Skindred - “Touring is instant gratification”
We have a natter with the UK's finest reggae-punk band.
The fantastic Skindred release eagerly anticipated new album 'Union Black' this month, and we're very excited. Whispers suggest it's their best yet, distilling their awesome ragga/rock vibes into something that cements their place as one of the best bands in the UK. Again. We sat down for a chat with drummer Arya prior to its release and their upcoming jaunt across the country.
RL: You're heading out on a big tour next month, your first for ages - excited? Nervous?
Arya: Touring is the part of the band that I enjoy the most. It's instant gratification. We work so hard to write and record the songs, and to get a reaction from the crowd is such an awesome feeling, be it good or bad. I've been lucky enough to tour the world doing what I love. Every tour, there's a new experience. You're always seeing new things and meeting new people. In a band like Skindred, the cross section of people that come to our shows is so expansive. It's a melting pot of people, which is awesome. It's nervewracking playing the songs for the 1st time live though. You want the audience to connect with the songs the same way you do. It's a good feeling of nerves though, more like butterflies than nausea!
'Union Black' is finally out next month. We're excited - what can fans expect from it?
The process for this album was totally different to all others we have done before. We decided to write the album in Bristol , and then record in London. We had always recorded in America, in either LA or Florida. So there was a huge difference immediately. It made everything feel fresh. We really wanted to get as close as we could to capturing the live show energy on record. It's something people had always said to me - "You are way better live than on record!" - and I think we really wanted to try and even that out the best we could. Fans of the band can expect the best Skindred album to date. It's a bold claim I know, but as a fan of the band myself I really feel we have made the album of our career. It's an exciting time to be in Skindred.
'Warning' features Jacoby Shaddix from Papa Roach. How did that particular collaboration come about?
Jacoby has been a friend of ours for a long time. We have toured with Papa Roach in the States a few times and we have always had an amazing time with him. We never intended to have a guest on the record. It just happened very naturally. There was a part in 'Warning' which Benji hadn't come up with anything and he just said "I'm gonna see if Jacoby wants to sing on it". It was as easy as that! He flew in from Europe, came to the studio, rocked out, and then we hung out for the rest of the night. It was a really fun evening. I think he's an amazing modern rock vocalist, and his voice really complimented Benji's. It instantly gave the track more energy and we were fortunate that he was able to lend his talents to us.
As far as working with anyone else goes, I think if you asked everyone in the band they would come up with totally different ideas. But personally I would love to do something with Damon Albarn. I think he's a super talented dude. I think he could do something cool with Skindred!
That'd be pretty amazing. Skindred are pretty unique in terms of British bands, aren't they? How does that feel in the grand scheme of things?
It's thrilling. We are lucky that we have been able to embrace so many different styles of music, and for it to be accepted not just in the rock genre but in the other genres that we touch upon. Not many rock bands have a number one reggae album! I think we're able to move with the times but not bow to any trends at the same time. It's a fine line to walk but I think we mange it. Well, I hope we manage it! One thing that has always been exciting about being in Skindred is the cross section of our audience. Metalheads, punks, dance Kids, reggae lovers. So as long as they are digging what we do I'm a happy drummer!
You're based in Wales. Just what is it about Wales that makes it so fertile for rock music?
I have no idea. I'm not from Wales myself... three quarters of the band are from England, haha. But we have been based in Wales for a long time, and it's part of Benji's heritage. There have been some amazing bands from Wales. I think my fave modern band from Wales would be Lostprophets. I love the journey they've been on with their records. Last year at the Kerrang! awards, they won a classic songwriter award. They have written some hits! I think Manic Street Preachers are a classic band too, and their back catalogue speaks for itself. I also love Feeder and Kids In Glass Houses. They're making great pop music at the moment.
Any British bands Rocklouder readers should be checking out at the moment?
Idiom are a band that I would check out for sure. They're a young band from Exeter who have been working their arses off and they are really coming into their own at the moment. We've actually taken them on tour and I know they've just been out with 36 Crazyfists and Devildriver too. Expect great things. Also a band called Death of Thieves are pretty rocking. They have a tech aspect to them, but mixed with punk rock fury. There are so many great bands out there at the moment... Grinspoon are a great rock band who I saw recently. They're an older band from Australia but they have only just started coming over here.
Festival season is nearly upon us. What's the most memorable one you've played?
We've been lucky enough to play some classic festivals all over the world. A personal triumph for me was the first time we played Download in '06. We played the third stage and it was totally rammed. I had been going to Donnington as a kid, to Monsters of Rock, and actually getting to play there was an amazing feeling. We're actually going back to Download this year, but this time we're on the main stage. The Prodigy are always a festival highlight for me, they really get the crowd pumped and the atmosphere they create is electric. We played with them last year in Hungary and it was incredible.
What's your ultimate festival tip?
Don't peak too early! It's the least attractive thing to be the guy or girl that's passed out in the bushes at midday. You will be mocked. And there will be no mercy, haha!
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