“We’ll easily out-cock MGMT.”- You’ve got to love it.
A revolution is upon us, as the trio of Suspire announce. No pulling punches; heads screwed on and hard work is the key. With so many Scottish bands making their way to the charts, the band touch on the myspace era, cutting out the middle man, and realising the industry for oneself and not just being the talent.
Suspire – Paul, Mark and Clare – are the first band to set up for the night’s music-news.com free events at the Cowgate’s Three Sisters. The Glasgow alt-rock trio – and something of a family affair – released their debut single ‘Legislate for Luck’ las October on their own Clay Davis label and have supported the likes of Shonen Knife, made
their major festival debut at RockNess 2010, and are soon to be the main support for Ex Simple Minds (Brian McGee & Derek Forbes) as they
kick off their UK tour.
I arrive with a gleaming smile as I know this band through the infamous, Vincent Feasson. Musician, promoter extraordinaire and mutual friend who took them to France and let them do all the work!
I’m introduced to the lovely trio by Susan Ford, the organiser, and we begin talking about past gigs and the degrees of separation between us. I discover we’re practically best pals, but not in a Misery type of way. I’m not about to kidnap them and take them to a cabin in the mountains or tie them to beds and breaks their legs. No, no. That’s incredibly rude, and a far too elaborate way of going about telling someone that you admire them. Pfft, besides I hate the snow.
The members of Suspire have been in different bands before committing to the trio they are now. Clare Kelly, Suspire’s drummer, is the only original member and has witnessed all the different ages of Suspire. This version of Suspire had their first gig together two years ago in Box ,and haven’t looked back since.
I get 10 minutes with them, but I find that we’re left to our own devices and we talk as normal people…
Who are you listening to at the moment?
Mark: Juan Pablo!
(I swear I’m not telling them to say this.)
Clare: Everything Everything.
Paul: TV on the Radio. They’re like the American Radio. A dirty version. I don’t really listen to a band as part of a fad. If I like a band I listen to them because I like them and I stay a fan of theirs. I latch on to them like a limpet.
Mark: A barnacle! I like Jurassic Five and Rolo Tomassi.
Paul: Limpet Bizket!
What about collaborations?
Mark: Vanilla Ice!
Paul: That’s a good question. Maybe Prince but then he would do everything for you.
Mark: Dave Grohl.
Clare: There would be loads.
But if you only had one chance to work with someone who would it be?
Paul: Chris Martin. I would just like to sit with him and see how he comes up with his compositions. ’cause he writes for other artists quite casually, like Jamelia and Kanye West. I would interview him. I bet he just comes up with the arrangements, it’s already in his head.
Paul: He probably does, so I’ll take a brick to his head.
Hah, try and make music now.
Paul: He still probably could.
Mark: And then I’ll steal his wife.
Clare: MGMT?
Mark: No…..well. Are they not one of those bands? They don’t mean to be intentionally difficult, it’s kinda their thing? Cos back at college they would go on stage and just make noise and make the crowd leave.
They cover themselves in fake blood and dress up like dinosaurs.
Clare: I’d love that.
Paul: They don’t take themselves seriously to the point when they make it look like they take themselves seriously.
I think that’s the joke.
Mark: It’s like the whole Joaquin Phoenix thing, is he really going to be a rapper?
Paul: No way. It’s a joke. I think MGMT want people to think they’re dicks.
Mark: Didn’t they go to the same School as Darwin Deez?
Clare: Darwin Deez are nice guys.
Paul: MGMT are probably nice guys.
I hope I get to meet them.
Paul: Ask them for a loan. Tell them we’ll square go them, no bother. I’ll bring ma brick.
Mark: We’ll easily out cock them.
Clare: Oh no.
Heavens above.
Paul: I like their stuff. They make the music they want to make. Their stuff is strange and I like strange stuff.
Do you think the internet has made things easier for musicians or harder? With so much variety and with it being so accessible, do you think it’s harder to get your music noticed?
Paul: It’s saturation. Cream will always rise to the top.
Mark: Talent will always get its just rewards.
Clare: I think it has become harder. There are so many artists out there, and we’re all aiming for the same thing.
Paul: We’re all even more of a needle in a hay stack. But if you work hard, and network, and combine with other bands to make a strong community then you should still be able to carve out some kind of career.
Mark: There are people out there that want a maximum outcome, from minimum input. They think if you put a song online you’ll get famous. Clare: If you have enough people around you with enough skills then you can create a mini record label. Each person doing their bit. It’s about skills swapping. We’re going to another country to do a show in Vancouver. It’s because another band are helping us, all they want in return is the same opportunity.
Paul: Let’s all help each other, and cut out all the middle men. Let’s support one another and make money. We have been at the mercy of major corporations for years, and now with so many bands having a good grounding of the music business, bands can market themselves. Now the corporations are trying to catch up. It shouldn’t be cut throat. It’s a revolution.
Clare: And it’s already started.
Mark: It’s an evolution. It should be a creative input. Clare: It’s about giving more than taking. You build up a fan base and you honour it.
(The Stagger Rats are setting up behind us and test out Clare’s drums…LOUD NOISES!)
Paul: We’re trying to make a career out of music, even if it’s a modest one. We’ll happily help out other bands that are trying to do the same.
I have to admit, I’m a little in love with these guys. They believe in hard work and talent, and helping others with the same ideals.
Having received airplay of the single in the USA and Canada, Suspire will be touring the west-coast in Aug 2010, with gigs in San Francisco, Seattle and Vancouver.