Interview
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Refrain began as a jam session between school friends who discovered they played instruments. They chose the name Refrain after coming across the musical term online and liking how it stood out. Their music is inspired by bands like Rage Against the Machine and Red Hot Chili Peppers, while lyrics draw from solo artists like Danny Jones of McFly. The best gig they played was their second headlining show at the O2 Arena, where they surprised fans by going topless. The band advises aspiring musicians to work hard at finding a style they enjoy.
Interview
- 1. How did Refrain begin? It’s me and a few mates from school (and we) discovered that we played instruments and we thought we’d have a jam session and it took off from there really. How did you come up with the name Refrain? It’s a funny story actually, well it’s not funny but it’s stupid. We were looking on the internet for like musical terms and we came across Refrain and we were like “wow that really stands out” so it just sort of stuck from there. What artists inspire the lyrics and music for your songs? Music wise it’s a lot of like Rage against the machine, red hot chilli peppers and all that but the lyrics come back to me and I sort of like I look at Danny Jones from McFly and all that he’s such an inspiration to me”. What is the best gig you’ve ever done? Probably our second O2 headline, we took out topless, we just thought we’d mix it up a bit. It just went really well, it was hilarious, it was really fun. What would your advice be for aspiring singers/bands? Go away cos I want my chance (laughs) No, no. Just work at it, find something you like and do that, just work really hard and it’ll come. How do you fit practicing with Refrain, your solo work, school and your social life into your schedule? It’s very unbalanced; it’s like Refrain, solo work, social life, school. School takes up about an hour each weekend so it’s not very good. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Is Refrain your chosen path for the future? It is, next year I plan to do a lot of solo stuff, like a lot more solo stuff out there but Refrain are going to branch out to Leeds and Manchester and everywhere. So we’re going to try and do more things, so hopefully in five years, big fame. When did you realise you had talent with music? For example; singing, playing instruments, song writing and performing? I wouldn’t say I have talent; I like to think I have talent. Erm a young age singing in the shower is always the one everyone decides like “oh yeah, I’ve got talent” and yeah, it just sort of blossomed from there. My dad used to teach me guitar, and I just taken it on from there. What was the first instrument you learnt to plan? Why? Erm, actually piano, because my sister used to play piano and we had a piano in the back rooms we used to go in there and mess about with it for a while and then I’ve just like years and years of practice has gone into it and, yeah.
- 2. Do you find it easy to write songs? At times, yes but others, no, You can drop back into repetitive situations so it’s trying to find something new to do that can slave a challenge but once you get it going it’s really easy. How does your solo work differ from Refrain? Obviously it’s just me so it’s completely stripped so there’s no drums or anything like that. Right now I’ve got a mixing desk at home so I’m like working out a load of beats. It’s more like dance music than it is rock music so it’s more upbeat and poppy. Do you plan to perform your solo work at gigs? Yeah, like I said next year I plan to definitely branch out on my solo work in pubs and clubs. What artists inspire you for your solo work? It’s got to be Danny Jones, he’s starting to do a lot more stuff on his own so I can give it a go, so yeah Danny Jones definitely. What is your favourite thing about performing? Probably the nerves and the thrill, You go on stage and you proper shake and think ‘will they enjoy it?’ and once you go on stage and see like a few people smile and laugh and have a good time it really does lighten up your night, it’s good.