Holy Coves Welsh, singer-songwriter Scott Marsden sits down with Will from Marseille for the Music Scene Wales, Indie Revolution series.

Scott – Hi Will, if you could start with giving yourself an introduction to Music Scene Wales, so who you are and what band you’re from, for the people who maybe are hearing of you for the first time.

Will – I’m Will, the singer of a band called Marseille, we’re based in Derby, and we play indie music slash psychedelia, slash shoegaze, everything mixed in one big melting pot really.

Scott – I’d definitely put it into those genres. The music that you do, I’ve watched it evolve since day one, because I’ve followed you since the first single. A few more singles and you went into the the EP, which was the Freedom EP. So, how long have you been together?

Will – For the current line up, probably getting on about 18 months.

Scott – And where did you meet? Did you meet at school or out of school?

Will – We all met at random places like Joe and I did meet at school, we just walked home together and bonded over the love for music, Tom joined after he left uni because he just came back to Derby and was looking for a band to join, he found us through Facebook, Lennon we found at an open mic night and Felix we met in college.

Scott – How long have you been making music together?

Will – Me and Joe have been making music for a long time together. But Marseille is the only time we’ve really done it properly because we’ve all been in bands, but it don’t really count because it was just as a little school band. But with Marseille about four years really music wise because some of the songs are still from years ago, I’ve been writing for a long time.

Scott – So how old are you all now?

Will – Most of us are 18 other than Lennon and Tom, Lennon is 17 And Tom’s 22.

Scott – Still a very young band, considering how young you are and how long you’ve been together, you’ve done a lot already. You’ve burst onto the scene, I’ve watched your growth. I like that because one thing I did notice is the production on everything, your recordings are just getting better and better, And when a band starts out that young, I think that’s what should happen. Your learning your craft the right way, some bands come out may be in their 20s and they’ve been doing what you guys are doing before they even put anything out for like five years or something, but you guys got together, made the music, started putting things out early which is brave as well because some band labels don’t want anyone to do that. It’s definitely brave. I think it’s paid off because I think it’s the best way to learn the business really, it’s not just writing songs. You understand that yourself, it has a lot more to it, but you guys have really got to spend time writing and I think for a young band that the key is to keep writing. So I’ve definitely noticed the production levels improving, every song has just gotten better and better with each recording, so who have you recorded them with?

Will – We record them with one of our managers friends, he’s mainly a live sound engineer. He did our production when we supported The Sherlocks maybe about a year ago and we’ve just kept in touch ever since and he’s always done our production.

Scott – So he mixed, mastered and produced?

Will – Kind of, we’ve co-produced now really, because he said it was early days we didn’t really know what we we’re doing, we we’re a bit naïve, listened to him because obviously he was going to know better than us because it’s our first time doing it. But when we went to do the EP and when we went to go do this next release we sort of took the wheel a bit more and said, Oh yeah, this is what we want. He just mixed and mastered it, which I think has led to us having more of a sound we want, it’s led to a more unique sound. And I think that’s why the production has maybe got better, because as the craftsman of your songs you know what it needs to sound like.

Scott – You guys are getting better each time and learning, so you’re always going to come back better aren’t you. I like that your co-producers because to do that from a young age you’re going to learn so much more from doing that together. So, is it like though the whole band are producers, everyone has a bit of a say? or is it yourself and Joe? you know, does Lennon have input? How does it work?

Will – I’d say that’s when Joe really comes to life is in the studio. Because he gets a lot of spontaneous ideas. Joe likes to experiment quite a lot. And obviously I’ve got a rough idea in my head already, because I wrote the songs. Lennon pops up with the a few ideas, but it’s mainly us three that really come with something and say, Oh, I think we should try this and if it didn’t work we don’t use it, and if it does, then happy days it’s going on the record.

