Five Minutes With ... Weirds
Words: Linn Branson
So, hello, and who do we have here then?
It's us, Zachary and Aidan from Weirds, and I'm Zach.
And how do we find your good selves at this point?
Z: Very well thanks, how about yourself?
We'll have no flirting, thank you very much, this is an interview! Now, don't hog the limelight, introduce us to your fellow band members and their respective parts within the unit.
A: As well as Z - who plays guitar - there's me on vocals, Matt who plays bass and Nash on drums.
Weirds, then, weird name, no? Why and how?
A: We just thought it was funny.
(Oh so secretive. Let's delve some more.) Is it weird by name, weird by nature? Are you all basically a bunch of weirdos with a load of funny habits?
A: Both. Sometimes we spend short periods of time collectively cracking the various joints in our bodies in total silence, apart from the odd laugh.
(Hmm, as we thought: weird.)
Acting as your own PR, give us a short spin on Weirds: the band, the music.
A: Sludgy, aggressive rock for thugs.
You've all been together since schooldays I gather, tell us a little about each of you.
Z: Yeah, we’ve played in each others' bands since we were 15, and all of us went to the same school. Apart from that, we’re pretty boring so I wouldn’t want to put you to sleep.
(Zzzzz) Sorry, starting to drift there.
You are called a 'Leeds band' but I think I read that you are not all based there, or even from there, is that right?
Z: Aidan lives in Leeds, and a lot of what we do takes place there, but we are all based across the North.
We first heard of you early last year with the excellent tracks 'Yolk' and 'Crocodile', then you seemed to go quiet...? What's been happening over the last year with the band.
Z: It’s been quite a frustrating year for us, to be honest. But we’ve spent a lot of time writing new material and playing a few shows and small festivals.
You were 'nurtured', it has been said, by MJ of Hookworms in your formative days. What form did this 'nurturing' take, and was it all clean and proper?
Z: No, not at all! He recorded 'Crocodile' in his studio and put some good ideas forward during the sessions. We recorded 'Yolk' at First Love in Nottingham.
He's something of an institution in West Yorkshire, isn't he. He seems to be involved with so many emerging artists from the region.
Z: Yeah. I’ve just bought the new Blessa EP that was recorded at his studio, well worth a fiver.
A: I really like Menace Beach’s stuff. I know that they’ve recorded there too. 'Fortune Teller' is great.
Who are the musical influences behind Weirds and how would you say that they have impacted on your style and sound, if at all?
A: I’m not gonna be someone who says ‘you’ll never guess what, but we all listen to completely different types of music’, because that's inevitable when you have a band of four people. I’d say there's a little bit of Melvins in our sound, maybe even some 'Second Coming' era Stone Roses. But there aren’t really any influences that I could pinpoint.
You have just put out another great track in 'Off The Hook', tell us a little about it.
A: Zachary came up with a couple of riffs for 'Off The Hook' and we spent a weekend making rough demos of it. Matt and Dave made it sound like a proper band over a few sessions in the practise room, while I spewed out some angry lyrics. When it came to recording the track, we are really grateful for the producers (Lee and Jamie) input; they worked really hard on it.
What plans do the band have both record and gig-wise coming up?
A: We’re gonna be releasing a split on vinyl with some good friends of ours who we’ve known for years. Really psyched about that.
Z: We’re playing a festival but we can’t really talk about it yet, sorry.
I know you are playing the Karma All Dayer in Leeds next month. Can we expect to hear a lot of new material at that?
A: Yeah, we’re really looking forward to it, and to playing with some cool bands. As for new material, I’m sure there’ll be a few new cuts in there.
You now have a few sentences for your big plug to push whatever you might want to promote. Use it wisely. Go ...
A: Listen to our records. Support music. Go to gigs. Pick up an instrument. Listen to our records.
Last word: spill your word or words of wisdom. Say 'pass' if you have none.
A: Think with your guts.
Thanks, Weirdies.
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