As part of SXSW week, we'll be meeting a selection of bands who are performing at this week's showcase event in Austin, Texas.
Today's band is folk-rock sextet Woodenbox. This band has built a growing reputation for raucous live shows by fusing old school country rhythms with mariachi horns.The band released the single Everyone Has a Price on 4 March to coincide with their inaugural US tour featuring shows in New York, Austin (SxSW), Dallas, Fort Worth and Denton.
Ali Downer from the band answered our questions.
1. What are your inspirations and do they filter into your own sound?
I am a sponge, the environment in which I live affects me greatly. I moved house a couple of years ago to a less affluent area in Glasgow and there are a number of less fortunate characters who spend their days drinking on my doorstep and this had a huge impact on our record, the moods it sets and to a certain extent the reality it gives you. I think spending time with creative people is great and inspiring in a lot of ways, but you can lose grip on whats really happening outside your wee bubble.
2. What process do you go through to make music?
I pick up lyrical ideas at all times of the day and work them into wee tunes . I sit at my piano most days just hitting away at ideas, then we come together in our room and make the ideas into songs and play them till we think they rock.
3. Do you approach showcase gigs, like SXSW, differently to regular live sets?
Yes I approach them with a little uncertainty. Shows in which people buy tickets and want to come and see you are really fun and its good to put a set together in mind of what they like, its easy to feed off them and enjoy the show in unity. As for a showcase gig I always feel like there is an element of being judged and examined by some people, I am also aware that folks have probably seen loads of shows and yours is a wee nugget squeezed into their schedule, so for that I think its important to play well, make a sting in the beehive.
4. What are you looking forward to the most about SXSW?
It ll be great to play our show to a new audience and see our mates and other bands playing in a different place. I m looking forward to taking it all in, its so famous and one of those events you dream of being part of, so I m just looking forward to taking it all in.
5. If you could perform with anyone (dead or alive) onstage at SXSW, who would it be?
Macca, it'd be great if Macca was playing piano or the boss giving it big licks.
6. Where can we catch you performing back in the UK?
We are gonna be up and down the country, but so far we have confirmed a really cool festival called Deer Shed which has a great line up, but keep an eye on www.wdnbx.com, for a full list.
Woodenbox at SXSW:
Wednesday 14 March
The Creative Scotland showcase at 8pm, Easy Tiger Patio
Friday 16 March
Jovita's at 9.15pm
www.wdnbx.com
Today's band is folk-rock sextet Woodenbox. This band has built a growing reputation for raucous live shows by fusing old school country rhythms with mariachi horns.The band released the single Everyone Has a Price on 4 March to coincide with their inaugural US tour featuring shows in New York, Austin (SxSW), Dallas, Fort Worth and Denton.
Ali Downer from the band answered our questions.
1. What are your inspirations and do they filter into your own sound?
I am a sponge, the environment in which I live affects me greatly. I moved house a couple of years ago to a less affluent area in Glasgow and there are a number of less fortunate characters who spend their days drinking on my doorstep and this had a huge impact on our record, the moods it sets and to a certain extent the reality it gives you. I think spending time with creative people is great and inspiring in a lot of ways, but you can lose grip on whats really happening outside your wee bubble.
2. What process do you go through to make music?
I pick up lyrical ideas at all times of the day and work them into wee tunes . I sit at my piano most days just hitting away at ideas, then we come together in our room and make the ideas into songs and play them till we think they rock.
3. Do you approach showcase gigs, like SXSW, differently to regular live sets?
Yes I approach them with a little uncertainty. Shows in which people buy tickets and want to come and see you are really fun and its good to put a set together in mind of what they like, its easy to feed off them and enjoy the show in unity. As for a showcase gig I always feel like there is an element of being judged and examined by some people, I am also aware that folks have probably seen loads of shows and yours is a wee nugget squeezed into their schedule, so for that I think its important to play well, make a sting in the beehive.
4. What are you looking forward to the most about SXSW?
It ll be great to play our show to a new audience and see our mates and other bands playing in a different place. I m looking forward to taking it all in, its so famous and one of those events you dream of being part of, so I m just looking forward to taking it all in.
5. If you could perform with anyone (dead or alive) onstage at SXSW, who would it be?
Macca, it'd be great if Macca was playing piano or the boss giving it big licks.
6. Where can we catch you performing back in the UK?
We are gonna be up and down the country, but so far we have confirmed a really cool festival called Deer Shed which has a great line up, but keep an eye on www.wdnbx.com, for a full list.
Woodenbox at SXSW:
Wednesday 14 March
The Creative Scotland showcase at 8pm, Easy Tiger Patio
Friday 16 March
Jovita's at 9.15pm
www.wdnbx.com
