We wanted to find out more about A Permanent Shadow so what better way than through 26 questions relating to the letters of the alphabet?
A song that made you want to make music?
“Let’s Dance” by David Bowie.
Best rider you’ve had?
A full assortment of local sausages somewhere in the Spanish hinterland. We arrived late and wolfed them down an hour before the show. I think it was our least energetic performance ever.
Craziest moment you’ve had in the band?
Our drummer went MIA in the middle of a show. Luckily, we had some acoustic numbers to fall back on.
Deepest lyric one of your songs features?
“If you’re trying to change the world, better start within your own four walls.” The song’s called “Bubbles Of Humanity” and is the closer of our new album, “No Leaf Clover”.
Easiest song you wrote?
“Disappear” is based on a verbal battle via Whatsapp between a friend of mine and his ex-girlfriend. I just had to transcribe the words and make them rhyme.
Favourite song in your set?
I like “Sailor”, our homage to the late and great David Bowie. It’s on our first album, the aptly titled “Songs Of Loss”.
Guest you’d most like to feature on your record?
Nadine Shah. Her new album is incredible. What a voice! The lyrics are amazing, too.
Hardest thing about being in a band?
It’s not hard to be in a band. I guess it’s harder to be a metal sheet worker or a miner or drive a taxi at three in the morning. Being in a band is vocational, if you consider it an uphill struggle, then you better find another passion.
Interesting fact about one of your members?
The most interesting fact is probably that we are not a band per se. It’s just me hiding behind a band name.
Jokes you have in the band?
My favourite joke is this one:
A guy meets a musician friend in the street.
Key to writing a song?
Lyrics come first. If there’s no lyrical content to weave the music around, it won’t work for me. Writing songs based on riffs or melodies without a lyrical proposition is not possible for me.
Longest distance you’ve travelled to play a show?
Being an independent solo artist in fact, I play live much less than I’d love to. I live in Spain, so I’ve done this circuit a bit.
Most inspiring musician you’ve experienced?
It has to be David Bowie for me. He inspired me to become a musician. I admire his fearlessness, and how on very few occasions he bowed to commercial expectations. A true artist.
New band you’d recommend?
I’ve just listened to the new Yard Act album and it’s fantastic!
Opening for this band would be ideal?
I have a sense that Future Island fans could warm to us.
Place you’d most like to tour?
All over the world, actually. Europe, USA/Canada, Australasia. My dream life would be to be eternally on tour, although if it ever happened I’d be very likely to moan about it.
Quote you’d like to pass on to our readers?
“Speak in extremes, it will save your time” – A Big Hurt by Tin Machine. It actually works!
Reason for the title of your recent/forthcoming release?
“No Leaf Clover” is one of the songs on the album. It’s about child stars who are seen as these god-like figures, yet their private life is in shambles, even more so once they’re past their prime. It’s a song about not being lucky at all, which is a theme that permeates the whole record.
See us live at?
No plan yet to play live, sorry!
The old days of music were better than the current, do you agree?
I think there were fewer possibilities to make music, now it’s a more democratic approach. Everyone can record an album these days. If that’s a good thing or not, I don’t know. Back in the day there was an industry that if it saw potential in your music, would help you reach an audience. Now you have to be pretty much your own industry, which can be exhausting.
Unusual merchandise?
Our portfolio is pretty standard, but I’d love to venture into something more original, like condoms or Swiss knives.
Variations you’d like to do on any of your songs?
There are some arrangements on the first album that I would do differently now, especially some of the backing vocals. But it is what it is, I don’t feel a strong need to correct any of those decisions.
What do your fans mean to you?
Fans mean everything. Let’s face it, if you made music for yourself, you wouldn’t go through the hassles of promotion. You want recognition and a following, the bigger and more invested, the better.
X-rays or any treatments needed for band related injuries?
Not that I know of. I’ve wondered on occasions though that if some of the so-called “professionals” had all their brain cells intact…
You’re late for a show, whose fault is it?
Always the bass player’s.
Zoo animal that next describes the personality of your band?
Probably a rhinoceros – bloated, loud and somewhat grumpy.