Introducing | Start Static

Since the release of their debut album ‘Arguments’ in 2015, it’s been a quite a year for Start Static.

The Glasgow indie pop rockers were listed in The Herald’s Top 50 Scottish Albums of 2015, featured on radio stations from BBC Radio 1 to XFM and headlined venues including Glasgow’s legendary King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut.

Signing to Fast Factory Records in NY for their recent single ‘Shut Up I’m On It’, the band will visit Edinburgh for a show on July 1st before headlining Edinburgh’s Banshee Labyrinth on July 29th.

Ahead of the show, we caught up with Chris and John from the band to find out more about the band’s formation, their DIY approach and their plans for 2016.

Can you tell us about the formation of Start Static?

Chris: Stephen Tap (guitar) and I were in a band a few years back which went through the usual membership switches typical of teenage bands. We ended up picking up Michael (drums) along the way. We had given up for a while, but couldn’t resist the pull so decided to get together to jam. Things gelled quickly which gave us the hunger and drive to keep going which lead to Steve bringing John to the studio one night to stand in for on vocals for a few tracks. The rest is history.

John: I got the call from Stephen Tap to come and help with some song writing with his band with Chris & Mike. We had a few beers and played with some ideas, then I completely over stayed my welcome and continue to do so. Once I stay the night I’m no leavin’…

How would you describe the Start Static sound for those who haven’t discovered the band?

John: I fell in love with rock through punk music. Initially, it was the West Coast California punk and that led me to a whole world of punk, metal, rock, blues. I had always been into pop music and spent my pocket-money in Woolworths buying Louise or Alisha’s Attic CDs. I think we cross all of those genres. Basically, pop songs with a leather jacket smokin’ a fag.

Chris: In a word – energetic. It’s not something that we actively seek to do however it seems to be a result of the four of us having an absolute love of performing.

How do you guys go about the writing process for your tracks?

John: Often Stephen will come into the studio with an entire song on the guitar and we add lyrics and melodies and mould it into a Start Static song. Other times we’ll just stay to play and see what happens. Some songs come from any one of us coming up with a small spark of an idea and we let it evolve. Sometimes I will play three power-chords and call it a song, then let the guys play some actual music and completely change it – only for me to claim I wrote it.

Chris: For the first couple of years, we followed the standard rock band model of building our songs up from guitar ideas. In the last few years, as our confidence has grown, the band has moved to building up songs from any of our instruments. This has given us the very nice problem of having about two or three albums worth of solid ideas waiting to be recorded.

You also write, direct and film your own music videos, where do you gain inspiration for these?

John: That question makes us sound awesome. Thanks. ‘Reckless’ just happened. On the morning of the shoot, we were down a cameraman, but had the time booked in and had the equipment. The guys turned up at the door and I got out of bed and let them in. I had a hangover. We repeated that and filmed it with beer, and it became a music video. I really like ‘Reckless’. Biased and that, but I think it worked. I suppose there’s a theme there really, that we just give stuff a try. Book the time in, get the camera filming, and see what happens.

Chris: We are serious about being a band, however we don’t take ourselves too seriously. From the off, we recognised there was a need to have music videos as part of our promotional mix. We have learned from past experience that many bands fail miserably if we tried to compete with major artists in terms of video production so we therefore decided to head in the opposite direction and just use what we have and make videos of us having a laugh using our mobile phones and a couple of GoPros.

Following the release of your debut album last year, what have you guys been up to since?

John: More more more. We had some issues getting the album finished, and had to finish a lot of the mixing ourselves. During the delay period, we were still writing and recording ideas so that meant that we could book more studio time straight away and that’s why there was almost no time between arguments and then new singles coming out. We’ve started to Record with Bruce Rintoul (Fatherson, Vukovi, WeCameFromWolves, Divides) who has been great. I am really quite excited to see what our new songs will sound like when he gets his hands on them.

Chris: We have been working on getting our name out there by gigging as much as we can all over the country and by contacting lovely people such as yourself to push the band. Part of this promotion has been the recording and the release of several new singles which have their own videos to boot. We are releasing tracks individually for now to maximise exposure with a view to putting our second album together towards the end of the year.

As festival season approaches, which festival line-up this year would you love to join?

John: I’ve always loved Leeds. But I think it’s all about the campsite, the best times happen in the campsite. It’s like how the party is always in the kitchen. In fact, people have BBQs and campingfires, so I guess it is the kitchen – the theory holds true!! I’m going to Punk Rock Holiday in Slovenia this year so hopefully we’ll get on that next year.

Chris: I hope this isn’t cheating, but I’d say SXSW in 2017. We are making a big push to secure a few shows out there next spring.

If you could curate your own festival, who would be on the line-up?

John: Blink 182 before Tom got weird, Limp Bizkit, Enter Shikari, Kings of Leon, Beyonce. That would be a good day eh?

Chris: It would be rude not to say us. I wouldn’t want to headline it as we would need to try to stay sober until our set so I’d start off with Alkaline Trio to get the crowd warmed up, stick us on then finish off with having a few pints watching Green Day close off the evening.

What are your plans for the rest of 2016?

John: Keep getting material out. The new stuff has been sounding great so we’ve been working on video ideas to make it look cool too. We’ll be out on the road lots too. More song writing, relationship building with other bands for gig-swaps and the like and coming up more ideas for videos.

Anything else you wish to add?

John: Thanks for having us, see you again soon – and keep doing what you’re doing, independent music needs people like you.

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