Introducing... the bands!

Who are the band members and what do they play?

Rob - Drums
Keith - Bass
Stuart - Guitars
Lucy - Keyboards & Vocals
Natalie - Vocals & Keyboards
Loz - Vocals

How would you describe your style of music?

Loz: It's rock/pop with synths, a big sound, bags of energy and something to say. Have a listen for yourself. We've had a real variety of descriptions lately with the weirdest being "a cross between Radiohead and Goldfrapp!". Not very accurate but flattering all the same.

What would you say are your musical influences?

Loz: Take a look at our myspace, there's quite a few on there but not nearly enough to cover all of us. Personally, I'll give everything a listen and anything that enters my head and stays there for longer than a couple of minutes will probably have some influence on what I write next.

How did the band form?

Loz: Well, it started off as a solo project, when in my spare time I wrote and recorded some songs that became an EP called 'Not The Only One'. Quite a few people liked it and suggested I get a band together to play it live. So I called up some old friends and 18 months later we were a band writing and recording our first album together. Very proud of it we are too!

Of all the songs you've written, what's your current favourite and why?

Loz: They're all from the new album 'Spoiling It For Everyone' because the songs are still quite fresh and we're still playing about with the live versions. For me it's got to be 'Idiot Room' - a song about office life and the hundreds of pointless meetings that take place every day.

Lucy: 'Watching You Think' because of the disco groove on the drums and bass.

Stuart: 'It's Time' because it rocks and it's got attitude or 'Edge Of Town' because it's a great album and gig opener.
 
Rob: 'Out Of Focus' because it's quite different rhythmically, we worked hard on that one in the studio and so there's quite a bit of satisfaction that comes with it.

Keith: 'Awaking Times' because it's got a great chorus and it's one of those rare songs to have a genuinely positive vibe.

Natalie: '3 Minute Hug'. A warm gentle love song with a twist in the lyrics.

Introducing... Loz Jones

What's your most memorable gig and why?

Loz: We've had a couple of fantastic gigs lately. The album launch party at The Hat Factory was great, it was packed and pretty much everyone there had pre-ordered the album so they were all really up for it. The Mitre in Buckingham is a great venue full of really nice people and we had a really good time there. The big summer ones also stick in your head. We've played Aylesbury's Hobble On The Cobbles three years running now and been on the line-up with some pretty big names. This year though, we also played afterwards in the courtyard at the King's Head at the top of Market Square and that had a brilliant atmosphere. We must have played to a couple of thousand people that day!

What's your fan base like?

Loz: Well, a lot of them gave us money before we'd even finished the album so I guess they're slightly mental! No seriously, they're great fun and good people to be around and we couldn't have done the album without their support. I'd say we appeal to young, old, black, white, gay, straight, trendies, nerds and everyone in between. Put us in front of people and the majority tend to like us. If you want a good night out, come and see us, we put on a show.

What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever done / sent to you?

Loz: I signed a left breast (I think it was the left) a while ago in High Wycombe which made me feel very 'Rock'n'Roll' at the time. I bet there aren't that many people who have left High Wycombe feeling more 'Rock'n'Roll' than when they arrived.
I think we badger our fans more than they badger us to be honest and I'm quite glad we don't get dodgy stuff through the post or thrown at us during gigs.

Name one unusual fact about each of you?

Loz: Too many things to choose from, we just ARE unusual. Even more so as a group than individually.

Introducing... Loz Jones

If you could record a collaboration with ANYONE - who would it be and why?

Loz: Again, just like our influences, there are just too many between all of us. I know Natalie would like a song written for her by Tori Amos. Top of my list though would be to write something epic with composer, Karl Jenkins. If not him, then a song with Bowie, Eno or The Edge. Someone with a lot of experience who could show us new approaches to music and alternative ways of working. We're still having too much fun working together to think about stuff like that right now.

What's the band's ultimate ambition or what's your dream?

Loz: My ambition is to keep being creative for the rest of my life and if I get to earn a living from writing music, then Yippee!

I think we'd all like to be able to give up our day jobs and earn lots of money from the band. Live like rock stars, as Natalie says "a house or two in Oz and a couple in England and somewhere else I haven't yet been!". Stuart always says that when we've got a tribute act, we know we've done it. I guess as long as we're all still enjoying it and we're happy and healthy, then it's a success.

Rob and Keith would like a 'Band Tea Urn' maintained by unusually beautiful tea ladies serving a regular tea supply during rehearsals. Is that too much to ask?

Is there anything else you'd like to tell us?

Loz: Yes, come and see us gig, you won't regret it. Buy our album 'SPOILING IT FOR EVERYONE' (it's only money), visit our website, and be our friend on myspace. If you manage to do all that then you'll have six buddies for life!