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Interview: The Summer War

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The Summer War are an alternative rock band from Manchester, UK. With the release of their new EP, Cult Of You, set for release this April, the band are gearing up for a busy year. Legendary Kids Press was recently able to catch up with them to discuss the EP, their touring plans and how the band came to be.

How would you describe The Summer War to those who have never listened to the band before?

Jack: I would say we are a band that aims to musically try to do something different in an already over-saturated market. I think as a three-piece, the sound is quite raw and dynamic, which really shines through when listening to the EP.

Dave: We are an alternative indie-rock band, heavy on the guitars and drums. We’ve been told that we put on a pretty raw and energetic live show, as well.

How did the band come together?

D: Tom and I have been friends since I joined a band he was playing in at the age of 16 - Boy Rescue. We were both itching to start a band when we both so happened to move to Sheffield for university, so we put some ads out online for a drummer. A few drummers responded, but after meeting Jack, something just seemed to click, and he’s been [a] part of our lives ever since…

You released your new single, “Walk With Kings”, in January. How has fan reaction been thus far?

D: The reaction’s been great, actually! This wasn’t the safest option for us, in terms of being the first single off the new EP, but it’s a song we all love and I think we all felt pretty set on this one being the first track we put out. People have been loving the song, which is always a great relief!

Tom: Yeah, it’s been great. We spent a long time mixing the EP after it was done and we sat on releasing it so long that it got to the point where releasing something new had become a whole thing in itself. But people have responded really well, which has put the nerves at ease!

It’s your first release in 18 months. What made you decide to wait so long between releases?

D: After the last EP, we all decided that we wanted to go down a particular path with whatever it was we were going to write next. We just wanted to make sure we weren’t writing songs for the sake of it and that we were happy with everything before release.

T: As Dave said, we wanted to take our time with the writing, but also the production elements, and make sure we explored all our ideas fully. I think I’ve probably said it before, but our last EP was very immediate and in the moment, whereas this one is the sound of us getting all our ideas down in one go. The next one will probably tread a line between the two.

You’ll be releasing your new EP, Cult Of You, this April. Will the other four tracks be similar to “Walk With Kings”? What can fans expect?

J: Not at all. I think each track on the EP has its own distinct sound, as well as direction. I think we all consciously tried to write something different from our previous work, to show a broader and more dynamic sound, which I would say really shines through on the EP.

D: There’s a definite “texture” and feel to the EP that is present throughout, but each song is very much its own entity within that.

T: I think each song has its own identity, but like Dave said, there are certain elements throughout that create a common thread. Things like guitar tones and general experimentation with sounds. And then a song called “Novemberish”, which is completely out of left field and sounds nothing like anything we’ve ever done before.

Lyrically and sonically, how would you say it differs from Keep Up, We’re Moving On?

D: I think this EP has taken elements from old releases, but refined them and brought a level of maturity to our sound that was perhaps lacking on our earlier material. We wanted to really shake it up on this release - to create something that would make people want to listen again more intently and maybe even throw people off guard.

T: It’s much more expansive than our last EP, both sonically and lyrically. I think it was a case of us saying, “Okay, we’ve done something similar to this in the past. It’s a cool idea, but how can we do it in a different and refreshing way to show our growth?”

It was a conscious effort on our part to make sure we didn’t recycle ideas.

What would you say is your favourite track off the EP?

J: My favourite track on the EP is “Walk With Kings”. The reason behind this is mainly self-indulgent, haha. I really enjoy the rhythm of the tune, which, to me, has a real ebb and flow to it. The guitar melodies really complement the vocals and almost seem to bounce off of each other. Plus, it’s really fun to play live.

D: Probably “Walk With Kings”, as it’s such a personal track for me.

T: I think they all have their strong points, but “Walk With Kings” and “The Garden” definitely stand out.

Will you be touring or playing any shows in support?

D: Yes, watch this space!

T: A few shows for sure!

What do you hope 2016 brings for the band?

D: We’ll be playing plenty of shows; hopefully, see some new faces; and writing new material.

T: Some shows, more writing and maybe a new record before the year is out.

Any last words?

T: Thanks for check us out! See you at a show.

The Summer War’s new EP, Cult Of You, is set for release April 12. Those wishing to follow the band on social media can do so via Facebook and Twitter.

By Clare Fitzgerald