Scott – It’s good to be creative like that because I find in that creative space, if you can allow everyone a little bit of space to create then that magic can happen in the studio. And also going in there with songs and prep and you write the songs yourself you know what you’re doing, if you know how you want it then I think that’s good, but also to be open to it progressing or morphing into what it’s meant to be. Creativity is the key for me in the studio. I think if everyone just has that little bit of room to work and express themselves then that’s where the magic happens.

Will – Yeah, definitely. I think that’s where band’s get their unique sounds, from different influences from different members where they have their little spin on things or if it’s just your idea, you’re gonna sound like whatever you listen to. Whereas if it’s everyone else’s idea, and they all bring their ideas to the table, it’s going to be a mix of what they listen to, what you listen to and what someone else listens to, and so it becomes this little melting pot.

Scott – Yeah, true. It can be really difficult in the studio as well, it can be time consuming. I think more so if you haven’t got songs. I think if you go into the studio with songs, you pretty much know what you’re doing and I’ve always found that easy. But I’ve gone into sessions where you don’t have prep, you just try and make something in the studio and they can be difficult sessions. It can be sessions that end up costing money that you just haven’t got to spend. I always found the best way was through preparation. Literally, almost knowing how to record the song exactly before you get in there. And then it’s like that creative sort of freedom that you put over that. I think that’s where that sound comes from. And it’s always, when it’s something I hear in my head, it always sounds how I want it to sound in my head originally, if that makes sense? but it also sounds like something better and different. It’s something that when it comes out it’s always how I wanted it to be but ten times better.

Will – Yeah. You have an idea of exactly how it was in your head, which still sounds loads better than what you could have imagined.

Scott – So it’s organically grown into something beautiful and bigger. It’s always bigger isn’t it? And I like space in the music as well. I’ve noticed you’ve really got a knack for that space in the music because I think too much can be a problem. I think sometimes it’s what you leave out on the recordings.

Will – Sometimes less is more for sure. We’re working on some new stuff as well at the minute, which is a bit different from what we’re putting out and it’s a bit different from the single that’s coming out as well. It’s a bit more shoegazey and it’s a lot more psychedelic and spacey. I think Joe has been someone who’s kind of had to adapt his playing style to suit the songs because obviously on them sort of songs you’ve got to reign it in a little bit. It’s experimental soundscapes and stuff and it sounds awesome.

Scott – One of my favourite genres too. And one thing I would say I did when I was younger as well and a really good thing for a young band to do is, like you said, doing all these different genres because I really think that’s how you hone your craft and learn where your sounds going, the direction and learning what each sort of band in that genre does that maybe inspires you, putting your own spin on things and trying to write songs in that genre. I think that’s the best way to learn, that’s what I did. That’s what I did from a very young age, literally didn’t have any sort of genre that I wanted to specifically be I wanted to just do all the genres that made me tick. And that’s what I did.
So who else is in the band? I know you said you’ve gone through a few line up changes. So who’s in the band specifically now because obviously, I know you and I know Joe, because we’ve had a few conversations. We’ve been getting to know each other quite well recently so who else is in the band and what do they do?

Will – Lennon is on Rhythm guitar, he’s the out there one of the band he is definitely the crazy one out of everyone, he’s funny and Tom’s more laid back, he’s the drummer, he’s just chill. Felix on bass is just daft as a brush.

Scott – So how long have these been with you? How long has this line up that you got together been together now?

Will – Well, the line up that we’ve got now is going to be a year so it’ll be a year in September that we’ve all been together with this line up because we were a four piece for quite a while.

Scott – It has definitely gone up levels since since you’ve all got together hasn’t it?

Will – Yeah, 100% I think we noticed that even on the first gig, like feeling seamlessly, like straightaway. I think being able to concentrate on my vocals has made a big difference.

Scott – You play consistent shows as well, you practice a lot, you get more experience as well and you become a better vocalist you become better live players, band dynamic is everything. So it’s kind of like, the more you play, the more you improve, it’s as simple as that. And the way you do it is the right way because that growth is massive and you can see it from the first single to now. So, recently you’ve just been to North Wales and you have a new music video.

