SHADED take on the A-Z challenge

SHADED are gearing up for a recently announced tour with Common Ground Records labelmates Wolf Culture. We wanted to know more about the trio so frontman Matt East complied by taking on our A-Z challenge! A song that made you want to make music? S.O.S by Jonas Brothers. Straight banger. Best rider you’ve had? Our very […]

SHADED are gearing up for a recently announced tour with Common Ground Records labelmates Wolf Culture. We wanted to know more about the trio so frontman Matt East complied by taking on our A-Z challenge!

A song that made you want to make music?

S.O.S by Jonas Brothers. Straight banger.

Best rider you’ve had?

Our very small rider has only ever actually been fulfilled once haha! It’s not very exciting at all – some tea bags and water.

Craziest moment you’ve experienced in the band?

(un)Luckily, we’re still yet to experience anything OUTRAGEOUS, but we’ve met a lot of very interesting characters doing a lot of interesting things outside venues in London.

Deepest lyric one of your songs features?

The lyric that I associate the most with right now would have to be the bridge from ‘Tell Me’ – ‘Just fall into memory, start drifting away.

Make me more than a memory, cus you’re slipping away.’

Easiest song you wrote?

Too Far Distant’ from our first EP came very easily. When that song came about, I was really enjoying writing slower ballad-style songs and lyrics. Certain things were happening at the time, which made the lyrics flow a lot easier.

Favourite song in your set?

Tell Me‘ is definitely our favourite night now. Maybe because it’s only recently been added to the set after being released, but it’s always the one we look forward to playing most!

Guest you’d most like to feature on your record?

Personally, I’d love to write and record a song with nothing,nowhere. What he’s doing right now is so fresh and original, and a lot of his work actually inspired the alternate version of Tell Me haha!

Hardest thing about being in a band?

It’s got to be missing family holidays, birthdays and other events. But it’s what we signed up for, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Interesting fact about one of your members?

Dan is secretly a member of the Southampton FC Hooligans Club… I will neither confirm nor deny the truth behind this.

Jokes you have in the band?

I wish I could explain them but they are so rogue and far too much of ‘inside jokes’ for anyone else to find them even remotely funny.

Key to writing a song?

I find that my best lyrics come from sincerity. A long while ago, I used to find it sort of cringy when i’d try and open up in a song, but now having been through the things I have and experienced certain things, I find that it’s such an amazing way of venting any kind of frustration, anger or hurt that I’m feeling. So yeah, long story short, the key to writing a SHADED song is sincerity.

Longest distance you’ve travelled to play a show?

We drove from London to Norwich for a one-off show in a Tequila bar. I know it’s not the longest drive in terms of distance, but the drive is HORRENDOUS. Took us about 6 and a half hours each way, cramped up in cars. A great experience all round.

Most inspiring musician you’ve experienced?

Watching Stevie Wonder live when he was much younger.

New band you’d recommend?

Layover are doing great things right now. We recently finished up a tour with them and they’re some of the nicest and most talented guys we’ve played with. Check them out for sure!

Opening for this band would be ideal?

It would be really cool to open a 5SOS show.

Place you’d most like to tour?

THE. FUCKING. STATES.

Quote you’d like to pass on to our readers?

‘It’s all gone to cock’… there will be context for that at some point.

Reason for the title of your recent/forthcoming record?

The single ‘Tell Me‘ is a track about a lack of communication, which I think is fairly self explanatory from the title.

See us live at?

Burn It Down Fest! 1st September. It’s gonna be a good one.

The old days of music were better than the current, do you agree?

I disagree. Music has only improved sonically and lyrically over the years.

Unusual merchandise?

Fortunately, our merch is all fairly standard haha.

Variations you’d like to do on any of your songs?

We’ve actually done an alternate version of ‘Tell Me’. Go check it out!

What do your fans mean to you?

Anyone that invests their time in any shape or form means the absolute world to us. We wouldn’t be where we are or be doing what we’re doing if people didn’t give us the time of day so we’re very grateful!

X-rays or any treatments needed for band related injuries?

None yet! *touch wood*

You’re late for a show, whose fault is it?

Dan. He has a gear check-list that he must check over about 15 times every time we load in/out. I love him with all my heart but he could do with a faster engine.

Zoo animal that best describes the personality of your band?

English Bulldog. We are pretty relaxed and calm for most of the day… but give us a 30 minute run-around, which in our case is our live show, and we lose our shit.

Elizabeth Birt

August 7, 2018

Band management assistant. Goth princess and lover of all things music and sport.

@lbirt1993

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