We got the chance to do an interview with Kieran Shudall and Joe Falconer – half of the incredible Circa Waves – in a small flat on Hamburg’s Reeperbahn where they played an accoustic set in a foreign bed for our friends of In Bed With… (you can watch it here and here). After this intimate sort of private concert we sat down on a very green couch and the whole mood was pretty comfy and relaxed. There’s always a lot gone missing of that mood when you write down an interview, so hopefully you can still feel a bit of this lovely and friendly atmosphere through the lines and beware: some questions as well as the answers were kind of ironic and said with a funny wink.
The session was really impressive and funny, it was amazing to be a part of it.
Kieran: (laughs) Good!
And I’m happy to have you guys here. The first time I saw you was when you were supporting The Libertines a few years ago. You just had three demo tracks out at this time or something like that?
Kieran: Yeah, it wasn’t much, the album wasn’t out, was it?
Joe: No, we were recording the single ‚Fossils‘, so that was single number two or three.
Kieran: Yeah, it was very early days, but a great tour.
And I am a fan from the very beginning.
Kieran: (smiles brightly) Good!
And I saw that now you have more than 800.000 listeners on Spotify what’s really impressive because The Libertines do have about one million.
Kieran: We did have a million the other week.
Joe: Yeah, we got to a million.
Kieran: I don’t know why it went down, but it fluctuates. But yeah, we have a good Spotify audience.
„’Different Creatures‘ is the kind of stuff that the Circa Waves probably should have always been but I fucked up with the start.“
Yeah, it’s amazing! How does it feel to have more listeneres than the band that is VERY popular in the scene and that you supported once?
Kieran: I think it’s good. They are different, they are an older band with older fans who don’t have Spotify. (laughs) It doesn’t feel too much like a battle. It’s nice to know that young people listen because that’s how young people listen to music these days – by streaming and it’s good to know that we are a popular band in that sense of the word. And that’s how I consume music so I feel I’m on a cutting edge as well. (smiles)
And did you ever expect to be so successful with it when you played as a support?
Kieran: No, not really, no. I think we were just hoping that something good would happen. And it’s just great that it got bigger and bigger. Now our ambitions grow so much more from that, we don’t just wanna play festivals, we wanna get to the top of the bills and play main stages now. Our ambitions are now stronger than ever.
That’s pretty cool. I hope that it will come more and more and you will be successful even in twenty, thirty, fifty years. (everybody laughs)
‚Young Chasers‘ was a very light album in my opinion, very easy going while ‚Different Creatures‘ seems a bit more grown up and even a bit mournful in my eyes. Is this the normal process of losing the childish lightness?
Joe: I think we knew that we needed to do something different. By the time we finished doing ‚Young Chasers‘ we’ve been playing the songs for a long time and I think we wanted to do something that matched our ambition to move up to bigger stages. We were all into heavier music before anyway and I think it was just something that we went naturally to, a natural progression, it wasn’t too contrived.
Kieran: (laughs) it wasn’t contrived at all.
Why did you choose the light way when you are more into heavier music?
Kieran: I still love that kind of music now. Me and Joe always listen to The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – all these sorts of genderly distortion. I still love that kind of music but that was as very much in that phase when I wrote that record which was in three months pretty much which is condensed with summery dreamy pop thing. But really I always have been into Foo Fighters and Nirvana, all that kind of heavier stuff. So if anything the ‚Young Chasers‘ was the abnormal and ‚Different Creatures‘ is the kind of stuff that the Circa Waves probably should have always been but I fucked up with the start. (everybody laughs) But you know it’s cool, I think it’s layed a good foundation we now can build on and we built on ‚Young Chasers‘ and gone a bit darker, but it’s still Circa Waves in a way.
Yeah, it is!
„I think there’s always so much going on and there’s distraction like beer… and… whiskey.“
Kieran: But people that don’t like it, they can always listen to the first record. (everybody laughs) And the new fans can listen to the new record.
But it’s pretty similar, it’s still the Circa Waves sound. The sound is not so different that people have to choose. Speaking about creative process: How do you get yourself into the right mood to write the songs?
Kieran: I find being completely relaxed and sort of at home with a cup of tea, is my natural state of mind that I need to be in. I really can’t write on the road very well.
Too stressful?!
Kieran: I think there’s always so much going on and there’s distraction like beer… and… whiskey. (smiles) There are just loads of people and it’s really fun so you never wanna go off on your own and maybe write a song. So, after the tour I go home and spend my time there writing music, I just need to be super relaxed.
In a very British way, with tea?
Kieran: With lots of tea, yeah. (smiles) And a curry, which is kind of British as well.
What is needed in your opinion to make a good song?
