The Lowtones are ...?
We are a post-punk band from the fine city of Norwich. Two brothers, three school friends, two football teammates, four Lowtones.
The band is
Oli ‘Mav’ Mavilio on vocals,
Jack Abbott on guitar,
Tim Cary on bass, and
George Abbott on drums.
Me (Jack) and George are brothers and we met Mav at high school. We’d played music together a few times over the years, but never in any formal/organised way before Mav left Norwich to go to Uni in Brighton about 5 or 6 years ago.
George met Tim playing football and me (Jack), George and Tim started playing together just for fun about 3 years ago. It was only when Mav came back to Norwich at the beginning of 2020 that we started getting ourselves organised and writing properly.
Breaking Out
Aus einer Situation die einen gefangen nimmt, gefangen hält, auszubrechen, gewissermaßen den Sprung zu wagen. Ein Sprung der Veränderungen hervorrufen wird, aber auch Freiheit mit sich bringt. Die Entscheidung treffen, auch wenn diese schwer fällt, sich zu befreien.
So das Thema der neuesten Veröffentlichung namens "Breaking out" von The Lowtones, welche vor ein paar Tagen erschien. Musikalisch liefert die Band aus Norwich einen Post Punk Banger der den Hörern des Genres ein Lächeln ins Gesicht zaubern wird. Sie vereinen diesen End-70er/ Anfang-80er Jahre Stil mit der Power der Gegenwart, jagen diesen durch ihr kreatives Universum und knallen uns diesen Diamanten vor die Füße.
Der Sound, wuchtig und unzerstörbar, die Vocals bereits mit einem grandiosen Wiedererkennungswert
ausgestattet, ein Song oder 2 Minuten reichen aus um diese Band zu lieben und man wird sie lieben. Norwich gets loud, Norwich be proud ... here are The Lowtones!!!
Q&A
Who inspired you to make music in general?
I think we all loved music from an early age. Myself (Jack) and George always had tons of music around the house growing up and our parents have always been into music.
Tim’s dad really influenced his taste and got him into the post-punk and synth wave bands of the 80’s like Gary Numan and Depeche Mode. Mav is the real creative force behind the band, and I think he found his own way into it.
...and especially to the song "Breaking Out"?
I think Breaking Out was more inspired by a situation than a person or event. This track is essentially about feeling trapped and suffocated by a situation that you don’t want to be a part of. It’s intended to carry an uplifting message of escape and overcoming something.
The tempo and duration of the track really add an intensity to the vibe. It’s about taking the decision to take the leap and make a change. It is the sound of a weight coming off your shoulders.
What is your creative process like and was it different for this song?
Broadly speaking anyone can come up with ideas for parts, riffs, chord progressions and then Mav uses them to structure a song around his lyrics - Tim has come up with some great riffs recently that Mav has been able to sculpt a song around. Mav with then share a demo with the group and then we are all able to add, amend parts to flesh out the song. George will usually write his own drum parts to fit the demo. It is a very organic process and everyone has a say and input.
What's your most useful talent besides music?
It’s nice of you to include music as a talent! George and Tim are decent footballers. Mav is a very fashionable bloke and has a real talent for writing. My (Jack) talent is being able to identify talented people and then hanging round with them.
How would you describe 2021 in a sentence?
Building momentum for what is about to come.
What was the first ever Pop/Rock/Indie/etc. ... song you listened to or remember on?
George – ‘If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next’ Manic Street Preachers
Jack – ‘Mr. Tambourine Man’ Bob Dylan
Tim – ‘Starman’ David Bowie
Mav – Not sure exactly, but was given a Pulp cassette as a child and really liked it.
You are from Norwich, how would you describe the music scene there?
Norwich is the best little city on earth! How do we know? We’ve been everywhere else, we’re back here now right on the family patch. Norwich is the most underrated city in the UK. I think because it is so out of the way and “difficult” to get to, many people don’t bother which is a massive shame.
It is a really liberal, artistic city with loads going on. Has a vibrant University and Art School with some great independent venues and a strong music scene – it is yet to get the national attention it deserves, but I think it is coming.
Wild Paths festival which started a few years ago has done a lot to promote the creative arts and music in the city.
Do you remember your first ever self-written song?
The first song we wrote as a band was a Mav creation called ‘The Trial’. It was, and still is, an absolute banger. It is a fun one to play live and is still in our set.
What’s next for you?
Well, this is the first track we recorded in the studio with Gav back in the summer, all our previous recordings were done by ourselves (which was an experience). We’ve been in the studio recently putting the final touches to a 5-track EP that we will be putting out February next year.
‘Breaking Out’ really is a bit of a bonus ‘taster’ track for the EP. It didn’t quite fit the vibe of the EP but we were really pleased with how it came out so wanted to put it out into the world. If you like this, you are going to love what’s coming next year!
We’ll be playing as many shows as we can in support of the release next year and hopefully, we’ll be able to garner some attention for ourselves and the city of Norwich.
NenesButler presents - Music Blog - Submit your Music
