- Growing up in Grimsby and moving to Manchester & London 🎤
- Why Shines started with “no plan for a band”… and how it led to an album 💿
- Getting signed and handed freedom to create their second record ✍️
- The challenges of balancing music with real life, work, and change 🔄
- Memories of recording in Portugal with Morrissey’s guitarist Boz Boorer 🌍
Episode Transcript
And I'm rich mate to get that mic a bit
closer to your face.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
Yeah, is that a right? All right?
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Yes, but I'm mate, Yeah, thank you for joining us
after your brief nap.
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Welcome, little.
Speaker 1 (00:38):
Little pre podcasting app all of it.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Mate, bearing the candle at both ends again, intrude and
style stop saying that by now.
Speaker 1 (00:46):
Well, nice to have you and mate.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Those who don't know Richard is you've been prolific on
the music seeing in Grimsby for years, mate, haven't you.
We'll get into that today. Yeah, before we do get
into that, just tell us a bit about yourself, mate.
Speaker 2 (01:02):
Born and raised Grimsby.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
And my teens, moved to Manchester, lived there for a
few years, did projects with bands since leaving school really.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
So not all on the head.
Speaker 4 (01:15):
About four or five years ago, got a job as
a site supervisor in construction, went to London, lived in
London for a couple of years and just I don't
really play football or anything, so in my spare time
started making music again. Roberd rang me up and said
(01:38):
your fancy going and creating some music together, Go and
making some music together, which I jumped at the chance
of that. And I remember like the first couple of
times he was going in there, he was like, but
we're not starting the band, We're just going to mix
music for fun. And I was like yeah. And then
within a couple of sessions where we had read a
(02:02):
few songs that sounded good and I was like, sure,
we can't do a band, He's like no, no, no,
no no, But just kept going in there on a
Sunday early and making music and inevitably we've got a
little band together and played a few shows. We put
(02:24):
the first album at Us out of the stuff that
we've done. Once we'd finished recording, that's when we got
a band together. So we we got Chriss in, we
got marking.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
So you recorded the album and when you recruited some
band member, yes, yeah, yeah, yeah we did.
Speaker 1 (02:40):
For those listening to anton on, this is Shines, this.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
Is Shines, this shines.
Speaker 4 (02:46):
So yeah, we got them in and we played some
shows and just literally for the love of it, really
just it was nice to be back playing gigs and
playing the songs that we'd only just made. Then this
guy contacted us from Echo Based Records and he was
(03:06):
it was interesting in the songs that he was doing.
He wanted to know a bit about as really what
was doing. And then a couple of months later he
turned up to a show in Manchester that we did
he had a contract. We was like, yeah, I didn't expect.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
That sort of thing. Yeah, it seemed like an all
right label as well.
Speaker 3 (03:25):
They've got Marseilles signed to them, having the Marses name
seems to be pasted everywhere and yeah, seems to be.
They seems to be doing all the right things at
the minute.
Speaker 4 (03:33):
For that, yeah, I mean, for for us to sign
a deal anyway, it took a lot of looking into,
do you know, but really supportive and and really.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
They like what we do.
Speaker 4 (03:46):
They'll give us a lot of freedom to go and
meet this second album, which I didn't know would get
as much freedom as as that, do you know. I
thought they'd be like, we like this song from this,
can you do more like this? Or but they literally said,
you know, just go and do your thing. We originally
was going to do some bits in a makeshift studio
that we had around here, but they want to take
(04:08):
us to London and use their people.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
I want to see how that goes.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
Do you know what studio that is.
Speaker 4 (04:17):
That they've offered us a couple of different options, and
we've also got our own ideas as well. Sam Carlton
mastered our last record, and I like working with Sam.
Speaker 1 (04:31):
Ye. Sam's decent guy music.
Speaker 4 (04:33):
He does, and he's done a lot of records now
from this area.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
So he's recorded most bands around here, hasn't.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
He just find him really easy to wat with and
I feel like he gets it when you're trying to say, look,
just tweak that he knows.
Speaker 1 (04:48):
So are you planning to take him down to London
with you to pronounce?
Speaker 2 (04:52):
Now?
Speaker 4 (04:52):
We're going to see what it goes like with these
guys and just really utilize all their their people and
their studio and their equipment. You know, never been an
opportunity like this for myself to go and make an
album and use people you.
Speaker 2 (05:10):
Know, sorry making the music.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
But then once that's done, that's where I always come up,
come a cropper, you know, like, got this record, you
put it out, a few hundred people listen to it,
and that's it.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
It's finished.
Speaker 4 (05:26):
Never really had the plan for after the record's done.
This is a complete different situation because when we've got
the product, then we give it to them and they've
got all these marketing plans and promo plans and it's
all mapped out.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
They've got a full it's.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
A dreamer net to have someone doing all that oring
shit for Yeah.
