Walking WIth Wolves - Interview

Here at Rapture we like to keep you up to date with some of the local bands. Walking with Wolves are that new and up and coming band.

I went down to speak to them before their show at the Cockpit, but due to technical difficulties   we had to re do the interview via email. 

1. For people who are unaware of you guys, will you describe your style?

Acoustic driven rock.

2. How did you all meet and what inspired you to become a band?

School. Jack and Ben were forced into a band by school but lacked a singer, which after a really complicated sequence of events we got, who asked Oli. Unfortunately we went our separate ways but were asked to reunite for our schools 'battle of the bands' but due to other commitments our singer couldn't commit so Jack recruited Greg.

3. What were the first records that you bought?

Jack: much to my disgrace it was somebody to love by the boogie pimps. The video enticed the ten year old me. A giant woman in her lingerie! What's not to love?

4. If you could host a dinner party a bit like come dine with me, who would you invite dead or alive? Who would you have voice it over?

Jesus, if he didn't show we could disprove Christianity. Kurt Cobain, it's to be expected really. Henry Cavil for Oli, he loves superman and superheroes. Actually I'd just invite all of the DC comic book heroes and all of the Marvel comic book heroes and have them fight for their food in a sort of 'WWE royal rumble match' It'd be cool to see who would win. 

5. If you could have any superpower what would it be, and would you use it for good or evil?

The power to read people's minds and control them. You'd never fail an exam again and well, at least we could force people to come to our gigs and buy all our merch! 

6. What is the process for writing your songs? Is it just one person, or a collective effort?

It's kind of strange, Ben does the drums, Jack does the lyrics, we all get rid of the lyrics, Greg and Oli re write better lyrics and the music, Jack does what he's told. 

7. Where has been the best venue to play at?

We played at Wembley one time, then we woke up. Cockpit is always fun.

8. Any plans to play any festivals?

Glastonbury and Leeds/Reading approached us but they couldn't meet our terms so for 2013 no, but 2014, we can hope.

9. You are still a relatively new band on the scene how are you finding it?

Fun, tough but fun. We've made some great friends with people from all over! 

10. What would your dream line up be to play a gig with?

Supporting us? Foo fighters, Mallory Knox, 30 Seconds to Mars, Arctic Monkeys, Muse, the list is endless really but Jack and Ben have always said their dream is to play a gig with Foo Fighters.

11. What is your view of the music scene currently? Are you excited by it or is it a bit bland?

The music scene as a whole? Bland? Is that a joke! It’s really quite intense, I don't know if that's the right word but it’s really competitive with so many good bands out there but all with completely different styles! It's mad!

12. I have read that you have changed your name before becoming Walking with Wolves. What made you change it?

Claim the Conscious... It always prompted the question 'why would you like to claim the conscious' or 'how do you planning on claiming us?' And well we weren't sure. So at least now when people say 'when do you go Walking with Wolves' we can say when we're in Norway. Because they do that there and Ben is Norwegian!!

13. Describe each other in one word?

Jack is awesome 

Greg is enthralling 

Ben is Ben, no word can accurately encapsulate him. He is just Ben. 

Oli is bodacious 

Now that you have had a read take a listen to this awesome band.

Rochelle Massey

China Rats interview

As well as running Rapture, I also write for a magazine called Vibrations. Have a look at some of our stuff here if you like what you see then you can like our Facebook.

So this is an interview that i did with the amazing China Rats at Live at Leeds for Vibrations. so have a read.

You are playing Live at Leeds for a second year. What is going to be different this year than last year?

Graeme - We have a lot more songs this year, last year it was quite early days, we had been together less than a year.


Luke – We have done a lot more gigs now, so we are a little bit more rehearsed.

Graeme - It feels a lot better to play together now.

Luke – Yeah it is more natural.

You got to play with the Cribs in London a few weeks ago, what was that like?

Graeme – it was just unreal. We all love the Cribs and to be that close and having beers with them in the dressing room afterwards was just crazy. You don’t think that kind of stuff is going to happen to you.

Luke – It was quite surreal.

Did anything crazy happen with the Jarman brothers?

Graeme – We were just bevvying really. They played a mad set, it went a little crazy in the 100 club, so we were chilling with them afterwards they were pretty dead.

Luke – I think they were pretty worn out.

Graeme – I think someone was covering Ryan Jarman in ice because he was just steaming.

Leeds is a very special place to you guys. What is it that you love so much about it?

Graeme – We all moved away from home to come to uni here, it is where we grew up properly really.

Luke – We are all from little towns. Leeds is a proper city and stuff; it is where we all got together.

