Please list all of your band members and their roles in the band.
John Allan – Vocals
Stephen Murray (Tap) – Guitars and Backing Vocals
Chris Kay – Bass and Backing Vocals
Michael McCrossan - Drums and Backing Vocals
For starters, what bands were you guys a part of prior to Start Static?
(John) - Kicking Buckets
(Stephen) – Too many haha! The main ones were Feature86 and AudioModel (Cringe). Made some great friends and music through all of my bands though, including Mike and Chris who make up the other half of Start Static
How long has the band been around?
(John) Just over 2 years of sleazy rock and roll
What’s the origin of that name and have you changed the band’s name before?
(John) The noise you hear when you start playing a record. That crackly bit...
(Stephen) You know the scccshsshsscschs (pupap pupap boum)
(John) incidentally, it is also the name of an album by Sugarcult.
Who writes your songs?
(John) - The whole band are involved throughout the process, but the majority see Stephen come to the studio with something on guitar or piano, and then I add lyrics and melodies. At that point it's a free for all to be torn to shreds and built back up into a tasty masterpiece.
(Stephen) Yeah, particularly the newer stuff which is not on the album has been a much more inclusive process and we think the songs are sounding brilliant. Definitely in the same vein as the album but a little bit bigger and more involved!
What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs and do you think these topics will change over time?
(Stephen) Our music isn’t complicated – it’s deliberately upbeat and catchy as that’s what we like playing but it definitely has substance to it as well and I think that gives scope for writing about a lot of themes. John’s a great lyricist and tends to write about things which are easy to relate to – whether that be a bit of a political comment or a hangover - he also has a really good ear for a hook and choirs of backing vocals!
(John) - I will write about anything that comes to mind, so long as I have something to say. Sometimes I will write about situations I am in, and other times I will put myself in someone else's situation, and write from that point of view. I think it is easiest to write a song when feeling anger or sadness. We are all emo at heart. cry.
What bands are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?
(John) - Enter Shikari are one of the most inspirational bands I've ever heard. 21 Pilots are so impressive too. I think I like them both for the same reasons - the varied range of songs on their albums, and their amazing live shows. Every detail seems so well executed. And they bring a nice pinch of anger too, so you won't struggle to get an angry dance on.
I'm in love with the new Blink album too.
(Stephen) I am a total magpie and take bits and pieces from everything. (sssshh though don’t tell anyone). I used to have a tunnel vision on guitar driven rock music and wouldn’t really accept anything else, although I still have a real love and leaning towards that I listen to pop music a lot more than I used to and really enjoy hearing newer stuff. Most recently I’ve thought some of the stuff from Sia and Jess Glynne has been magic but at the same time have been filling my playlists with Catfish & the Bottlemen, Billy Talent, One Day As a Lion and some earlier Rage Against the Machine as well – it’s brilliant!
Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to start a band?
(John) - Good segway into Blink chat. I bought enema of the state by Blink 182, and then spent the rest of my life until this moment trying to be Tom Delonge. When I played guitar in KB I would have it at the exact height he would play it at. I'd copy his poses. I still do it now. /he's so cool. I'm going to have a public fall-out with the band and spend my days hunting aliens.
(Stephen) There were a few, although my brother and his mates were my biggest inspiration in terms of playing guitar, after I even thought about playing guitar then I wanted to be in a band – because, why not? In terms of great gigs though my dad was always massively into live music – we used to watch a VHS of Pink Floyd ‘Pulse’ on repeat, and then the same with Ocean Colour Scene live at Stirling Castle. My dad took us to T in the Park when I was 12 and I seen OCS as well Supergrass, Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Travis, Moby and Iggy Pop. I seen OCS at The Barrowlands later that year and have been going to gigs ever since – still love it! I totally wanted to be Kelly Jones for the majority of my teenage years (still do if I’m honest)
What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, ect …
(John) - I like to do some operatic singing as recommended by our vocal coach. He taught us some really great exercises too. So many lunges though, which I never understood, but I trust him. Beer is the best preparation. But not for sport. makes you feel funny when you run.
(Stephen) The vocal coach makes me lie under John when he is lunging, the other two have to cuddle at the same time…it seemed weird at first but our harmonies are on point so we don’t ask questions anymore :P
Yeah, usually a few drinks and catching up with the people who have came out to see us – nothing more complicated than that.
What has been the biggest highlight of the band’s career so far?
(John) - The Herald top 50 albums. That was cool. I couldn't help but frame that page. y'got me! The next 12 months from now will be the highlight. I can feel it in my bones. ~We should have just enough success to make it on to Celebrity Big Brother. An XFactor contestant's cat made it on this year, so we have a shot.
(Stephen) – Totally, The Herald was a massive thing for all of us, I think especially as it was so unexpected. Headlining King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut was great as it’s such a ‘rite of passage’ in Glasgow and I think the UK music scene as a whole. One of our singles was signed to Factory Fast Records in Manhattan earlier this year for distribution in the US which was unbelievable for me considering everything up until now has been pretty much produced and funded purely by the four members – really proud of ourselves for that one!
I know it’s totally cheesy as well, but meeting people at gigs who have come to see us because they like our music or have heard of us is still a great and weird feeling – for so many years it was really just our parents and pets who supported us…I didn’t even have a pet – I just made it weird and myself sad haha!
If you could tour with any bands, past or present, who would they be and why?
(John)Who has the biggest tour bus? Nickelback. I'd like to tour with them, because I bet Chad Kroeger knows how to party. I'd make him bring back the noodle hair. When he cut that hair, a bit of me died with it.
(Stephen) – hahahahahahahahaha! Nickelback! NICKELBACK! ‘any bands, past or present’ and you say Nickelback?! Actually yeah – Nickelback – if anyone at Kill The Music knows anyone at Nickelback could you make this happen? At least one of us would die?!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
(John) Thank you for having us - and keep supporting independent music - we need people like you. See you at a show soon, bet you a fiver you enjoy it.
(Stephen) – Yeah – thank you so much!