IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Circa Waves
Just a little over 5 years ago, Circa Waves were just a band among many who performed at the CMJ Marathon, a weeklong music conference held in NYC known for featuring up and coming indie bands. Now, they are a well-liked and frequently listened to band not only in the UK, but also worldwide. Circa Waves, formed in Liverpool in 2013, showcases the talents and charisma of Kieran Shudall (lead vocals, guitar), Joe Falconer (guitar, vocals), Sam Rourke (bass, keyboard), and Colin Jones (drums). They released their debut single, “Get Away / Good For Me” on December 2, 2013, via Transgressive Records, followed by “Stuck in My Teeth” in February 2014. These led up to the release of their debut EP, T-Shirt Weather, on February 23, 2015, via Virgin EMI Records. Not too long after, they put out their debut full-length, Young Chasers, on March 30, 2015 (Virgin EMI Records). In March 2017, they put out Different Creatures (Virgin EMI Records), and most recently, April 5, 2019 marked the release of their third record, What’s It Like Over There? (Prolifica Inc. / [PIAS]), which features tracks such as “Movies” and “The Way We Say Goodbye”. They have toured extensively all over the world, performing sold out shows at a handful of venues, along with numerous festivals, including Glastonbury (England), Governor’s Ball (US), and Summersonic (Japan). They have also shared the stage with bands like The 1975 and Two Door Cinema Club.
Last week, on November 12, the band returned to NYC to perform a much-anticipated intimate, but packed show at Elsewhere (Zone One) in Brooklyn. Earlier in the evening, they generously shared some time after sound check to discuss their first instruments and musical starts, a bit on the process of making their newest record, and named places to eat in NYC and Liverpool, in addition to posing for a few portraits.
What’s the story behind the formation of Circa Waves?
KIERAN: I had to put a band together because I was like, “Well, shit, I need a band.” I used to play a lot of football, saw Sam do this wicked football overhead kick, and I was like, “Dude, that was awesome. What do you do?” He was like, “I play bass.” I was then like, “Sweet.” Joe heard that the band was on Radio 1 and was really pissed in a bar, and was like, “I’ll play guitar for ya.” I was like, “Okay, fine, you can play for us.” I saw Colin on the street playing drums and he did this wicked Hawaii Five-O drum fill, and I was like, “That’s the guy for me.” You know, that’s Circa Waves.
What was the first instrument (musical or non-musical) you started making music with?
KIERAN: Yea, I used to get the all pots and pans out. I used to hit the Tupperware and do drum verses around, which is what a lot of kids do.
SAM: I was not allowed to get the pots and pans out; I grew up in a very strict household, Victorian strict. My grandma used to have this little toy piano that was horrendously out of tune because it used to be my dad’s when he was a kid. I remember I used to write stupid songs on that, and they’re all ten minutes long.
COLIN: I think I had heard of this shop called Argos in England, and they have these plastic drum kits. I went through like three of them because I used to smash them so hard when I was a little kid.
JOE: I used to play the piano when I was a kid, and I played a lot of classical stuff, but then I got pretty bored. If they had taught me some smooth jazz, it would have been more interesting.
Which song (released or unreleased) are you most proud of?
KIERAN: I’d say there’s a song that’s unreleased. I mean, you always tend to like the new stuff the most. I’d probably say I’m most proud of “T-Shirt Weather” because at the end of the day, it’s quite a rare thing to think that it’s connected to a lot of people in a way that it has. I feel quite lucky that we’ve got a song that’s done that. It’s just that every band aims to connect with a lot of people, and for us, it’s that one. I feel like we can take that off the list, and come up with another that is equally connectable.
You released your much-anticipated third record, What’s It Like Over There?, earlier this year on April 5, 2019. What was the process of writing, recording, and producing it?
KIERAN: It was quite similar. We worked with Alan Moulder, this legendary producer, again. He did the second record, as well. We were just a bit closer with him and a bit more laid-back; we did it really quickly in about four weeks.
COLIN: We were in this studio that wasn’t connected through. It was just this big long room with two big doors in between. There was this big piano right next to the mixing consoles, so there were loads of ways we messed around and recorded. We were playing stuff on the piano we wouldn’t normally play. We would play a line on a guitar, and would then play it on the piano. It changed a lot of the stuff.
KIERAN: We recorded all of it in a place called West Hampstead. It is very lovely.
While on the road, what are some of your essential tour items?
SAM: Books.
COLIN: PlayStation 4.
JOE: Bananas.
SAM: Yea, bananas. You’ve got to keep your potassium levels up.
KIERAN: Headphones are crucial.
COLIN: I couldn’t tour with these lads. The band members.
What are you currently listening to?
SAM: I’ve been listening to a lot of Mac Miller.
KIERAN: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John.
JOE: I’ve been listening to Erik Satie again.
SAM: Today, I was just listening to rain sounds. I just put my headphones on, and cracked rain sounds really loudly. It’s just an app that just plays white noise. You can mix it yourself. It’s rain sounds, and then underneath it, I put a washing machine.
What’s your favorite food and/or restaurant in NYC? Any places back home in Liverpool?
JOE: In New York, we went to Frankies 457 in Brooklyn. It was a transformative experience in terms of the treatment of the aubergine (eggplant).
KIERAN: They have this eggplant parmesan that is so good. I would go now, but it is so far away from here.
COLIN: You can’t go wrong with a pizza slice. Joe’s.
SAM: I want to try Scarr’s and Lucali.
KIERAN: For me, it’s Wreckfish Bistro. I love it, it’s really good.
COLIN: Nabzy’s.
SAM: There’s this really cool restaurant called Mowgli.
JOE: I like HOST (permanently closed). That place was a classic that was consistently good. They did a really good ham hock.
If there were a pizza and a drink with the name “Circa Waves”, what would they be?
COLIN: Pepperoni ‘cause we’re called Circa Waves, and it’s kind of like “circle.”
JOE: I’d take that pepperoni off.
SAM: I’d also say minus pepperoni.
KIERAN: Just a cheese slice ‘cause everyone loves it.
We all quite like whiskey sours, don’t we? Maybe a really good whiskey sour.
JOE: But with a Bailey’s top.
SAM: One of those drinks that you have to keep stirrin’.
Who is your favorite superhero character, and why?
JOE: We don’t really like superheroes. There’s really no element of risk or danger; they only have an advantage.
What’s a question you have wanted to get asked in an interview, and what’s the response to it?
KIERAN: I really love food, so I do love chattin’ about that. Any question that is not necessarily about music because that’s pretty much what we chat about. It’s just nice to talk about food, clothes, or shoes. Pop culture, politics.
JOE: Medical histories.
A huge thank you to Sally for coordinating, and Circa Waves for their time and thought to respond to the questions!
Keep up with Circa Waves by following them on Twitter (@CircaWaves) and Instagram (@circawaves), and liking them on Facebook (/CircaWaves)!