Music

How did you start making music?

When we were 13 we met on the school bus and Luke asked me to join his band. We spent all our spare time after class writing music and listening to U2 and going, ‘I wanna be the Edge!’ ‘I wanna be Bono!’ We haven’t changed much, really.

What’s the most surprising record in your own collection?

I did own a George Michael album. That was quite a surprise. I wish I could say it was Wham! to prove that it was a long time ago, but sadly it was ‘Older’.

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What was the first record you bought?

Queen, ‘Live Magic’. I just love that band. My favourite song was ‘It’s A Kind Of Magic’. That bassline is just so good.

What was the first gig you went to?

Status Quo, a Radio 1 In The Park thing. It was the first time my parents let me out to a gig. I was ten. They were brilliant.

What’s the best piece of advice you’re received so far?

Recently, to put both feet physically on the floor, and breathe in and out.

What situation were you in?

Complete panic! Complete chaos. Just ’cos our lives have changed really quickly, we’ve been doing loads of travelling and I wasn’t built for that, so it was quite a shock.

What was the last book you read?

It was ‘The Wind Up Bird Chronicle’ by Haru… Haru… what’s his name? That’s it! Haruki Murakami! I loved it. It’s a really moving book. It’s so different. I read it and really related to it, ’cos at the time it felt like there was a block of flow in my life. And now there’s unstoppable flow!

What’s your greatest non-musical influence?

I suppose it’s conversation really – it’s meeting strangers on buses and trains and planes and just chatting away.

What’s your dream support gig?

I would have loved to have played with Miles Davis as a double bass player. Actually no, scratch that, John Coltrane, ’cos Miles was an arse! Support gig now, I suppose we would still love to support U2 really. Or them to support us, heh heh.

What’s on the tourvan stereo?

The Roots compilation album, early Tom Waits, and the classical music of Edgar Meyer, a virtuoso double bass player.

What’s the most rock ’n’ roll thing that’s happened to you so far?

Phew. I suppose Daniel Day Lewis calling up and trying to get free tickets to see us play supporting Jamie Cullum in Belfast. That’s pretty rock ’n’ roll.

Nizlopi is the new…

Challenge to fake plastic music. Ha ha!
Watch the 'JCB Song' video here.