Tramlines Festival is kicking off in less than a week and Clay, a four-piece from Leeds, will be taking to The Leadmill for the first time ever. Hot out of the studio with a brand new EP, Clay will be ones not to be missed. We at IndieCentralMusic have been following their latest song releases and like what we hear. So, we had a chat with them to find out what’s in store for the Tramlines set.
Stephen McMahon: Hello, now talk us through a little bit about Clay, and what sort of music you guys create?
Clay: That’s the beauty of our band really, we don’t seem to fit into a music genre. And that’s why we have a vast audience. There’s the big chorus, the big pop stuff but our most recent single ‘Honest’ – its quite a lot different in terms of being poppy. Its difficult to put a name on our music. So we wouldn’t be able to pick a genre. If we had to pick one, we’d say Indie with RnB and Hip Hop influences, lots of guitar band comparisons. We just make music that we love making to be honest, and making music we can’t find anywhere by anyone else.
Stephen McMahon: Brilliant, You’ve released recently ‘Stay Calm’ and also ‘Honest’, done a short review on the website, how has the overall reception been from fans on the music?
Clay: Yes, the reception has been amazing. Its quite strange putting music out. Obviously we record our music in a studio and were all cooped up from real life and when we release it and people love it, its great but strange. We don’t write for a specific audience as such. We just pick a genre and then tailor a song to that.
Stephen McMahon: When gigging and performing live shows at festivals such as Tramlines, do you feel the audience connects with the music, especially to those who have never heard it before?
Clay: Definitely yes, up until recently, we’ve only just started and around the country the audience have never heard us before and its mostly been first impressions. The strongest part of our band is the fact that we are very energetic and that our songs are made to be played live. I think people are getting it and that’s great. If our live shows aren’t very good, then what are we doing it for you know?
Stephen McMahon: Nowadays you see that there’s quite a lot of musicians that are becoming multi-talented in the way they perform on stage. Talk us through the instruments you guys have on stage and what you all are using in an average set.
Clay: On stage, we have obviously two guitars and bass and drum set, but we have keyboards and chaos pads. Other sonic sounds which we wouldn’t usually use, but for live performances it good sound and gets us closer to the record. We’re not a guitar band, but also not a synth band.
Stephen McMahon: Your set at Tramlines is at The Leadmill, great venue. 7.20PM on the Friday. What can we expect from your set in particular? any tricks up your sleeves?
Clay: It’s a new set. Since the last few shows that we’ve played, it’s a whole new show. New lighting rig, new songs, new set – Its totally different, its now our headline shows so we really bring it all. We can’t wait to unleash it in Tramlines at The Leadmill. We’ve wanted to play there for years, we’re so hyped, its going to be incredible. We’re playing our EP that came out last Friday [15th July], ‘Heaven’. Another song called ‘Why’ which is quite Duran-Durany, a bit like Haim’s music. ‘Honest’ and ‘Nothing Happened’, are in the set too. It’s a very fresh set.
Stephen McMahon: On that Friday there is 5 stages and there will be 4 other acts on different stages when you guys grace the stage, so without dissing any other bands, why should festival goers come see you instead of anyone else?
Clay: Probably because we’re the best band on the lineup, so you need to come a witness something magical before you can’t get into the venue at all.
Stephen McMahon: Tramlines started in 2009, and has been going for 8 years. It is without a doubt provi
ng to provide platforms for younger bands to build a bigger fan base. Would you say more upcoming bands need to target them more?
Clay: Yes, it’s a difficult one, in terms of up and coming artists, because the music industry is so diluted, its so easy to start a band these days. It gives people the opportunity to start and band and get onto the lineups. But you need to be a good band to start off with to actually get on the line-ups. So it is a good opportunity but you have to earn it. New bands should just target every opportunity.
Stephen McMahon: Who would you recommend to also go see at Tramlines over the weekend?
Clay: Probably go and see Catfish and the Bottlemen. We’re thinking The Dandy Warhol’s too, they have a great song, ‘Bohemian Like You’. Also High Tyde as well.
Stephen McMahon: What can we expect to see from Clay over the rest of the summer? Surely some more music on the way!
Clay: Well, our tour starts in august, its our first ever headline tour. We’re very excited to be on the road for our own shows. It’s a busy summer, the EP came out last Friday [15th July]. A couple more festivals on the way – its very non stop. More music on the way around September time too.
Clay – Tramlines Festival – Sheffield – Fri 22nd July – The Leadmill – 7:20PM
For all information on Tramlines Festival go to the website – http://www.tramlines.org.uk
You can also show your support for Clay by checking them out on Facebook and Twitter.