Will – We have indeed

Scott – That’s a really good connection to North Wales and Music Scene Wales and people will love that, Porthmadog, that is a beautiful location, Blackrock sands, am I right?

Will – Yeah, it was awesome there, so lovely, It was really cool. Loads people were walking past and watching us and there was one time where we did a run of the song and people started to clap a bit. People have been clapping, probably thinking we’re playing live! I wasn’t expecting that. It was quite funny.

Scott – It’s a popular beach one of my favourite in North Wales. What was the weather like when you were there?

Will – Bizarrely, we had such awful weather in the build up to it and I thought it’s going to be a really horrible, gloomy day. It’s not going to be what I thought, but It was really sunny, it was a lovely day.

Scott – So you’ve got some new music that’s just come out. What’s the new track so everyone can search it up on streaming?

Will -It was out on the 25th of August and it’s called ‘This Dream Of Mine’ and is coming out with three b-sides as well. So we’ve treated everyone to some extra content.

Scott – I like the old school b-sides because not everyone does them anymore and music as a platform has completely changed, I think it’s important to embrace that but I like a bit of the old school stuff as well. The songs are maybe not as finished not as polished and you get some rarities, some acoustic stuff. It’s all good. I’m trying to encourage a band that we’ve just signed to Yr Wyddfa Records, Sister Envy, They’ve got three songs. It’s not quite an EP so we’re trying to encourage them to do a couple of acoustic songs rather than overthinking it and going right we need we need loads of new songs, just do a couple of acoustic songs. People love stuff like that, it’s a bit more intimate, it’s more personal and you can really get to the roots of how the songs have been written. Have you guys done anything like that at all acoustically?

Will – Well, I’ve definitely toyed around with the idea before with everyone where I’ve said I think it’d be cool just to get a track where it’s just an acoustic guitar and vocals.

Scott – Even if it’s a b-side. I mean, it’s the root of how you wrote the song, you know, even if it’s just yourself on the acoustic or something, I mean, sometimes less is more like you said.

Will – Exactly. The reason why we wanted to do these b-sides is because we’re getting to a point now where we’ve probably got about 40 songs, it’s a crazy amount. We’ve not even done our first album and we’ve got that many, you just want to get them out. Some are probably not good enough to be a single or there’s not enough room for it on the album anymore. We’ve got to do something with it. Just put it as a b-side, it’s just a good excuse to get good content out there that wouldn’t usually see the light of day.

Scott – Again, it’s brave to do that because a lot of bands hold on to stuff, don’t put things out. I find that with what I’m doing with Holy Coves now I come straight back to songs that I originally wrote years and years ago. I’m still coming back to some of them now, I’m finishing them because I think know what I’m doing now and realising that I know how I wanted the music to sound back in the day, but I wasn’t experienced enough to be able to get them to sound how they sound now. I think if I was in a process like what you guys are, in a band the way that you guys are doing it that I would have preferred to have thrown it out like how you guys are and move on from it years ago, because all that clutter in your mind it’s like torture you know, you hold on to those songs. There is not one song that I haven’t let out that I haven’t still got in my head and the only way I get it out is by actually releasing it and putting it out, so it must be a relief to be able to put out that music and move on.

Will – Yeah, definitely. There’s some songs that you also have where you think, Oh, this is so good, I can’t wait for people to actually hear it because we’ve got so many songs, that your just sort of sitting on top of it and can’t wait for this to come out. We’ve still got probably about 10 songs that I think could do that for us. Could maybe be the breakthrough for us, but none of them have seen the light of day yet.

Scott – You’ve mentioned an album, so you’ve got something in the pipeline, or an idea of making an album soon? Is there a timeframe, is it just something you’re all talking about? Have you written or are you writing the album or is that just the path you’re heading towards?

will – Well, that’s the aim to get out at some point because we know how many songs we’ve got. It’s a good opportunity to get them all out and honestly, we’ve got an idea of a track list but also open to changing things up if we have any other ideas or come up with something else. Because obviously you put the best thing out you can really. And yeah, hopefully, in the next year or two we’ll have an album out.

