INTERVIEW: Honey Motel share ambitions and inspirations alongside their debut EP ‘The Manatee’

After cementing themselves with a flurry of impact outings these last few months, Liverpool-based outfit Honey Motel recently returned to deliver their eagerly-awaited debut EP ‘The Manatee’.

Featuring some of their more euphoric efforts from the last year, ‘The Manatee’ continues to establish them as one of the more exciting names on the rise right now. So we caught up with lead guitarist Sam Meredith to find out more about his ambitions and inspirations over the years.

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What was the first rock song or artist that made an impact on you?

I have a vivid memory of my dad playing “Ring of Fire” in car journeys as a small child. I’m not sure it’s entirely a rock song but it’s definitely the first song which made me go “wow, what’s this?” 

Who are some of your biggest musical influences within the rock genre?

We take inspiration for all avenues of music and art. Especially in the genre of rock some of our biggest inspirations are The Backseat Lovers, Paramore, IDLES, Sundara Karma, King Gizzard and Lizard Wizard, Wunderhourse, Loathe to name a few. We really love artists that traverse genres and take influences from other aspects outside of rock.  

Are there any non-rock musicians or genres that have also influenced your music?

Too many to mention. Sam (lead guitarist) loves artists like Mac Demarco, Boy Pablo, Peter McPoland, Yard Act, Modest Mouse. Freddie (Vocalist) is really into Polyphia and Billy Ellish. Lew (Drummer) is really into Taylor swift, TesseracT, Bob Vylan. Jack (bassist) loves artists like Colony House and khruangbin. We really are a mixed pot, which we love. 

What is your main inspiration when looking to write new music?

Songwriting is weird, it’s hard to pin down what exactly inspires what. It almost feels like it’s not you who is writing sometimes, almost like some divine spirit has handed the song to you. I suppose if we were to describe our writing we would say – We love to write about the topics in the empty space in-between. Those ideas and concepts which really talk to the human spirit and psyche. So, for example, if we were to write a love song. We would probably write it about a niche emotion felt in a relationship rather than some overarching theme of love between two people. At least that’s what we think we do. 

What do you enjoy most about performing live and do you have any memorable live performance experiences you’d like to share?

That feeling of winning over a crowd is special. Especially as a support act coming up you end up playing to crowds regularly that are not exactly there to see you. So, during the set you can actively see people beginning to switch onto the music, smiles arising, eyes widening. To see that is amazing. 

One of our favourite live memories was supporting Sundara Karma last November at the Liverpool O2 Academy. Just standing in front of 1000 people and sharing our music was special. 

What has been a particularly rewarding moment in your musical journey so far?

It was a recent moment. It wasn’t a big gig or a release that did well. It was something simpler than that. A few weeks ago, we recorded a live version of some of our tracks at StudioWz recording in Wales. As we were recording the tracks live in the studio, I think we had a collective moment of like “Jesus, we’re kind of good aren’t we”. Which, believe me, doesn’t always happen. But I think it was a rewarding feeling because you know of all the hard work, sweat and tears we have put into creating music and having moments like that brings it home. 

How would you define success as a musician?

I think if you can sustain yourself financially just by playing music then you are successful. Especially in the current economic climate. But even outside of that, just being happy playing is a success. If you make music, if you are happy doing it, whether you’re playing to the walls of your bedroom or 100,000 people. If you are happy doing it then you are successful. 

What advice would you give to aspiring artists who are just starting out?

Just don’t quit. Too many young musicians in their late teens or twenties seem to start with big aspirations and then as soon as things get a little difficult they quit. Things take time. Becoming a good songwriter, instrumentalist etc takes time. Don’t rush yourself. If you keep plugging away, things will come your way. 

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Listen to Honey Motel’s debut EP ‘The Manatee’ below.