A (not particularly little) chat with: High Tyde 

(in full) 
It's a cloudy Sunday night, most people are at home watching I'm a Celebrity or catching up on overdue coursework...but not me. I'm at South Sea, in Sheffield, having a chat with the High Tyde lads. 

Cody Thomas-Matthews - Vocals, Bass 

Spencer Tobias-Williams - Lead Guitar 
Connor Cheetham - Guitar, Vocals

Louis Semlekan-Faith - Drums, Vocals

To start with how did you guys form as a band?

Cody: We met through mutual friends, Louis and Spencer knew each other first.

Louis: We went busking all the time- we started off with bluesy-stuff. Then we one day we thought, ‘let’s start a band’, but Cody and Connor were already in metal bands at the time. 

Cody: Eventually we all got together and thought, ‘lets start this indie band’. It was just as a side project and then it took off.

High Tyde is a pretty cool, specific name. Is there a meaning behind it?

Spencer: There is this song with the lyric ‘high tide’ in it.

Connor: Yeah, there’s a Noel Gallagher lyric.

Louis: It was on the first practice, and we were all stuck on the songs we were listening to at that minute and Noel Gallagher’s song was hit at the time…me and Spence were into mod stuff…and 'High Tyde' just really clicked.

Cody: And also in Brighton we live by the sea! 

You’re in the middle of this little tour at the minute, are you enjoying it so far?

Everyone: Yeah!

Cody: We pretty much finish today but then we’ve got next weekend aswell. Leeds last night was cool- it was sold out. It’s really nice to play a town you’ve never played before.

Louis: Last night there were about twenty people that could sing every song back- out of our town that was weird.

Spencer: Yeah, cause you’re used to your own home town being your thing, but to go somewhere completely different…its weird.

So, has Leeds been your favourite city so far?

Everyone: Probably, yeah.

Spencer: But everyone has been really, really nice.

Got any festivals planned for the future, then?

Louis: Yeah, definitely.

Spencer: We’re gonna work our arses’ off to play them.

Cool. So, what’s your major aspiration as a band? Number one album…or headlining Glastonbury?

Louis: There are so many things in the category of number ones.

Connor: To play a show every night- like at the minute.

Cody: What we really wanna do is just get our name out there and have everyone hear us and be like, ‘Ah, they’re fucking cool. I wanna see them.’ 

Louis: You get a sense of what all the  big bands have done. I read Keith Richards’ book and back in the 60s this guy was going across America- I want something like that one day.

You’ve been comapared to The 1975 a lot, are they an influence of yours?

Louis: We go through phases really.

Spencer: You can’t be just like one band, really. You’ve got to have your own sound- but we wanna take a little bit of everything and put it into one band.

Cody: But, we do really really like The 1975…we like what they’re about. You take tips from all bands- but we wanna do our own thing.

Connor: Yeah, I mean we started off way into Two Door Cinema Club…

Yeah, you’ve been compared to them a lot too.

Connor: Yeah, yeah, but then we started listening to DJs. Then 80s music. 

Louis: The 80s are mental at the minute.

Cody: Bands like Churches, we listen to them a lot. We have major inspirations.

So, if you could collaborate with any band, who would it be?

Cody: Personally, for me, I'd pick something like...Disclosure.

Spencer: Or, like a remix.

Louis: Or, if Amy Winehouse was still alive...she's incredible. 

Connor: It's mostly DJs now though...

You should bring collabs back!
(laughs)
Connor: Yeah, we'll bring them back.

So, I went on tumblr and I asked about. Some fans have questions, so I picked a couple of clean ones out. (Seriously, some of you girls need a cold shower)

Louis: Clean ones? (laughs)What were the others?

            (YOU CAN SEE THE TUMBLR QUESTIONS IN THE VIDEO)

Do you write all your own songs?  

Louis: Spencer comes up with the foundations and then we work together with the rest. We'll just jam something out.

Cody: Subconsciously we started writing about our lifes and what we're about.

Louis: You can see in our songs how we started out quite naive, maybe, when we were young. Like, the lyrics were really innocent.

Connor: But we did a thing with the BBC and they said the one thing they liked most about us was the fact we could've written about going out and getting drunk...but we wrote about having a cup of tea (laughs)

Spencer: We're little cuties at heart.

So, what do you do in your spare time?

Cody: Have a sleep? Or listen to music.

Louis: We all study music aswell! So everyday of the week, we're doing something musical. 

Cody: And we do a lot of clothes shopping!

Louis: Yeah, nothing we get is ever really new. (laughs) Kilo sales! 

Spencer: Going to Morrisons is a big one, we love our meal deals.

Louis: I'd happily play a gig in Morrisons cafe

Everyone: (laughs)

Where can people buy your music? And will there be merch out soon?
Cody: iTunes! Or you can buy a physical copy after a gig!
Connor: Yeah, we want merch out too!
Louis: No tie dye though... (laughs)

Overall, after talking to High Tyde and seeing them perform, I came to the rather quick decision that these guys are super passionate about what they're doing. Their live performance was, also,  impeccable. Not only that either, but they are genuinely nice, fun lads. I'm pretty sure they're gonna be hugeeee some day! So, do yourself a favour now and give them a listen! 