Kieran: There are so many things it could be. I mean we listen to Brian Eno which is one note going on for three minutes… sorry, for thirty minutes… and I think that’s a good song. And then Queens Of The Stone Age with its complex parts, riffs, incredible drum sounds. I think the great thing about music is that no one really knows the answer and it could be anything, it could be this completely obscure thing or this immediate like Michael Jackson tune, you know something that is just so poppy, incredible… so I don’t know if there is this one thing that could be a point. It’s just something human about this that kind of connects with you as a human. That makes a good song, I guess.
„We always mean to have something ready for this question but we never do.“
Good answer! The song ‚Old Friends‘ speaks about hanging out with old friends in difficult personal situations. Is this something you miss on tour?
Kieran: I do, yeah. There are a couple of songs on the album about mates. As soon as you’re away from something you long for, it’s kinda like absence makes the heart grow fonder, It’s just like I leave my old mates at home which I think a lot of people can relate to, really. Leaving friends behind and stuff.
But you are all friends too and can support each other in difficult situations?
Joe: (moves his hand in a doubtful gesture) mmmyeah… (everybody laughs)
Not that much?
Joe: No it’s good.. It’s not just the band, we got a good crew as well, so we have quite a lot people around us so there’s always someone to talk to. And we got quite a good little gang, that’s nice.
You feel good with it?
Joe: Yeah, it’s like… touring is not a natural situation and it can be a little bit stressful at times and I think it’s important to have the right people around.
That’s perfect for the next question because there are always privations in tour life but also loads of funny and good things that happen. What’s the funniest story you can tell?
Kieran: Ummm… We always mean to have something ready for this question but we never do. (Joe laughs) We use to get pretty wasted on the bus and play FIFA which is about as crazy as it gets, really. I don’t know, Colin likes to get naked on the bus, that’s pretty cool.
So, that’s pretty funny?! (everybody laughs) Him naked is funny, I guess he shouldn’t hear that.
Kieran: Yeah. I mean funny to me… might be attractive for someone else.
„Some orange in a sliced kiwi fruit on a daffodil stock and then he turned it black and red.“
A lot of Indie bands loose their grungy-garage-sound through the years. Do you have someone who keeps an eye on you so you don’t become too professional or too perfect?
Joe: (laughs) I don’t think there’s anyone keeping the eyes to stop us from doing that. Maybe the other way around.
Kieran: I don’t think so, no. I’m pretty open to get as ridiculous as possible. I become like the biggest stadium band of all the time.
Really…?
Kieran: Yeah. (laughs) Not really. Our own sound, we really have a love for mainstream music but we also like kind of cooler music as well this is why we listen to Radiohead, Ride and Slowdive which are also less commercial so we have one foot in that side and one foot in the other and I think that keeps us balanced. I mean, the songs like ‚Fire That Burns‘ which is a pop song we got to our way to make it harder and darker and we’ve always got back in mind that we don’t want to be a perfect sort of production. That’s why we always leave in recordings a bit of talking and stuff like that. So it feels like it’s not just a super sort of Miley Cyrus pop song.
I noticed that the demos that I first listened to were very grungy, very dirty and with some higher notes – it was a bit like garage sound and when the album came out the same songs sounded so different and…
Kieran: …and you were disappointed. (Joe laughs)
No, no! Not really disappointed but I liked the demo versions a bit more.
Kieran: Sure, well I think it’s taste, isn’t it? I mean, I listen to a lot of that scrappy demo recordings as well but I think if you wanna take the songs to a next level what you have to, there has to be more like a higher fidelity I guess. (smiles) On the first album we tried to keep the sound small, like a bit garagy but you have to have like some balance, I think. If you’re on the radio and want to built a fanbase it’s important to try to make the sound a bit more rounded, I think.
Yeah that’s true. I can live with it. (everyone laughs)
Also your current record cover is completely different. Who had the idea of the design and who created it?
Kieran: I know we wanted an eye and then we had the idea of amalgamation of two things like something that would create a different creature basically, so being like an eye on a stock or we had the idea of a dog’s head on a couch. (smiles)
Joe: Two things that make a new thing. And then the designer got the bullseye as an orange.
Kieran: As an orange in a sliced kiwi fruit on a daffodil stock and then he turned it black and red. So it was coming together two different things to create a different creature.
Yeah, that’s clever!
Kieran: We’re pretty clever. (laughs)
You’ll play at the Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival in Korea, have you ever played in Asia before?
Joe: Yeah we’ve been to Japan three times. We went really eagerly to do a festival called ‚Super Sonic‘ and we do it again this year. And we’ve also done Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Singapore and Philippines as well. It’s great, it’s like one of my best places to go. Especially in Southeast Asia they don’t get a lot of bands going out there. So the level of excitement is insane.
„He sounds a bit like a dinosaur, isn’t he? Like he’s trapped in his ways.“
Yeah, I just wanted to ask you about the difference to European crowds! So they’re very grateful that you play there?
Kieran: Much better!
Joe: They’re really grateful that we’re there. But also in Japan they’re very polite. They go crazy but then after a song they wait for you patiently to begin a new one.