Scott – So the plan is more singles, you’re going to still be releasing music up until the point you get to do an album and you’ve got plenty of music.

Will – Drip feed singles or EPs. We’ll definitely get another EP out before we do an album.

Scott – EPs are half an album, I always had a saying, I used to wind people up, my friends, I would say an EP is half an album, so it’s only half hearted. I want to hear your record! to try and encourage them to make the big record because there’s some people that that you know, that have been friends of mine for years and they only ever made that EP. And I’m still waiting for the record 10 years or 20 years on and it would have been one of the best records that I’ve ever heard in my life and then literally, they’ll go and record the second half of the EP years later. And it’s literally the same album, if you just put them together that’s like a hit album. I like EP’s, they have served a purpose for me. They’re a learning curve before you go make a record and I’ve always made an EP before each record and even if I haven’t put it out, I’ve gone to make the EP because I find you can put the backbone of an album on an EP if you want to. And then I would pick the songs around that EP if that makes sense. So I would bring in, say I’ve got four or five songs, solid songs for that EP, I would pick another four or five that would make that album the strongest it could possibly be, and then you get a good, rough idea. It’s better than going to do a demo, because you put more into production. So I always thought EP’s served their purpose for me, as in, it’s the stepping stones before you record an album.

Will – I definitely treat it like that as well. Sometimes I think of it as a record with two sides. I think there is side one and there is side two. I always think of it like that because we’ve already got ideas for the second album as well and I’m sort of going through it with each side. Because I wanted to be able to do a double LP to be Side one, Side two, Side three, Side four with about three or four songs per side, we’ve been playing around with that and I’ve already got the first two sides. So there’s an album there, really.

Scott – I like your thinking and how much content you’ve got, I like what you’ve just said then because I’m doing a trilogy myself. I understand that you have to have a lot of music like what you’re saying is if you’ve got a lot of songs, you can think I’m going to do two albums, a double album, but Druids and Bards, the album that we just released with Holy Coves, That’s actually a trilogy. So there’s going to be part two and part three, that’s because I have so many old songs I managed to get a lot of them out again. And I was writing so many new songs, so I think that yes, you’re doing it the correct way. I held on to all these songs for so long, when you need to be working and putting them out really because they are brilliant. Some are songs that you’ve maybe got half the confidence in, you know, I’ve done that myself, I’ve not put stuff out because I’ve just thought maybe the timing wasn’t right and over thought it too much. I had that initial feeling what you thought and I thought this is great, this is absolutely brilliant people, need to hear this. And then the longer you don’t put it out for the confidence can kind of disappear in that song and maybe you write new ones that you think are better. So I definitely think that the creative process that you’ve got is healthy. I think you’ll end up stumbling on 10 times more better songs by working how you already are.

Will – I definitely think so as well, I reckon about a year or two ago where we did actually have a solid idea for our first album, I would have told everyone I’m not changing it, that is the track. I’m not changing. Whereas now we’ve written more songs and we think well actually, this song is way better than that one. It’s better than this one because you’ve built such a catalogue of great songs you think actually these aren’t one of our strongest songs and then swap them out in completely different records.

Scott – It can be difficult because you get a good song or an even better song and you can maybe think that this song is not as good anymore. But you know you’re moving forward, you’re progressing with it, but everyone there who’s listening to the music, in the independent scene they haven’t heard it as many times as you have or they maybe haven’t heard it straightaway, so you’ve got to give everyone the time to catch up as well. That’s the importance of campaigns and stuff, I used to always want to rush and put things out, a full album straightaway and not even campaign it and not even give anyone a day to listen to it, kind of shooting them in and then move on to the next one. So I like your approach. I think that’s the correct way. I think you’re gonna get so much more work out there. I think you’re going to get to that point of writing those hit records. I know it sounds cheesy, calling it a hit record but you want it to be a success and people to think that this is a really, really great piece of work. And that’s what’s always been my goal is to make records and albums. I don’t do singles, it’s just not how I work. I write a piece. Is that the same for you, you said you treat it like an EP, a mini album?

