Mamas Gun
Mamas Gun just released their new album The Life And Soul. We chatted to the band, made up of The Professor (Rex Horan), Spiller (Terry Lewis), Eighties (Dave Oliver), Union Jack and AP (Andy Platts) about the new record, touring Japan and plans for the rest of the year.
-Hey, how’s it going?
THE PROFFESOR: The sun's out, the album's out. Things are good.
-Were you excited for the release of The Life And Soul?
THE PROFESSOR: Come release time it's always exciting. There's always a frisson of apprehension too, as, particularly when an album embodies a development, or departure from it's predecessor one worries that it won't be liked/understood/bought. Circle one or more as appropriate. Or all.
-How did the writing and recording process for this album differ from your first?
THE PROFESSOR: The first record featured songs that were old, being played by a band that was young.
Now you've got a more experienced band playing tunes with the ink still wet. Three years of playing and touring together further honed our musical telepathy and sympathy.
We co-wrote with one-another on this record and the writing was done super quickly - 2 months in total. We recorded the album in a very short time too; 5 weeks compared to the 6 months we spent on the first one.
We stood in one room, with Jack in a drum booth, and put it down pretty much live too, as opposed to the more standard layering of parts on top of a drum take.
-From the sounds of it, Mamas Gun are huge in Japan. Does that feel strange, being so big somewhere like that?
SPILLER: Initially it felt strange that our music reached Japan before we did and then it really hit home when we first went to there to tour and one of our songs just started playing when we were in a restaurant the night we arrived.
I guess when you consider how easily music travels in digital form now it shouldn't be surprising that music can have a life of it's own and end up being popular where you'd never expect it.
-Do you enjoy performing live over there?
SPILLER: 100%. The audiences are a brilliant combination of respectful and appreciative and it's great to meet fans after the shows, who in the past have turned up with gifts for us!
It's really sweet of them. I have to mention how fantastic the in house production crews are at venues there too, not to mention the catering. Oh the catering!
-From the band name, we can assume that Erykah Badu is an influence on Mamas Gun?
AP: She's an influence in so much as all music is an influence but I wouldn't say she's a major conscious/subconscious influence. We thought Mamas Gun would make a great band name and so thought why not?
-On the new album you cover Queen’s Bicycle Race, which is quite ambitious. Who else are you influenced by?
AP: Naturally there are too many to list but just a handful of names which influence the creative process of the band (i.e its recorded and live output) include: Scott Joplin, Frank Zappa, Tom Waits, Jimi Hendrix, Marvin Gaye, Prince, Curtis Mayfield, Scott Walker, Shuggie Otis, Joni Mitchell...
-What was it like performing the duet with Beverley Knight?
AP: Bev's talent is something to behold. In the studio and on stage she is utterly engaged in the moment.
She is that rare breed of performer whose talent, technical skill and unbridled passion converge to create something incredibly special and inspiring.
-Are you excited about your upcoming UK tour?
UNION JACK: Yes very. Playing live is an important part of the Mamas Gun experience. Come and see us play and you'll know exactly what I mean.
All of us in the band have or have had an alternate life as a working professional musician and we bring all that experience in to the stage show.
We try to make it as fun and as inclusive as possible for everyone, but at the same time deliver a high level of performance. Basically we work very hard so that you guys can have a laugh and shake your booty.
-What have you been up to in between albums?
UNION JACK: Well once we finished touring and promoting the first, it wasn't long at all before we were rushing to write and record the second.
I think the vibe that you can hear with MGs music comes from the fact that we are a proper band, which is a stark contrast to an artist with a load of hired guns (if you'll pardon the pun). So buy the album! And if you like it, tell your friends!
-What are the band’s plans after this UK tour finishes?
EIGHTIES: Well we have lots of plans for future gigs after this tour. As festival season is upon us we will be joining in on a few to spread the MG love.
Festivals such as The Secret Garden Party on July 22nd, Hop Farm on the 3rd July where Prince will also be performing & some others soon to be announced too!
We have tours planed also in Japan and Korea at the beginning of August. We have quite a few fans now in Holland, Germany and France so we will definitely be going out there again in the Autumn if not before.
-How would you tempt people to check out the new album?