Graeme - I hadn’t even played gigs until I came to Leeds, then all of a sudden I was playing with my Mates.

Where did you play first?

Graeme – First? It was in the Elbow Rooms.

Luke - That was five or six years ago, when we were in different bands.

Graeme – Yeah we were in a different band then, but were playing together as friends still. It was more like a college band back then.

Your tracks are short but stupendously catchy. Was this intended?

Luke – I think it was when we first started out, short was what we wanted.

Graeme – Everyone likes pop music don’t they, and we wanted to write music that was fun to play, and that we had fun playing. Also catchy so we can get stuck into people’s heads.

Luke – I think they have progressed a little from that now; they are more developed a little bit longer.

Graeme – We are still trying to get stuff recorded. Maybe something that is longer than two minutes long.

What is the most annoying comparison that people make about your music?

Graeme – I don’t think we get any annoying comparisons, but we get called pop punk a lot, but I don’t think we sound similar to Blink 182 or Sum 41.

Luke – I think there is a difference between the 2 genres. We are like pop and a little bit punky, but we are not pop punk.

Graeme – It is a set genre. People just say it and I guess that is the most annoying thing.

Luke – You read loads though, because people can just write what they want on the Internet.

Graeme – Usually it is just the Ramones, and stuff like that, which you can’t complain about.

Luke – It is quite simple to compare us to them, because it is quite fast. I don’t think we sound like the Ramones.

In ten words tell us what you sound like?

Graeme – Go on you pick five, and I will pick five.

Luke – A little Psychedelic with the new stuff.

Graeme – It is a bit more Dad rock.

Luke – We have gone from lad rock to Dad rock.

Graeme – I would say fast, sweaty, sharp, mental, electric, and sketchy.

Luke – Unsure, loud.

Graeme – Raucous.

Who are you looking forward to seeing at Live at Leeds after your set?

Graeme – I think Luke was saying someone like Everything Everything.

Luke - I was not into them at all, but I have been listening to their album a bit. I didn’t get them at first; I think it will be interesting.I wanted to see Happy Daggers, but they are on in half an hour.

Graeme – They are our mates. Savages they are playing as well we saw them in SXSW.

How was SXSW?

Graeme – It was crazy. I have not really been out of Europe, so to go to America was amazing.

Luke - It was our first time in America, and on the first night we got there we flew into Austin, and had to drive into San Antonio to pick up our bass player, and our manger, because the flight got delayed.

Graeme – So they got re-directed, and we were driving down the highway.

Luke – It was bit of nightmare though, because it was dark.

Graeme – We got a McDonald’s to see how big the portions are compared to here, they were massive. Good value for money.

What were the first records you bought?

Luke – Mine was Mr. Boombastic by Shaggy.

Graeme – I can’t remember what mine was. I had a couple of singles first. I got going deeper underground by Jamiroquai on tape.

Luke - I remember getting Michael Jackson History, it was a big double cassette.

Would you change them if you could?

Luke – No, Mr. Boombastic is still a quality track.

I have read at least three different versions of how you gained your name. The best being you named yourselves after Splinter from TMNT. Is it to keep things interesting?

Graeme – We messed that one up, because Splinter is from Japan, not China.

Luke - I think its just because we do not really have a story behind it, and we always get asked it, so China Rats is a different name, how did you come up with that? It just gets repetitive.

Graeme – I think it actually comes from a guitar being made in China.

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Introducing Allusondrugs

Here at Rapture we like to bring you the very finest in music talent. Keeping with that tradition here is our latest Introducing article, so get out the fan fare and lets have a drum role please. I can’t actually write a drum roll out so it seems so lets give a big warm welcome to Allusondrugs.

This wonderfully sounding five-piece alternative rock band are from Castleford, West Yorkshire. They are a relatively new band on the seen but that will not stop them.

They have just released their debut single ‘Plasters’ on Clue records. This record was released on August the 19^th with only 100 physical copies available. If you were one of the few who were able to get their hands on one you will be able to enjoy the sleeve artwork, which was hand-drawn by the band.

Now lets get down to business and get some music flowing shall we. Below is the video link to one of their other tracks ‘Sunset Yellow’ so check it out and see what you think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52R78M3A9bk

 This is a dark and fuzzy track, with a huge chorus that will make you want to scream into someone’s face. The different tempos keep this track interesting and would also give Biffy Clyro a run for their money. 

Allusondrugs are going to be huge there is no doubt about that. They will add to bill of already great bands that are coming out of West Yorkshire. We will end with the new single from the guys so enjoy!!

Rochelle Massey - Rapture