Photo credit: Andy Gannon
Tell us about your tour vehicle.
We tour in a tour bus in the UK which makes quite the change to my Dodge Caravan (driven mainly by me) when I’m in the States!
I’ve been touring for so long I think I’ve been in every kind of vehicle there is – I’m thinking about touring on a motorbike in the States in June. Just need a decent travel guitar.
How do you eat cheaply and/or healthy while on tour?
We eat a lot of ramen soup. We love Vietnamese restaurants because you can find something healthy to eat!
I’d love to say we eat healthily all the time…
How many strings do you break in a typical year? How much does it cost to replace them?
I actually (knock on wood) don’t break many strings at all. I broke one last year! I’m pretty good at keeping on top of my string changing. Shows at home my guitar tech will change them before each show but when I’m in the States I’m a bit lazier…
Where do you rehearse?
We rehearse in Pirate Studios, it’s a good space and it’s not stinky. We’ve been in a lot of stinky rehearsal spaces… I’m not sure which genre of band is responsible for stinky rehearsal spaces!
What was the title and a sample lyric from the first song that you wrote?
It was called “Plan It Yourself”
“See, I never told you I loved you enough,
Wherever I am just know I’m looking at you with a smile,
Big decisions that lead to forever,
Just know that I’m with you all the while.”
Describe your first gig.
My first official festival was a tram museum festival when I was 12. I played on a moving tram, it was weird.
What was your last day job? What was your favorite day job?
My last day job was 7 years ago and I used to sell baby photo shoots. I was quite the salesperson!
How has your music-related income changed over the past 5-10 years? What do you expect it to look like 5-10 years from now?
10 years ago I was working a day job to fund my music career, travelling up and down the country on weekends. Now I have a completely different life and now my touring in the UK makes it financially viable to take a loss on touring new territories. I’ve worked really hard in the UK and hoping to have the same kind of career in the USA.
What one thing do you know now that you had wished you knew when you started your career in music?
Not everyone is right. And no one knows what they’re doing. We are all winging it.