Speaker 4 (05:48):
It's even like with social media. I mean I come
off social media a couple of months ago and it
was nice just to sort of hand over the passwords
and just sort of still it's still coming from myself,
you know that the still ask what is there anything
you want to say? But there can come to me
now and say, look, we're going to need some content
on Thursday for this. Can you guys get together and
(06:10):
do something whatever. So that's nice as well. Just to
the last couple of months. Obviously, since signing the deal,
I've been really excited to go and write this second album.
But we've had a few gigs still, and we've still
got a couple of gigs looming.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
I just got off the back of Shop Local twenty
twenty five, which was a fucking great event.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
It was amazing.
Speaker 3 (06:32):
Yeah, Crossing Tippers absolutely knocked out of the park.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
I'm yeah excited for that.
Speaker 4 (06:36):
It was great to see all the bands stoody aapping
to each other locally. It really is a scene. Yeah, Yeah,
and it's nice to be part of it.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
Yeah, And it was just such a well put on event,
wasn't it.
Speaker 4 (06:48):
Yeah, one stage finished, the next one started. Everyone watch
crossover or like that.
Speaker 3 (06:54):
No one was moaning about not being able to get
to a bar and yeah, no one was moaning about
toilet or the food or anything.
Speaker 2 (07:01):
It's only going to get bigger and better that.
Speaker 1 (07:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:03):
Yeah, Yeah, I've said to Rob, I'd love to get
involved a bit more next year in our power, be
a bit more hands on and getting it together because
I think I could, I could help him with a
couple of bits on it.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
Yeah. Yeah, great for them, guys.
Speaker 4 (07:15):
Great, And so I will speak about Rob obviously you
can see his delving into a few other things now,
especially in the local area. And obviously commitment wise, when
it came to the deal, he'd already said at the
start of the year. You know, we were both sort
of said, look, you know, we'd do it. We'll do
(07:36):
this album, put it out, do some gigs and that'd
be nice. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
So you ad you kind of planning an expiry date
for Shines we did before you signed the day or.
Speaker 4 (07:46):
Yeah, we did, well, before we even done a gig.
We've planned an expiry date for but it was literally
because we were really proud of the record that we
thought we've got to go play it live, just some shows.
So Rob didn't in the deal. And what leaves the
middle of the month after.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
The screen.
Speaker 3 (08:07):
And that is just while we're on out that's worth
Dirty Sterling and who else.
Speaker 2 (08:10):
I'm not sure.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
The other guy is, well, if you want to go
to that, get a ticket.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
Yes, definitely Shines and Dirty Sterling.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
We're definitely playing.
Speaker 1 (08:20):
Yeah, it's good venue battle. I've never played bass.
Speaker 4 (08:23):
I've never played it. I went to watch a Michael
Jackson tribute there might but.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
Yeah, so we play that.
Speaker 4 (08:33):
And then for the second album, got some different ideas.
I'd like to involve some synth, some keys, I think,
adding members, and I mean, at one point I was
thinking about not even probably having a guitar on this
(08:54):
second album.
Speaker 2 (08:57):
That's a pretty good job that Rob's leaving. No guitar.
I'm going to play a bit of guitar.
Speaker 4 (09:03):
We've we've got a little show here tonight, so we're
going to play I played guitar. I've never played guitar
and Shines, but I played it on the record on
all the demos what we was making, I played guitar,
but so yeah, I'm probably gonna pick the guitar up
a little.
Speaker 2 (09:16):
Bit and get someone in on some since just.
Speaker 4 (09:22):
In mind, I sort of know what the next record
is going to sound like before writing it. I'll be
pleased when we've got these gigs finished, so I can
just really lock into that zone and that moment, and
it's an opportunity that I don't know I've got. There's
a few of my songs and stuff that I've written
in the past online and stuff, but there isn't the one,
(09:43):
you know, There isn't that thing where I think, you know,
that's what I wanted to say at that time. And
I'm in a good, good place at the minute in
here to write something that's means something to the people
that probably will listen to it.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
So it might be worse stuff, mate, if you feel
the good I hope.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
So with the record label, I can't wait.
Speaker 4 (10:02):
It'd be like it'd be like when Happy Monday's had
got the got the deal and there's they've gone to Barbados,
I think, to record the the record and come back.
There was no lyrics on it, you know, they just
they've just had a great time doing it, you know,
and so yeah, might not even have lyrics you no, no, no,
(10:23):
it could just be a big waste of money for them.
Speaker 3 (10:25):
And speaking speaking about making rocket records and what that
you you got? Was it Austria? You went to bos
But you did some recording with bos Bora.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
Didn't you? I did? We went to Portugal?
Speaker 1 (10:36):
Well yeah, Portugal.
Speaker 2 (10:37):
Yeah, well he's got a place I did.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
How did for those listening bos Bora was?
Speaker 3 (10:41):
I mean, I don't know what else he's played with,
but predominantly Morris's guitarist.
Speaker 2 (10:45):
Yeah he was. He was duc for Morris as well.
