Interviews: Ghouls

In this new occassion we have had the opportunity to interview the Alternative Punk Rock band Ghouls, from UK. Check out this band and give them a like on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1.Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that?

When the band originally formed we just wanted to get out and play shows as soon as possible, so we never gave the band name much thought. Ghouls was said by someone at the time; it as unused and nice and easy to remember so we just went with it so we could crack on. It doesn’t have a whole lot of meaning behind it but that’s why I think it works - we’ve given it a meaning. 

2.Why did you want to play this genre? 

The thing is, it was never a case of wanting to play a genre. We just wanted to make music and tour the world. The sound we make is just what comes naturally, it’s the raw product of what happens when the 5 of us make noise in a room. I think the aim was always more to create something unique that stands out as it’s own sound. 

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed? 

Some of us did and some of us didn’t. I think the best way of putting it is we got to know each other as the band formed. Russ we knew because of another band he played in, Jay we met at 2000 trees festival. There’s nothing like travelling the world through creating and playing music, you get to know each other pretty well. 

4. Each band member favourite band?

My favourite all time band are probably Green Day but specifically Green Day in the American Idiot 2004/5 era. I obsessed over Bullet In A Bible, it’s a show that should be noted in music history - A moment of a lot of things coming together. 

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs? 

Like making any art form, life is a good reason to write songs. You can outlet everything into 3 minutes and put your thoughts into perspective. I never gave it much thought when I first started playing guitar - I learnt a few chords and then just started writing - I never questioned that it was something that was an option. It makes sense to learn to play music to them create it. Writing in a band also brings you together, often the songs are about experiences that happen through the band and as a result of band life so we all relate to each song a whole lot. 

6. Where was your last gig? 

The last gig we played was in a place called Mol in Belgium. It’s a place we hold dear as a band because it’s the first place we ever toured outside the UK. It is a pretty well known place on the DIY scene too because there’s a crew of Belgian folk who support the scene with real love and passion - it’s people like that who keep bands like us doing what we’re doing. 

7. Where would you like to play? 

Dream venues would be KoKo in Camden, if things got really legit then somewhere like the MK Bowl - just like the Green Day show back in 2005. Places we’d like to go to include Canada, West Coast America and Japan! 

8. Who would you like to support? 

So many bands. Support slots are somewhat of an anomaly for our band, we’ve not done so many and would love to do more. I think a short highlight list would be Don Broco, Shikari, Blink, maybe a hip hop artist like Macklemore...

9. Who not? 

To be honest, there’s nobody that we’d turn down because of the music they play. There’s definitely certain artists that are accused of pretty horrible things that most people might think twice about though. 

10. Any of you has ever suffered from stage fright? Any tip for beginners on how to beat that? 

Stage Fright, like anything, can be overcome by just doing it and doing it some more. We’ve played so many shows that, by now it’s hard to get extreme stage fright because we’ve been in lots of different situations across lots of different gigs. 

11. What bands have inspired you the most? 

The most inspirational bands are those that persist. They’re not necessarily the most successful or well known bands but they graft and put in the work and believe in what it is they are doing. It’s easy to see passed what’s going on behind the scenes to make bands and touring work but I know of lots of bands that make it work simply because they love it and believe in what they’re doing. 

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for? 

I can’t say we’ve had anything that weird. We’ve sent a few birthday cards on request in the past - It sort of blows my mind that it would mean that much to someone because I just feel like I’m a random person who plays music but I’m more than happy with the fact they do enjoy receiving a birthday card from us. 

13. What do you think of your fans? 

In sports, fans support their team. They go to the games, they wear the kit and they stay loyal (in most cases) to them through and through. Fans of our band, and the DIY scene in general, are so important to music. They’re the reason a lot of bands who are now known in the mainstream scenes happened. But they also mean that bands who play the scene are able to tour and go to other countries. Nobody in the DIY scene, fans and/or bands, are there for anything but the love. 

14. What do you think of our site?

It’s very cool. Digging the theme. 

15. Something to add?

Come to a show, come say hi, don’t be a stranger.