The Boxer Rebellion
Since being signed on the back of an explosive Glastonbury performance in 2003, The Boxer Rebellion have infamously suffered a stop-start career at the hands of a volatile music industry. I caught up with bassist Adam Harrison to find out a little more about his glorious band.
Hello there, what are you up to?
I'm relaxing after a crazy trip to NYC and Toronto- we crammed in the meetings/gigs and are now recovering!
So, you’re getting ready for the physical release of your album 'Union', can you tell us a bit about it?
Our album is going to be released in partnership with HMV in the first deal of it's kind. We were very protective of our rights and so by working in direct conjunction with HMV we do not have to give them away to a record label. If it works it should provide a very exciting new option for bands frustrated by the traditional label model.
The new single from that is double A-side, 'Semi Automatic / Flashing Red Light Means Go', and comes out on 7th September. Why did you choose those two tracks?
We wanted to take two strong tracks to radio and let them play their choice, or both- this means that people should get to hear more of our range. We chose those two in particular because together they represent what you can expect from the album in the best way.
'Union' went Top 5 on both iTunes US and UK Albums Charts within 48 hours of its digital release earlier this year; do you think you could replicate that success with this physical release?
It would be very hard but who knows! The truth is that with digital sales you have far fewer costs and far more control as a band- you can direct people to the album with a link on a social networking site or simply give away a track for free as a taster. That is what happened with itunes when they gave us the 'single of the week' slot worldwide- instantly people had a taste of the album because itunes had provided such a huge opportunity for it to reach fresh ears. Physical sales are different and rely far more on the traditional industry- it costs a lot more and you need far more support from press and radio to really climb the charts. We'll have a good try...
There is a lot of competition in the business today, do you think you have what it takes to give the big names a run for their money?
I think so. There is a lot of competition but quite a bit of it is of a pretty poor quality, there are also great bands but there is always room for more.
So, if you could recommend just one song of yours for us to download so that we want to hear all of your music, what would it be?
Flashing Red Light Means Go.
We’ve got to admit you’re a little bit cool, so what advice would you give to someone just starting out, knowing what you know now?
Just to keep writing- so many bands write 20 songs and then sit on them- playing gig after gig with the same pick of that bunch- the trick is to write in every single rehearsal, if you are constantly in a creative frame of mind then your music can only improve...
If you could only listen to one CD for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Elbow- Asleep In The Back.
Okay, now we want to ask you some random questions;
Tell me about the most terrifying experience of your life…
I went skiing for the first time about 3 years ago and picked it up pretty quickly on the first day- all day I was improving on the green (easy) runs and for the last run of the day decided to try a blue (moderate) run that turned into a green just to push myself a little. At the point of change from blue to green however, I took a wrong turn that left me at the top of a black (extreme death) run. The slope seemed almost vertical and was pitted with rough snow and bumps- to cut a long story short I was terrified and ended up taking about 2 hours to slowly descend from side to side whilst pretty much sitting on my ski’s, all whilst being abused by huge American dudes for clogging up the slope. Not cool!
What’s the most stupid purchase you’ve ever made?
Bryan Adams- 18 till i die.
Why go to the top of a tall building, only to put money in binoculars and look at things on the ground?
For some to feel powerful, some to play god for a day, to die early and watch over what you left behind, some to be a bird, to gain perspective and some to realize that we are all tiny parts of something huge.
FemaleFirst - Ruth Harrison