As part of SXSW week, we've been meeting a selection of bands who've performed at this week’s showcase event in Austin, Texas.
We close with today's artist, West London band Treetop Flyers, whose rootsy sound has drawn comparisons to Neil Young, Crosby, Stills & Nash and The Band, as well as contemporaries Fleet Foxes, My Morning Jacket and Josh T Pearson.
1. What are your inspirations and do they filter into your own sound?
We get inspired by everything!! Musically this takes its own course as we are always finding out new music, and somewhere along the line if you have a connection with a piece of music or book or film it will always filter its way into your sound unconsciously. We all have single issues too which are of interest and we like writing about, so if you mix them up with someone else's point of view in the band that puts a different spin on things. So we inspire each other too I guess.
2. What process do you go through to make music?
It's always different, we don't have a set way and I think that helps out a lot. We all write, and we all write in different styles, and certain types of songs work better in controlled environments. We all love jamming together so a combination of those two works well a lot we find. Someone brings an idea in and we all mess around with it, turn it upside down and see what comes out. But sometimes you know what a song needs and we just leave it at that. That's one thing we have learnt.
3. Do you approach showcase gigs, like SXSW, differently to regular live sets?
Yeah I think you kinda have to as well, just the words 'Showcase gig' makes it unlike a normal gig. But you kinda need to try ignore that fact and just do what you do regardless, that's what you are and what people wanna see. Being out at SXSW is a big deal as about 80% or more of the audience there have never seen you, so songs that you have played over and over again may seem repetitive to you on the occasional gig, but these people are only hearing it for the first time! You can also use a few tricks in those sets to make it different to a regular gig.
4. What are you looking forward to the most about SXSW?
BBQ...ha ha
To be playing your music to such an important audience always excites us and just to be meeting new fans, making memories and having a blast doing what we love is pretty unbeatable, and in Austin which is one of coolest places I've ever been!
5. If you could perform with anyone (dead or alive) onstage at SXSW, who would it be?
Oh...That's a tricky one. but I'll make a band with who we would like to join us on stage.
Drums- Levon Helm; Bass-Paul McCartney; 1st Guitar- Peter Green; 2nd Guitar- Neil Young; Double lead vocalist- Otis Redding/ Jim Ford, Backing vocals: The Staple Singers and on piano Tom Waits. Oh so many to choose. We would choose a different band for every gig. P.S. I know Springsteen is there this year, so that would be ace!!
6. Where can we catch you performing back in the UK?
We are recording our album in LA for a month after SXSW but will be back gigging after that. We are performing at The Great Escape and Green Man festivals. Before that we are off to Holland for a couple of shows... Watch this space!
www.treetopflyers.co.uk
Treetop Flyers at SXSW
Communion, Maggie Mae’s, 323 East 6th Street
Wednesday 14 March 23.00 - 23.40
www.communionmusic.co.uk
Music For Listeners, Flat Top Burger Shop,1900 Manor Road
Friday 16 March - 18.00 - 19.00
musicforlisteners.com
We close with today's artist, West London band Treetop Flyers, whose rootsy sound has drawn comparisons to Neil Young, Crosby, Stills & Nash and The Band, as well as contemporaries Fleet Foxes, My Morning Jacket and Josh T Pearson.
1. What are your inspirations and do they filter into your own sound?
We get inspired by everything!! Musically this takes its own course as we are always finding out new music, and somewhere along the line if you have a connection with a piece of music or book or film it will always filter its way into your sound unconsciously. We all have single issues too which are of interest and we like writing about, so if you mix them up with someone else's point of view in the band that puts a different spin on things. So we inspire each other too I guess.
2. What process do you go through to make music?
It's always different, we don't have a set way and I think that helps out a lot. We all write, and we all write in different styles, and certain types of songs work better in controlled environments. We all love jamming together so a combination of those two works well a lot we find. Someone brings an idea in and we all mess around with it, turn it upside down and see what comes out. But sometimes you know what a song needs and we just leave it at that. That's one thing we have learnt.
3. Do you approach showcase gigs, like SXSW, differently to regular live sets?
Yeah I think you kinda have to as well, just the words 'Showcase gig' makes it unlike a normal gig. But you kinda need to try ignore that fact and just do what you do regardless, that's what you are and what people wanna see. Being out at SXSW is a big deal as about 80% or more of the audience there have never seen you, so songs that you have played over and over again may seem repetitive to you on the occasional gig, but these people are only hearing it for the first time! You can also use a few tricks in those sets to make it different to a regular gig.
4. What are you looking forward to the most about SXSW?
BBQ...ha ha
To be playing your music to such an important audience always excites us and just to be meeting new fans, making memories and having a blast doing what we love is pretty unbeatable, and in Austin which is one of coolest places I've ever been!
5. If you could perform with anyone (dead or alive) onstage at SXSW, who would it be?
Oh...That's a tricky one. but I'll make a band with who we would like to join us on stage.
Drums- Levon Helm; Bass-Paul McCartney; 1st Guitar- Peter Green; 2nd Guitar- Neil Young; Double lead vocalist- Otis Redding/ Jim Ford, Backing vocals: The Staple Singers and on piano Tom Waits. Oh so many to choose. We would choose a different band for every gig. P.S. I know Springsteen is there this year, so that would be ace!!
6. Where can we catch you performing back in the UK?
We are recording our album in LA for a month after SXSW but will be back gigging after that. We are performing at The Great Escape and Green Man festivals. Before that we are off to Holland for a couple of shows... Watch this space!
www.treetopflyers.co.uk
Treetop Flyers at SXSW
Communion, Maggie Mae’s, 323 East 6th Street
Wednesday 14 March 23.00 - 23.40
www.communionmusic.co.uk
Music For Listeners, Flat Top Burger Shop,1900 Manor Road
Friday 16 March - 18.00 - 19.00
musicforlisteners.com
