Interview With 'Sofasonic'

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

Sofasonic are Michael Wilson - Guitar/Lead vocals, Niall Turner - Guitar/Backing vocals, SJ Manarin - Bass/Backing vocals and Elliot Manarin - Drums. SJ started the band way back in 2007 and Elliot joined a couple of years later. Michael drunkenly invited himself to an audition back in 2010, and Niall joined in 2013 and we haven’t looked back!

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

For the whole band, music has been a huge part of our lives. We’ve all been exposed to music and connecting with it from a young age. It’s the first time we’ve all been in a band together, but have all been in bands before.

Michael: I would say the underlying thing for all 4 of us is that music is a huge part of our lives and something we all feel passionate about - sometimes to the detriment of other parts of our lives. Making our own music is such a release, and still gives us the biggest buzz, playing them to a crowd. What isn’t to like :)

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

'Get Made' is the culmination of 3 years work and is a real change in direction from our first EP. We went large and wanted the best so it took a few months to get it right but we feel we got there. Someone who picks it up will go on a journey of hope, despair and ultimately triumph. The meanings behind the songs are quite dark, but the music fights against that and brings it all together and hopefully people will have an experience listening.

'Get Made' is released at the end of June and we can’t wait to share it!

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

There are so many people we’d love to meet but as a band, we actually met Crobot at one of their gigs and they were really approachable. They came and chatted with us and they really left an impression on us. Firstly, the gig (and the music!!) was amazing and the energy in the place was tiring just watching! The biggest thing though was how after doing that they were willing to come and chat with the crowd and were really grounded and down to earth. That left a huge impression and is something we make sure we do - even before packing up our stuff!

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

You’ll be met with an intense, bluesy riff-based Rock with some subtle harmonies and interesting melodies. We all try to get moving and our drummer usually loses about 10 stone through sweat from every gig!! We want it to feel like we’re playing to you as an individual and we hope we achieve that - at some early gigs we pretty much did play to an individual so we’re well trained in the method!!

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

Wow, there are so many that we'd all like to tour with. It'll tell you a lot about our separate musical tastes!! Deaf Havana (Niall), The 1975 (Niall), Bruce Springsteen (Niall), Queens Of the Stone Age (Michael), Gomez (Michael), Jimi Hendrix (everyone!), Royal Blood (Elliot), Band of Skulls (Elliot), Third Eye Blind (SJ) and The Goo Goo Dolls (SJ) to name a few! I think The Beatles would have been phenomenal to have toured with just from the crowds - and the noise! - they used to have. Supporting Oasis at Knebworth would have been an amazing gig!

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

There are so many answers for this it’s almost impossible to pick one!

Michael: It would definitely be Josh Homme. Aside from the obvious questions such as red or brown sauce with your sausage sandwich, I would want to know he goes about the creative writing process? How did an album like 'Songs For The Deaf' where every song is epic come about? Does different experiences like 'The Desert Sessions' bring about a different writing process?

SJ: I would love to meet Stephan Jenkins from Third Eye Blind.... I would just spend the time asking him “When can we tour with you?” over and over again!

Niall: Simon Neil from Biffy Clyro is who I would most like to meet. Just a great band and would probably just have a beer and chill out!

Elliot: Dave Grohl would be a highlight definitely - if only to just drum with him for the whole time!

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

There are no Christmas movies, only Die Hard.

Check out their video for 'Get Made'

Website - www.sofasonic.co.uk/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Sofasonic/