Straight out of Liverpool, Ladies, actually made up of three lads – Chas Moody (lead vocalist), Sam Branch (bass/backing vocals) and Mitia Smirnov (drums/backing vocals). So we decided to have a little catch up with the guys to find a little more behind the band.
Tell us about your aims when creating music, and where does that aim stem from?
I think a lot of people who are in bands and who write songs have this empty pocket inside of them that can only be filled by writing a song or getting on stage. I guess you’re constantly trying to express yourself physically and mentally and that’s why you do it.
What was the catalyst for picking up instruments and wanting to start a band?
It’s just something every kid does and either you get it and you lock yourself in your bedroom for the next two years, or you don’t. It helps when you aren’t t that popular growing up.
Were you very influential to music when growing up or did you establish your own musical preferences?
There was a lot of The Beatles played in all our houses when we were growing up. Yellow Submarine is the first film I can remember watching when I (Chas) was about 4/5. I think those kind of influences when you’re younger set you up pretty well for life.
Tell us about what it was like when you first started writing?
I think I (Chas) started writing songs when I was I was a kid so it’s hard to remember what that felt like. Good I guess. It’s always a strange feeling to make something out nothing. The best feeling, however, is when you hear the drums and bass come in for the first time in the practice room. No feeling compares to that.
What’s the music scene like in Liverpool at the moment? Any band recommendations?
Everyone’s killing it. There are a lot of tunes going about at the moment and lot of great bands. We’re big fans of Cal Ruddy, The Jjohns, The Sweet Chilli Band, Dark Polaris. The most underrated person I’d say is Sean Kelly, I think he’s putting a band together at the moment but he’s writing some of the best tunes on the scene right now.
Have you got any shows coming up soon?
We’re playing Studio 2 on 7th April supporting Sheepy and then on 5th May we’re back at The Zanzibar. We also host an acoustic evening ‘SYNT’ every Tuesday at The Cross Keys in town.
What and who influences you musically?
Lyrically, I think when you first get onto Morrissey and John Lennon you get a bit intimidated and think about throwing the pen down. After that you start to hear songs and read poems a little different. Musically I think bands like Television, The Smiths, The Beatles, Talking Heads, and The Beach Boys all play their part in our sound. It’s just liking good tunes and wanting to write good tunes. Nothing more.
Describe your song-writing process?
There isn’t really a standard formula. Sometimes you mishear a line in a film or something someone’s said, write it down and make something out of it. Be that a song, a poem or a short story. A lot of the time I (chas) will pick the guitar up and nothing will come out and then maybe once or twice a month something in your subconscious will just jump out. You can’t force it.
What was it like recording your new single ‘Pretty In My Heart’?
We recorded that a few years ago with our good friend Stephen Wigmore in his old art gallery. It was a really free experience and we experimented a fair bit in the session’s we did with him there, I think we used a melodica in that song. Those sessions were great. We stole some Modafinil from a relative which is used to help people who need to stay awake. We found if you took 3 or 4 each you’d be bouncing off the walls so we were all pretty on point during those recordings.
Although you are in a band, do you still have to work day jobs in-between live shows?
Yeah, Mitia works in a hotel, Branchy works in a Yogee’s yogurt shop and Chas works in a mail company.
How would you like people to respond to your music? Do you wish to connect emotionally with the audience or is it just about having a party?
I think parties can be emotional, can’t they? It’s a bit of both. I think people should respond to the songs and the live show however they want to.
Do you ever see your sound changing from the type of indie pop you play?
We just write and play songs that we think are good and we’ll keep on doing that for as long as we can do it. I don’t think sound and style can naturally develop if they’re forced.
