Music / Interviews
Interview: Brockley Forest
There are undoubtedly a large number of duos in the world of rock lately, many of whom are trying to be the next White Stripes and many of whom are trying to be the next Royal Blood. Brockley Forest are Dec Burdge and Seb McCheyne and they’re being themselves, carving out a rather unique sound. There’s a post-punk sensibility about them, they’re scuzzy and fuzzy, but powerful and groovy too. They deliver the goods on stage and they deliver the goods on tape too. Their latest recording Castaway is being launched at the Old Bookshop on May 11th – it’s a free gig so you can do your bit to support a small venue and local talent. But only if you’re one of the first 80 people there, so don’t dilly-dally. Meanwhile, find out all about the recording here.
In these days of streaming and downloading why release a physical product?
Although digital music has many perks, listening to music in a tangible format will always be a different listening experience. Physical formats are more personal and include our other senses. You can see the record moving, the artwork will have different textures and smells and if anything, it’s just fun to play music on tape, CD and vinyl.
Where did you record the EP?
Courtyard Studios in Oxford with a producer called Ian Davenport (Band of Skulls, Gaz Coombes) etc. We also recorded our previous Die Has Been Cast EP here.
How long did recording take – straight in and straight out or a bit of an epic?
Two days was all we could afford and just enough time to get the three tracks finished.
What comes first, lyrics or music?
Typically music that comes out of jamming and then lyrics develop. Sometime it’s the other way around. Our phones are full of recordings of different vocal melodies and lyric ideas. If anyone went through our phones and heard them all they would probably be very confused… or amused.
The world is full of bullshit lately, do chaotic times make for better lyrics?
Yes. After a short period of little songwriting, we’ve just finished a new track called Rasta Vigilantes. Dec recently, went to Kenya and ended up on a sailing boat with some Rasta locals. There was one imposter on the boat who ended up taking a friends purse. Nobody realised until the evening when everyone was cooking fish over a bonfire on the beach. When the Rasta’s found out, they vowed to get the purse back and so they got a gang together on motorbikes and went off with Dec into the Kilifi jungle at 1.00 am to find the thief. Amazingly, they caught him and got the purse back without anyone getting killed. We’ve only just wrote this song so it hasn’t made the EP but you can hear it at our gigs.
What’s your favourite part of the recording process…?
The best thing about recording is being cut off from the outside world and working in a creative environment that allows you to be absolutely focused on making your music reach its full potential.
…and what’s your least favourite part?
Working out the right tempos…
Do you take in fully formed tunes, or go in with sketches and demos and work them up in to fully fledged songs in the studio?
Almost always fully formed tunes. The key to successful recording for us is preparation. If things change or develop in the studio, that’s fine, but we always want to go in with a solid plan and deadlines and know the songs inside out.
Who’s in charge in the studio?
The producer ultimately but all successful creative projects rely on the talents of one another working together
If you want someone to get in to the EP, which cut would you single out to get them hooked?
One Obsession is the single from the Castaway EP and most likely the best place to start.
Are there any songs that you think are really gonna be a blast to play live?
They are all very different songs with different peaks and troughs. Seb’s favourite is usually Castaway and Dec likes sharing the vocals with Seb on One Obsession.
What plans do you have for getting the EP out there…? Any out of town dates on the schedule?
We actually have out of continent dates planned shortly after the EP release but I’m afraid we can’t say anymore until the release.
And finally why Brockley Forest?
We played in trios and four pieces for a while but always found the other members lacked commitment and passion. One day whilst in Brockley Forest, near where we lived, we decided to become a duo and so it seemed a fitting name for the band.
If you want a sense of what you’ll get at the gig, check out here.
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