In today’s A-Z challenge, we find out all about South Waleans PARCS.
A song that made you want to make music?
Liam: Tycho – A Walk.
Joe: this is a really hard question but for me it was probably some Nirvana or Pixies song.
Kristy: I can’t remember a specific first song, but whenever I listen to Phoebe Bridgers I
want to write lyrics.
Elly: It’s difficult to say/remember, but probably Joni Mitchell or Bon Iver.
Best rider you’ve had?
Liam: Haven’t really had too many to choose from, but Swansea Fairwood fest gave us a
table with PARCS printed out and laminated on it which is enough to make me happy.
Kristy: Any rider with a free dinner is good enough for me!
Joe: I completely agree with Liam, and what made it better is we just a crate of beer in the
centre of a huge table – as we felt to bad asking for anything else…
Craziest moment you’ve had in the band?
Elly: Being awarded the BBC Launchpad fund was really lovely and surprising and getting
to play a session for Huw Stephens of the back of that…crazy.
Kristy: The last few years have been full of crazy moments! Playing Greenman has always
been a dream for me, and it was such a perfect night.
Deepest lyric one of your songs features?
Elly: A lot of the lyrics on our upcoming EP ‘sleepless’ are pretty deep, I wrote most of the
lyrics when I wasn’t in the greatest place mentally and physically.
Easiest song you wrote?
‘fever’. We wanted to write another song for our new EP and musically, vocally and lyrically it
all fell into place – which, unfortunately, is incredibly rare for us.
Favourite song in your set?
Emily: pull/push
Joe: fever
Liam: pull/push
Kristy: Red lines
Guest you’d most like to feature on your record?
Joe: Nile Rodgers
Elly: Porches or Bombay Bicycle Club
Kristy: Lady Gaga
Liam: Masayoshi Takanaka
Hardest thing about being in a band?
Elly and Joe: Balancing full time jobs and music, money and also knowing when to stop
editing a song. Sometimes we argue because we are perfectionists and focus on completely
pointless things.
Kristy: definitely time and energy for me. Working full time and then having to fit band stuff around that while making sure you have enough down time is really really tough. A good
calendar app is essential.
Interesting fact about one of your members?
Only one of us isn’t chronically ill lmao.
Jokes you have in the band?
Joe: Liam and I find “finance bros” hilarious and usually quote some of the absolutely
ridiculous things they say, especially about posture. I also think we’re winning over Elly (if
you could call it that) to them.
Key to writing a song?
Please let us know when you have an answer…
Joe: I think the drums, usually me and Liam will create a drum loop and usually we go from
there, bass, synths, guitars and vox. Then we tend to go back and take out stuff that doesn’t
need to be there. But, I feel it’s a mix between the groove and Elly’s vocals, if she isn’t
feeling it, it’s probably not worth continuing with it.
Longest distance you’ve travelled to play a show?
FOCUS Wales in Wrexham
Most inspiring musician you’ve experienced?
Joe: Charles Bradley or David Byrne
Liam: My dad
Elly: There’s so many, but probably Bombay Bicycle Club. Their shows are always fun, and I love live brass.
New band you’d recommend?
Joe: Fat Dog
Liam: Arc De Soleil
Kristy: Asidhara
Elly: Not a new band, but I’ve really gotten into Mannequin Pussy this year.
Opening for this band would be ideal?
Joe: Tears for Fears
Kristy: Lady Gaga
Ella: Paramore
Place you’d most like to tour?
Liam: Sweden
Kristy: Japan
Joe: Japan
Elly: Everywhere and anywhere
Quote you’d like to pass on to our readers?
‘Well, well, well, how the turntables…’ – Michael Scott.
Reason for the title of your recent/forthcoming release?
Elly: We realised a lot of the songs had references to not being able to sleep
(unintentionally). We had some other ideas for names but we all collectively loved
‘sleepless’.
See us live at?
May 23-25, 2025 – In It Together Festival, Margam.
The old days of music were better than the current, do you agree?
Liam: All eras of music have positives and negatives. I heavily consume 70’s psych rock
and funk and 80’s synth pop but some of my all time favourite music has been released in
the past decade.
Joe: Yeah, I completely agree with Liam!
Unusual merchandise?
Kristy: I’d love to do PARCS socks.
Elly: I want hats and tea towels.
Variations you’d like to do on any of your songs?
Liam: Fever with a full brass band.
Joe: Any of our tracks with a full band (especially with a live drummer).
Kristy: I agree with Liam, but for every single song ever. Horns up for the horn section.
Elly: I agree with Kristy and Liam, I want all the brass.
What do your fans mean to you?
Kristy: For anyone to just take time out of their day to listen to us, recommend us or engage
with our stuff in anyway is insane, so we’re just super grateful!
Joe: I completely agree with Kristy, the fact that people choose to listen to us makes me feel
incredibly grateful.
X-rays or any treatments needed for band related injuries?
Not that we know of! Liam is quite clumsy though to be fair
You’re late for a show, whose fault is it?
Elly’s – without a shadow of a doubt.
Zoo animal that next describes the personality of your band?
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