Will – Yeah, definitely. That’s definitely how I work. You do want your first album to be that hit record because obviously now it is all you’ve been working towards as a band. That’s everything you work towards It’s your life’s work at this point.

Scott – It’s very important. And it’s important to show that maturity as well you know, and when people who have been on your journey with you, they get to see the songs from the beginning that you’ve released and then it’s like this journey that they’ve gone on with you. And it’s good as well for the people who are the new fans who are saying when the album is doing well and there’s a campaign out there and the new fans come in and they get to see they can go back into the music, it is a journey there for them whether they’re a new fan or an old fan. I like that so, the record is in the pipeline, basically because you sounds like you’ve already written enough songs to do the next two records, which is great, and a few EP’s and singles. So you’re well ahead of the game. And that’s important to be ahead. If you could pick any particular producer to work on this record who would you work with?

Will – There’s quite a few, talking legend status now, I think John Leckie or ‘Youth’ Martin Glover. They’ve both produced some of the best records in my opinion.

Scott – Yeah, I would say John Leckie and Youth are the two of the top producers in the world for me in this genre of music that we’re talking about and what you guys are doing, I think that would be a really, really good fit.

Will – Yeah, 100%

Scott – So what are your favourite albums of John Leckie and ‘Youth’ Martin Glover ?

Will – I’ve got to say with John Leckie It’s definitely The Stone Roses debut, 100% with Youth it’s Urban Hymns, and I’m sure he’s done some stuff with The Music as well. I think he did The Music’s first album potentially.

Scott – He’s done a lot of great music. He’s also the bass player in Killing Joke, which is one of my favourite bands.

Will – Yeah, definitely.

Scott – A great band Absolutely amazing, I met ‘Youth’ a while back, he’s really all for working with youngsters and I know John Leckie used to do stuff like that as well befor,e but I really don’t know too much about him, but I do know that Youth works with a lot of bands, a lot of young bands all over the place. He’s got a studio in Spain. He’s coming up to North Wales to record, apparently he’s been working with a few people up here. I’ve talked to him myself about recording with him too, he’s amazing. He’s a genius. To be honest, they all are and you’d be lucky to get to work with them. that’s the dream, isn’t it? It’s kind of like a band, they go on this journey like you guys are on and the progression is where they end up working with a producer of that calibre. and I’m sure not every band gets the opportunity to do that. But surely that’s the dream.

Will – 100% I’ve been saying I think the main thing about this album is the production because you’ve just got these ideas in your head. You want them to be the best they can be. You want some sort of genius like you say with Youth or John Leckie or James Kelly or something these legends that really have form for doing it. You really want to have that record be of the same calibre as all the idols you look up to.

Scott – It’s guidance and trust as well to listen to someone on their own record. You want it to be right, they know what they’re doing. You’d be in good hands. Very creative people, really connected to something that is the highest point of creativity really, they’re in tune with something that not all people have, all round proper musicians. I was very lucky to get to work with David Wrench. He’s a Welsh legend. He’s a producer, mixing engineer, master engineer, he’s just done Blurs album, but we could literally rattle off his work, and the bands he’s worked with, so I was lucky to work with him on the first two Holy Coves records and so that was the same as you guys, I wanted to work with the best producer and he was mine. So I do know that, that is something that you will learn so much more from doing than not doing. But it doesn’t matter if you don’t work with them on the first record, or the second record, the third or whatever. But it would be great to experience that, get in the studio with someone like that on your first record and it would be absolutely mind blowing. I’d love to work with them myself. So maybe I’ll get to work with ‘Youth’ one day and maybe you’ll get to work with all three one day!

Will – Yeah, hopefully one day, that’d be great, I’m sure we will.

