Huge new tune from the band grabbing all the headlines north of the border
The band, described by their very own Ally McCrae as having more swagger than Calvin Harris (that’s a lot of swagger), hail from Glasgow and Aberdeen with an electro indie sound designed to get pulses racing and people jumping. After gigs at Rockness, T in The Park and the Belladrum Festival, Fridge Magnets have already built a reputation for exciting live performances. Fans of Harris, Example and The Prodigy should definitely be paying attention. Dan Prince checks in ahead of their brand new single ‘She Don’t Dance’…remember the name, this lot are going to be MASSIVE.
Welcome to DMCWORLD, an incredibly exciting twelve months behind you and now things are getting really serious. Your brand new single ‘She Don’t Dance (With The Sun No More)’ is out on October 21st and produced by Herve – talk us through the tune…
“‘She Don’t Dance’ was hugely inspired by our first trip to Ibiza last year. I think a day or so after we returned the music was written, then I managed to put together the lyrics and melodies in a few hours. It’s probably the easiest song we’ve ever written. It’s basically about a party girl freeing herself from all the burdens that she had at the time and just being able to enjoy life again. It’s a total feel good song We’ve had it for a while but under the production of Herve, it really took a new lease of life and we are delighted with the outcome, it’s definitely a live favorite of ours.”
Your demo single ‘Feeling Grows’ received Radio 1 playlist without a radio plugger! Can you remember where you were when you heard it played first on the biggest radio station in the world?
“We were actually on the road to Liverpool at the time when it came on Fearne Cotton’s show around lunchtime. It wasn’t our first time on the radio but to be played on daytime Radio 1 was a big step for us. It was on straight after Jay-Z and Kayne West so we were in good company!”0
You hail from Aberdeen and Glasgow…how did you all meet in the first place and decide to form what is quickly emerging as one of the most exciting new bands in Britain…
“It’s a bit of a long story how we all met but to cut it short it includes a meeting of Glaswegians, a cousin, Facebook and Aberdonians. We all have various backgrounds in music however we all have this one desired outcome to be a hugely ambitious dance band and in terms of live dance performance to invent the wheel slightly.”
You have described your sound as “a mash up of Calvin Harris and Deadmau5 with elements of Example and Faithless”. Who do you cite as all of your early musical influences that have helped form The Fridge Magnets sound today?
“I would certainly include the above as musical influences. To be fair it’s not a bad mix of acts! Again it varies throughout the band to whom we are influenced by but our sound is heavily influenced on DJ’s such as Calvin Harris, DeadMau5, Swedish house Mafia. In saying that our melodies are influenced by bands such as Phoenix, Delphic, MGMT and Yeasayer.”
Your live show is superb, you once claimed that the dream would one day to emulate The Prodigy and their live performances. So how do you think you are doing so far…
“Our live show is growing and growing and we are hugely confident in what we are doing. As we are heavily influenced by DJ’s it would be easy for people listening to our tracks to think that we were actually DJ’s – but actual fact we are a full live 5 piece band. The energy we give off could easily be compared to an early Libertines gig for instance, but of course playing music which is suited to clubs all around the world. The crowd we get to gigs are wild, and we love it. It would be amazing to draw comparisons to Prodigy one day, as to me they are one of the U.K’s finest live bands. We probably have a fair bit to get yet but it’s certainly something we are aiming towards.”
What were those early gigs at King Tuts and ABC 2 like, fond memories or rather forget memories?
“I don’t think you should forget your early experiences, as they are usually the shows that make you learn and improve as a band. Our set is certainly far stronger than it used to be and with the crowd knowing the songs these days it makes it easier for us to relate with them during shows. There are some shows that have been better than others for sure, but I like to think after every show we have given our all and the crowd go away happy with what they have just seen or heard.”
You have already starred at the likes of Rockness and T In The Park – what is your favourite festival story you’ve been involved in? Any great rock & roll moments?
