Jaime and Sky first started writing together in 2001. After some successful studio recordings, and one or two helpful words from those that count, they put the rumHoney band together and began to play the songs live.

By 2006 their music had taken them all over the UK, as well as France, Spain and Italy.

In January 2008 rumHoney set off for a 2 week mini tour in the Italian Alps; 4 months and more than 300 gigs later they returned with both a faint grasp of the Italian language, and a firm desire to record all the songs that had been written on the road.

Work on ‘East to West’ began in June 2008. Throughout the recording process rumHoney funded studio costs by continually gigging all over the UK, as well as further trips to Germany and Italy in 2011, and Spain in early 2012. 2013 included 2 more successful tours of Italy culminating in the recording of their new EP “Home Again” to be released summer 2014.

The music of rumHoney is a celebration of their roots. The sound is blues-based on the twin guitar attack of the great rock ‘n roll bands, such as Aerosmith, The Black Crowes, and The Rolling Stones – the same bands they grew up listening to and treasuring as rumHoney younglings.

After some years working together rumHoney have developed their own sound and direction and have financed and produced their own music with no external assistance or influence. rumHoney are currently attacking the London gig circuit as they always have. ‘East to West’ is now available on all digital formats.

We caught up with the guys and asked them a bunch of questions on love, life, animals and everything in-between, here's how we got on....

 

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

One sentence? WTF? Um, we're rumHoney and we play loud.

 

You’re called rumHoney how did you come about choosing this name?

Rum and honey gently heated is an old English remedy. Good for what ails ya, it appealed to our vanity.

 

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

Falstaff.

 

Favourite venue to play and why?

There’s a few places out in Italy where anything goes, people hanging from the lights, spirits being freely poured from the bar straight down a line of gaping mouths, people tearing off clothes (ours and theirs) hot, sweaty ,sexy nights, those are the gigs we like

 

First song you all learnt to play?

'Love Me Two Times' - The Doors

 

You’re signed to Right Track Records, how did this come about?

Mutual friend and PR guru Steve Blacknell put us in touch.

 

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

A dear friend once said “Keep your soul clean and your body out of trouble.” We put it on our first album.

 

How has social media aided your music?

That’s a difficult question. It’s true that there are things we couldn’t do without it, like American radio play, or Australian fan base, or even European tours. However, at the same time everything is far more accessible, no one takes risks, and the artist is left finding more and more leftfield ways to gain attention and make money

 

Where did you record your ‘East To West’ album and what made you choose that studio?

Hi Street Studio, Acton, London. Gareth Redfarn is an old friend and a genius engineer. It just felt right. The studio is beautiful.

 

‘She’s so fine’ from East To West, has an interesting video, what is the story behind the song?

You tell me! We make it a policy never to reveal things like that, cuz music is such a personal thing. If it makes you happy and you dig it, that's all we care about.

 

I saw you play live at ‘The Islington’ (North London) supporting Willie and the Bandits, the feeling of ‘togetherness’ and the smiles on your faces said it all, how does playing live make you feel?

Aha yeah that was a great show. Performing is second nature to us - after all it is what we do. Being in a band isn't just a case of singing love songs when you feel like it; you have to be a relentless promoter, motivator, salesperson - and deal with logistics on a daily basis. However when all is said and done, come what may, you can bet your bottom dollar that we're in that room rehearsing and working every damn day, which I guess makes gigs memorable.

 

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

“Sex farm” by Tap, because it’s taking a sophisticated look at sex. On a farm. 

 

Have you had any ‘Spinal Tap’ Moments? If yes, please share!

Too many to mention, in the last month, our manager James has his wife co-managing the band “since she’s already here, she's already among us”..... thankfully though she doesn't dress like an Australian's nightmare.

 

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

Locally you gotta check out Tank Trap, and there’s a band from Canada, The Honeyrunners

 

What are your plans for the remainder of 2014?

We just all came back from Turin, Italy where we recorded and mixed our new EP "Home Again". Gonna be coming out early summer. It was a pleasure to make it; and of course we plan to tour it, so we're booking a trip or two around the UK, plus a visit to the US around October time is in the pipeline. In the middle of all that, we'll be making our 3rd album so its all hands to the rumPump and off we go.

 

 

Before we went away to check out some of the class tracks from their 'East to West' album, we threw in a few quick fire questions....

 

 

Coffee or Tea?  Coffee

 

Coke or Pepsi?  Coke

 

Drum machine or the real deal?  Niol Sweeney would explode if we said 'drum machine'

 

Mac or PC?  Mac

 

Fry up or Sunday roast?  Sunday Roast

 

Lemmy (Motorhead) or Ozzy (Black Sabbath)?  Ozzy

 

CD or Vinyl?  Vinyl (does anyone say CD)

 

Car or Motorbike?  Car

 

Acoustic or electric?  Electric

 

Angelina or Jennifer?  Angelina

 

Shower or Bath?  Shower

 

Tattoos or Piercings?  Tattoos

 

Robert De Niro or Al Pacino?  Angelina (again)

 

God or Google?  Google

 

 

SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook

Twitter

Website

Check HERE for details on forthcoming gigs

 

‘East to West’ is now available on all digital formats, click HERE to download

 

We would like to thank the band for taking their time out to answer our questions, we wish them all the best for the forthcoming release of their new EP 'Home Again' and look forward to catching up with them during their UK tour.

 

Interview by Mark Wincott