The Last Republic
Highly rated Swansea-based band The Last Republic release their long awaited debut single ‘(C’Mon) Flood The Gates’ on July 12th, so naturally I caught up with them for a wee chat.
Hello there, what are you up to?
I've just got home from a rehearsal for our single release launch night and i've just munched down some Mexican chicken with rice and shared some with my dog Trixy, so we are both happy......
So, you’re getting ready to release your new single ‘(C’Mon) Flood The Gates‘, can you tell us a bit about it?
It's quite a modern sounding pop/indie type song with lots of hooks and although poppy, the lyrics are always dark or at least tell a tale about a time in my life. This song in particular is about growing up in a mining village and reminiscing the struggles of the miners strike and now understanding what went on and why it went on. It's a man looking back at the boy I suppose and starting to understand the pessimism that has been born in to my veins and everybody else's that live in my community due to the scars left by the fall of King Coal. As with most of my lyrics there is a flipside and on this occasion it's the hope that people will eventually break out of the setbacks caused by this and actually start to live their lives and move on from the past as life is just far too short.......i do promise it's not all doom and gloom.....
The new single, comes out on 12th July, why are you releasing that track now?
We wanted to start off the campaign with a punchy in your face pop song that hints towards other elements.....and as it's summer time we thought it would be very suited to the festivals and to put a smile on peoples faces when they're listening to the radio on the way back from work or on holidays in the sun. It ticked a lot of boxes when we discussed the début single. It's quite a feel good song!
You recently opened for Bon Jovi at a sold out O2 Arena, do you feel your new record does justice to your live sets?
I've always permitted that Live and Studio (recording) are two different worlds. But in saying that we have always been more about the live performance and because of this we do try our best to capture what we do live on to record, we never spend too much time on takes during recording, most of the takes you hear on our recordings will most likely be our first takes during recording.
I hope we have captured what we do live as best as possible, but we will let you the listener be the judge on whether we have succeeded or not?
The Bon Jovi gig was spectacular, it was such a pleasure to perform to 24,000 people who were well up for it from start to finish. Our single went down a treat and as I have already stated (C'mon) Flood The Gates does seem like a very instant record.
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?
Absolutely, all of those bands have been in our situation so I don't see why not? we've worked long and hard to nurture our sound in to what it is and all 5 of us are very happy with it. We are all involved in the writing process one way or another and all the great or classic albums have been captured when bands are in this kind of hard work ethic type of atmosphere where all members are giving it their all, it's very exciting and we're loving every minute of it, and the fun part is also very important and there's plenty of it.
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?
Hmmmm......ok, i'd say CCTV, it sums up the lyrical mood and musical mood of where we are at. It portrays the bleak reality of the day and age we live in yet the melody does give a glimmer of hope, and that glimmer of hope is always worth fighting for. The song also gives plenty of anger and pace, as it's one of our more up beat songs and usually leaves us and the crowd in a puddle of sweat. You'll probably notice us popping a few buttons open on our shirts after that song.........
If I was contemplating coming to your show or sitting at home and watching Big Brother, how would you get me out of the house?
I would offer you a private serenade after wining and dining you with the finest choice of food cooked by our own Joey Daniels (bass player), and a great wine selection of course.........Big Brother? Shame on you :)
We’ve got to admit you’re a bit cool, so what advice would you give to someone just starting out, knowing what you know now?
Always a tough question as everyone take different paths.....from my experience, find the right members, time wasters will only hold you back as you are only as strong as your weakest link. Rehearse and write until you are happy with some songs, then just gig until you are so fed up of these songs then they are probably ready for recording. Get a 3 track demo but before you send to any record labels, get a manager, not just any manager, a proper manager that understands this industry inside out, and not your uncle that used to run a Karaoke company in the 80s........although your uncle will probably come in handy for future party's.
So, if The Last Republic was an acronym what would each letter stand for?
Time
Holds
Everything
Letting
Art
Serve
Tremendous
Reliable
Evidence
Persisted
Under
Blinding
Lively
Inner
Cultures
If you could only listen to one CD for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I was going to say something by Radiohead, Pink Floyd or Neil Young....but thinking on it I'd probably lose the plot. So I think maybe Happy Monday's greatest hits, that way I'll have the ultimate party CD and bring lots of smiles to lots of people!
Okay, now we want to ask you some random questions (that I robbed off my stepsisters’s MySpace page);
What were you doing last night at 11?
I was attempting to drink my best mate under the table on the ole Guinness......but didn't succeed, what better thing to do on a Wednesday night eh?
What are you going to do after this interview?
