Catching up with the Young Aviators

A couple of years ago I was an eager little fan of the Subways, I still am in a huge way. But one night at the Brudenell Social Club I was blown away by the support act. they were so full of energy, and the way that the crowd reacted to this support band was phenomenal. Everyone was so engrossed it even felt like it was their gig at one point. The band I am talking about are Young Aviators

I interviewed them a few years ago just as they were still supporting the Subways, but as they have got bigger so has the support. You can view the old interview here on the Vibrations website to get to know them more.

They now have a full album out, which is outstanding. You can buy it on iTunes, or here which is their Band Camp profile. So with this I felt it was only right to have a little catch up with these Irish beauties.

Here is the new interview with the band enjoy it.

The last time we spoke was 2 years ago, just after your storming set at Leeds Brudenell Social Club supporting the Subways. Have you had anymore crowd member dancing on stage like the guy from that gig?

Unfortunately, no we haven’t. That was a special moment for us and that poor fella I suspect. I never thought for a moment he would actually get up on stage and dance for us. He proved me wrong.

So what has been going off in Young Aviators world?

We’re just back from our first tour of Europe, which was incredible. We did an eight-date stint of Austria and Germany supporting ‘Shporte Freunde Stiller’, a massive German band. The shows were in front of two to three thousand people each night! We also have a Scottish tour with Travis coming up!

Your debut album is outstanding; it has been one of my favourite albums of the year. How did the writing process go for it?

Why thank you! We’re glad you like it. The writing process was fine I guess, most of the songs were already there waiting to be recorded. They were all written around the same time, when I felt I had a lot to write about.

What made you not put a few of the songs from the E.Ps on there like the awesome Hunting for Heaven and the Question Is?

We just wanted to make something fresh and interesting. All those songs are still out there on the Internet so people can access them no problem. We wanted our debut album to feel like a debut.

Do you still keep them in your set?

We wheel them out now and again for the hardcore fans. 

Are there any plans of you doing your own tour again? It seems like ages ago since you played in Leeds.

It’s been too long!! We miss Leeds! We’re planning a UK tour for February 2014, so hopefully that will include Leeds and some more onstage dancing people.

You have been playing a lot of gigs overseas recently, what has the crowd reception been like compared to crowds over here?

Crowds in Europe are very polite and receptive. The audiences we played in front of seemed really attentive from the start of the set right up to the end, I would never say audiences in the UK aren’t like this (because that would be a pretty big statement to make) but we found the European scene a surprising treat.

If you could throw a come dine with me dinner party who would you invite? (They can be dead or alive) Also what would you cook?

Marilyn Monroe and cast the of Downton Abbey.

Full English breakfast.

I have been doing a lot of research recently on bands and artists who charge a substantial fee so that their fans can meet them and have a photo taken with them. What do you guys think about this?

Seems a bit wanky to me...but then again musicians have to eat.

If you could be any superhero who would you be?

Superman. Obviously.

Finally what does 2014 have in store for you guys?

Lots more gigs and hopefully another record, and of course, another show in Leeds.

If you want more from the guys like them on Facebook

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Rochelle Massey

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The D.O.T - Diary - Album Review

‘Diary’ is the second album from the D.O. T in less than a year. The talented due that are Mike Skinner (formally of the Streets) and Rob Harvey (formally of the Music). The debut album ‘And That’ was full of was full of songs with anthemic choruses, big bass riffs and mixed with a funky house beats. Can we expect the same from album number two?

 

The bangers of this album are still here but hidden under the slowed down but soulful beats. This is not a bad thing; a lot of these songs have featured in live set but were not featured on the previous album.

 

'How We All Lie’  was the first single to be taken from this album, a ballad of some sort but with that underground feel that lets you identify them from the others. Harvey’s voice is as stunning and unique as ever and then moulded together with Skinners, make this track just sublime. Skinner says the track is “written in a very traditional way, apart from the MPC drum machine that started it all off. There are a lot of references to the football section of the newspaper’s that day, because it fit with the theme of the way we have to lie to reassure ourselves that we are part of society”.

‘Wherever You Might Be’ has a funky and catchy guitar rift courtesy that hooks you in right from the offset. Skinner takes the vocals on this and Harvey backs him up. It still has those funk soul elements within it.

‘Makers Mark’ is a track that makes you think things are going to get dark, then the chorus comes in and makes it huge. Harvey’s voice becomes lower for the choruses but then gets higher to pick you up as you listen on.

Album number two can often be pigeon holed as a tricky one, but for this pair, this does not seem to be the case. Album number two is just as good if not better than first.

Two inspirational musicians, that have come together and created something that is beyond special is a very rare occurrence in my opinion in the music world but this however is the exception. May the D.O.T live on.

Below is single number two off the album give it a listen.

 

Listen to the stream of the album before its release on May 6 here