Scott- I think you will, I think you’re heading in that direction, and I think the journey that you’re on and you know, the way that you’re working, I think that’s a testament to yourself and your brand. I really think that’s a selling point for you. I think that people see there’s something more vulnerable but in a good way. People connect to you, it makes you more real. And I think that’s what people are looking for is the real deal. Producers of that calibre, I know they do their work, but they know when they see something special. I think when they’ve made a special record, they know, maybe they might not know it while they’re working on it and making the project but there’s a point where they will they know what they’ve done. They will know it has been special, but then also you never know how your music is going to be received, you can never say but, I hope that happens for you. It would be a big deal.

Will – I saw an interview with the Verve where they were on BBC Radio Six, and they were talking about Urban Hymns, they said when they were working on it, they were obviously sure they were great songs, but they didn’t realise how special the thing they just made was, and when they said they listened to the track list and it was just mind blowing to hear it all come together. I think that’s gonna be like that for us.

Scott – Yeah, if you’ve got the songs, and you’ve got that producer, if it’s the right team around you, I think the stars align and they work that way. You’re working, you’re putting music out and you know, you’re learning your craft and you’re earning your right to work with someone like that. So that’s the way I look at it. So have you got any gigs coming up?

Will – Well, actually, we’re on the plane tomorrow, we’re going to Jersey I’m looking forward to that. It’s Lennon and Felix’s first time ever on a plane.

Scott – Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.

Will – They’re nervous. Lennon is worried about taking any liquids or anything in case he gets searched or whatever. I’m looking forward to it, It’s going to be a good laugh. We’ve also got a tour coming up as well, if you might have seen, promoting awareness for testicular cancer. 20% of the funds we’re making off it go in towards oddballs foundation. So I’m really looking forward to going on that, it’s for a good cause. And it’s also going to be a great tour. If anyone gets tickets, I hope they enjoy it.

Scott – That’s brilliant, where are tickets available from?

Will – They’re available through our link tree. Tickets are usually through Skiddle, just type in Marseille and wherever we’re playing will come up on Google.

Scott – We played together earlier this year. It wasn’t that long ago was it? a couple months ago

Will – Yeah, it was probably about may?

Scott – Couple months ago in Derby. I wanted to thank you for that because obviously you guys agreed to come along and support Holy Coves and we’ve spoke about this you know, that my manager, my best friend, he passed away and he lived in Derby and he lived in Anglesey, so you know, it was a difficult show for me it was a difficult time. And I thank you so much for that because, you guys really made it special for me. I was so tense you know, I’ve never felt like that at a gig before. I’m not even joking every muscle was aching before the gig.

Will – I remember you saying when you got off to be fair, you were saying about your back.

Scott – It was everything I realised I’d been so tense and the way I was holding myself, holding everything, I was really nervous. It was the height of anxiety. And the minute we finished the gig, it’s almost like this weight was lifted off me instantly. It just literally set me free and I know I’ve felt each day after that just a million times better. Every gig just gets better and better. I feel like that was one of the most important moments of my life.

Will – I’m glad to of been a part of it.

Scott – I appreciate that. It meant the world to me. You guys came along and are a testament to what we’re just talking about now, you guys just played all new songs. All those songs that no one had even heard before, it was really brave and they were brilliant, all the different types of genres and just mixing it up, it was brilliant.

Will – Yeah, I don’t think the lads had even heard them until the day before to be fair.

Scott – They were really, really good, I was like wow, they’ve just turned up and played a load of new songs and you know and it went down really well.

Will -I’m glad it did. I think that’s the main point of it, to be honest. See how it goes down in front of a new crowd.

Scott – And it worked, and you rocked them out. I was really, really impressed. But yeah, it’s like I couldn’t even tell you which songs they were, I think you’ve got that many songs they were just really, really great songs. Are any of them these new singles? any of them from on an EP?

Will – I think two of them are on the next release and two of them might be b-sides. The others I think, are mainly destined for the album.

