The Minutes chat to Stereoboard about their debut album ‘Marcata’ (Interview)
Monday, 02 January 2012
Written by Rob Sleigh
Following the success of their debut album ‘Marcata’ at home, Dublin-based rock trio The Minutes are currently preparing to introduce it to the rest of the world. ‘Marcata’, named after the New York studios where the album was recorded, is due for release in the UK at the end of this month before the band’s upcoming tour dates in February. In the run-up to its UK release, frontman Mark Austin spoke to Stereoboard to tell us more about the album and the history of The Minutes…
Your debut album ‘Marcata’ was released in Ireland last year. What has the response to the album been like so far and how are the band feeling about the reaction it has received?
The album done well in Ireland. People needed some rock and roll. They were starved and we filled their hungry want. The response has been mostly positive. It’s such simple music that you will either love or hate us. Thankfully we've mostly found the lovers.
The album is currently being released elsewhere in Europe and is due out in the UK this month. How are you feeling now that it is starting to go worldwide?
We're happy to be getting the music out there. Again, the response has been very positive. That’s encouraging for us. If we can get into people’s brains now, it’s all good.
What was it like to record your first album?
It was the exact opposite of what we anticipated. We set ourselves up for a tough time with lots of arguments, numerous takes and a fuck-load of sitting around waiting. What actually happened was a really great organic process of us tracking live in the same room to 2" tape, with a maximum of three takes per song, and the overdubs were put down after. We were well rehearsed - that helped a lot - and when we look back on it, we all agree it was a great time.
How long had you been working on the songs before recording took place and how did it feel to finally see them get made into an album?
Most of the songs were written in the three months prior to the recording date, bar one tune which was ‘Black Keys’. But we fucked with it a little by adding brass and giving the song an extra dimension. All the others were fairly fresh, so we tracked them with new ears. When we finally got the record, it was a pretty fucking great thing.
The album is aptly-named after the studios where it was recorded. What made you decide to use that title?
We, as a band, have a pretty unique sound. Some of our songs may draw comparisons with other bands, but ultimately we sound the way we do because it’s Mark, Shane and Tom from Dublin, you get me? So when we heard ourselves properly recorded in the big room at Marcata, it sounded like us, but the room and the studio helped to create our recorded sound. So it was a natural thing to name the record after the studio. It had a lot to do with the process.
When did The Minutes first get together and how did you all meet?
Shane [Kinsella, drums] is my cousin, so I’ve known him all his life, the bastard. Tom [Cosgrave, bass] and I met during a brief stint in college learning sound engineering. He finished the course and got a degree etc. I didn't. Tom is also a bastard like me.
Whose idea was it to form the band and what did you set out to achieve at that point?
We three had played in a previous band. We were shite, but we learned our trade there. When that group died, we knew we still wanted to play together. So we just camped out in Shane’s garage and played music. Our natural state then let itself be known. We were reared on rock and roll and we just let that come out. And it felt good.
Do you all share the same musical influences or do your varying tastes help to shape the sound of your music?
Myself and Shane came from listening to his father’s Beatles records to listening to Thin Lizzy and Nirvana together, while Tom was brought up on a strict diet of The Smiths. His big bro had a mean influence on him. As we all grew up and foraged our way around, I found a big love for Bob Dylan. Shane got big into The Doors and Tom was into ‘70s NYC punk buzz - Ramones, Blondie etc. There is one man we all look up to and that’s Phil Lynott. A Dub and a true rock and roller.
What kinds of lyrical subjects feature on the new album and do you think these help to give the album any kind of specific meaning?
Every song is a love song. Someone said that. I dunno who - it wasn't me - but I think it’s true. Not necessarily love for a woman or a man, but love of something. So if you’re looking for subjects and themes, I'll give you love, sorrow, death and happiness. All the songs have a meaning to me - a proper meaning - but it’s nice for the listener to make up their own mind, so I'll say no more.
How do you go about writing songs as a band and what kinds of things inspire you in doing so?
As a band, we play in the garage together and pick out the best bits, work on them and shape ourselves a song. Sometimes I’ll bring in an embryonic idea that we'll expand on, fuck up and bastardize till it’s something we all feel happy with, and then take it from there. Songs are great because they can really come out of nowhere, like ‘Secret History’ which took about 10 minutes to write, start to finish, or they can be a labour of love.
You played a pre-Christmas gig in London last month. How did it go?
It was a success. Our first headline show in London was great. We fucked with the crowd a little and they fucked with us, but in truth, I believe we all went home happy.
You’ve previously toured with a number of renowned acts in Ireland and the UK. What were those experiences like and how important were they to you as a band?
The best thing we learned about supporting bigger acts is a fairly obvious thing – no one is there to see your band, they're all there for the headliner. So get up there and do your fucking show and be thankful for the opportunity. We always go out with the notion that we gotta win every motherfucker in the audience over. It doesn't always happen, but we always go in with that mindset. It’s also good to see how bigger acts work with their audience. We're learning still, but we're definitely taking it all in.
Has performing live always been an important part of being in The Minutes?
Our live show is what defines this band. It’s what makes us different to every other fucker out there. We love the live show, we feed off the crowd. We eat their energy, be it good or bad, and fuck it back at them tenfold.
Obviously you’ll be kicking-off 2012 with the UK release of ‘Marcata’. What have you got planned for the rest of the year?
January will involve some writing for Album Number Two, plus a trip to Eurosonic Festival [in the Netherlands]. February, we have our UK tour and a trip to Russia. March will be SXSW, plus an EP release in the USA, then back to Scotland for some more shows. April will probably be in Germany again and hopefully France too. Busy boys. Summer will be festivals and, in between that, recording Album Number Two. Simple.
What have you learned from the experiences that have followed the release of your debut album that will help you to prepare for the next?
Be prepared, keep your head and don't drink gin every day for a month.
‘Marcata’ is due for release in the UK on 30th January.
New single ‘Heartbreaker’ is due out on 13th February.
Wed February 22nd 2012 - Barfly Camden, London
Thu February 23rd 2012 - The Prince Albert, Brighton
Fri February 24th 2012 - Thekla, Bristol
Sat February 25th 2012 - Rock City, Nottingham
Sun February 26th 2012 - Sound Control, Manchester
Wed March 28th 2012 - O2 Academy3 Birmingham,, Birmingham
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How do you go about writing songs as a band and what kinds of things inspire you in doing so?
