British Rockers NOVATINES Release New Single HONEY to Critical Acclaim | We Talk Music & The Environment
British alternative rock four-piece Novatines consists of Jamie Beale - Vocals, Guitar Tom Cory, Vocals, Guitar, Synth, Callum Moloney - Vocals, Drums, Tom Turner - Bassare due to release their latest explosive track ‘Honey’ to SaySomething Records on September 30th.
Formed in the winter of 2017, the band immediately made a name for themselves on the UK circuit with their anthemic, high-octane rock songs, which saw them tour extensively throughout the UK and Europe on both headline and support tours, playing alongside the likes of Alabama 3, Arcane Roots, Von Hertzen Brothers and Sweet.
Novatines’ sound is a rebirth of classic British rock with influences from 90s American alternative rock and grunge. Influenced by bands like The Beatles and Foo Fighters, the group have been hotly tipped by Louder Than War as one of the ‘hottest new UK guitar bands’. As well as positive reviews and Radio play from BBC Introducing and BBC Radio 6 Music. Classic Rock Magazine said "Ever wished you could have all the good shit from the 90s and 70s in one neat package? Look this way.” -
‘Honey’, recorded live at Real World Studios is a no-nonsense rock ‘n’ roll slammer full of angst, adrenaline and frenetic noise.
‘Honey’ captures lightning in a bottle and shakes it up for good measure, creating an explosive cocktail of 90s grunge and 70’s rock bleeding into the present day.
YOU produced this song with Andy Scott of the band Sweet. What was it like working with Andy and what did he bring to the creative process?
It was cool, he wanted to capture what we did as honestly as we could, so we used all our own regular touring gear (instead of borrowing some of the in house studio gear which was pretty insane, some real gems) and record live with all of us standing around in a circle, similarly to how we’d usually be playing in a practice room, and we just kinda bashed it all out! He’s got a pretty insane knowledge of music, so to be able to work alongside that wisdom and to try tap into that was awesome, plus he’s mad for a Battenberg, the most rock n’ roll of all cakes.
Why was it important to you to have creative control by also producing this song yourselves?
I think it was a pretty mutual understanding between Andy and ourselves, he’s been through situations where a producer had the say over the band all the time, so he knows how much that sucks. The way we see it is that without a proper band, the songs, and the spirit, there wouldn’t be a producer worth their salt who would want to work with them, likewise, it’s important to bring in an extra pair of ears into the mix who isn’t playing or writing for the record, they have the ability to hear the music in a different light, and are able to tell you when something sounds shit regardless of what light it’s in!
Recent British guitar bands often have a softer, more indie influenced sound, like The Libertines, or a sound, like Oasis and Blur. What’s it like being part of the redefinition of British rock, to encompass a heavier sound?
Interesting question, sometimes it feels like we’ve not been invited to the classy social event of modern rock where everyone arrives top buttons up sipping from crystal glasses, but we’ve kinda just turned up anyway to steal some silverware and piss in the corner of the room, know what I mean?
Jamie, you’ve stated the lyrics are about ‘taking yourself off of the conveyor belt and seeing things as they are’. How do you all adopt this way of thinking in your daily lives?
I think by our very nature we’ve never really been factory setting humans, I don’t think anyone is at heart, at least not when we are kids, but people get pushed into the world and get a little too sucked into social media or pressures from society or whatever. The world is a pretty busy place, and it’s a lot easier not to think for yourself, but you’ll miss out on 90% of what life has to offer and your favourite band will probably be Nickleback or something I Don’t Know.
There is an increased awareness in the public conscious of fads and ‘next big things’ as being ethically and environmentally unsustainable. Things like fast fashion and local produce are now part of our daily conversations. How have these conversations influenced the track?
We all care deeply about the environment and our floating home in space, but Honey is about opening your eyes to the bullshit of any sort, some people will opportunistically use global issues for self-gain and try to sell or promote their product or story or album off the back of real problems bigger than any of us... fuck these guys, we aren’t about that kind of life.
Was this song part of the product of working at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studios? What was it like working in such a historic studio?
Yeah, it was from that session! It was great to be able to stay there for a while and work on a bunch of songs. You kind of get sucked into it, and when you have to leave you find yourself getting withdrawal symptoms, next thing you know you are hanging out in back alleys, zooming around on google satellite maps just to get a little closer to the sweet stuff, it’s an ongoing problem but we are seeking professional help, one step at a time. Note to self, stop rummaging through Real Word Studios bins, they will take out a restraining order on us one day.
You’ve been together as a band since 2017. How have you grown as a four-piece since that time?
Fatter, but we prefer to say we are jollier now. Musically speaking we just seem to get tighter every tour, we don’t really have to say anything in order to communicate or know what each one of us is thinking, it’s brotherly and nowadays we all talk in sync, for the greater good.
Has lockdown proved a tricky time for you all to work together, or has it been a breeding ground for introspection and creativity?
The writing hasn’t stopped, there has been a lot of time for introspective thought so I think we are creatively evolving due to that. Not being able to tour has been tricky, but everyone is in the same boat except those that own yachts.
You’ve been vocal about your support for independent music venues in the UK. Can you talk us through the importance of these venues to your journey as a band?
It’s where we cut our teeth as a live band, touring independent venues has taught us a lot and made us wiser musicians and humans I think, though pay to play style venues and promoters who take advantage and rip off artists still suck!
You’ve talked about your influences, from The Beatles, to Led Zeppelin and Nirvana. Who are the current bands producing music today that you’re currently influenced by?
Demob Happy knows how to write a banger, don’t they? Foo Fighters kick-ass and early Tame Impala was rock n roll as fuck.
How did you come up with the name Novatines?
We made it up, all the good ones are taken!
You were due to play a new music festival in Cornwall, called By The River. Are you looking forward to getting back on the touring circuit post-COVID 19?
Yeh, we are buzzed to hit the road again, this is the longest time we’ve spent in the same place for years!
If you could collaborate creatively with another band or producer, who would it be and why?
Phil Mitchell producing a record in The Queen Vic, capturing that sweet “get out of my pub” drum sound. Maybe we kill two birds with one stone and work on some kind of Christmas hit single with Nickleback called ‘How you remind me it’s Christmas!’ It’d be a game-changer, probably.