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Ordinary Noise Interview: "There’s no holds barred. I’m me when I’m singing a song"
Indie | Thursday 3rd September 2015 | Francesco
The Colchester band Ordinary Noise have a clear sound, distinctive vocals, and exceptional songwriting. They have garnered previous support from Consequence Of Sound, Steve Lamacq, Jarvis Cocker's Sunday Service on BBC Radio 6. ‘If Fish Could Scream’ is the second single to be released, following their well-received first offering 'You are Here’.
How did Ordinary Noise form?
Me (Lou) and Ross are school mates and we played guitar with each other, but started a band with Jonny in college. We had a different bassist back then who’s gone off to play cello at Trinity College of Music, but Ross luckily met Tim on his art course soon after.
Why did you decide to play music?
I just like doing it, and you can tell people what you really think about things and how you really feel when you write songs. There’s no holds barred. I’m me when I’m singing a song.
If you had to choose three adjectives to describe your group or your music in general, what would they be?
Melodic, noisy, different.
What inspires you when you create new songs?
Things that happen in everyday life. People say things that might make good lines, or they’ll treat you badly or treat you well, and that makes you feel bad or good. You can obviously take a lot from what other songwriters and bands are doing. YouTube videos have been a key inspiration. ‘You Are Here’, the title track off our new EP, was inspired by a video I saw where the astronomer Carl Sagan ponders over the insignificance of earth seen from a satellite image where it appears as tiny speck in the vastness of space. But from this you see how significant everything that we do on the earth is, and how important it is people are kind to each other and look after the planet, for it’s our only home.
There is a clear Bob Dylan vibe in your songs, are you a fan of the iconic folk artist?
I’m a massive fan of Dylan, and I think the whole 60s folk scene has some really brilliant songwriters that I’ve learnt a lot from.
Your new single 'If Fish Could Scream' will be released soon. What is it about?
We released it as a single a few days ago, it’s available on iTunes now. It’s about the treatment of animals, particularly pigs, in intensive farms. The start follows the story of a pig called Nicki that escapes an intensive farm in a flood. An adult pig is an intelligent as a three year old child! The title is so because if fish had the vocal chords to scream, you’d hear them do so as their internal organs rupture due to the quick pressure change experienced when they fished from the ocean.
How does it feel to be premiered on the Consequence of Sound?
Really great, because it means a lot of people are gonna hear our music, which is what we want.
Are there any other artists that have influenced your music and style?
Two albums I heard all the time as a kid were Radiohead Hail to the Thief and The Ramones Road to Ruin. So both those have shaped my understanding of songs from a young age, in different ways I guess. More recently the lyrics and delivery of Jeffrey Lewis has been influential. A lot of the new songs have more folky elements at the core, but they are arranged in a electronic/indie guitar style, which is something bands like Alt-J have done well.
What is your favourite song / album?
‘Perfect Day’ by Lou Reed.
What’s your guilty pleasure?
No pleasure is guilty!
What is the next step in Ordinary Noise’s career?
We’ve just finished four new songs, so after this EP is released, maybe we’ll record those and get them out. Or maybe we’ll pull everything together and make an album. I still think we’re getting better and we’re finding new sounds all the time so maybe it’s worth waiting a bit so we have an album that’s really finished and whole.
You are granted a super power for a day - what would it be and what would you do?
Time travel, I’d do infinite things.
Follow Ordinary Noise on Twitter.
