Page 22 - Black Velvet Issue 97

BV97 pg20-23 Mallory Knox_BV97 pg22 28/05/2018 22:30 Page 3

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of tune that night I’d have been out of tune, probably one of my favourites on the last record It had a really good reaction that tour as well. It’s
which would have been awful. But we got we did. I think the only reason we didn’t really the only song I’ve experienced with Mallory
through it, and that was the main thing. It kind of play it on the last tour was just because we had where people would, instead of jumping around
felt like it’d chucked me in or moshing or just standing there
the deep end a little bit, singing, people seemed to dance to it,
knowing I kind of went up and I thought it was the coolest thing.”
there with nothing and if I
could get through that, am has always been known
then I could pretty much Sfor being Mallory Knox’s main
get through anything. So it lyricist. And with writing lyrics comes
was terrible at the time, but letting out feelings, revealing secrets
in the long run I think it and speaking the truth – even if your
made me have to go into voice shakes.
these shows with two feet. Sam says, “Mikey wrote his parts
The worst had already here and there, but the majority of
happened so I had to stop them are mine, and it’s weird. ‘Mother’,
worrying about it. But it I think that’s why I really wanted to
was good.” play ‘Mother’, because that is a bit of
In Birmingham, Sam’s a personal song to me. It references to
family was in the audience my mom and dad’s break-up and it ref-
to give him support. erences to me growing up, and the
“It was the first time ‘chin up, kid’, all that stuff, so that is a
they’d seen us as the new personal one. ‘Better Off Without You’,
line-up, so it was a little bit my anxiety stuff, I’ve always per-
of extra pressure,” says formed that song, and I’ve always
Sam. “My voice felt a bit gone off on it, because the crowd
sore that day, but I just seem to proper feed off it, even when
about got through it, I I wasn’t singing, so to actually sing it
think.” and have people look at you while
All of their parents you’re singing it, because normally
made it to a show on this they’d be looking at Mikey, or what-
tour with the exception of ever, but they’re actually looking at you
James’s. to sing it. It’s the coolest thing when
“He felt a little bit left people sing your lyrics back anyway,
out,” says Sam. “But to be but when you’re the guy singing it and
fair, James’s parents al- they’re singing it back directly at you,
ways come as well. and that’s a song that’s so personal…
James’s dad is a pretty I remember writing that song not sure
keen guitarist himself, so if I wanted to put that song out with the
he’s got a big interest in the band and what we too many songs, to be honest with you. It’s hard lyrics as they were because I knew that as soon
do. James comes from a musical family; his un- to drop certain songs to fit it in, but this time as that song came out, in every interview I ever
cles and stuff all play guitar and are involved in around, with the line-up change, I wanted to play did they were going to ask me about my anxiety,
music one way or another, so… that’s the cool songs that I really felt comfortable playing and my mental health, whatever. So I had to think
thing with our families; they are all so different. ‘Mother’ was always one that I really wanted to, long and hard whether I wanted to leave the
James has a musical family, my family have no so it just made complete sense to do it on this lyrics as they were, and I’m glad I did, because,
musical influence whatsoever, ex- to be honest,
cept my sister plays piano. My when we play
dad’s a pretty good businessman, that song live,
but he finds it really interesting the room just
what we do. My dad is normally lights up. We
explaining everything to me, but have sing-
whenever it’s anything to do with alongs. We
the music business it’s the one have songs
thing I kind of get to teach him that people
about.” sing it back to
Sam says his dad usually you, but that
goes to their biggest shows. “He’ll one just goes
do Reading and Leeds, and when off on another
we did Roundhouse back in 2015 level and I
he was there… My mom tends to think that’s the
come to a few less. So the fact difference. I
that my mom, dad, brother and had a few
sister were all at one show, I think tweets at me
that’s the first time that’s hap- saying “When
pened in forever. Maybe when we you play that
were first starting up, playing song, you can
pubs, was the last time they all really see your
came as a family. They try and emotion shine
support when they can, but like through” and I
me, everyone’s getting older, got think some-
their own things to do, got their times you
own families and stuff, so it made don’t have to
it a bit more special that everyone force the per-
took the time out to come down formance and
and watch a show.” the passion
The band chose to play a and some-
song that particularly related to Sam’s family – tour. We played a couple of festivals after the times it’s just there for everyone to see.”
‘Mother’ – on the tour. It was the band’s first time tour and it was one of the songs that had to ‘Better Off Without You’ is definitely one of
of actually playing it live since recording it. come out because the set was shorter, but for our favourite Mallory Knox songs – and we love
“I’ve always loved that song,” says Sam. “It’s sure, I want to keep that in as much as we can. that Sam did choose to write about his mental
MALLORY KNOX