My Extraordinary mark the end of their extended absence with the release of the incredibly accomplished mini-album 'The World We Live In'.

It’s been two years since they released their ‘Reality’ EP and in that time, jobs have been quit, backline overhauled, home-studios constructed and new faces have been added and reshuffled within the ranks of the Newcastle five-piece.

We caught up with Anthony Thompson (vocals) at a live filming session for the new series of Geordie Shore, our eyes met across the fog of fake tan and hairspray, we stayed for 13 nanoseconds before getting the hell out of their to find a nice traditional boozer where we could get a decent pint. We chatted about Michael Jackson's 'Thriller', supergroups and members of the band who enjoy pain, here's how it went....

 

 

Please introduce the band and your music in one sentence.... 

We're My Extraordinary. We play rock music, some of it's fast and full of angst and some of it is big and powerful. I'm Ant I sing, Joe and Roy play guitars, Dewey plays bass and Martin hits the drums. 

 

You’re called My Extraordinary, how did you come about choosing this name?

We had a show at our school in 2007 and I had to find us a name... I was watching parent trap and noting down the cool words. Extraordinary came up, we stuck My in front of it and that stuck. 

 

‘The World We Live in' has a music video, what is the concept behind the song and who directed the video?

The track was written a while back and was written out of frustration. I was a bit sick of the idea of having to live a certain way to fit in... Get a job, find a girlfriend etc etc. I don't even think I have the mind set I had when writing that song anymore but it's angsty one. Daniel Broadley shot the video. He's a cool dude 

 

‘Silly Little Things’ has been played on Alex Baker’s Kerrang radio show, how did this come about and what did it feel like to hear your music?

Yeah Alex played our tune on his unsigned show which is sick. Very thankful of that! He backs great underground music which and it's hard to find DJs who do that these days. I haven't actually heard him play it but the guys said he said some nice things which is awesome. 

 

In your opinion, what is the BEST album/record ever released and why?

I have absolutely no fucking idea what my favourite album is to be honest... I have no doubts that the best album ever is probably Thriller or something by Pearl Jam or something but I've always jumped from band to band when ever I've felt like it so I don't really know what my favourite album is just yet. Hopefully I'll find out soon? 

Actually... Our new mini album is fucking fantastic... Definitely up there with MJ and the rest. 

 

You have played festivals before, what do you take with you as a Festival Survival kit?

We always forget shit. I always recall a conversation between me and joe when it's something to do with packing our bags on the day... 

As long as we have our gear I don't think me and joe give a shit about wearing the same boxers all tour. 

Ideally we wouldn't have to but we don't always have that luxury. 

 

Tell me a fascinating fact about you or one of your band members?

Hmmm... 

Martin genuinely once said to us "I like pain" and expected us to believe it. Dunno if that's interesting but it's definitely funny. 

So yeah... Martin likes pain. 

 

‘The Hero That Walked Away’ from Your Reality album, is a pretty deep track, what is the story behind this?

Lyrically that track was a learning curve. I don't think it makes much sense lyrically now as I've improved a lot. It's just me at the time being miserable and emo for absolutely no reason. 

 

If you had a chance to put together your own ‘super group’, who would be in it? (only living members please)

Super group... 

I'd have Harry Belafonte on Bass. 

Lil Wayne on drums. 

Then all of Steel Panther... Even the bass player. We'd have two bass players. 

That'd be some tour bus party. 

 

What was the first guitar solo you heard that made you pick up a guitar?

I can't remember exactly what made me pick up a guitar but I remember learning the really easy solo in Whatsername by Green Day... Going downstairs and making my mother watch me play it cause I was that excited... It's a really easy part but at the time I could barely play it. 

 

Is there something you would like to tell each of the band members that you haven’t told them before?

Nah not really... We all know each other's deal... To be honest. We're too brutally honest with each other. If someone's being shit we usually tell them. 

 

What drum solo get the blood pumping every time you hear it?

I like it when Taylor Hawkins does a drum solo at Wembley... That's cool. 

 

What classic song would you have liked to have recorded and why?  

We're doing it... We're on our way to the studio to record a live version of 'Go Your Own Way' by Fleetwood Mac. One of the greatest tracks ever.

 

First gig you ever went to?

My first gig was Busted with my mother. Cool right? 

 

What is the best advice you ever received and who was it from?

I can't remember who gave it but to practice every single week at the same time so that day is dedicated to the band was pretty good advice... That worked a treat and we starting seeing results from the off. 

 

Where did you record your album ‘The World We Live In’ and what made you choose that studio?

We recorded it in Martin's house cos we can't afford a studio and Martin is great at mixing... Easy! 

 

Name three people (alive, dead or fictional) that you would like as party guests?

I think a great party would be me, Scarlett Johansson, Liv Tyler and the bird from Wolf Of Wall Street, that would be a cool party. 

 

There are many good bands and musicians out there, who would you ask the readers of musicmuso to look out for?

Check out the 'Lonely The Brave' album... Good band. 

 

Who would you like to know has your music on their iPod, MP3 or cassette walkman?

Anybody who gives enough fucks to have our music on their iPods... Can't be picky. Just having people enjoy it is all we ask. 

 

If you could describe your music in the form of a fictional character, who would it be?

God. Our music is god. 

 

What are your plans for the remainder of 2014?

We're gunna tour the fuck out of the country and release loads of music so yous all find out what we're about. Exciting! 

 

 

We were about to drink up and wander back in the direction of the live filming event when none other than Joe Mcelderry entered the pub (remember him from X-Factor years ago? No, neither do we!) anyway, prior to Anthony wandering over to him to compare vocal tips, I asked him a bunch of quick-fire questions....

 

Coffee or Tea?

Tea 

 

Coke or Pepsi?  

Neither

 

Drum machine or the real deal?

Real deal 

 

Mac or PC?  

Mac 

 

Live Show or Recording Studio?

Both 

 

Bigg Market or Quayside?

Fucking definitely the quayside aha

 

Fry up or Sunday roast

Sunday Roast mannn

 

Lemmy (Motorhead) or Ozzy (Black Sabbath)?

Ozzy 

 

CD or Vinyl?  

Vinyls for the cool... CDs cause I have them 

 

Scarlet Johansson or Zoe Saldana?

Scarlett 

 

Car or Motorbike?  

Car 

 

Acoustic or electric?

Either 

 

Shower or Bath?

Shower 

 

Sons of Anarchy or Breaking Bad?

Breaking Bad 

 

Tattoos or Piercings?

Tattoos I don't have any tbh 

 

Robert de Niro or Al Pacino?

Al Pacino... Fuck that's a hard one 

 

God or Google?

God... For being the master at 'mind fucking' 

 

We'd like to thank Anthony for taking time out of his day to answer our questions, we're looking forward to seeing them 'tour the fuck out of the country' and are particularly excited to see if they make it down to Plymouth or Exeter so that we can attend a live show (hint hint), otherwise, London will do! 

 

Interview by Mark Wincott

 

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