Thank you for taking the time for the interview too, if you're reading. Plus, a big shout out to Jazz for stepping in as my camera girl and being super helpful and lovely! 

EXPECT THE VIDEO VERY SHORTLY: SORRY FOR THE DELAY! BLAME YOUTUBE!

Arctic Monkeys

"Good Evening, Sheffield. We are the Arctic Monkeys- we're from High Green and we're home, baby!"

I had the absolute pleasure of seeing one of my ultimate favourite bands last week- and you know what? I chuffin' loved it. Alex's dancing. Matt's cheeky grin at himself on the big screen. Old Arctic's tunes. Dry ice. AM Hendersons Relish. Adorable apologies. What's not to love?

So how where they live?  I cannot express in words how amazing this gig was without using a few taboos. It was literally the best gig of my life. The local High Green lads (eh? Looks like all the best people come from there, right? *cough cough*...me)had everyone dancing, singing...crying. They pulled out all the old Arctic Monkey's tune with a beautiful setlist. Including, Crying Lightning, Teddy Picker, Cornerstone and even Mardy Bum. With the likes of Arabella, Snap Out of It and No 1 Party Anthem also thrown in. I wouldn't have changed a thing. 
You could really tell how happy the lads were to be back home in the Steel City. With Alex constantly reassuring that, 'we are truly yours Sheffield, but, baby, are you mine?' and wowing us with his frankly...beautiful (?) dance moves. Especially to Don't Sit Down. 
They had literally everybody dancing and smiling, with their beautiful presentation of the songs we all know and love. The vocals, riffs and beats were infaultable. Hats off to you.

Favourite song? It'd be tricky to pick one song, as I adore this band so much. However here is a chart of my general feeling through out each song:

(If you think they're too many tens then I think you underestimate these guys, believe the hype)

To conclude this is the best band I've ever seen and I only wish them the best of wishes for their future.

Meadowhall Light Switch On

Meadowhall Light Switch On
Every year Capital FM hold the 'Meadowhall Christmas Light Switch On' where 15,000 northerners huddle together, in the rain, to watch and listen to the best that Capital has to offer. This year the line up included the debut performance from the incredible The Brit School, and the  likes of Little Nikki,  Union J and The Vamps- including many more!

Who stole the show?

In my opinion The Vamps were the ones who really got me engaged and excited about the show. I was previously a fan before seeing them perform and they did not let me down. Now, normally in a crowd of pre-teen, angst-fueled girls I'd feel somewhat scared/out of place. However, when I saw swarms of twelve year olds chanting,
The foursome include Brad Simpson (lead vocals and rhythm guitar , Connor Ball (bass), James McVey (guitar) and Tristan Evans (drums). The four lads not only had teenage girls in swooning and screaming, but their parents singing along too. 
The band managed to mix pop and some reggae (yes, I know) qualities together to create a unique sound. I must admit, I really enjoyed their set.
Also, after listening to their covers of personal favourite songs  of mine I really appreciate what they're trying to do and their sound. (FYI Miley Cyrus' cover of 'why'd you only call me when you're high?' is impeccable) 

All the members performed to a high quality and, dressed in festive onesies, had the crowd singing all the lyrics back to them. I highly recommend seeing this band live! Or atleast give them a listen!


Who to look out for.
The three headlining acts (Little Nikki, Union J and The Vamps) were great performers and have great careers ahead of them. However, The Brit School were truly exceptional. Both the singers had outstanding vocal control and had everyone dancing. The covered Bruno Mars and Daft Punk beautifully, and in my opinion performed the songs better than the originals. 

Recommendations

Recommendations?

Here, there is something for pretty much everyone, I give you four recommendations to help vary your music taste!

1. The Smiths - if you haven't heard of them then you're missing out on so much! The music that The Smiths create can easily be compared to the feeling of a hug...from a giant, friendly polar bear. The Smiths will show you that you don't have to be alone, they can pick you right up (Hand in Glove) or calm you right down (Asleep). Do yourself a favour and have a listen!

2. Liberty Ship - Liberty Ship are an indie band originating from the good old Steel City! The band consists of four school friends who are passionate about the music they're creating. With just one listen, you can they are tell are going to be big! Think the next Arctic Monkeys.

3. King Charles - what is not to love? With amazing lyrics and music that is refreshing and easy to along with, but nothing far from perfection, give King Charles a listen! I recommend them if you The Gorgeous Chans, Grouplove or Dog is Dead.

4. The Wombats - this funky pop trio are for those of you who like to dance around with the biggest of smiles of your faces'. If you can listen to The Wombats without at least tapping your foot- then you have amazing restraint! I'd trust you to work in a bubble wrap factory! Enjoy!