1 – When did you first get into music? What or who Inspired you?
Dan – As far back as I can remember I’ve been into music. Apparently, before I turned 1 years old I played a lot of different music by my parents. So I guess my parents inspired me to get into music as they’re both huge music fans themselves. I started playing instruments at the age of 6, but I remember going to see a band called The Levellers when I was 8, I remember it being such a euphoric experience that I was completely lost for words, and I remember saying to myself that night, I want to do that. I want to play music live. So that inspired me to pursue a career in writing and playing music.
Jazz – My dad was the one who inspired me to get into music as it’s been a part of his life since he was young. My brother also had an impact as he was also into playing music.
Andy – My biggest inspiration for starting a band, and taking it seriously, was seeing foals play the sugarmill in 2007. I was in awe of the complexity, but catchiness, of their songs.
2 – Who did you grow up listening to, and does that impact on what you create now?
Dan – So many different artists; Bowie, Black Sabbath, Nirvana, Depeche Mode, Michael Jackson, Tears For Fears, ACDC. More than I can mention. But the two artists I really latched onto as a child were Adam Ant and Duran Duran. I used to sit and watch compilation VCRs of their videos for hours every day. I think that having grown up with such a varied background of artists that I listened to, it’s made my musical creativity quite diverse, and I think we’re all the same in that regard. Due to listening all the way from Metal to 80’s Pop and Electronica, the music we make is really varied in style. So yeah, I think the music we listened to growing up really shaped how we look at music and has definitely made us extremely creative people musically.
Jazz – I grew up listening to Red Hot Chilli Peppers, a bit of Bee Gee’s and Queen (my dad’s favourites). I think this affects what I write now because of how varied those bands are. It didn’t just put me in one category. So since I was young I’ve listened to varied genres of artists.
Andy – My dad introduced me to bands like nirvana, guns and roses along side artists like Jamiroquai and ELO. I think this really fed into the broadness of my current appreciation of music. My love of music is expansive and cavernous; that’s got to be extensively due to my upbringing.
3 – How long have you been playing/writing?
Dan – Well, I first picked up a guitar when I was 6, and I couldn’t actually play it, so I couldn’t cover other people’s songs, so I started writing my own music as soon as I started playing guitar. I don’t really think you could call it ‘music’, but I started writing (horrifically bad) riffs when I was six. I have been writing ever since that moment, and hopefully what I write has improved slightly in quality since then (laughs).
4 – How often do you play live (include details and links for any upcoming gigs)?
Dan – We play live as much as we can. We feel most at home when playing live, we love being in the studio and writing, don’t get me wrong, the creative stage of this band is incredible to experience, but we really feel whole when playing live. We were all born into the live format of music so it’s only natural. So yeah, we try to play live as much as possible. We have a few shows in the pipeline at the moment, but nothing definite. We’re trying to focus on touring which is taking a lot of planning. Actually, as of this moment we’re trying not to play local hometown shows and focus more nationally. So maybe come back and ask us that question in a few week’s time (laughs).
5 – What has been your favourite moment in music?
Dan – I don’t really have one due to the fact I have so many. A lot of different shows have been special, the sweaty, angry, feral one’s where everybody, including us have some sort of out of body experience of destruction and madness. They’re great. So they are definitely up there. But recording WLVS in Paris is definitely one. Being able to work with such a great producer like Dave Dahan in such a great studio in the middle of Paris was special. It’s a magical city and I feel really at home there, so it lent itself to a really beautiful experience. Being free to focus solely on our music with creatively likeminded people such as Dave in an environment such as Paris, with a contemporary Art Gallery right above the studio where you could escape and be fed inspiration has definitely got to be one of my favourite moments.
Jazz – My favourite moment in music so far was definitely visiting Paris. The lifestyle is so laid back over there, compared to back overseas, UK. It was definitely an experience and one that I hope I’ll re-live pretty soon.
Andy – For me, it was recording our record in Paris. Really feeling like we’re making steps forward with the band was an amazing thing, to start thinking “yeah, this could be my life” – that was incredible.
6 – Where is the best place to find you online?
Dan – Facebook. Always Facebook. You can keep up to date with everything on there. Other than that, Soundcloud is a good format for people to listen to our music. We also have Twitter which is useful to keep tabs on what we’re doing, but Facebook is probably the best place to find us. (Links below)
Facebook.com/moralpanicsband
Soundcloud.com/moral-panics
Twitter – @MOZPAZ