Speaker 3 (10:47):
Yeah, yeah, but how did that come about? Because I
know that was a few years ago. Now, what's happened
ten fifteen years ago?
Speaker 1 (10:53):
Something?
Speaker 4 (10:53):
Yeah, I was in I had a band called the
So and So was in Manchester. Yeah, and every remember
the So and So. I was in a hotel bar.
A couple of new pals from from Grimsby had come
over and we was in a hotel bar and I
see it. I clopped him and a bit of a chance.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
I went over and I was like a band.
Speaker 4 (11:21):
You right, And anyway, we've got some drinks and we
all went together to a big room, big hotel room,
and just got really drunk all night. But throughout the
course of the night, I was like, I'm in a band,
there's plenty.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
Just play this song on my phone.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
I let me play this song on my phone.
Speaker 4 (11:37):
I just did his head in all night and I
didn't really think much more of it.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
Can you remember what you played? What song you played?
It was a song called Lucy's Lane. I remember Lucy's Lane?
Speaker 4 (11:45):
Yeah, yeah, I played him and he went, oh, that's
really good, and I didn't really expect to hear anything
more of it. It was Morris's fiftieth birthday the night
after and there was another Morrissey show. Puts on the
guest list for that. Then after it he came and
spoke to me and he said, I've just opened my
own studio in Portugal. It'd got this land and it
(12:05):
built his own studio there. It's in the Portuguese mountains, Monshik.
It's like an hour and a half drive from anywhere
a shop or out.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
Would you like to come out? I was like, of course.
And it was the Tiger. Remember when we had the
ash Cloud.
Speaker 4 (12:20):
It was like, yeah, the stop flights all over volcanic cash.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
But it was originally was meant to go there for
a week. We was there for two weeks, so.
Speaker 4 (12:29):
It went from like going to record a couple of
songs to like a little mini EPI. It was just
an incredible experience. And I've worked with a lot of producers,
but obviously is is well seasoned, and he really brought
things out of me. And I mean it was the
first time I remember it was explaining to me about
(12:51):
pitching when I was singing, and I sort of was
not a crooner, but I've always sort of gone to
the note that I.
Speaker 2 (12:58):
Was meant to be singing.
Speaker 4 (13:00):
Just taught me how to pitch and difference when you
wear it, about the difference when someone's doing breathing right
and pitching right, and just little parts of songs like
with the arrangements, what about try this, what about try this?
And let's put acoustic guitar over everything. Stuff like just
like wow, But it's great, great experience working with me.
Definitely brought me on as a musician, you know, and
(13:23):
some of his some of his advice and one of
the best bit of advice I could give to anyone
was what you give to me is like playing as
many bands and play as many musicians as you can,
because it's the only way you're gonna get any better.
Learned so much from other people. You know, you can
nick good bits of people, but essentially, you know, it's
(13:44):
you need to play. I've played in a lot of bands.
I've never really done like session stuff or any cover
bands or like that.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
But it's gotta be good, you know.
Speaker 4 (13:54):
So yeah, play with as many bands as you can
and play with many music.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
I love playing with new musicians, mate, It's great. You
learn so much off other people. You still maybe but.
Speaker 4 (14:09):
Good bits, good pronunciations of different words and stuff.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
Nice.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
Mate.
Speaker 3 (14:15):
So we've got a busy night tonight, haven't we get
cracked on for that rehearsal?
Speaker 4 (14:20):
Last night we did Central all and we never really
don't it like this. We're playing without based tonight, so
it's just me, Chris and Rob and just the songs
played a bit slower, stripped back.
Speaker 2 (14:35):
You can know all the parts, do a bit of.
Speaker 4 (14:37):
Talking in between, say oh we made this song about
this bed, We've done this about this well, I don't know,
you know, but yeah.
Speaker 3 (14:43):
It sounds like you've got the memo, mate, that's exactly
what we want, so much different in it, you know,
being a sober event, mindful that it's not a gig
as such, do you know what I mean, and trying
to make it a bit more, a bit more like
a living room vibe, you know, a bit more of
a session.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
You just sat at home listening to some live music.
You know.
Speaker 4 (14:59):
I can't remember the last time, well, I can't remember
any time that I've ever played these songs live and
not had a drink.
Speaker 2 (15:05):
So let's keep these these coffins coming. It should be
all right. That is actually really good.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
Might go the other way there, wow, just give him
a drink.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
Well, any video footage I put out of the gig, mate,
I'll run it by you first, Yeah, just to make sure, yeah,
your labels all right with Yeah, I'm sure. I don't
want to jeopardize your deal with a sober gig mate.
Speaker 2 (15:30):
That's it. Keep him on the pop.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
There, it's been good, mate.
Speaker 3 (15:33):
Well we'll get you back in and we'll chat some
more about the album it's put together, and yeah, I'll
send you one going on there going yeah, yeah, And
if there's that comes up in the meantime, mate, we'll
chat about it. So just one rich If you like
what you listen to it like and subscribe
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