Black Tiles - Questions for the Band

This weeks Questions for the Band features the fantastic Aberdeen punk/pop quintet Black Tiles, I caught up with them just before we went into full lockdown !! As usual I will let them introduce themselves.

A gentle start, for those that don't know the band that well. can you tell us a little bit about yourselves ?

(Kieran) We grew up just outside of Aberdeen. Everyone went to the one high school but the band wasn’t on the go till after that. The five of us you see now put it together around the start of 2019, played our first gig in January.

(Georgia) Yeah, so the band is made up of Tilly O’Connor on lead vocal and guitar, Callum Ogilvie on bass, Kieran Henderson on lead guitar, I [Georgia Downie] play synth and Liam Watson on the bongo drums. 

Who are the bands’ musical influences ?

(Tilly) The Cure, probably a bit of Kate Bush.

(Georgia) We also all listen to the likes of Talking Heads, Duran Duran and Depeche Mode. So sorta 80’s post-punk/new wave influences. 

What is your writing process ? Music or Lyrics First ?

(Kieran) It’s kind of mixed, however for the most part lyrics first. Depends on how the idea for the song comes about.

(Tilly) Lately we've had a lot of fun jamming over obscure dance tracks just to see if we can get a bass riff or lyrics/melody or something then take the track away and work around that.

(Georgia) We revisit songs alot too and add new parts to them, especially with the synth as it is still pretty new to our sound.

What is an average day like for you ?

(Kieran) The average day isn’t all that exciting, everyone is studying.

(Georgia) Yeah we are all big nerds at uni right now, no rock and roll here.

(Liam) Studying and eating beans.

(Tilly) I'm not studying all that much.

(Callum) I’d love to say that it was jamming all day, though.

What is your favourite and least favourite parts of being in a band?

(Kieran) Playing shows is the best part, performing and getting it back from people is amazing. The worst part is travelling, takes up so much time, although drive-thru breakfast could actually be better than playing shows.

(Tilly) We were enjoying the new KFC vegan burger a lot on tour.

(Georgia) Only three of us are in the same city right now so it can be a lot of traveling to just practice but it's worth it to get to play gigs. I think if we got a van though we would enjoy travelling so much more. We all want a bit of the van man life and getting to shout at folk on the road for doing nothing wrong.

(Callum) The Van Man life is definitely a highlight for me, blasting M5 by Sports Team - our tour anthem - as we were going along the motorway was something else!

Apart from gigging, the next best feeling is when a song finally comes together. We had that during the recording of our latest song. When we finally added the synths at the end of the day, we all went ‘Oooooooh’. It was a pretty surreal moment, sparks were definitely flying. 

Tell me, how do you interact and respond to fans ?

(Tilly) Mostly after the gig having a chat, thanking them for coming. Folk can get us on social media too.

(Liam) We have Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages so folk can keep up with us on there. 

If you could choose to support any band who would it be and why ?

(Tilly) I have no idea! Any of my big favourites I would probably be way too nervous to actually do a good job. I'll let the others say something cool and less weedy here.

(Georgia) When we first started I would have thought Wolf Alice. Right now though maybe Sports Team or Sorry. They are bands we listen to when we are all together.

(Liam) Amyl and the Sniffers would be a sweaty good time. 

(Georgia) If that were to happen, someone has to get a mullet cut in.

Looking ahead for this year, what are your plans ? can we expect new music ? and do you have any ambitions that you want to fulfill this year ?

(Kieran) We’re playing shows all over Scotland, we had the tour earlier this year, just looking to build on that.

(Georgia) We'd love to play some festivals this year! That's probably our next goal. 

(Tilly) And our new single Leave is out now.

And finally, if you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, what would it be and why ?

(Tilly) Heaven or Las Vegas by Cocteau Twins. It washes over me and I feel better.

(Georgia) I wouldn't even know where to start with albums, too many. I can give you a song though, it would be Walk Like an Egyptian by The Bangles.

(Liam) I love that song. Doolittle by Pixies would be mine.

(Callum) Great question - it’s gotta be something that you can listen to again and again, it would probably have to be - totally cliche - Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd. You know I’m screaming along  to the Great Gig in the Sky everytime I’m out in the car.

Thanks to the loons and quines for taking the time to give us a great insight into the band, it’s a shame we have been hit by the corona virus as this could very well have been a breakthrough year for Black Tiles, hopefully it still can be.

Black Tiles can be followed Facebook, Instagram and Twitter:

https://www.facebook.com/BlackTilesBand/

https://instagram.com/blacktilesband?igshid=1sj4h1w6l8y35

https://twitter.com/blacktilesband

Watch the video of Molly Marguerite below: