Page 11 - Black Velvet Issue 85

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“It’s a lot of hard work,” Drew adds. “And it’s a role model for anyone in any sense, I want came around they immediately said they pushed
one of those things where, as with any industry, people to look up to us and go ‘They’re just five to have us on this tour so that’s wonderful. Then
there’s politics involved, so sometimes if you normal guys but they’re doing what they love’. whilst we’ve been on the tour they’re always just
don’t buy into those politics you don’t get certain Like I think that’s the main thing I want to get lovely to us and the thing we get from them is
opportunities. We’ve always been a band that across to anyone that looks up to our band, it’s that they do this because they love it, and also
have just strived to work really hard, to keep like, don’t put us as these untouchable godlike if you’re going to do this, be as good as you can
playing music and to try to just naturally creatures in a band because we’re just normal be doing it.”
progress, and that can be frustrating sometimes, guys, and take that home with you! We’re nor- “I think that’s a massive learning thing,”
because it feels like you’re banging your head mal guys and we’re doing this because we love Drew continues. “And obviously that’s not just
against a brick wall!” Drew laughs. “I mean, we doing it and we’re happy to do it, so definitely from Four Year, that’s definitely something that
have a great team around us and great manage- follow your heart and do what makes you they push across to us but I think that as we do
ment but financially we this more, we really
don’t have a massive label want to take this and be
backing us or pushing us as good as we can and
and giving us loads of I think they’re a band
money to do something, that definitely do that so
so it can be difficult and that’s definitely some
stressful, as it is for lots of good advice that
bands.” they’ve given us. And
Tom sings about the other two bands on
stress and anxiety in the bill are both great,
'Monsters,' a song he all great guys and great
wrote about the anxiety is- bands too so it’s just
sues he had growing up. “I cool to be associated
had a lot of inner demons with them.”
and inner problems and The last track on
what not,” Tom explains. Light You Up's debut
“But being in a band album is called 'We
there’s not a great deal of Were Young' and Tom
stress to be honest with sings ‘Where the hell
you.” have the last four years
“That’s what he says, of my life gone?’ So we
I do the business!” Drew wrap up the interview
laughs. “Nah, I'm just kid- by asking Light You Up
ding!” if four years ago they
“Yeah I mean, it gets would have believed
tough sometimes,” Tom they would be where
continues. “Like Drew said Tom Napier in action they are at now.
it is tricky to go down cer- “Well four years
tain avenues sometimes ago I was in a pretty
when you know there are rough place,” Tom says.
definite restrictions, but by and large we get by happy.” “I was living in this pretty scummy house in
and we’re happy to be here doing what we do.” Drew laughs as we ask if they're an easy Guildford, so no, I don’t think I would. I would
band to manage. “We're terrible!” probably be like ‘Are you kidding me?’ because
ight You Up are managed by Matty from More seriously he adds, “I think we’re quite I didn’t know any of these guys at that point, I
LA Loss For Words, and have said that an easy band. Well, actually, Joe our drummer was just kind of failing college and not doing a
he's a great role model for them. “I used to tour is quite hard to manage when he’s on a party lot of things I probably should have been doing,
manage A Loss For Words,” Drew explains. “So night out and has had a drink or something, and so yeah, life has definitely come up in the last
we’ve been great friends for years, so through then Napes will wander and always wants to go four years for sure.”
me and through the rest of the guys we’ve be- out.” “But it has gone really fast.” Drew adds.
come great friends with A Loss For Words, and “I’m just quite a socialite,” Tom explains. “I “There are things we look back on that have
over the last couple of years Matty and I have like to meet people and experience things and been really important to us as people and the
been talking about starting a management thing sometimes I lose battery on my phone and band, like us all meeting and different things like
together. So when Light You Up was coming yeah, it kind of gets hard to find me some- that. I mean, it’s not important to anybody else
around and starting and stuff we said ‘Okay, are times...” but it’s obviously important to us that those
we going to do this together?’ and then we “Yeah, oh yeah!” Drew laughs. “But no, things happened so I think it’s nice to look back
started up this little company called Reclaim, so we’re definitely not hard to manage, we don’t and appreciate it, so that’s part of where that
that’s Matty and I. Matty obviously looks after work with anybody that doesn’t know us very lyric comes from it’s like, it all happened so fast
PVRIS and stuff as well as us, so we do that well and vice versa, so we already have quite a and I’m sure the next four years will happen so
whole thing together and it’s a really cool, or- solid basis for a relationship there and that fast so we’ve just got to try and make the most
ganic thing, he’s literally one of our best friends means we’re open enough to try and fit with how of it.”
in the world and he really looks out for us so that each other ticks, you know, not only within the “In the next four years...” Tom wonders. “It
was a really natural thing, and he’s a role model band but with the people we work with, so we’re could go either way, I mean we started writing
because he’s probably one of the most driven not too hard. Matty may say different, but...” for album two recently. There’s just kind of a few
people I’ve ever met.” Drew laughs. ideas bouncing about here and there so I guess
“Yeah,” Tom agrees. “He knows what he “I’d say by and large we’re pretty easy,” Tom our plan is just to smash this album release as
wants and he gets it.” adds. “I’d say we’re pretty easy to handle.” much as possible...”
“He’s always learning and he’s the network “Album two in four years, yeah?” Drew
king,” Drew laughs. “He knows everybody he band enjoyed their time on the Pure jokes.
everywhere so it’s great for us to be attached to TNoise Records tour with Four Year “Absolutely. Hopefully like 2017 we can start
that with him, and he’s such a positive dude.” Strong, Hit The Lights and Forever Came Call- thinking about album two, then hopefully in four
Whilst Matty is a role model for Light You ing. Drew tells us that Four Year Strong were years time, BOOM! Album two’s going to be out,
Up, the guys in Light You Up have been told wonderful to them, and gave them some good we’ll be headlining Reading and Leeds...” Tom
they’re role models themselves. Drew contin- advice. “They are genuinely really good people,” laughs. “Four years will be what, 2019? So
ues, “I think our main thing about us being role Drew says. “They do this for the right reasons maybe album three, who knows?!”
models would be about positivity, being good and from day one of this band, because we have Visit www.facebook.com/lightyouupofficial
people, being good to people around you and mutual friends and we were friends with those for more info.
enjoying what you do and do what you want.” guys in the past, they immediately wanted to
“Definitely, that’s exactly it, man. Do what help and were into what we were doing, and Words & Tom & Drew Photo By Carissa Thorne
you want!” Tom adds. “I think if we’re going to be Alan sang on the record! Then when this tour Live Photo By Shari Black Velvet
LIGHT YOU UP