's charts.
- I was reading that the writing for this album began in 2009 and it has taken sixteen months to record - it seems this really has been a labour of love. Why has it taken so long?
We wanted it to be right - and in doing that tried various things during the recording -we tried a few different studios but couldn't get what we wanted. So in the end we built our own studio.
That inevitably took time - but we're very proud of it - it's used by other bands as well - and very pleased with the results.
- There is some rock in there some pop/rock and Coming Home is quite an emotional tune so how would you describe the sound of the album?
Honest I think - we didn't try and 'aim' for a sound or feel.
- And what does the album say about you as musicians?
We're prepared to record what's within us - and not shape it to match anything in particular. I think it's an honest record.
- Did you discuss a concept for the album before you began and has the album ended being what you set out to make?
We didn't discuss a concept prior to recording - the lyrics of the songs do lend themselves to a concept.
That was discussed but we decided against it albeit after the songs were written - a sort of tragic coming of age type of concept.
- You have recorded Eleven yourselves so how great has it been to create an album that you wanted to make and in your own time?
It's a great way of doing it - you have to have the discipline to push on, no messing about at the back of the class!
- How important is that creative freedom to you?
Very - but it's important to not underestimate the importance of advice and a 'fresh pair of ears' but we're lucky to have friends like Gop (who mixed it and who manages us) who are honest - so we didn't veer off course and spend a lot of time on something that was going nowhere!
- But obviously recording it yourself does have it's difficulties so how much of a struggle has it been not having the support of a label?
Difficult to answer really as we've never been on a label as such - for us it's time I suppose. Still got the day job!
- So how does the song-writing process work for you guys - is there one main writer or do you all bring ideas to the table?
We share the writing - Gary wrote the majority of the songs - Daz and I were quite new to it - but we chipped in with a three - we all add ideas to the mix so to speak.
- And if it is a collaborative process between everyone how do you find writing as a band?
It's great - things sometimes really change during the recording process - an idea can come out of nowhere - like taking the Sitar into the toilet!
- There is a very personal feel to the album lyrically so where did the inspiration for the writing of the record come from?
The songs are about all sorts of things - but they're always an honest appraisal of thought!
- How did the band form?
Gary had been in bands for ages - quite succesfully - as had Gary Minns - we all knew each other from around the town.
I played with Gary in another (short lived) project and he decided to try and get a band together - he asked me - Minns was an obvious choice as was Daz - it sort of all fell into place very quickly.
- Where are we going to be seeing you gigging over the next couple of months?
Just promoting the album, which you can buy on Amazon and iTunes and we have got gigs lined up locally in Gateshead / Newcastle.
- Finally what's next for you?
We're writing the next one ?
Circuit 68 - Eleven is out now
FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw