Midlands band Semantics talk local shows, influences and their favourite Birmingham venue

Following the release of their debut EP in 2016, the band is now releasing their second EP Acid Test tomorrow, recorded and mixed by Ryan Pinson with artwork by Jonathan Payne.

We had a chat with bassist Josh:

Where is each member from?

We’re from all over. I’m from Bloxwich, Bridie is from Bilston, Simon is from Wolverhampton, and Rob (vocals/guitar) is from Exeter. He drives up from there to practise.

Where did the band meet?

Simon and I had already been in a band previously, and after that original project split we decided that we’d form a new one. Me and Simon have always had this weird thing between us on bass and drums, and I can’t really see myself playing with anyone else.

Rob joined us on vocals not long after the band started in 2014. I remember having one practise session with him, and the second he started singing and playing guitar we immediately knew that he was ideal for the band.

Bridie replaced our original guitarist a month before the release of our debut EP. She’d never played in a band before and I hadn’t listened to her perform when I started speaking to her. But she had personality which made me feel like she would be perfect for the band.

What are each of your musical histories and influences?

I can’t speak on behalf of the band as the whole mantra behind what we do and how we work is that the body of work we put out is a representation of four individuals expressing themselves and their own experiences to create something new.

In terms of my upbringing I’ve been very lucky to have been brought up in a very musical environment. I can remember waking up as a kid to my dad blasting all kinds of music through our home stereo system and, although at the time I wasn’t quite as switched on to it, I am starting to see now how being exposed to artists like Bowie, The Velvet Underground, Prince, The Jam and Suede inspired me. My parents however were always conscious of me having my own musical taste, so they never pushed anything at me, which I’m very grateful for. David Bowie has probably had the biggest influence and that’s without me even being conscious of it.

Do these influences play into your musical style?

Very much so, we want our music to be a form of self-expression instead of pandering to what people want to hear. I’d like to think that when people listen to our music they’re hearing a collective voice of what’s gone on in our lives and what we have to say about it all. If people like that kind of intensity then that makes me happy, but if not then it isn’t something we’re going to let affect what we do.

How has the local area influenced your ability to record and play shows?

We have recorded both of our EPs with the very talented Ryan Pinson at RML studios, based at the Newhampton Arts Centre. He’s one of those guys that’s able to listen to a band and find their ‘inner sound’ whilst at the same time giving very constructive and worthwhile input. Whether it is artwork, videos or the recording process, we like whoever is collaborating with us to freely express themselves and be an active part in the creative process, it was like Ryan was the fifth member of the band. His input was invaluable and we’re very happy with how our material has come out.

However for gigging, Wolverhampton unfortunately doesn’t have the same platform for the music we play. As much as we’d like to play there we aren’t given the same support as we get in Birmingham. Venues and promoters in Birmingham promoters are a bit more willing to support bands that aren’t there to explicitly entertain you with Rod Stewart covers or be background music. There’s a really diverse scene of authentic bands in Birmingham (and Wolverhampton) who come together as a community not under one specific genre, and I feel if there was more of a platform for bands to play more original/artistic music in Wolverhampton, the place would be way more deserving of its title as (according to NME) being one of the best cities in the UK for live music. There are some great bands simmering underground, and I feel Wolverhampton just needs to pull the lid off so an actual scene can develop.

What’s your favourite venue to perform in?

The Sunflower Lounge for sure, I really like how intimate the space is both for when we’ve performed there and when I have seen other bands play there.

What can people expect from your latest EP and how does it differ from the first?

Although I love the first EP, I believe Acid Test is a better representation of our collective song writing process, and I think despite it being a three-track EP has a good stab at having a string of narrative throughout.

What fellow artists would you recommend that readers check out?

The Hungry Ghosts are my favourite Birmingham band at the moment; I like going to a gig and feeling terrified.