SHADE INTERVIEW: MANCHESTER MUSIC SCENE, MMFEST AND EXCITING NEW PROJECTS

For this week's interview, I spoke to Manchester based Indie band SHADE, who were more than happy to chat to me all about their life so far as musicians, the idea behind their hot dog in a banana peel EP cover and what music they've been listening to. 

Firstly, thanks for agreeing to do this interview with me, it's a pleasure to have you featured on here. For all the readers who don't know who SHADE are, can you tell us a bit about who you are and what the band is all about? 

We're just 4 lads who have some pretty cool songs and want to play them everywhere we can, it was more for having a laugh with your mates playing music but then we've realised we can take it further than that.

I hope I'm right in believing 'Neverdie' is your first single, as you've only recently started releasing music. Have any of you been involved in any other musical projects before SHADE or is this your first time putting out songs?

Luke (the singer) and Oliver (the drummer) were in a small pub cover band from the age of 13 to 17 and Adam (the bass player) was in a punk band called Kalian but we all ended up coming together to start SHADE.

How's the radio support been? From looking on your Twitter page, it seems as though your single has been played across quite a few stations over the last few months. 

It's been unreal, we've been on loads of radio stations without even asking. They must have found the songs and liked them, we've even been played in Spain and Australia, it's a bit mad when you think about it.

Your debut EP features cover art of a hot dog in a banana peel. Whose idea was it to have that as the cover? 

There's a bit of a story behind that, a few years ago I went into Oliver's house and put loads of bananas and hot dogs in his shoes for a laugh, he threw them at us and then we got the idea to do that.

You're playing Manchester's MMFEST on the 22nd of August, where bands like Black Sonic Revolver and The Haciendas will also be playing. Are you familiar/friendly with other up and coming Mancunian bands like these? 

Yeah, they're mint bands, it's such a big but small music community in Manchester and you get to watch and meet so many great bands, it's one of the best parts about being in a band, getting to watch them all for free.

With that being said, what's the current Manchester music scene like? 

I think the whole Manchester music scene is about to blow up again with the amount of talent in the area, it really is a matter of time before it all blows up again.

You've teased a new single. What can we expect from this one that is different from tracks like 'Neverdie'?

The new single a lot heavier, we like to show diversity in our music, so we hope people like this one just as much as Neverdie.

What was the first and last album you bought?

It's hard to say that with the new way of listening to music online with Spotify n that but mine had to be either an Oasis or Stone Roses album obviously and the last two I bought were 'The Glow' by the DMA'S and 'Almost Everything Is Bullshit' by MOSES.

What's something people would be surprised to know about SHADE?

Our guitarist Ben speaks a language that only we can understand, so that's why he seems so shy and quiet, he was raised in a barn by guitars and it's all he knows.

There's a lot of young, Indie bands around at the moment with an Oasis/Stone Roses type sound to them. What makes SHADE better than the average Indie band?

I think we stand out from the rest because we have a lot of diversity in our songs and we really know how to write a song that sticks in your head and for us, that's what it's all about.

Who's the joker in the band and who likes to get things done?

Luke's the one who likes to get things done, Oliver and Adam just wind each other up being brothers and Ben just sort of watches.

Finally, what's next in store for SHADE, have you got any exciting projects coming up?

It's all sort of blew up for us at the moment, we have so many new songs, a new team behind us, plans to release a lot more stuff but I might get into trouble if I tell you any more but a lot is about to happen :)

Make sure to give SHADE a follow on all social medias and check out their latest single 'Neverdie'. Lots of great things to look forward to so keep an eye out...