INTERVIEW: Beat The Drum discuss their origins and influences alongside new single ‘Shine Like A Star’
After establishing themselves with a wave of immersive original and cover recordings these last few years, London-based duo Beat The Drum are back once again to deliver their vibrant new single ‘Shine Like A Star’.
Honing more of that broad and emotive post-punk-inspired aesthetic they are known, ‘Shine Like A Star’ makes for a brilliantly powerful return for the pair. So we caught up with them to find out more about their origins and influences over the years.
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What was the first rock song or artist that made an impact on you?
Steve: Probably Led Zeppelin, Whole Lotta Love, the sound of the band, the noise, the ripping guitar solo, everything about the way it worked for me. It was chunky, dirty and refined, in a way that spoke to how I felt.
Chris: I was blown away at the first concert I went to when I saw King Crimson live and the song ‘21st Century Schizoid man’.
Who are some of your biggest musical influences within the rock genre?
Steve: Led Zeppelin, King Crimson, early Jethro Tull, The Stooges, Bowie, Can, The Viagra Boys. Chris: David Bowie, PJ Harvey and Iggy Pop
Are there any non-rock musicians or genres that have also influenced your music?
Steve: Miles Davis, Funk, Trance, EDM, Jazz, Kraftwerk, Chaka Khan, James Brown, Prince, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, Mahler, Wagner, Peter Gabriel, The Doors.
Chris: Funk, Dub, Electro and Systems Music all spring to mind
What is your main inspiration when looking to write new music?
Steve: What mood am I in, how to explore that, and where is the heart, the pulse, the harmony, and then how to disrupt that. Stuff that I hear. The sound of a nightingale or the weight of a steam hammer Chris: It usually starts with a sound that excites in some way. That could be a riff or a beat or just a noise that sparks the start point.
What do you enjoy most about performing live and do you have any memorable live performance experiences you’d like to share?
Steve: It’s fun to make a loud noise, and when people dance, so much better. A somewhat inebriated reveler collapsed across my pedal board. Our roadie tried to pick them up by the arm, but there was no arm. He just walked away…
Chris: I enjoy turning people on with music. Taking a song that we have written or are still working on and playing it live and loud and watching an audience getting Into it. Watching them, watching you, and feeling that energy between you, is a rewarding experience.
In terms of memorable experiences I think if things go wrong you remember that quite clearly! In the early days we used to use a smoke machine at the beginning of the set to create atmosphere. When we played a gig in Cardiff we were on a theatre stage with a curtain in from of us so the smoke couldn’t flow anywhere and was building up. When the curtain opened we couldn’t see a thing and could hardly breath which still makes me laugh when I remember it!
What has been a particularly rewarding moment in your musical journey so far?
Steve: Looking out at the audience and they were singing along with us
Chris: The most rewarding thing for me is I feel we are getting better and better at creating and making music.
How would you define success as a musician?
Steve: Every time I release a new record into the wild, and it has its own life. If I like what I am doing, then I can keep doing more.
Chris: Enough money to produce and create what you want and getting to travel would be success for most musicians I think.
What advice would you give to aspiring artists who are just starting out?
Steve: Do what is good for you, not what others tell you is good for you. Keep your integrity, it will serve you well.
Chris: Do what you love and what turns you on and just keep following that wherever it leads to. The rest is just business and that has its ups and downs but if you are true to your own likes and dislikes you can be proud of whatever you make as your art.
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Listen to Beat The Drum’s new single ‘Shine Like A Star’ below.