Really? That’s weird… (smiles)
Kieran: We also get a lot of gifts! I guess because they don’t get that much Western music over there, it’s such a huge thing for them. They invest time and load all the songs and obviously have their favourite members, they would be like: ‚I made you that!‘ and you’re just: ‚Oh, Hello!‘ and that’s interesting. It’s such a culture shock when you go to those places ‚cause it’s so far aways from the UK or Europe. I can’t wait to go back to Japan.
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club told us in an interview – I quote: ‚I think rock bands today could use a lot more sex, and drugs and debauchery, it’s crazy to me the amount of bands who’d rather tweet than fuck, or smoke e-cigarettes rather than real drugs or even real cigarettes. And I’m not talking about just getting drunk or fucked up, I mean real drugs that open your mind and question the world around you.‘ – do you still need this kind of attitude to create real music or do the times have changed?
Kieran: He sounds a bit like a dinosaur, doesn’t he? Like he’s trapped in his ways.
Joe: I think that shit doesn’t make you write good music. So I mean if you can write good music and then in your free time go and do that. I think. It’s two things. I can’t relate to it.
Kieran: It’s a strange thing to say… he’s probably coming of a music… what band was he in? ‚Brian Jonestown Massacre‘! That guy from them, wasn’t he?! So, that’s a band where they just were fucking flying off their faces constantly and they all broke up and hate each other. So I mean you can do that but I wouldn’t suggest it. I think telling you to smoke real cigarettes is like the saddest thing I’ve ever heard. (laughs)
Joe: Oh yeah, let’s all kill each other!
Kieran: Great! But they do had some good tunes so maybe they were right, I dunno. Well, like two good tunes.
Maybe someone should tell him that you tried it differently and THIS is the really cool way?
Kieran: Well, we smoked enough cigarettes and drank enough booze but we’re pretty normal, so I don’t know (laughs) I don’t know what the answer is. I think writing music is subjective and the way you’re doing music is your thing but don’t worry about other bands tweeting.
Joe: You just need to have fun. You don’t need drugs, you just learn everything and will have a good time.
I have some short questions left for you, so try to answer as fast as you can.
Favourite book?
Kieran: Perfume.
Joe: Can I choose more than one? It’s either ‚The Embaralised Being‘, ‚The Master Margerita‘ or ‚A Hundred Years Of Solitude‘. I can’t pick, they are my top three.
Kieran: They are also mine. (laughs)
Most underrated artist?
Kieran: Nirvana (everyone laughs)
Never heard of them.
(Kieran laughs)
Kieran: The Maccabees?
But they already split up.
Kieran: They still can be underrated. (laughs)
If they wouldn’t be so underrated, they maybe wouldn’t split up.
Kieran: Maybe.
„I don’t mind it, I would never do it, if I wasn’t in a band.“
You ever heard of the Fronteers? From Hull?
Kieran: Maybe I feel like I’ve heard that name.
You should pick them to support you on the next tour. (everyone laughs)
Kieran: Okay!
They’re amazing and their sound would fit so perfectly to yours!
Kieran: Alright!
Keep that in mind! (everyone laughs)
Kieran: Deal!
Most beautiful country to spend your holidays at?
Kieran: Ummm… I like Greece!
Joe: I like the Greek fans.
Kieran: Sunny, fattuccines…
Joe: I did a Californian road trip last year and it was beautiful all the way.
Free downloads: good or bad? Should everyone be able to download music for free?
Kieran: No…
Joe: I think you should pay for it in some way. Like Spotify, I think the streaming thing could become a valuable thing, it seems like it’s going this way. But I think you should pay something.
Kieran: I think if you could download music for free bands would really struggle… they already struggle enough. You don’t make as much money as a lot of people may think. So any way we can get a bit of cash is good. (laughs)
You should go around with a hat.
Kieran: Yeah, I do. Outside the gigs. ‚Please, I need food!‘ (everyone laughs)
Social Media – friend or foe?
Kieran: I don’t mind it, I would never do it, if I wasn’t in a band. I would never go on Twitter or Instagram. It’s just a part of it now, isn’t it?
Yeah it is and it’s not always funny.
Kieran: No, I don’t like it really. But I suppose you just have to do it in a band.
You experienced some hate over social media?
Joe: We usually have a few people who hate what we’re doing or they write that they didn’t like the sound they heard ten minutes ago. If there’s that sort of person that has to write its opinion upon the internet being negative and angry we just smile and go on. We don’t need those opinions. No one does. We use postive things to talk to people.
So be positive on the internet everybody! That’s an advice!
Joe: Yeah, and just ignore it.
That’s a good way. I’m proud of you because not everybody can do it like you.
Joe: I know. I think that’s the whole point: Those people who are trying to wind you up, they don’t really mean what they say.
interview conducted by Maria