1. When and how was your band born ?
(John) The band was born in the late Eighties in Irvine, Ayrshire, Scotland. It took a year or so to evolve into the main core of Frank, John , Paul and Stephen. It was a result of the desires, ambitions and raw talents of the four of us that made the dream real. We were a nervous gang, stumbling upon various strokes of luck and creating little emotional masterpieces as we went. The songwriting lark seemed to be a breeze to us, though always in our own, individual fashion. It was when Mr. Davy Hughes came along that our nerves slowly began to evaporate and we flowered into the five piece that you know and love today.
2. Where did you get the name Trash Can Sinatras ?
(John) Davy and Frank flung the three words together just to hear them clang.
3. What are your musical backgrounds ?
(Stephen) I've been in two bands previously, both lasting only one performance. In the first we covered Jesus and Mary Chain songs while in the second I played the bass alongside a future prison warder. Paul's first group covered Smiths/Bowie/Beatles songs and featured a singer who played "slap" bass in a funky style. John played in a shy acoustic band influenced by Everything But The Girl, the singer now has a top job in Germany's Bundesbank. Davy's old band had the best name of all, "The Galloping Gunshot Boys", who played rockabilly. Davy was the singer in the original Trashcans, backed by Frank on bass and sunglasses and George McDaid on left handed guitar. We've swapped instruments over the years but our present formula seems to work best.
4. Very often, the reviews and also the fans don't find in your music clear musical reference points. What do you think about this?
(John) I think this is a very natural phenomena as, when we are writing our songs, if something begins to sound familiar or "in the style of" someone...we tend to down tools and call the whole thing off...this could also go some way towards explaining our non prolificness.
5. How can we characterise your music?
(Stephen) Over the years we have been referred to as: Pop, Soulful, Punk, Rock, Indie and all things in between, none of which quite hit the mark. As much of Weightlifting is more emotionally direct than a lot of our previous records, I would catagorise it as Ayrshire Soul.
6. The Trashcans could never be accused of being the most prolific of bands. Why 3 albums in 15 years? Is it circumstances or personal choice ?
(Paul) It has actually been 3 albums in 8 years (88-96) and 7 years (and counting) for the new one Weightlifting. The reason it takes us so long is our ridiculously high quality threshold. We can't release anything we don't like at the time.
7. Many people think you have probably written some of the greatest pop songs. Why haven't you had more success worldwide ?
(Paul) I wish I knew. Success in the music business is basically down to luck. It's just the way the mop flops.
8. Do you think you were 10 years before your time for success ?
(Paul) 10 years too early or 10 years too late...we've never been big on punctuality.
9. Since your last concert in France (Bataclan '96) you have played a couple of dates in Japan, USA and some in the UK, and now you play often in Scotland. Do you think there are not enough fans outside the UK?
(Stephen) We know we have fans in Japan and America as our records were promoted there and we've toured both several times. But, to my knowledge, our music has never been properly available in much of Europe, so it is difficult to tell if we have fans there. France is the only mainland European country we have played in (Les Inrockuptibles tour/ Lloyd Cole tour) and the audiences seemed to like us, hopefully, this is a good sign.
10. It's almost impossible to get your albums in France. Is it the same everywhere ? Do you have plans to re-issue the first 3 albums? Maybe a boxed set with extra tracks ?
(Stephen) A Japanese label re-issued "Cake" a few years ago with the b-sides to the singles included. The first three albums remain hard to find, but we are working on making them more readily available. As far as bonus tracks are concerned, our archives have been ransacked to compile the recently released Zebra of the Family double CD. This CD is available through our website www.trashcansinatras.com and contains demo versions of most of our songs and all unreleased material from the past. |
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11. According to your website, you are in the studio mixing the new album Weightlifting. Why is it such a long time since A Happy Pocket?
(Paul) After A Happy Pocket our record company was taken over and we found ourselves abandoned, eventually we were made bankrupt and we lost our beloved home and recording place, Shabby Road Studios. It was a traumatic time for ourselves and I think that manifested itself in our inability to write any songs. We've gradually built up our confidence since then,though, and the new album, Weightlifting, is the best thing we've ever done.
12. Can you talk about the new album, Weightlifting. How did you write it ? Inspirations ? How does it sound ?
(John) It sounds beautiful. We wrote it over the past seven years...the events of those years are its inspiration...lovers leaving, houses crumbling, phoenix sightings over Kilmarnock, an unsolved murder, bad habits being fought and defeated, discovering lovers, the beauty of the hills, the men and the women...life's complexity and simplicity.
13. Will the album be supported in France and worldwide with concerts and more press and in store advertising ? Do you have a new label for this album ?
(John) At the moment we have no label in France or elsewhere in Europe. We are looking to license the record through various labels depending on our impression of how good a job they could do and how enthusiastic they are. I would like to use this question as an opportunity to ask any labels out there who are interested in the band to get in touch through our website or if there are any fans out there who could recommend a label they think may be good for us to get in touch and let us know. We would love to be able to tour with our new album as much as possible and do as much as we can to let people hear our treasure.
14. Do you think the media will be more aware of you considering the success of other Scottish bands ?
(John) I have absolutely no idea. The media is one of the strangest beasts on God's earth, it can raise the lowliest things to great prominence and cast the finest things to the wilderness...
15. What do you think of other successfull Scottish bands (Arab Strap, Mogwai, Belle and Sebastian, etc.)
(John) I think this country produces wonderful artists...some of my favourites are The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, The Blue Nile, Momus, The Proclaimers, Nyah Fearties, Mike Scott, Brian Robertson, Jack Bruce, The Sluts of Trust, The Delgados , Eddi Reader, John McGeoch, John Martyn, Angus Young, David Byrne, Jimi Hendrix (honorary Scotsman) Michael Marra, Heirloom and the father of us all...Robert Burns.
16. What are your feelings having the public in front of you at a live performance ?
(John) I feel nervous and excited beforehand...proud of the music, that it can attract such a diverse and passionate crowd and then worried that we can play it well enough to deserve the reaction. The best nights are when we are all lost in the music...these come surprisingly often.
17. If you had to summarise your music in three words, which would you choose?
(Paul) Involuntary, intrinsic, chivalrous.
18. When will you return to Paris ?
(Paul) We had a fantastic time on our previous visits to France so...as soon as we can. Can is our middle name.
19. Any more words or wishes ?
(Paul) I'd like to say a big thank you to all our fans for thier loyalty, patience and encouragement, and we'll see you soon.
Originally appeared in Froggy Delight.
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