Introducing: May Days in Barcelona

24/04/2023

470

Cinematic steel city melancholy…

YOUR NAME: The band is May Days in Barcelona my name is Simon Clowes.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN PLAYING MUSIC? I first picked up a guitar when I was about 12 I think.
ANY PAST BANDS OR COLLABORATIONS WE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT? I have provided violin parts for a few bands including Profumo, Tom Gunn Nash and Ichabod Wolf. I’m also a touring member of Marc Bird’s band and Restless Spirits.

GIVE US 3 REASONS WHY WE SHOULD TRACK DOWN, LISTEN AND DISCOVER YOUR MUSIC?
If you like music that is cinematic, slightly gothic and upliftingly melancholic it could be for you.

WHERE DO YOU SOUND BEST – FESTIVAL, CLUB, BEDROOM – OR SOMEWHERE ELSE?
I think the record we have made is a real headphones album. Most probably one for a rainy evening at home, ideally with a tree tapping at a window in the wind. That, or if you really want everyone to leave a house party at 2am.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST… RECORD, CD, DOWNLOAD?
RECORD? Vinyl record was He Poos Clouds by Owen Pallett.
CD? I believe it was Americana by The Offspring.
DOWNLOAD? I have always loved physical music formats so haven’t downloaded an awful lot but I think it was probably the first Laura Marling album, Alas I Cannot Swim.

SO, WHEN IT ALL GOES RIGHT AND YOU’VE GOT A BOTTOMLESS PIT OF MONEY AND LONG QUEUE OF HANGERS-ON, WHAT WILL BE YOUR BIGGEST MUSICAL INDULGENCE?
I have always been a bit obsessed with this old French electronic instrument called Ondes Martenot, they have this beautiful ethereal quality that I have been obsessed with since I first heard it. We tried to replicate it on the album with an Ebow and a guitar slide and it maybe 60% worked. Still, one day maybe.

SO, WHEN IT ALL GOES WRONG AND YOU’RE LEFT BITTER AND TWISTED AND CURSING THE MUSIC INDUSTRY, WHAT DO YOU FALL BACK ON?
Probably selling my Ondes Martenot. That, or training in Occupational Health.

WHAT ARE YOUR MUSICAL GUILTY PLEASURES…
Probably quite a common answer but I don’t think there should be guilty pleasures. I work in a record shop and I always feel bad when people are embarrassed about the music they like. We should wear it with pride and not feel judged. I have just started developing a fondness for some old easy listening records. Julie London, that sort of thing. That, or Duran Duran, but I’m not ashamed of that.

WHO ARE YORKSHIRE’S FINEST IN CULTURE, SPORT AND MUSIC?
I think Jessica Haywood who created the album artwork is an exceptional Yorkshire-based artist. For music I’m going to cheat and say Ichabod Wolf (technically from just over the border in Derbyshire, but when does Chesterfield get any love). In terms of sport I’m still intending to go myself, but I think it’s really great that women’s football is gaining popularity with a decent few clubs around Sheffield.

NAME YOUR SUPERGROUP – WHO’S PLAYING WHAT, WHO’S ON VOCALS AND WHO’S YOUR BEZ?
I have a feeling that supergroups are always worse than the sum of their parts. But probably something with Julia Jacklin as the singer. Yann Tiersen planning all the various things Yann Tiersen plays. Steve Shelly from Sonic Youth on drums. Richard Reed Perry (Belle Orchestre / Arcade Fire) on upright bass. I bet this would be awful, but it will do.

GO SEE THIS FILM: Goodbye Lenin.
GO READ THIS BOOK: The Restraint of Beasts by Magnus Mills
GREAT LOST BAND/ARTIST: Nick Drake.
WOULDN’T BE CAUGHT DEAD SUPPORTING: Sadly Arcade Fire, even though they are a favourite band of mine.
LONDON, L.A OR LEEDS?: Am I allowed to defiantly say Sheffield? Ok I will give Leeds the thumbs up.

AND FINALLY… AS YOU LEAVE THE STAGE, WHAT ARE YOUR PARTING WORDS?
As I control a lot of pedals bare foot during the set probably “can anyone see where I put my shoe”