Dead Sea Souls - Questions for the Band
This weeks Questions for the Band are answered by Dead Sea Souls, they might just be the band who influenced the thriving music scene in West Lothian just now, but as usual I will let the band introduce themselves.
A gentle start, for those that don't know the band that well. can you tell us a little bit about yourselves ?
So, there's four of us. Gaz, James (Semaj), Colin (Cox) and Dave (Dave)......I suppose we formed in 2007 but took a year or so to start playing proper shows. We're all from West Lothian, dotted around the villages.....Whitburn, Stoneyburn etc. We spent 2008-2013 really gigging hard, playing everywhere and anywhere, and absolutely loved it! Towards the end of that period, we had become a little more known to the public I suppose, and started playing some bigger shows and selling out venues. During that time, we released 'We Were Always Electric' our debut album. Along the way, we generated some good radio play, played some festivals, and drank a lot.....it was a fantastic time in our lives! We took the decision to bring it to a close at the end of 2013. Colin was moving to New Zealand for work and the timing overall just seemed right. Life was beginning to change for us all......families, jobs, other responsibilities tend to reach a point where you don't have a great deal of room for such a big commitment like being in the band. At that stage we were really pleased with what we had achieved as a group of mates.
The first question has to be, so after a 6 year break what brought you back together last year ?
That's actually a tough one.......it just kind of happened in a lot of ways! ha! Obviously Colin coming back to live in the UK was a big reason, but it wasn't the case that we were straight back in the studio! In fact it took the best of a year for that to happen. We had never lost touch over the time he was away and the rest of us met up regularly so we got together for a few jams here and there. To be fair, we mainly just got together and drank at that point! ha! The idea of doing a show as Dead Sea Souls again was being talked about from spring 2019. Once we realised it was certainty, the excitement was building for the four of us. We spoke about venues, sets, whether anyone would turn up!! Eventually we began speaking to DF Concerts about venues and they suggested King Tuts......which was a no brainer for us! Adn I think that sums it up really, the appetite to get back together was always there. The feeling of walking onto that stage the first night at Tuts is hard to describe, and it's that feeling that got us back there.
Who are the bands musical influences ?
It's really varied actually. Across the four of us, there's rock, ska, fuck, disco, dance! Any band that are focussed on live shows are ones that inspire us. We've always been about danceability in our songs as well as the singalong factor, it's just the way we've always approached our music. Musically, bands like The Sunshine Underground made a big impression on us. The type of songs that get the crowd moving. Lyrically, probably the big indie wave of the early 2000s.....bands singing about real stuff they'd experienced. Artic Monkeys, Courteeners etc.....I loved the change in music around then, people not shying away from singing in their own accents and writing about everyday stuff we were all experiencing. Fundamentally, we always wanted to make music had groove but also lyrics people could identify with!!
What is your writing process ? Music or Lyrics First ?
It varies I suppose. Sometime I'll come in with lyrics and chords completed. Then we'll create an actual song from that blueprint. It's not a song before that stage because you're writing lyrics and chords with one eye on the fact that it will sound radically different musically once all four of us get hold of it as a band. When you're sitting playing that song on an acoustic guitar and thinking it sounds nice......it then completely changes as it's transformed by the band. Other times we stumble on a great instrumental, and realise it needs lyrics and a melody, that can be even more enjoyable as the whole band is involved from the ground up......and those tracks are usually the funkiest for us!
What is an average day like for you ?
I should probably lie here and make some shit up about how it's a constant party and playing music!! haha! The four of us have daily lives like most! We all have day jobs, and families (who always take priority). A couple of us have kids, which are the focus of our time these days. In the earlier days of DSS, we were desperate to make this our main career. That's changed really....don't get me wrong, any time a major record label wants to come in and pay us a squillion quid to make music, we'll bite their hand off!!............but we're really now just loving being back in action, creating new music and playing shows. The 2 sold out shows at King Tuts in December were incredible, and to be able to do that is a real source of pride for us. To follow that up with another sold out show in Bathgate at The Dreadnought in May is unreal too! But to answer your question - an average day consists of waking up....coffee....school run......work.....home.....music....bed......repeat! haha!
What is your favourite and least favourite parts of being in a band ?
For me personally, it's a very specific thing. It's that first song when you walk on stage at a sell out show that tops it all for me. The support we've had has always been wild.....people who are coming for a great night out. The live shows have always been the focus for us, and I think that's down to the audience for sure. So, when we walk on and play those first few bars, it's an unreal feeling!
Least favourite?? Eh..........sharing a van with three smelly dudes? Na, probably all the boring stuff and politics that go with being in a band. It's quite sad but I've always felt more can be achieved with some emails and fortunate contacts than with your actual music!
Tell me, how do you interact and respond to fans ?
When we first started playing gigs, it was 10-15 of our mates that were there.....then 30-40..........then 100......and it just grew from there. We never lost the mentality that goes along playing shows to our friends. I remember a point when we played a show at King Tuts and it dawned on us that we didn't personally know the vast majority of the crowd....it was a funny and quite proud moment! But it makes no difference to us, we'll be in the crowd the full gig (until stage time obviously!) having a drink with everyone.....bands that aren't doing that are missing out big time! It's part of the party for us! That's what our gigs are all about.
Who would you most like to collaborate with and why ?
Easy.......Vulfpeck! Because they are fucking awesome! We only recently became aware of Vulfpeck (our guitarist James stumbled across them in a wine fuelled youtube wormhole). They are the ultimate party band, just a core of creative musician with the rest of the instruments interchanging on stage. Their live show at Madison Square Garden last year is a must see....I wish we'd been there. The funk is off the scale, bass player is arguably the best I've ever heard.....I'm not sure where our humble abilities would fit in with all this but I'd love to give it a try! ha! It's definitely worth mentioning some of the local artists we'd love to collaborate with....West Lothian is buzzing with artists right now. Luke La Volpe, Mark Sharp, The Snuts....and of course Lewis Capaldi!! There's a real conveyor belt of brilliant musicians coming through in the area. We'd be delighted to collaborate with any one of them....that's how good they are.
What ok, do you have planned for the year and do you have any ambitions you want to fulfil this year ?
I honestly don't know......this comeback has wildy exceeded what we thought was possible for us! ha! We're just absolutely buzzing to be playing great shows and working on creating music again. We showcased two new tracks at King Tuts, so it's only natural that we'd want to record them and get them out there for people to hear.....but we'll see what the next few months bring. I think it's safe to say that the Bathgate show won't be our last in 2020.
And finally, if you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life, what would it be and why ?
Right, so everyone expects you to pick your favourite album here but that's not how I see it. If you pick your favourite record, you're going to end up hating the thing after hearing it constantly! So you're better off with something that is completely sh*t in the first place and maybe trying to find something good in it.....so anything by Snow Patrol......
Thanks to Gaz, for taking the time to give us a great insight into the band, it’s a great story and 2020 may just mark the rebirth of a fantastic band.
Dead Sea Souls can be followed Facebook, Instagram and Twitter:
https://www.facebook.com/deadseasouls/
