This time round an up and coming young band from Swindon answer our Fifteen Questions. Handing you over to The Rubix:
1 – What is your band / artist name, and why did you choose it?
The Rubix is our name; it doesn’t have any specific reasoning behind it. We basically wanted a name that was The something’s as we feel some of the best bands have that. We got it down to a shortlist of names that we thought were alright, but then one of us (can’t remember who) said The Rubix and that was that. With our diversity in music, we like with a range of metal, indie and drum and bass, it was like fitting together like a puzzle.
2 – What stage are you at in your career at the moment?
Only a year or so into it, we have just recorded our debut E.P Fashion Conscious, which hits the internet market on the 22nd June. With big gigs such as a sell out Gloucester Guildhall and a support slot down in London with Bloc Party & Battles DJ set we have achieved more than any of us would have imagined. With a possible summer tour in the pipe line the sky is the limit for us right now.
3 – What is your music background? (Who are you and your band members? Tell us your story!)
Well we are five guys all from the outskirts of Swindon in little neighbouring villages, we all have a passion for music and all needed a medium to express it through. Our members are James Tutt -Singer, Aaron Drury-Guitar, Jordi Brown-Drums, Chris Ody-Guitar and Dave Garraway-Bass. We all have very different tastes in music, with Dave being a real Metal and punk fan with the likes of Killswitch Engage and A Day To Remember being just two examples of the style of music he is interested in. Then we have Jordi he is a drummer and a DJ with his own Dub-Step project Nous Sommes Robots, he says many of his drum beats are inspired by Drum and Bass but also a big influence is an Oxford band by the name of Foals. Chris is another character in our jigsaw, who before starting the band along with Singer James, used to play purely acoustic guitar with the likes of Jack Johnson being main influence of his music, but now with band in full swing he takes inspiration from the likes of The Enemy and Does It offend You, Yeah? Aaron Drury is our other guitarist, his guitar riffs are often the thing we base our songs around, with inspiration from The Strokes, The White Stripes and The Libertines giving us that very old style indie and a rock undercurrent that many think make our music what it is. Last but not least there is James, his punk inspired lyrics and gritty voice finish off our music style, and he is the character at a gig you will find climbing up onto the speakers and amps, reminiscent of The Gallows lead singer. With dance indie acts such as CSS and Klaxons being main inspiration adding dance as another sub genre the band represent.
4 – How do you describe your music to people?
We always struggle to find a genre we can agree our songs are, with progressive moments in our EP opener Brawl, and an electronic feel in both Fashion Conscious and Lets Go Electro; with danceable Indie in Pet Wolf. Making our genre somewhere between indie and dance, but with added punk lyrics and political themes. Perhaps Indie Dance-Post Punk-Alternative if that is a genre?
5 – What do you think about people downloading music online?
As much as we would love to say music on CD is still the only way music should be heard, we would be lying. With outlets such as Amazon, Napster and of course iTunes storming the online MP3 market, making it a real shame in one hand, but another way of getting heard in another.
6 – What dream tour would you love to be on, with any past or present bands?
Ooh this is a toughie. We are all so different, we would struggle to list a tour that we would love to be on, but I think last year’s Reading Festival line up would have been close to it, with the likes of Metallica, Bloc Party, Foals amongst a few names to mention, but yet again people like Radiohead and The Prodigy on this year’s line up would also be a tidy addition to said dream tour. So a combination of this year’s Reading and last year’s if you fancy hooking us up haha
7 – What have been the biggest obstacles for you, to get your music heard?
I think the struggle was our sound, we did not record until we had songs that we thought people would want to hear, and that we would feel comfortable playing live. So without good quality tracks on the MySpace, it was hard getting gigs and respect. in what is fast becoming a thriving music scene in Swindon.
8 – What is the best freebie you have ever been given?
Freebie- I would love to say every time we play we have our stage covered in ladies underwear like the old Tom Jones, but 9 times out of 10 WE give away sticks or signed drum skins, even a hoodie, so we actually give away freebies. A beer is always appreciated though.
9 – Everyone has a song that annoyingly sticks in their head, what is yours
at the moment?
It has to be Number One, being in Swindon, with both N-Dubz and Tinchy being at the Big Weekend. It seems it’s a tune that I can’t stop hearing or playing on my IPod, and I think the boys would agree. Not that we mind, it’s a tune!
10 – Who are you tipping for the top, music wise?
You have so many acts that are breaking through at the moment with dance stuff like Chase & Status and Dead Mau5; you have Lady Hawke who has a Blondie style sound, which I think is going to make her huge, even bigger than she is now. If you’re looking for an act as a band we admire that is totally original, it would have to BeatBullyz who blew the roof off of the Introducing Stage at Radio 1, along with Bombay Bicycle Club, who for their age are already huge.
11 – What do you do with your free time?
Sounds sad, but Facebook! I think we would all agree, we spend far too much time on that site, although with exams, we should be telling you all we do is revise, but once again that would be a lie.
12 – Have you discovered any interesting music related sites online?
We all like to have a little travel around MySpace Music looking for acts we can bring down to Swindon, or get in touch with, with a bit of originality.
13 – Which comes first, the music or the lyrics?
I have never heard a band say that music does not come first, but I’m afraid I’m going to have to become the first. The lyrics seem to give a structure to the songs, following the kind of emotion or message we want to get across, and the music just slots in place behind it. Generally with guitar coming first which will inspire bass and drums?
14 – Tell us about your next gigs and why we should be there!
At the moment we are in talks with our friends The Boy Done Good, who are launching their EP soon at a showcase in Swindon’s 12 Bar, and there’s talk of us being main support on the bill, with some other great acts showing the underground talent that Swindon really does have.
15 – Interview questions can be quite dull, so what do you really want to be
to talking about now?
Umm what is in the news? Maybe the MP finance scandal, that’s always a laugh? Or the weather, that’s always fun. Perhaps how gorgeous Katy Perry is, always a good lads topic!
Well I think that just about says it all, but if you want more information on The Rubix, or would like to check out their debut E.P, then the band is on My Space @ www.myspace.com/therubixuk