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Interview With 'The Vinyl Reprisal'

Firstly, introduce yourselves and tell us a little bit about the band and how you came to be?

Dan: This version of the band has been around for about two years. Me and Kris (vocalist) actually met auditioning for an Oasis tribute act, which we had some good fun with for a year or so. When that band had run its course, Jamie was looking for a guitarist in a 90's covers band called TFI The 90's and I joined. Kris came on board later on and after a couple of line-up changes, we dropped the 90's theme and became The Vinyl Reprisal. That’s when Ant joined us on the drums. We spent the first 12 months or so on the covers circuit and then began writing our own songs, which have given us a whole new dimension.

What were you all up too prior to the band, was this always the chosen path or did you have other dreams and aspirations?

Dan: We have all been playing/jamming in various bands over the years but, certainly for me, nothing that has ever clicked as well as The Vinyl Reprisal. In terms of our own material, it is still very early days for us but we definitely feel like we’re on a bit of a roll at the moment!

Tell us about your latest EP and why our readers should check it out.

Dan: Our debut EP, is due out in May and will be made up of songs we’ve been playing live over the last few months. There is a lot of energy and quite a Punky edge to our sound but at the same time I think people will be pleasantly surprised by the variety in this set of songs.

Who would you say is the bands main song writer or is it a group effort and where do you draw your inspiration lyrically and musically from?

Dan: The first few songs that we worked on came from me – a couple of which I’d been sitting on for years. But lately it’s become more of a group effort and all four of us are chipping in with ideas. For instance, one of our live favourites ‘Chuck In The Towel’ started out as a riff Jamie played to us in rehearsal. We worked out a song arrangement, Kris went away and worked on some lyrics and in just over a week it was in the set for our gig at the Actress & Bishop in Birmingham. Lyrically, we take inspiration from all sorts of things. I seem to have a habit of referencing some of our favourite musicians – Joe Strummer is namechecked in the track ‘Graffiti’ and for the song ‘Waging Heavy Peace’ I nicked the title from Neil Young’s autobiography.

As a band what do you believe is your greatest achievement to date and why?

Dan: We’re just really proud of how our songs have developed and with the feedback we’ve had from our live shows. We have only been playing those songs for a few months but we really feel they stand up.

Kris: I’d have to agree with Dan, having been playing together as a band for a while now. Our originals have definitely taken us to a new level. Excited to see where our own material takes us.

Have you ever come face to face with someone within the music scene who has left you awestruck and why?

Dan: Oscar Harrison from Ocean Colour Scene was at our gig in Birmingham in February. It was pretty surreal to look up mid-song and see him stood a few feet away. We’re big Ocean Colour Scene fans and that Britpop scene in general is a massive influence on us, so it meant a lot. He then got up and played a song with the headline band Little Liam. It turned into one of those really memorable nights.

Kris: Tommy Scott, lead singer/guitarist from Space. Had the pleasure of sharing a beer with the band on a couple of occasions after gigs. Tommy left a lasting impression, he was so humble, a genuinely awesome dude who went out of his way for everyone...he even offered some advice In our quest for superstardom!

If we were to head out to one of your live shows what can ourselves and others expect?

Dan: Lots of energy, lots of attitude, some catchy hooks that will stick in your head. And usually some bad jokes – we’ve got plenty of those between the four of us!

If you had one artist/band that you could go on tour with tomorrow who would it be and why?

Dan: Simple. Noel Gallagher. He’s the main man. Always has been. That said, I reckon Kasabian would be a lot of fun to hang out with and I wouldn’t get bored of seeing their live show every night.

Kris: Current band, most definitely Kasabian. I've followed them since their really early days and they put on an epic live show. It's always one massive energy fueled, crowd bopping, song party. I'd have some of that!

You can spend an hour with a musical icon living or dead, who would you pick, why and what would you speak about?

Dan: For me, it’d have to be Bruce Springsteen. He’s not just an amazing song-writer and performer but also an incredible story teller. I love his music, his stories and his politics. That hour would fly by!

Kris: It would have to be Liam Gallagher. Most definitely my biggest personal influence. Single-handedly, the reason I gave this music/singing thing a bash. The vocals, the attitude, the swagger! We'd probably have typical frontman conversation....booze, footy, women and tunes!

And finally and most importantly is Die Hard a Christmas Movie?

Dan: Why not? Nowt like a bid of blood and violence to encapsulate the festive spirit!

Kris: 100%! Nothing screams 'festive season' more than John McClean taking out a load of baddies whist saving Christmas! Yipee Kayaayyy mother truckers!!

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