Joe Symes and the Loving Kind are an original five piece acoustic rock outfit from Liverpool, UK. The group has spent the last 12 months launching their explosive assault on UK clubs and festivals. Joe, Colin and Chris take some time out to talk to eyeplug.net
01 How did you get started in music?
Joe: I started taking an interest in music when i was about 8 years of age, I started playing drums at first which then progressed to guitar and other instruments and eventually writing songs.
Colin: I wanted to play drums from the age of 11, but didn’t get an actual kit until I was 14 after my parents realised my interest wasn’t just a passing phase. I haven’t looked back since.
Chris: I don’t think there was any particular point which made me want to get into music, I think it’s something I always wanted to do, pestering the folks for a guitar when I was 8 or 9, the natural progression then was to want to be in a band.
02 Where did your direction come from?
Joe: It came from having lots of music around the house with my parents and older brother’s and sister’s listening to a lot of different styles of music.
Chris: I am self taught, so just through listening to different bands. Having supportive family and friends has always helped though.
03 Who were your major influences and inspirations and who do you despise?
Joe: The main influence for me is The Beatles but there are so much more influences that there are to many to mention, I like a lot of different styles of music and great songwriters, Also a lot of what’s going on in the world, media also influences me, I have no time for shows like the X factor and all them shows, It means nothing to me and it’s not even about music.
Colin: My personal major influences are drummers like John Densmore (he and the rest of The Doors are the reason I play music), Ringo Starr, all the Motown drummers, Charlie Watts, Art Blakey, Gene Krupa, I could go on. Ha! There’s a lot people I despise, but I probably shouldn’t mention any names, as I may get sued. Ha! Ha!
Chris: Major influence has to be my mum, she got me into the music that has influenced my playing, plus she’s always had some pretty good taste in music as well. There are people in the industry that I don’t agree with how they do things, but I don’t think it’s my place to say, yet!
04 What inspires you to make your current type of songs and sound?
Joe: Writing from personal experiences and also working with band member’s that are in tune with the way I’m thinking when i come to the band with a new song, I’ll have idea’s and they’ll contribute and it works all the time.
Colin: I’d say our confidence in ours individually and collectively inspires us to make our music, and the fact that we feel there are no limitations in what we do now and in the future.
Chris: The feel of the song helps it to develop what it becomes, there are no set rules or boundaries as to what the end product will be.
05 What can someone who has never seen you live before expect from your live shows then & possibly even now?
Joe: A really great LIVE show & performance, An honest performance and not a staged show.
Colin: The thing I’d say is just a great show with great songs, which in my opinion have a long lasting quality.
Chris: An honest, live energetic performance, with catchy songs that just want to make you get involved.
06 How do you begin your songs? What types of themes and subjects do you deal with?
Joe: The songs begin in all kinds of different ways, I don’t have one set way to write songs they just happen and grow and take on a life of their own. All the songs are biographical.
Chris: The songs can be about anything from everyday life, again it depends on the feel of the song! Joe will come to rehearsal with the core of the song and we help to create the sound he has in his head, all being on same wave length helps.
07 How did your music evolved since you first began playing?
Joe: It has evolved a lot since i started out, working with different musicians, growing up listening to different music, You are only as good as your last song, album that you have released.
Chris: Of course, I can play better now than when I was 9, ha! I think as you go through life you listen to different music and your perspectives change so this alters how you play.
08 What has been your biggest challenge? Were you been able to overcome this? If so, how?
Joe: My biggest challenge was getting the right band members to join the band, and also being able to play, some people say that they can play and when you audition them, most of them don’t even know what they are doing or talking about, I have no time for time wasters, I think I have now overcome the biggest challenge by meeting the right people to form the band.
Chris: Tricky one, getting the songs out to as many people as possible. Internet and the media help with this .
09 Do you play covers? If you could pick any song, which would you like to cover most and why?
Joe: No we don’t play covers, We have no need to, As for covering a song… I can’t answer that one as their are so many to choose from.
Colin: No, we don’t play covers. I guess there are some favourites we’d like to play if it was for a good enough reason, but at the moment we’re just so immersed in playing original material.
Chris: No covers is not something we are keen on doing! If I had to pick one I’m a big Pink Floyd fan, so maybe something like Interstella Overdrive.
10 Where did you envisage being in five years time?
Joe: I’d like to have great albums recorded as we are in the process of starting our 2nd album in the new year and then a third one, I’d also just like to be able to live comfortably and continue playing LIVE and writing and touring.
Colin: At a point where we’re a highly respected band with a fine back catalogue.
Chris: Still making music, be it wherever or win whatsoever form it is.
11 Who would you most like to record with?
Joe: I’d like to record with Paul McCartney, have a jam with him, also i’d like to work with Paul Weller, Anyone else who i’d like to with with has either passed on or there are only so many band members left, Who knows?
Colin: There’s a lot of people I’d like to record with. Unfortunately, most of them are dead.
Chris: Syd Barrett back in 1966.
12 What should we be expecting from you in the near future?
Joe: A lot more new songs, album’s and new video’s, Gigs, You can find more about us on the following websites and download our debut album from our official website also in CD format at…
Colin: You can expect a double A side single out in late February, and a brand new album out late next year. We like to plan ahead.
Chris: Just more shows up and the country, as well as the release of our AA side single due out early next year.
Web Links:
joesymes.co.uk
facebook.com/pages/JOE-Symes
reverbnation.com/1joesymes
twitter.com/joeysymes
Link to buy our music:
joesymes.co.uk
itunes.apple.com/joe-symes-and-the-loving-kind