“Haha. One or two. Festivals are my favorite. Our music is upbeat and energetic and seems to go down really well in a festival enviroment, by the time we come on the crowd are coming on too and the atmosphere becomes electric, it’s as if the two go hand in hand. We recently played at a festival in Scotland and we had no idea what to expect as we entered the stage, the tent was rammed and full of people just wanting to rave, which was perfect for us. From the first song to the last the crowd were amazing and really underlined what a festival is about – going to a field with your friends, getting drunk and enjoying great music. We were almost thrown out a festival before we even played it last year due to our behaviour on the campsite. I won’t go into too much detail however after about an hour of convincing them we HAD to stay as we were playing the next day, we were police escorted to our own small part of the campsite under supervision and on a strict behavior warning. I didn’t think we had done much wrong but obviously we had upset a few campers around us. But with a bit of charm and a few free CD’s we got them all on side by the end. Needless to say the gig the next day was epic.”
You spend so much time together – what are everybody’s most annoying habits on tour?
“We all get on really well for the most part so I wouldn’t say anything is that annoying. I’ve been known to throw a diva strop here and there when I don’ get the right cereal bars or Ciaran can sometimes go in a mood if he is given the wrong milk, but I would say the Drummer is probably the biggest liability. Not only is he late for pretty much everything, but also stories in the past include gluing his hands together the day of a gig, being stuck up a tree on one trip and the fact he really struggles to keep up with us on the drinking stakes, which leads to some horrific dancing. But we love him and wouldn’t want him any other way (well perhaps some better jeans). But he’s a drummer – it’s their given right to be different is it not?”
Tell us some of the artists being played on the tour bus at the moment?
“Peace, Calvin Harris, John Talabot, Alesso, SoulClap, Hot Chip…”
What are your guilty pleasure songs you love but would rather not admit to?
“I would say we do listen to pop music on the road, on Radio 1 or whatever but no such guilty pleasures as such. If “Call Me Maybe” comes on we probably wouldn’t turn it off, and I know Laurie has always been a keen admirer of One Direction so maybe he could class them as one? But we are all too cool for that…”
So we come back to your gaff after the club – what are the current 10 tunes you play us to carry on the party…
Burial ‘Archangel’
John Talabot – Destiny
Nicky Romero ft Calving Haris – Iron
Alesso – Years
Julio Bashmore – Battle for Middle You
Public Domain – Operation Blade
Chemical Brothers – Setting Sun
Kindness – House
Philp Bailey – Easy Lover
The Supremes – Baby Love
What are your thoughts on talent shows such as X-Factor and The Voice?
“I think everything has its place. In terms as a form of entertainment it’s ok. If it’s your thing to stay in on a Saturday night and watch T.V. then I’m sure it makes good viewing. We personally don’t watch it and don’t keep up with it. I couldn’t stand there, sing, then be critiqued by Louis Walsh or even worse Tulisa then take it seriously. But I think they are running their course gradually, I don’t think we will be seeing these type of shows in the next 5 years or so.”
You are about the launch into a mini Freshers Week tour around Scotland where you will be greeted by thousands of your adoring student fans. You must have got some pretty fanatical followers by now, any stand out who turn up in the strangest places?
“I don’t think we are at the Rhianna stage yet for our fan base but we do have a decent and more importantly loyal following. In a recent gig in London we did have our first bit of “fan action” as some girls who were at the gig had found out where we stayed, I’m not sure how. So after the gig, and the after party, we headed back to the hotel to find these group of girls already in our room which was a bit strange. I wasn’t complaining, but found it a bit weird how they had made it into my room! Overall though our fans are a well behaved mad bunch of boys and girls who love to party. We get on really well.”
What was the last great club or festival you went to and got absolutely wrecked?
“Last time? Every time!! We were all at a 21st lately which included strippers, snakes and shaving foam. That got a bit naughty.”
What are the release plans after ‘She Don’t Dance’?
“We are in the Distillery Studio at the end of the month recording new tracks with a few decisions to be made prior to their releases. We are really confident with our new material and literally can’t wait to work on it. In terms of touring etc keep an eye out as we shall have a few announcements to make in the coming weeks.”
‘She Don’t Dance (With The Sun No More) is out on October 22nd.
http://twitter.com/FM__Official
http://soundcloud.com/fridge-magnets
http://youtube.com/fridgemagnetslive
