The Gold Needles
Q&A 1st June 2019
Taking time out ahead of the release of their second album 'Through A Window' (our featured #AlbumOfTheMonth for June 2019) we catch up with Hull band The Gold Needles.
The band line up is:
· Simon Dowson (Simon)
· Dave Burbage (Dave)
· Mark English (Mark)
· Carl Slaughter (Carl)
· Justin Davidson (Justin)
How and when did the band originally form?
We formed in 2015 after our previous project had come to an end. Simon and Mark were originally in a band together in 1985. They reformed this band in 2012 and released an album ('Twisted Hearts' by Cherry Mosaic which is available on Bandcamp). The Gold Needles developed from this.
What's the story behind the band's name?
In ancient Chinese folklore the insertion of gold needles in strategic parts of the body is supposed to bring about immortality. We’ve yet to try it! We also like the double meaning of being able to place a needle on a record.
Who are your favourite bands and musicians? Influences?
Simon: Generation X and The Motors
Dave: Tom Petty and David Bowie
Mark: The Beatles and The Stranglers
Carl: The Beatles and The Byrds
Justin: David Bowie and Rush.
How would you describe your music and sound?
We’ve been described as psych beat which is pretty accurate. Also retro with a modern twist which we like as well.
Since forming you have released several singles, your debut album 'PEARLS' and a new album 'Through A Window' is scheduled for June 2019. Has the writing and recording process changed much since starting out?
We tend to write and record quite quickly and organically. Simon tends to write full songs, Mark writes chord progressions and lots of lyrics, Dave is the master of the riff and lick. We all contribute ideas though. Recording takes place in our own studio but we have the tracks mastered by Fran Ashcroft in the UK. They are then given an American remaster before release.
You seem to use a different record label or outlet for each music release. What's the thinking behind this approach?
This has just been a natural progression. When we started we had a prior relationship with Exquisite Noise and they released our stuff digitally as well as a lathe cut vinyl 7 inch of 'Not Tonight Josephine'. Kool Kat released the cd version of 'PEARLS' but there was sufficient interest for a vinyl release. Spin It Records in Hull kindly stepped up and a limited run of 300 on gold vinyl came out in the autumn of 2018. We have occasional releases on Fruits de Mer Records who we have a great relationship with. This included 'Smell Of Incense' which was an exclusive at their 16th Dream of Dr Sardonicus Festival last year and sold out within an hour. This also appeared on their critically acclaimed 'The Three Seasons' triple album. Legendary US label became aware of us and we sent them a couple of new tracks which they loved. They were keen to sign us which we did on New Year’s Eve 2018. We’re really excited that 'Through A Window' is to be released on 21st June 2019. We have some great label mates such as The Weeklings, The Grip Weeds and The Bookends. We are their first UK signing.
What's the story, background and inspiration for the new collection of songs on 'Through A Window'? How did you link up with Jem Records for this release?
We are always writing and developing ideas. Once we had a couple of tracks recorded a theme seemed to be developing and we challenged ourselves to write an album that would sit between 'Rubber Soul' and 'Revolver'. Hopefully we’ve managed that.
The band line up is:
· Simon Dowson (Simon)
· Dave Burbage (Dave)
· Mark English (Mark)
· Carl Slaughter (Carl)
· Justin Davidson (Justin)
How and when did the band originally form?
We formed in 2015 after our previous project had come to an end. Simon and Mark were originally in a band together in 1985. They reformed this band in 2012 and released an album ('Twisted Hearts' by Cherry Mosaic which is available on Bandcamp). The Gold Needles developed from this.
What's the story behind the band's name?
In ancient Chinese folklore the insertion of gold needles in strategic parts of the body is supposed to bring about immortality. We’ve yet to try it! We also like the double meaning of being able to place a needle on a record.
Who are your favourite bands and musicians? Influences?
Simon: Generation X and The Motors
Dave: Tom Petty and David Bowie
Mark: The Beatles and The Stranglers
Carl: The Beatles and The Byrds
Justin: David Bowie and Rush.
How would you describe your music and sound?
We’ve been described as psych beat which is pretty accurate. Also retro with a modern twist which we like as well.
Since forming you have released several singles, your debut album 'PEARLS' and a new album 'Through A Window' is scheduled for June 2019. Has the writing and recording process changed much since starting out?
We tend to write and record quite quickly and organically. Simon tends to write full songs, Mark writes chord progressions and lots of lyrics, Dave is the master of the riff and lick. We all contribute ideas though. Recording takes place in our own studio but we have the tracks mastered by Fran Ashcroft in the UK. They are then given an American remaster before release.