EIGHTS: If you wanted to check out the new album we have a lot of information online on how to listen to a few sample tracks.
There is a lot of footage on youtube if you wanted to see some videos of the band performing some old tracks as well as new which I recommend as we try to give our fans a real insight into our journey in music.
Definitely check out our online web pages: www.mamasgun.co.uk, www.myspace.com/mamasgun. Twitter and Facebook also where we are constantly updating information about gigs, new pictures and latest video footage plus where to get hold of the new album.
As well as all this, come and check us out on stage because we take a lot of pride in our live shows to give people a night out they will never forget & thats a promise!
-Any final messages for our readers?
SPILLER: Ladies don't get caught up in trying to look like the latest catwalk model or skinny actress. Some of us like real women you know!
Check out our review of The Life And Soul.
Female First - Alistair McGeorge
Mamas Gun just released their new album The Life And Soul. We chatted to the band, made up of The Professor (Rex Horan), Spiller (Terry Lewis), Eighties (Dave Oliver), Union Jack and AP (Andy Platts) about the new record, touring Japan and plans for the rest of the year.
-Hey, how’s it going?
THE PROFFESOR: The sun's out, the album's out. Things are good.
-Were you excited for the release of The Life And Soul?
THE PROFESSOR: Come release time it's always exciting. There's always a frisson of apprehension too, as, particularly when an album embodies a development, or departure from it's predecessor one worries that it won't be liked/understood/bought. Circle one or more as appropriate. Or all.
-How did the writing and recording process for this album differ from your first?
THE PROFESSOR: The first record featured songs that were old, being played by a band that was young.
Now you've got a more experienced band playing tunes with the ink still wet. Three years of playing and touring together further honed our musical telepathy and sympathy.
We co-wrote with one-another on this record and the writing was done super quickly - 2 months in total. We recorded the album in a very short time too; 5 weeks compared to the 6 months we spent on the first one.
We stood in one room, with Jack in a drum booth, and put it down pretty much live too, as opposed to the more standard layering of parts on top of a drum take.
-From the sounds of it, Mamas Gun are huge in Japan. Does that feel strange, being so big somewhere like that?
SPILLER: Initially it felt strange that our music reached Japan before we did and then it really hit home when we first went to there to tour and one of our songs just started playing when we were in a restaurant the night we arrived.
I guess when you consider how easily music travels in digital form now it shouldn't be surprising that music can have a life of it's own and end up being popular where you'd never expect it.
-Do you enjoy performing live over there?
SPILLER: 100%. The audiences are a brilliant combination of respectful and appreciative and it's great to meet fans after the shows, who in the past have turned up with gifts for us!
It's really sweet of them. I have to mention how fantastic the in house production crews are at venues there too, not to mention the catering. Oh the catering!
-From the band name, we can assume that Erykah Badu is an influence on Mamas Gun?
AP: She's an influence in so much as all music is an influence but I wouldn't say she's a major conscious/subconscious influence. We thought Mamas Gun would make a great band name and so thought why not?
-On the new album you cover Queen’s Bicycle Race, which is quite ambitious. Who else are you influenced by?
AP: Naturally there are too many to list but just a handful of names which influence the creative process of the band (i.e its recorded and live output) include: Scott Joplin, Frank Zappa, Tom Waits, Jimi Hendrix, Marvin Gaye, Prince, Curtis Mayfield, Scott Walker, Shuggie Otis, Joni Mitchell...
-What was it like performing the duet with Beverley Knight?
AP: Bev's talent is something to behold. In the studio and on stage she is utterly engaged in the moment.
She is that rare breed of performer whose talent, technical skill and unbridled passion converge to create something incredibly special and inspiring.
-Are you excited about your upcoming UK tour?
UNION JACK: Yes very. Playing live is an important part of the Mamas Gun experience. Come and see us play and you'll know exactly what I mean.
All of us in the band have or have had an alternate life as a working professional musician and we bring all that experience in to the stage show.
We try to make it as fun and as inclusive as possible for everyone, but at the same time deliver a high level of performance. Basically we work very hard so that you guys can have a laugh and shake your booty.
-What have you been up to in between albums?
UNION JACK: Well once we finished touring and promoting the first, it wasn't long at all before we were rushing to write and record the second.