After succeeding triumphantly as the crowned winners in the last edition of #BitterSweetPlaylist, we now satisfy our promise by gifting an exclusive chat with Manchester’s False Advertising. The song which landed them here, ‘Hey You’ – is lifted from their forthcoming EP (‘I Would Be So Much Happier If I Just Stopped Caring’) and just one of the irresistible rock moments present on the work. The track, described by the band as, “a rallying call against gender-stereotyping,” focuses on the more raucous elements of Jen Hingley’s voice, tearing into the lyrics she highlights their objections, whilst guitar and bass score the band their strongest melody yet.
In ‘Many Things About…’ we like to keep the questions entertaining and random, but most importantly, revealing. (After all, that’s what you came here for, right?) So we hope you enjoy, and let us know who next you would like to see in the hot seat.
What first attracted you to music?
Chris: Seeing someone play an electric guitar on Top Of The Pops when I was very young was probably the first.
Jen: Initially I was kinda forced into it by my parents, so I was already semi-musical as a really tiny kid, but I think somewhere between seeing my uncle play on Top Of The Pops when I was little, listening to Bjork in the car, or discovering Blink 182 and the like when I was about 11 that really made me want to do it.
Josh: My Dad, as I grew up I’d watch him play and always aspire to be as good as him and impress him. He would take me to his band rehearsals when I was just born so it was set in pretty early on.
What is it about writing songs that you most enjoy?
Chris: Trying out the new ideas in rehearsal and jamming them out.
Jen: When you suddenly get a new song in your head that you genuinely wouldn’t change anything about and just have to get it out. This hardly ever happens anymore though sadly.
Josh: I suppose it’s the urge to make sure the song is as good as it can be. Also the excitement of what the finished recording can sound like, I always have a pre-conceived sound in my head before we start recording and if it’s achieved in the mixing / recording process, that feels really satisfying.
Do you have any hidden talents and if so, what?
Chris: I’m a sound engineer, though that’s not that hidden if you look. I worked on most of our stuff and all the Orielles stuff prior to them signing with Heavenly.
Jen: I work as a graphic designer in the daytime for a bunch of brands and bands. Most recently I redesigned Noel Gallagher’s website and I once received a design compliment from none other than Prince.
Josh: I used to 100m sprint and long jump for the North West when I was younger, though I’ve not tested those talents for a while so they may be more hidden than I realise now. Think I’m unbeaten in arm-wrestling though.
Can you tell us a fact about your new single – ‘Hey You’?
Chris: The guitar tone was achieved with a telecaster, tube screamer pedal, 1976 Fender Silver-face close mic’d with a Senheisser 421 and sE T2.
Jen: It’s working title was ’90’, we were still calling it that until very recently. It was recorded in an old church hall and our practice room.
Josh: We have a video for it that was inspired by the Dinosaur Jr video for ‘Feel the Pain’. Ours has a much more bicycle/Mobike orientated theme though.
What’s your favourite dance move?
Chris: The Grave digger.
Josh: Sitting in the corner crying usually. I can’t dance very well. Salmon moshing is pretty funny though.
Jen: I have no idea what either of these things are and you won’t catch me doing either of them.
What has been the best gig you’ve played so far?
Chris: Probably the Academy 2 gig supporting Bob Mould, it’s a stage I’d wanted to play for a very long time.
Jen: Our first gig at SXSW with Doe, SuperGlu and Muncie Girls was pretty amazing. Or the more recent one we did with Life and Idles over in Hull.
Josh: We played for our mate John at a house party for his birthday. We’d met him at a show in Derby after he came to see us and he missed his last train home and wandered the streets for 6 hours until the morning. He asked if we would play for him, of course we were bowled over with his dedication so when his parents went on holiday for the weekend we went round and played a set in his living room, tying to avoid the police coming round because of the noise. It was a huge sense of freedom and rebellion being right there with them having a mosh whilst everyone got wasted. Everything in music should be for people.
How do you take your coffee?
Chris: 2 shots with almond milk.
Jen: Normally iced with soya. But at the moment my coffee machine is broken which is very distressing.
Josh: Eagerly, and its a double espresso Americano with a splash of soy milk and a little bit of brown sugar please.
If you could play a show at any world monument, where would you play?
Chris: The great Pyramids of Egypt would be rad, I don’t think anyone has done that?
Jen: It would be too warm though, maybe somewhere near Mount Fuji in Japan, or in that bit of New Zealand that looks like Hobbiton?
Josh: I think to play the first ever show on the moon would be pretty huge. It’s not a monument, but whilst we’re going big let’s go all the way.
Do you have a favourite song or album that has been released this year?
Chris: Popular Music by Life
Jen and Josh: Brand New – Science Fiction
What’s the best piece of news you’ve heard this week?
Chris: Star Trek Discovery is actually good.
Jen: It was probably something to do with our new single getting some radio play. Boooring I know, but we’ve worked hard for it.
Josh: That Death From Above 1979 and At The Drive In are touring together OSKDJFBSDFJHGFFLSRKFFSHL!!!
What makes you happy?
Chris: In one word I would say variety, In slightly more words I would say staying focused on the present as much as possible, ya know the old “living in the moment” thing, but, I would also say don’t neglect to take steps to cultivate a future so that the present remains enjoyable.
Jen: Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Josh: My Dog. most animals do really.
If you could get a selfie with any celebrity, who would that be and why?
Chris: Ray Charles because it would have to involve a time machine… and because it’s Ray Charles!
Jen: Larry David would be the ultimate.
Josh: Biggy Pop (Iggy pop’s cockatoo).
What’s coming up for False Advertising this year?
Chris: We’re hitting it hard on tour right now.
Jen: We have an EP coming out at the end of the month, it’s called ‘I Would Be So Much Happier If I Just Stopped Caring’.
Josh: We’ll certainly be busy planning and writing our next release pretty soon too.
The new single ‘Hey You’ leads the release of False Advertising’s upcoming EP, ‘I Would Be So Much Happier If I Just Stopped Caring’, due 27th October 2017 – which is available to Pre-Order here.
The band will be playing the following live dates throughout October:
12TH OCT 2017 – NIGHT AND DAY, MANCHESTER
13TH OCT 2017 – THE EMPTY SHOP, DURHAM
14TH OCT 2017 – LITTLE BUILDINGS, NEWCASTLE
15TH OCT 2017 – INDEPENDENT, SUNDERLAND
20TH OCT 2017 – LIVE ROOMS, CHESTER
21ST OCT 2017 – SWN FESTIVAL, CARDIFF
26TH OCT 2017 – THE NEW ADELPHI CLUB, HULL
27TH OCT 2017 – SOUND FOOD AND DRINK, LIVERPOOL
30TH OCT 2017 – SUNFLOWER LOUNGE, BIRMINGHAM