Scott – Well, they were great songs. I knew you were great, but I just didn’t expect you to just come and do something so off the cuff, I love bands that do that. We do stuff like that ourselves just to play different versions of songs and obviously because Holy Coves has been something I’ve been doing for a very long time. So I’ve got a million different versions of all the songs I wrote. I’ve gone back around in circles until the last few years when I really figured out how to write my music, how I wanted it to come out. It was really impressive and I really enjoyed the show. It was a really good gig and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. It was very emotional. It set me free, So I really appreciate that. But we’re going to be playing another couple of show together in Swansea and Liverpool.

Will – I’m very excited for those,

Scott – We’re going to return the favour and support you in Swansea and then you guys will be joining us in Liverpool too. I’m really looking forward to those a lot. So what other gigs have you guys got coming up then?

Will – Yeah, we’ve got quite a few. We’re in Jersey tomorrow. So I’m looking forward to that. Because it’s Lennon and Felix first time in a plane, so I’m sure they’re looking forward to that. I know that Lennon is shitting it a little bit he is not looking forward to it. He thinks it’s going to crash or whatever but we’ll be fine. we’ve got a tour coming up which is very exciting to raise awareness for testicular cancer. And 20% of all the profits made are going towards oddballs foundation. So it’s for a good cause as well.

Scott – And where can people get tickets for this?

Will – Well, the tickets are available on our link tree. All the ones that are labelled Balls tour is called that because actually all the dates spell balls… Birmingham, Aberdeen, Leeds, London and Swansea.

Scott – It’s brilliant. I love it! kind of reminds me of like FEAR, you know where Ian Brown is using the lyrics to spell FEAR. I like what you’ve done, It’s really cool. And we’re going to be joining you on the tour in Swansea, which is a bit of an announcement before it’s even out. We’re going to be playing with you in Swansea so I get to return the favour and say thank you and come and play the main support for you guys in Swansea in the Bunkhouse.

Will – Yeah, really looking forward to that one. It’s going to be a good gig. It’s the first time we will have actually ever played in Wales, I think, unless you count the beach in Porthmadog, but it’ll definitely be the first time we’ve played in Wales.

Scott – So it’s going to be the second time you play Wales because that video you did was basically a gig in the end!

Will – It turned out to be a gig, but more like a Top Of The Pops kind of gig because we were miming for the video.

Scott – Great! After Swansea you guys are going to come and play with us in Liverpool which hasn’t been announced yet. another exclusive! We’re going to be playing in November with your label brothers.

Will – Yeah, that’s their hometown isn’t it? This Is War

Scott – Yeah, so, Holy Coves, Marseille, This Is War, it’s gonna be a really good gig.

Will – That’s an awesome line up.

Scott – It has a really awesome line up and tickets aren’t even on sale for that yet. I just think it’s cool that we’re going to be playing some more shows together. I talk to Paul all the time, he’s such a good guy. He’s helped me out a lot and he’s like that with you guys as well and we seem to all be working together. That’s what I like about your team, you’ve got a really good team about you. And Jim from Bubble Brain is a friend of mine, he turned up to our gig in Isle of Wight Festival which was just amazing. I’ve got to know him since then properly, just realising that we come from an era where we understand each other really well. You know, our musical tastes.

Will – It’s been a really productive partnership for us. It’s something that we wanted to do, was just be signed to a label that really knows their stuff, really knows their audience, an indie label that will take good care of you. They have your best interests in mind and so far I can’t fault it, it has been very good. Obviously Sally’s involved as well with PR.

Scott – We work with sally too.

Will – she’s brilliant. We’ve been with Sally for a while. We’ve got a lot of time for Sally because she’s a big reason why we’re as far as we all are today. I don’t think we would have been anywhere near as far as we are now.

Scott – You’ve definitely got some good people around you. I like your team, I’m lucky enough to be able to work with them myself too. I didn’t have that support system around me when I was your age. So it just always went tits up and you know, just one thing after another to just not knowing what you guys know, not having the right guidance or right people around you. It’s taken me until now to get to that. You’re definitely in good hands.

