The Males are a London three piece who released their debut Live EP to the world on July 21st. They've got a real QOTSA, Death From Above, 1979 and old school Foo Fighters feel about them and these live recording really do their sound justice. Musicmuso caught up with them and chatted about Forrest Gump, Dolly Parton and early 2000's pop punk, here's how we got on....
Please introduce the band your music in one sentence....
Hello we are THE MALES. We make gargantuan heroic heavy rock music, intent on taking music back to the primordial ooze from whence it first emerged.
You’re called the males how did you come about choosing this name?
We try to keep things pretty straight up, uncompromising and testosterone fueled. In retrospect I think we’d rather be called The Females though.
Where did you record your EP ‘Her Golden Blood’ and what made you choose that studio?
We recorded with Tim Cedar of Part Chimp fame, at his Dropout Studios in Camberwell. Ever since I heard Part Chimp’s Thriller I knew I wanted to record with those guys at their studio. We tried a few studios for previous tracks, but nothing clicked. Tim sorted us right out though. It allowed us to record it all live within a few takes, keeping that raw power intact.
Golden Gates has been a made a free download, what made you guys do this
Recording music, there is such a desire to just share it immediately as its so exciting to release it to the world. We tried our best to contain ourselves this time, working towards a release date and doing things sort of properly, but we needed to give a taster of the EP! it would be rude not to.
How has social media aided your music?
Its an aid and a hindrance in equal measures in my opinion. It's amazing to be able to create community, to be able to share our music with genuinely like minded individuals - but it's at such a saturation point, thousands of people shouting on digital soap boxes for your attention throughout the day. It's as penetrating as it is exhausting.
What is the best advice you ever received and who was it from?
Sometimes, I guess there just aren't enough rocks. - Forrest Gump.
moral: make sure you are making lots of rocks. I think?
If push came to shove, what is the BEST album/record ever released?
Well speaking with a collective voice on this one is tricky! Lewis thinks Static Age by The Misfits… Will thinks Deep Purple’s Machine Head and Ben has no opinion because he is on holiday - so we’re a pretty eclectic bunch.
If you had a chance to put together your own ‘super group’, who would be in it? (Only living members please)
Just reunite the QOTSA lineup for 'Songs for the Deaf'. That was basically a supergroup. Only if Oliveri behaves himself this time though.
You’re signed with Martianpr, how did this come about?
We went into the recording of the EP without a big plan. We knew we wanted to record with Tim, we wanted to record it all live and get something that we as a band were proud of. Once we got the early mixes done, suddenly we realised we could actually do a lot more with these tracks, as they sounded ace. So we did our research, looked for like minded souls who might be interested in helping us push these tracks. Rhys at Martian loved the tracks, and has been a hero helping us through the murky world of music that isn’t the making music bit!
‘Hot Blood’ sounds like an old school garage sound, what’s the inspiration behind this tune?
As a singing-drummer, I have to work out how to make a pulverising track with Will and Ben’s crushing riffs - then work out where I have room to breath and sing! Lyrics and meaning play a side role to melody for me really. Hot Blood is vaguely about chasing that feeling of emotional connection - the potential addiction to the chase and losing track of the goal.
Do you own a record that you wouldn’t like to admit you have?
Nope. actually thats not true! I definitely own some questionable early 2000 pop-punk. I’m counting on that coming back into fashion. That’s gonna happen… right?
Who designed the artwork for your EP Her golden blood, and what on earth is it?
Ha! Thats my (Lewis) doing. I'm also a designer so handle all of the artwork/web design stuff. The idea started with our previous self release track WOLVES. I created the logo around that time, and it looked cool on Wolf fur. We decided to keep the theme going. Its an animal skin, but i’ll keep the animal a secret for now - perhaps its a good future competition question.
What is the first guitar riff you all heard that even today when you hear it still gives you an orgasm?
Yikes - that is a strong reaction indeed! Has to be Shellac - Prayer to God. or My Black Ass. basically any Shellac. Not sure about the orgasming though. No thank you, we are British.
Is there something you would like to tell each of the band members that you haven’t told them before?
No - we like to keep our true feelings locked deep away and deflect disappointment with sarcasm and awkward laughter.
What classic song would you have liked to have recorded and why?
Under Pressure - get to hang out with Bowie and Freddie. What could be better?
First gig you ever went to?
Bon Jovi at Milton Keynes Bowl. All I recall are giant inflatable women with enourmous breasts, and the most amount of people I had ever seen.
Most unusual place you have seen a 'The Males' sticker?
Well we only printed them a few weeks ago, so nowhere yet! Perhaps another competition...
Name three people (alive, dead or fictional) that you would like as dinner party guests?
Jack Black, Dave Grohl and Dolly Parton.
There are many good bands and musicians out there, who would you ask the readers of musicmuso to look out for?
We have an EP launch gig on the 22nd July at Our Black Heart in Camden. we are lucky to be playing with the brilliant MERMAIDS - lazer-guided atomic shoe gaze, and the thoroughly brilliant ALGIERS - deathly gospel-punk. Huge things for both these bands later this year, catch em on our small stage whilst you can!
If you could describe your music in the form of a fictional character, who would it be?
Dick Van Dyke as Bert in Mary Poppins, in particular his one man band scene.
Do you think we can ever live in a world where a chicken can cross the road without having its motives questioned?
No.
What are your plans for the remainder of 2014?
We have quite a lot of new tracks in the works - we’d really like to get another EP out by the end of the year, or if we continue at this rate - perhaps an LP.
Prior to parting company with the guys, we threw in a few quickfire questions before running for cover....
Coffee or Tea? coffee
Coke or Pepsi? coke
Drum machine or the real deal? drum machine
Mac or PC? mac
Jennifer Lawnrence or Kathleen Turner? dont care.
Fry up or Sunday roast? roast.
Lemmy (Motorhead) or Ozzy (Black Sabbath)? Ozzy.
CD or Vinyl? Vinyl
Car or Motorbike? car
Acoustic or electric? electric
Shower or Bath? shower
Tattoos or Piercings? tats
Robert De Niro or Al Pacino? Pacino
God or Google? Goddle