WickerMan On the Making Of “Shoot You Down”
What was the creative process like for this particular "Shoot You Down?"
For this song, it was inspired by the John Lee Hooker song which is an old blues song and I've always loved that graspy blues-sounding vocal so I wrote the song around that.
Can you talk about the recording and production process for"Shoot You Down?"
With all my songs, I write and produce them completely by myself. I have a little studio I created in my spare room and I shut myself in and get myself into a creative space and then it just flows. I like to start with a hook and then write the song around that single idea. As it builds up, the song slowly changes and by the time it's complete, it's usually very different from how I first envisioned it.
What are you most proud about this track?
I love the intro when the vocals first kick in, it has a real sense of the dramatic in it. The ending as well I think is quite cool!
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got started in music?
I first started writing music when I was around 14 or 15 and created my first band in college. I was in a metal band for 6 years and we even played a download festival in 2006. When that ended quite badly due to falling out I realise I was so dependent on other people to write the music so I started teaching myself how to write and produce by myself. I did this for a while, quite badly, and around 7 years later I joined another band, a funk rap rock band, and loved getting back into playing live and writing in a band again. Then COVID came and took that all away so this is when I decided to build my own little studio in my house so I could create whenever I wanted and WickerMan was born.
How do you stay inspired and motivated to continue pushing boundaries in your art?
I've always been a very motivated and inspired writer. The way I think in everyday life is in a musical way. I am constantly writing notes or making sound notes on my phone of little ideas I have. Then when I get time to shut myself away in my studio, I'll look back at these ideas to keep the creative thoughts flowing. I write music for me, this ensures I don't overthink things. As my sound doesn't fall under one genre it's quite hard to fit in anywhere but if I was to try and fit in, it wouldn't be as original and as authentic as it is.
Lilac On the Making of “Touch”
What was the initial spark or idea that led to the creation of "Touch?" Were there any challenges or breakthrough moments during the songwriting process for "Touch?"
It was written during the first COVID lockdown. I'd (Beth - lead singer) just started writing music again after my previous band had split the previous year. I had already written It's Illusional which I had sent over to Lewis to work on with the production side of things and he seemed to get the sort of vibe I was going for with this new stuff. “Touch” was written in a classic 'Beth' fashion where I find some chords that go together, add some lyrics to the chords for a verse, and then get stuck with where to go for a chorus. I remember getting stuck for the words in the chorus but Lewis came up with 'you always crave my touch' which just worked and then the rest came to me. I can't say the lyrics were anything particularly meaningful to me but I think they come across as powerful. I think the major challenge when writing this song was the fact that me and lewis weren't even in the same town. It all had to be done remotely.
Were there any memorable or standout moments during the recording sessions for this single?
This was our first track recorded in a studio. Me and Lewis spent the day in Liverpool at the Motor Museum with Ben Harper which was such a cool experience! Ben had worked on The Mysterine's tracks and that gritty guitar sound that you hear in their music was exactly what I wanted for this song. The last chorus of this song reflects that gritty distorted sound that we wanted to achieve. “Touch” is a darker floral indie tune with an atmospheric verse and a gritty anthemic chorus which suits the song that has more anger and lust than previous Lilac releases. It features one of Lilac’s most iconic ‘in your face’ guitar solos! Fun fact about the guitar solo - the solo you hear in the track is the original demo guitar solo that Lewis recorded very early on. He's never quite been able to replicate it to sound exactly this way so we decided to keep it in.
What inspired you to pursue a career in music?
I've written music since I was about 10 years old. Music was always going to be something that I dedicated my life to. I am at my happiest when I am surrounded by music. With Lilac, something within the music feels right. I think we've created almost a mini subculture of floral indie and we aspire to share this with the world.
What do you enjoy most about performing live and connecting with your audience?
Playing live is the best part of being in a band. Nothing brings me more happiness than being on stage in my own little rockstar bubble. I've spent my life watching live music and going to see my favourite bands no matter how big or small they are and that connection that I have with all my favourite bands is something I can only hope that one day people will have with us.
darkmaterial On the Making Of “Lucky Charm”
What was the creative process like for this particular "Lucky Charm?"
The song was written by combining the idea of a large breakdown with repetitive droning sections and the idea of writing a chorus section without lyrics.
The lyrics for the song are written for the perspective of a 'Lucky Charm' to its owner.
I was looking to make something dark but hopeful which the band brought to life in this song.
What did you enjoy most about making "Lucky Charm?"
Lucky Charm was actually the first song we recorded together professionally as a band. The whole experience was amazing. Working with Jack at the Pyramid Studies was an absolute pleasure and discovering the things that we could do in track-by-track recording was fantastic.
How do you feel "Lucky Charm" represents your artistic identity?
The song captures the cosmic horror theme of the band combined with the relatable every day of having a lucky object. Musically it shows the unique dark sound we are building on as a band combining heavy metal, alt-rock, and post-rock elements together. We are particularly pleased with the extended breakdown section of this track and the song is great fun for the whole band to play live!
Where do you find inspiration for your songs or musical ideas?
I find inspiration in the everyday. I have folders of lyric ideas on my phone that I am adding to all the time from the things that I experience in the world around me.
Musically, we're drawing from a wide variety of inspirations. Some of the strongest are in the guitar-driven heavy metal power of Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden, as well as from atmospheric post-rock. We also have a big influence from riff-rock and alt-rock. Bands like Muse and BMTH are big influences on the sound.
Lyrically I always look to Simon and Garfunkel, Alex Turner, and Dio as major influences. They all have a particular power in bringing the everyday to life which is something that I try to capture in my lyrics as well.
Can you share a valuable lesson or piece of advice that you have learned along your musical journey?
There are two:
Practice, practice, practice
Always be promoting