13 April 2023
What was the inspiration behind the album?
I became obsessed with the idea of the pain, hurt, grief we are all carrying with us from previous relationships which we then transfer to others and somehow altering them forever. Then the cycle continues…
Did the pandemic have an impact when recording the album?
Massively. Unable to get in the rehearsal room to write new material vocalist Jonathan Chapman became increasingly frustrated. Previously songs would come together during long studio jams but this was no longer an option. Chapman started writing very basic song sketches on GarageBand that were then sent to Guitarist, Peter Muller and Drummer Ian Clarke. Clarke and Muller would then come up with ideas on how to turn these rough sketches into finished songs once lockdown had ended and the band could return to the rehearsal room. There was just one pretty big problem. No bass player. Enter Matt Lazard. Matt had been a familiar face in the alternative music scene in Romford and was looking to get back in to playing bass again. It was the perfect fit. The songs that would go on to make up album 2 came together quickly once all four members were in the rehearsal room together.
How long did the album or EP take to create from start to finish?
2 years.
Which track was written first?
A Room Full of Memories was the first idea we worked on via Garageband idea sent to each other but the first song we worked on together in the rehearsal room was Postcards From an Ex.
Do you have any personal favourite tracks?
I really love Camel Blues because it’s very different to anything else we’ve done before. I really love playing Hold On live and the album version sounds huge. I knew it was one of our best ever songs as soon as we wrote it.
Were any tracks difficult to write?
‘Everybody Loves an Acrobat’. We were going to scrap it but managed to salvage it a week before going in to record the album. We loved the chorus and hated the verses. Pete (guitarist) came up with a more simple and aggressive verse and it works a treat.
What do you have coming up in the next 12 months?
We will be playing lots of live shows including our album launch at The Victoria in Dalston in 2nd May and then 13th May at Arcobaleno in Brighton at a brilliant Alt Escape gig over the Great Escape Weekend. Both gigs are free.
Genre: Punk/Post Punk
Released: 5th May 2023
Romford/London band Cross Wires are Jonathan Chapman, Peter Muller, Ian Clarke and Matt Lazard. You can find out more via Amazon Music, Apple Music, Bandcamp, Facebook, Instagram, SoundCloud, Spotify, Twitter or YouTube. The interview was conducted with Jonathan Chapman.
You can read my Independent Music Monday interview with Cross Wires here, and you can read my interview with them about their earlier album “A Life Extinct” here.
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