How did you go about picking 'And They Stole The TV...' as a single, and what else can you tell us about this track? Well it's the lead track off our first EP - the EP is a concept record about the old head teacher of our school he was gay, but couldn't admit it due to the situation he was in. Noone found out until after he retired - when a rent boy he didn't pay trashed his house and beat him senseless. It's about his story. Poor guy.
Can you tell us about the themes and influences that run through your newest EP release ‘A Lesson In Personal Finance’? Well it's about the way that society dictated to that old head teacher guy - if he just was allowed to admit his natural urges, he could have just had normal relationships. It's more subtle politics than a lot of our friends' bands or our old bands, but it's there nonetheless.
What was the recording process like for your latest EP and what was it like to get back in the studio once more to record not just as a musician, but in a new band? Well we have settled on John Hannon. He's a good guy - recorded a lot of great bands. He’s a Really easy going guy, he has a great studio, he works quickly and knows the kind of sound we are after. It's pretty effortless recording with him - more like a fun few days than work. It's different from recording acoustic solo stuff, which is what I have been doing for the last couple of years - way more rewarding. It's the most amazing feeling hearing the drums and guitars coming back through £'000s worth of speakers. A feeling you don't get too often.
How did you end up working with John Hannon on this release, and what's he like to work with in the studio? John is a legend - Jon from the Filaments put us in touch actually, but his CV is amazing. He has recorded so many of my favourite UK artists from the last few years. He recorded Kids Near Water - which probably doesn't mean a lot to a lot of people, but I grew up on those guys. So yeah, awesome. And he get's the best out of you, no question.
What's it been like to perform live with bands like Ignite & Death By Stereo since you started out earlier this year, and what do you think you learnt the most from these performances? I'm not sure I learnt a lot. I mean it's an honour to play with bands like that, but I mean, those kind of bands are preaching to the converted - they are playing to their hard earned fans - it's different being a support act. Not even necessarily the tour support. Just a band on a show. I know how I want my band to sound and play, so watching a band as perfect onstage as Death By Stereo is an honour, but not necessarily a lesson.
So how happy are you with the response you have been getting so far, I mean we've seen that you've already got some support from Mike Davies!? Yeah it's been amazing and it feels really good. Mike has been really good to us - he played a demo track before we even played a show because he's been good to us in the past with our old bands. He's a man who properly has his ear to the ground. I just hope it keeps going you know? As we enjoy everything that gets thrown at us.
We've read that you guys are working on your first debut album already, so with this in mind, how is that coming along, and what can fans expect from this release? Well it's a mini album, but it will be surfacing at the start of 2013 I'd expect..8 or 9 tracks. It's a concept record about a guy who went mad whilst trying to sail around the world on his own. It's a true story. Nice and dark. A zine said we sound like Snapcase with elements of Maiden. I'd like to think that is EXACTLY how it will sound.
What else does 2013 hold for Lay It On The Line? The record, plenty of gigs and trying to get around as much as we can really! Nothing with genuine graft.