Interview The Whip

Fresh from tearing the rafters off every word-of-mouth gig venue known to man and with their debut album ‘X marks destination’, already causing a stir, THE WHIP have been selling out gigs across the nation, with tickets for their hometown show all snapped-up with 7 weeks to spare. We caught up guitarist and vocalist Bruce from Manchester's most exciting electro-indie rock outfit.

Date: 08/05/08

AudioScribbler: How did The Whip form and where did you all meet?

Bruce: Danny and I have been in bands together for years. After the last one split we set up in a pub cellar in Salford, the rent was free but it was dirty and lit by a single flashing disco light. Muck from the walls would fall all over our stuff when we recorded loud, but it was ideal, nice and sleazy. We spent about 6 months down there writing stuff. Nath was a mate of ours who we worked in a music shop with, I used to teach him the basslines at work. He was going out with fee fee at the time but at the 1st rehersal they told us they had just split up. They get on fine like a brother and sister which is cool. Since then, I suppose we have toured non stop for 2 years.

AS: You have a very distinct artwork style for 'X Marks Destination', as well as your other. Who designed it and do you feel it reflects your music?

Bruce: A design company in London worked closely on it with us, they sent us loads of images and we sent them stuff too and told them what we liked. I got really anal about the shapes being right and stuff. I like the mish mash vibe - it reflects the music.

AS: You have many remixes listed in your blogs by bands like Hadouken!, yet you also have a busy touring schedule. Do you feel that the remixes give you the 'dance band' image, but the live touring portrays you more as a working, 'indie' band? What types of music fans do you find listen to your music?

Bruce: Loads of different people come down to gigs and have a dance. You get old dudes and kids, dance heads and indie kids making love on the dance floor. We try to use dance music rhythms with live instruments so I would never say we were a straight up indie band. We love being able to play in-between dj’s in clubs as much as normal venues that shut at 11pm. I think people are more up for listening to loads of different stuff these days. The media is so fast that people's minds are ready for more of a sonic stew.

AS: Who do you draw your influences from, both individually and as a band

Bruce: We listen to loads of different stuff. Soulwax, Daft Punk, Fleetwood Mac- Rumours, Talking Heads, Beach Boys... it’s the best way to listen to music, in a random way, there is so much good stuff out there.

AS: How do you go about constructing a song, is it a democratic process or does a lead songwriter/programmer bring the songs to the rest of the band?

Bruce: 90% of the time I have it mapped out in my head and then Danny and I sit down and piece it together; loads more fun stuff gets added on the way. We’ve done 7 or 8 totally different versions of some songs till we decide which one we like best. We’ve written together for years so we know how to communicate with each other. When the song is finished we play it to Nath and Fee for the 1st time.

AS: Do you have any plans to play any festivals this year?

Bruce: Yeah, after the UK tour we go to Australia, but we’re non stop all summer really, not a day off till the end of august. Leeds/reading/glasto/gatecrasher/creamfields/02 wireless/blissfields/secret garden party… should be a fun time, even if it’s MUDDY! Last summer our stuff got so covered in muck, there are still bits of mud here and there on flightcases.

AS: Do you think that the 'nu rave' scene, however authentic it really is, has opened the floodgates for bands with less guitars and more dance oriented beats to be popular again?

Bruce: I don’t really know what new rave is or if it exists? I just think people like dancing and moving to a beat with their eyes open. You get more energy from four people playing dance music on a stage than dj’s. I love dj’s though!

AS: What's the most memorable gig you've done to date? Likewise, any noteworthy dreadful ones?

Bruce: We’ve been pretty lucky. I guess going to Japan last year was amazing. We’d never been there and it was a real shock to us to go to the other side of the world and have a tent full of people up for it. It was crazy!

AS: How would you describe your music to somebody who had never heard you? Also, what is The Whip's 'band philosophy' (if you have one!)

Bruce: Just to get people dancing with their eyes open. We try not to have an attitude either, we like meeting people in different places. After the gig the party goes on most nights.

AS: What are your plans after your last gigs in August? Do you write songs on the road and will you be going straight back into the studio?

Bruce: We’ll be trying to write here and there on the road, in dressing rooms, on the bus, hotel rooms before then but after that we’ll finish the new album and get it out this time next year so we can do it all over again!

THE WHIP ALL AGES TOUR DATES:

8TH May York Fibbers
9th May Dublin Trinity Ball
10th May Preston 93 Degrees
12th May Oxford Jericho Tavern
14th May London 93 Feet East (18+)
15th May Brighton Great Escape
16th May Southampton Joiners
17th May Sheffield Plug Neutral
19th May Cambridge J2
21st May Cardiff Barfly
22nd May Manchester Academy 3
23rd May Leeds Cockpit
27th May Liverpool Alma De Cuda

LONDON DATE LISTINGS INFO:

THE WHIP with special guests: South Central / Bitchee Bitchee Ya Ya Ya
AGE: 18+
DATE: 14th May
VENUE: 93 Feet East, Brick Lane, London
PRICE: £8 in advance / £10 on the door
TICKETS: www.gigsandtours.com

Words: Kane Fulton
www.myspace.com/thewhipmanchester