You seem to use a different record label or outlet for each music release. What's the thinking behind this approach?
This has just been a natural progression. When we started we had a prior relationship with Exquisite Noise and they released our stuff digitally as well as a lathe cut vinyl 7 inch of 'Not Tonight Josephine'. Kool Kat released the cd version of 'PEARLS' but there was sufficient interest for a vinyl release. Spin It Records in Hull kindly stepped up and a limited run of 300 on gold vinyl came out in the autumn of 2018. We have occasional releases on Fruits de Mer Records who we have a great relationship with. This included 'Smell Of Incense' which was an exclusive at their 16th Dream of Dr Sardonicus Festival last year and sold out within an hour. This also appeared on their critically acclaimed 'The Three Seasons' triple album. Legendary US label became aware of us and we sent them a couple of new tracks which they loved. They were keen to sign us which we did on New Year’s Eve 2018. We’re really excited that 'Through A Window' is to be released on 21st June 2019. We have some great label mates such as The Weeklings, The Grip Weeds and The Bookends. We are their first UK signing.
What's the story, background and inspiration for the new collection of songs on 'Through A Window'? How did you link up with Jem Records for this release?
We are always writing and developing ideas. Once we had a couple of tracks recorded a theme seemed to be developing and we challenged ourselves to write an album that would sit between 'Rubber Soul' and 'Revolver'. Hopefully we’ve managed that.
First live performance?
As The Gold Needles this was with Duncan Reid And The Big Heads in October 2017.
Most memorable gig?
This would have to be both occasions that we have performed at The Cavern Club in Liverpool as part of the International Pop Overthrow Festival in 2018 and 2019. Both times we had an absolute blast.
What impact do you think UK City of Culture 2017 status had on the music scene in Hull? What about the legacy?
In 2017 the whole city got a boost from the City of Culture status. We probably had more bands and gigs than ever before. Last year we seemed to be suffering a little from a hangover but things are picking up again. There are loads of great bands that deserve more exposure and a chance to play.
What do you think about the current state of the music industry?
As always, the big companies dominate but once you scratch the surface there is a wealth of talent out there. Over the past couple of years we have come across a huge amount of excellent bands that are largely under the radar. It’s worth checking them out – especially live if you can. There’s nothing better than seeing a band in a small environment up close and personal.
The Gold Needles seem to take a different approach to using social media and the internet compared to other bands and artists. You don't have a website and as well as publicising your own band's activities on social media you also highlight other music stories and events on Twitter. What's your thinking behind this approach?
We’re very active on social media and we are in the process of building a website as we appreciate we have a bit of a gap there. On Twitter we also have a friend who tweets on our behalf. He is based in London and it is generally him that tweets the interesting music news stories. We like to support local bands, local gigs and other promoters so that we all collectively benefit.
Music format of choice - CD, digital or vinyl?
All of them have their place and we use all of them depending on the situation. Mark is the band’s biggest vinyl collector and can often be found hunting through record shops and record fairs. In fact, when 'PEARLS' was released on vinyl last year the launch was at the Hull Record Fair in Hull Minster.
What was the first and most recent music you bought?
Simon: 'Banana Splits' (Dickies), 'Generation X' reissue (Generation X)
Dave: 'American Pie' (Don McLean), 'Delta' (Mumford and Sons)
Mark: 'Skweeze Me Pleeze Me' (Slade), 'I Love My Friends' reissue (Stephen Duffy)
Carl: 'Popcorn' (Hot Butter), 'Best Of XTC' (XTC)
Justin: 'Mull Of Kintyre' (Wings), 'Fear Of A Blank Planet' (Porcupine Tree).
What was the last gig you went to as a music fan?
Not counting The International Pop Overthrow Festival that we all attended in Liverpool recently…
Simon: Duncan Reid And The Big Heads
Dave: The Decemberists
Mark: Dave Smalley And The Bandeleros
Carl: Duncan Reid And The Big Heads
Justin: Michael Schenker
Highlight(s) in music so far?
Every time we release something new it’s a highlight. However, being signed to Jem was a huge deal. They were the label that licensed the first Cure, Siouxsie And The Banshees and Simple Minds albums in the States as well as the 'Live At Budokan' album by Cheap Trick.
Plans and ambitions for 2019 and beyond?
We’ve already started writing album number 3 and we’ve put some demos down. We want to play live more and be appreciated for our music. It’d be great to be invited over to the USA to play some shows across the water.
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