This month we had the amazing opportunity to talk to the members (DC and Ben) of the Coventry based indie rock band, Idle Noise. As we talked about their careers in music and how they got their band together, we learnt that the “current Idle Noise line up is a weird concoction really… I (Ben) was in a band with our current guitarist Alex, who joined shortly after someone left. Our bass guitarist (DC) we knew from the local music scene, so when we asked him to be in the band he just went “yeah I'll be the bass. I’ll do it if you want.” However it wasn’t until after that that I found out he didn’t really play the bass.” DC the band's bass player then humorously joined by adding “I'm a fraud. I lied my way in,” which definitely earned a laugh from us. We’ve got to start somewhere one way or another. Taking it right back to the start we asked the band members how they actually got into music and the industry in general to which DC answered “I think it was The Enemy’s first album. That’s what pulled me into music. I’m from Coventry and well they’re not quite from Coventry, but they say they are, so it was like if these lads can do it, anyone can. I was in various bands and didn't really learn how to play an instrument for a couple of years.”
He explained that he “fronted a band when I was 13 and then learnt how to play the guitar and played the drums in a few bands, so when I was asked if I played the bass...I said yes and here we are". So that's how the band came together, but how do their songs? Heartbreak was the short and simple answer to what inspires most of their songs. “For me everything is always related to something, even if you then take it away and add a little bit more to it that’s maybe not quite bang on the narrative of life; because I think if everybody wrote about everything that had happened to them in their lives, we’d have some very boring music.” “You can have a random line that you might think of, that’s nothing to do with anything and then you’re thinking: well that’s kind of subconsciously where I'm at and then it goes from there.” In terms of lyrics, Ben then added “nothing is ever just lyrically random with no connection to anything. But they’re not about the same things. Not every tune is about the same lass." The band’s music idols varies from The Enemy (as mentioned before) to The Vaccines. They also look to these bands for a hint of inspiration. “You start hearing things in their songs and go ‘oh that’s a cool way of doing something. I’d like to do something along that line,’ Even if it’s just things like the melody or the structure that they’ve got going on.” Back to the music idols, it’s always what they are listening to at the time, but in terms of favorites it’s got to be The Strokes and The Enemy. When summarizing their sound into 5 words the band really hit the nail with their bio; ‘infectious hooks, stomping stage presence’ “Its difficult to put adjectives to what we are. We’re just traveling in a direction that is working for us. We’ve finally found Idle Noise’s sound trying to be anthemic.” DC told us. Another 5 words would be “Big, loud, catchy, anthemic and sing-alongy” We’re not quite sure if the last one is a word, but we’ll add it to the dictionary. When asked about which artist they’d like to work with DC jumped in saying “For me right now, not even working with, I think I'd like to go have a pint with Sam Fender,” and we have to agree! “I’d love to have worked on either The New Abnormal with The Strokes or Wolf Alice’s latest album.” DC also added “Humbug by the Arctic Monkeys.”
If the members could go back to the start of their music careers they’d tell themselves that “It takes a lot of effort to be in a band; a lot of time; a lot of money, and in reality there’s only a handful of bands that break through, but if you’ve got a passion for something, just do it.” “We've worked fairly hard at what we’re doing and have got some pretty good shows that are coming up, which should put us in front of different audiences.” Both DC and Ben agreed that motivation was their biggest challenge so far, mainly because of the setbacks, which is completely relatable to many of us. They told us that during lock down they kind of hit the brick wall with the lack of motivation. “We benefit the most out of being in a rehearsal space together, so where we didn’t have that communication and that level of interaction it really messed with the band's infrastructure.” DC said. “I think it’s self-doubt really when you have to put yourself out there.” Ben added. They also expressed that not being able to play shows was also a challenge because “the shows are really what do it for us.” “Just progressing” is the aim for the band this year, especially since “the goal is to get 3 singles out, and we’ve got the headline coming up, the biggest headline we’ve ever done as well.” So it's safe to say that it’s a year of big things. “Biggest year for the band yet,” Ben told us “We’re going to try to use the opportunities as best as we can to make sure the singles are good and make sure they get the right promotion and exposure, so we can keep bringing people in.” Now we know it wouldn’t be a Reset article without the involvement of fashion, so we found out that DC knows how to dress smart on stage, however Ben is the man that wears the “most risky stuff” to which he added “I'd like to think of myself as fashion focused and conscious. 'If you’re wondering how the band got its name then look no further. “We just threw a bunch of stuff out and I don't know where Idle Noise came from but it did and here we are.” It’s a pretty cool name if you ask us. Now ending the interview with one of our favourite questions; what song do you have on repeat right now? We were pleased to be introduced to songs like Tied up right now by the Parcels and Sleeping over by Fatherson. Also, we were not disappointed when they mentioned Miracle Aligners by The Last Shadow Puppets and Freedom by Wham. Now all we want right now is to thank Idle Noise for the lovely interview. Make sure to look out for what’s coming next from them and be part of the noise!
By NIDHISHA
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