Interviews

Wheels Interview

• 4th Jan 2011

Wheels are George Runciman (Vocals/Guitar), Felix Howes (Guitar), Yacob Andersen (Bass) and Stirling Mitchell (Drums), a guitar-based indie outfit from London, who’s brand of guitar pop could quite have easily fit into the Britpop era of the mid 90’s. They were very kind to give up some time to answer a few questions for us.

How did you meet?
Everyone except Yacob had been in bands before together that didn’t quite work out. We found Yacob on gumtree. And what a find he was.

How would you describe your music?
Guitar music with a twist. I can’t do it. I have been trying to answer this question for a while but I can’t do it in a way I’m happy with that’s short enough to be clever and enticing. It’s definitely a big reverby sound with most of it’s guitar sound probably most reminiscent of the 80’s.

What’s your ambition? What do you feel/believe to be an acceptable level of success for you?
What haha! An acceptable level of success? I’ll sound like a dick whatever I say to this. We’re in it for the long haul, not to fanny about in pubs and bedrooms, that’s all I’ll say.

How are you finding the touring? Do you enjoy it as much as when you started?
We weren’t touring that long. I think for the time being I could happily be gone for most of the year. I love it. New people, new faces, new fans. Everywhere is so different.

What’s the reception like from the crowd at your gigs? Are you feeling that your fan-base is growing?
Definitely. Out of London where we’re still relatively unknown we get a great response just what you’d expect fro a crowd that enjoy the music. Applause and shouting. In London our reception is usually pretty boozy, lots of lads.

How do you think you are received by critics? Do you pay attention to it?
We’ve only just released our first single which has had majority of positive reviews, which is great. I don’t think any reviewer has actually said “Feel About Me” is a bad song, even if they have said other disparaging things, which is the main thing I concentrate on. The music being good is the most important thing to us.

What’s your opinion of the music scene now for bands? There definitely is one, and it’s very popular, but it just seems 'underground' and not as publicised now.
I think guitar bands struggle at the moment in the big cities. Indie music over the noughties went from very guitar based into very electro and has almost fused with pop and the top 20. So guitars are recovering from being alternative again moving back into the mainstream, because honestly I think there’s a lot of people tired of bands calling themselves bands and just playing with a microphone and a laptop. Young People in London are still very nervous about getting on board with guitar bands because they’re not sure it’s cool to be involved yet. That’s how it feels anyway.

Do you wish for the scene to be bigger and more publicised or pleased that genuine music lovers find bands like you for themselves?
The scene will swell and subside as it has always done for different styles. I wish the press would be a little less suckered into the conn that innovative equals good not matter the quality of songs.

What are your influences and inspirations?
Everything everywhere. Two of my personal all time favourites are Bowie and Fleetwood Mac.

What’s planned next after this tour?
Album in January February 2011. And Hopefully more touring.

The single Feel About Me is available now on This Feeling Records. Check them out also on link .