Have a shower, brush my teeth and watch a bit of Mock The Week on Dave
When was the last time you did something incredibly stupid?
I'm rather clumsy and do silly things all the time....I went for a run the other day and was running past some people who were standing on the street just trying to get on with my jog and I unfortunately slipped, but instead of taking the fall I did one of those action film type rolls to not look so daft, but made myself look worse and almost gave this couple a heart attack. I got up, apologised and got on with my jog with a slightly awkward limp. Think I'll take a more scenic route next time.......
What’s the last film you saw?
My brother lent me that Guy Richie film 'Rock N Rolla' the other day but I was a bit disappointed. I think the only good thing about the film was the fact that Thandie Newton was in it…Phwoah.
What’s the last thing you bought?
An Echo and the Bunnymen album......think it may have been the Killing Moon ‘best of’ and it's ace!!!!
Highly rated Swansea-based band The Last Republic release their long awaited debut single ‘(C’Mon) Flood The Gates’ on July 12th, so naturally I caught up with them for a wee chat.
Hello there, what are you up to?
I've just got home from a rehearsal for our single release launch night and i've just munched down some Mexican chicken with rice and shared some with my dog Trixy, so we are both happy......
So, you’re getting ready to release your new single ‘(C’Mon) Flood The Gates‘, can you tell us a bit about it?
It's quite a modern sounding pop/indie type song with lots of hooks and although poppy, the lyrics are always dark or at least tell a tale about a time in my life. This song in particular is about growing up in a mining village and reminiscing the struggles of the miners strike and now understanding what went on and why it went on. It's a man looking back at the boy I suppose and starting to understand the pessimism that has been born in to my veins and everybody else's that live in my community due to the scars left by the fall of King Coal. As with most of my lyrics there is a flipside and on this occasion it's the hope that people will eventually break out of the setbacks caused by this and actually start to live their lives and move on from the past as life is just far too short.......i do promise it's not all doom and gloom.....
The new single, comes out on 12th July, why are you releasing that track now?
We wanted to start off the campaign with a punchy in your face pop song that hints towards other elements.....and as it's summer time we thought it would be very suited to the festivals and to put a smile on peoples faces when they're listening to the radio on the way back from work or on holidays in the sun. It ticked a lot of boxes when we discussed the début single. It's quite a feel good song!
You recently opened for Bon Jovi at a sold out O2 Arena, do you feel your new record does justice to your live sets?
I've always permitted that Live and Studio (recording) are two different worlds. But in saying that we have always been more about the live performance and because of this we do try our best to capture what we do live on to record, we never spend too much time on takes during recording, most of the takes you hear on our recordings will most likely be our first takes during recording.
I hope we have captured what we do live as best as possible, but we will let you the listener be the judge on whether we have succeeded or not?
The Bon Jovi gig was spectacular, it was such a pleasure to perform to 24,000 people who were well up for it from start to finish. Our single went down a treat and as I have already stated (C'mon) Flood The Gates does seem like a very instant record.
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?
Absolutely, all of those bands have been in our situation so I don't see why not? we've worked long and hard to nurture our sound in to what it is and all 5 of us are very happy with it. We are all involved in the writing process one way or another and all the great or classic albums have been captured when bands are in this kind of hard work ethic type of atmosphere where all members are giving it their all, it's very exciting and we're loving every minute of it, and the fun part is also very important and there's plenty of it.
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?
Hmmmm......ok, i'd say CCTV, it sums up the lyrical mood and musical mood of where we are at. It portrays the bleak reality of the day and age we live in yet the melody does give a glimmer of hope, and that glimmer of hope is always worth fighting for. The song also gives plenty of anger and pace, as it's one of our more up beat songs and usually leaves us and the crowd in a puddle of sweat. You'll probably notice us popping a few buttons open on our shirts after that song.........
If I was contemplating coming to your show or sitting at home and watching Big Brother, how would you get me out of the house?
I would offer you a private serenade after wining and dining you with the finest choice of food cooked by our own Joey Daniels (bass player), and a great wine selection of course.........Big Brother? Shame on you :)
We’ve got to admit you’re a bit cool, so what advice would you give to someone just starting out, knowing what you know now?
Always a tough question as everyone take different paths.....from my experience, find the right members, time wasters will only hold you back as you are only as strong as your weakest link. Rehearse and write until you are happy with some songs, then just gig until you are so fed up of these songs then they are probably ready for recording. Get a 3 track demo but before you send to any record labels, get a manager, not just any manager, a proper manager that understands this industry inside out, and not your uncle that used to run a Karaoke company in the 80s........although your uncle will probably come in handy for future party's.
So, if The Last Republic was an acronym what would each letter stand for?