Interview: Skuff
Skuff is one of the best upcoming local bands in Essex, that are expanding their fan base with every gig they do. We speak to front man Alex Worland about the band and local music scene.
Q. How did all the members meet, and why do you feel like you would have worked well together?
A. We all met through various different ways, through other bands, through music class in school, or through collage, but in all circumstances it was through music in a way.
Q. What appeals to you more, playing in smaller or larger venues and why?
A. It’s a bit of a conflicting question this one, because on one hand, you get the smaller venues and they have an amazing atmosphere. Your so close to your audience and the music is almost better because its louder (just my opinion.) On the other hand, you get the larger stages that also give you an amazing atmosphere in a different way, and give you almost a feeling of being at a mainstream festival stage, you also have the room to move about a lot more and improve your stage presence.
Q. Where do you look for inspiration when writing a song?
A. We are all influenced by very different bands and artists from Foo Fighters, and Biffy Clyro, to Eminem and then to Missing Andy, and so many more bands that we all love. We also take influence from other local bands and our friends bands to improve ourselves.
When it comes to writing songs we never tend to write from stuff that has happened to us, but we have written songs about things that are around us. Such as the political environment and depression. Subjects we feel are important to the world.
Q. How would you describe your music to someone that had never heard it before?
A. Our music is a mix between Punk, Hard rock, with little elements of Funk thrown in, or as close to that explanation as you can get. This is something that we are constantly debating on, what our music falls in to, we always rapidly changing from when we first started, We started very fast and sloppy but now we are starting to branch out with other elements.
Q. Who do you think influences you the most when performing on stage?
A. I feel like again we all take very different approaches whilst performing, all acting very different on stage some of us throwing ourselves about and some of us taking a very still approach on stage focusing on what we’re doing.
Q. If the band could work with someone well known within the industry who would it be, and why?
A. My biggest dream would be to work with bands as massive as Foo Fighters or Muse, but we are all really in to the band “Slaves” and would love to work with them.
Q. Is there anywhere you would recommend new musicians to go to, in order to meet creative people to work with if they don’t know anyone?
A. I would say just go to any gig or venue in and around your local area, and talk to anyone thats interested. Talk to the bands about what they’re doing next, and if you can find them online and soon you start up contacts and really close friends to.
Q. In five years’ time would you want to be traveling around the world with the band, or would you prefer to perform in smaller local venues and festivals?
A. We hope to be doing both, small and more intermit venues and festivals and larger venues. Anywhere we can play, we just love to play and make music together, and if we can make one fan from a room of a hundred, then we’re obviously doing something right.
Q. What do you like most about the local music scene? What do you feel it has to offer new musicians looking to start gigging?
A. What I think I love the most about the local music scene we have going on right now, is just how close it all is. There isn't any competition, it’s all just supporting each other to move with what we’re doing. What I also love is how you’re never more than twice removed from another band or promotor. If you don't know someone personally, you know someone, who knows that person, constantly expanding your contacts.
Q. What is the best local venue you have played, and what made it so good to play there?
A. This question actually take us back to question 2, because we have 2 venues that we absolutely loved playing. The first one is the basement in Chelmsford, the stage was actually on the floor but the sound there was so amazing, and the atmosphere was so upbeat. The second venue was more of a stage. Last summer we played Essex International Jamboree, and the stage was just so massive and so open and the crowd was amazing. We were able to just play like ourselves with no restrictions.
Check out their Facebook page HERE, for videos and information about upcoming gigs.
