Page 35 - Black Velvet Issue 96

BV96 pg35 press to meco_BV96 pg35 11/03/2018 21:38 Page 1

BlackVelvetMagazine.Com - 35
A Place
A Place

In It All
In It All

ith their unconventional take on riffs, pop hooks and 3-part vocal harmonies, UK trio Press To MECO
W(Luke Caley, Adam Roffey and Lewis Williams) have created a trademark sound which has seen them tour
with the likes of Don Broco, Sikth, and Arcane Roots. The band’s new album ‘Here’s To The Fatigue’, reviewed in
this issue, will prompt you to hit your repeat button like there’s no tomorrow. One of the songs on the album is
‘A Place In It All’, which Lewis says is about “how a huge life-changing event can make you feel and how you can
sometimes find yourself lost and wandering a bit of a psychological wasteland” - so we got in touch with the band
to ask them a few ‘place’ related questions.
Black Velvet: ‘Here’s To The Fatigue’ sees be quite dark. Were you in an emotional to go with. Marshall Records are a fairly new
you exploring new places sonically. Did this place at the time of writing that influenced label but they have a team with years of experi-
progression happen organically, or did you the lyrics? ence in the industry. A big part of us choosing
deliberately push yourselves to explore new LW: I can’t speak for the others but it was defi- the team we have around us is whether or not
sounds and experiment? nitely my emotional state that influenced the they are as passionate about this band as we
Lewis Williams: I think these came quite organ- lyrics, there’s a strange juxtaposition that you are.
ically for us. Luke has never been one to use experience when you are having a bit of a dark
many crazy sounds and effects for this band, but time during the summer months. I wanted to BV: In the song ‘A Place In It All’, you ques-
there are certain sections you write which will convey that feeling of flip-flopping between feel- tion ‘Can we reshape our lives?’ What are
just paint the sonic picture better with a certain ing depressed but trying to pick yourself back up your thoughts on this? Can you reshape
tone or effect. Machine certainly helped with and enjoy the things happening around you. your lives?
suggestions on how to ‘sell’ certain sections bet- LW: I’m a big fan of personal change and im-
ter, whether that might be to sing something a BV: You said ‘The new songs focus a lot on provement, whether it’s little things you do day-
certain way or use a certain effect on a guitar becoming disillusioned with your life’. Were to-day to improve your life or big decisions that
part. Being in a band and being so close to the there any particular places that brought on you need to act on. I think everyone has the ca-
music you’ve written often skews your ‘cheese’ feelings of disillusionment? pacity for change, you just have to be proactive
meter. It’s cool to have someone step in and LW: The longer you spend in the music industry, with it.
help you try and convey the emotion of the song the more you realise how flawed it is. It’s sad
to the audience better… That’s something Ma- when you’ve worked towards a certain career BV: Can you tell us a bit more about the
chine is really good at. since your teenage years and become increas- meaning of the song, ‘A Place In It All’? What
ingly more disillusioned with it the more you inspired it?
BV: ‘Here’s To The Fatigue’ was written in learn. LW: It’s written from the perspective of someone
Croydon, but recorded and produced in a who has survived a nuclear fallout and is trying
barn in Texas. Did these places have an ef- BV: What place do you want Press To MECO to figure out what to do with their life. It’s also
fect on how it turned out? to have in the rock scene? about how a huge life-changing event can make
LW: I think both places had an influence. We LW: I want us to make a place for ourselves you feel and how you can sometimes find your-
wrote most of the album in the summer months where we are successful but don’t have to com- self lost and wandering a bit of a psychological
and it has a lot of light and shade musically. promise on what we do. Biggest rock band in wasteland. It’s was actually inspired by some of
Croydon is home so there’s always a lot to write the UK sounds good too… the deeper themes in Pendleton Ward’s Adven-
about when you’re surrounded by loads of ture Time. I was watching it a lot whilst writing
change in your personal life. The barn in Texas BV: Having signed to Marshall Records, for a little lighthearted entertainment but often
was just such a productive and creative setting what was it about the label that made you found it got a lot deeper than I expected…
to be recording in. place your trust and sign to them?
LW: There’s so much that goes into the decision Visit www.presstomeco.com for more info.
BV: The lyrics in ‘Here’s To The Fatigue’ can process of signing to a label and who you want
Words By Athena Kam
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