Will – Yeah, well, I tried to speak to as many people like yourself. To learn more about the industry, looking to people who are more experienced than me and give me advice. It is good to chat to these sort of people because obviously I’m 18, I’m not going to know as much about the industry as people like you or Jim or Sally. It’s great to be around and chat to these people.

Scott – Yeah, it’s all about learning but don’t think for one second that we don’t learn off you too. It goes both ways. So you’ve got another gig that I definitely think is worth a mention that I know about, with Pastel.

Will – Yeah, I’m really looking forward to that. Spoke to James from Pastel, spoke at a few gigs because I’m quite a fan of them of myself. I’m really looking forward to that. And their from Wales themselves and Manchester.

Scott – I’m in contact with the Dad, We speak quite a bit, they’re the real deal. Definitely one of my favourite bands, really looking forward to their debut album. I’ve followed them since day one. And it’s funny because the connections with yourself, there’s a lot of people I know who have put me on to bands like yourself and Pastel, but just from working with Holy Coves, from people saying, oh, have you heard this band? and I didn’t just come back onto the scene and find you guys myself. It’s like people’s dads, people’s brothers, because I know the older generation as well as the younger generation which I’m getting to know now. They would put me onto bands like yourself and Pastel, so that’s how I’ve discovered bands like yourself and Pastel through people like me coming back to music and people being like, Oh, love holy Coves, used to love the old record, but this new record is amazing. And I’m like, I don’t really know who they are. But then you know, that’s the network of when you get to know people in time. It goes from network into sort of like friendships, and then it’s like, oh, my son is in a band. And I’m like, Okay. Who are they? This word of mouth thing and independent music thing is really good. And you realise that there’s so many of these people that you’re speaking to and and that they’re connected to each other?

Will – Yeah, you don’t realise it, but it’s true.

Scott – It comes a point where the penny drops and you’re like, Whoa, I didn’t realise that you’re his dad or his brother.

Will – Definitely. Like, sometimes you don’t realise the people you know. Sometimes you’re literally one person away from the next big step, always closer than what you think.

Scott – And it’s funny because I know I’m getting old when the guitarist from the The Royston club, they came to watch Holy Coves play and the guitarist from The Royston club came up to me and said ‘My Dad and Mum love your band!’ They said they came to watch us. So he’s in a band that’s becoming really successful, they’re getting massive and his parents are kind of like fans of my band and coming to watch me I think it’s hilarious. It’s that connection thing. It’s like everything is connected as there’s so many of these musicians that you know are friends with each other. This independent scene is booming at the moment.

Will – Yeah it is. You don’t realise who’s connected to who.

Scott – It takes time to figure all that stuff out. When that stuff happens, you could know someone for such a long time and then you’d see them at a venue and the penny drops, oh, okay, now I know who you are. And I think a lot of things were done online for the duration of COVID So I think, putting the face to the name kind of thing really helps because this independent music scene was shut off for a while, but its vibing now, people are getting out and getting to meet people. So many people travelled all over the UK to watch our shows when they’re not even from the area and it’s crazy. We’ve got people coming to our Anglesey show from Scotland, and London. This is when we’re fighting the mainstream, the mainstream is not an easy thing to to compete with, but I definitely feel that this is the new generation of bands, of what’s going on. Now there is so many quality bands and you guys are definitely one of them.

Will – I think young people are beginning to take more of an interest.

Scott – 100% and you can understand when I was doing stuff in 2012, 2005 even that was like one of the worst times to come to try and do what I’m doing now. It was difficult because everyone was, they weren’t even over that Oasis and Verve kind of thing. I wasn’t particularly a fan of Oasis. I was more into bands like Smashing Pumpkins and bands like Spiritualized. I was into different bands than most of my friends were into. So that kind of puts a bit of a divide for you as well with music but I definitely feel like this independent scene is buzzing. It’s vibrant. Thankyou for taking the time to sit and chat with me, it’s been great to talk to you today.

Will – Thanks for having me Scott.

Scott – No worries, man.


Emily Marsden – Editor
#MusicSceneWales
@MusicSceneWales
musicscenewalescymru@gmail.com