A Sunday Conversation with The Torrents

Storming into the Ripple office on the back of the Winston's Zen tsunami, The Torrents flooded us with their amped up Jam-ed up version of britrock. Melodic as hell, catchy as the flu virus, and more powerful than a cup of The Pope's morning java, these cats made an impression. With no expense to be spared, we flew Neal, guitarist/vocalist and all around good guy, in to join us on our red leather interview couch and talk some music.

When I was a kid, growing up in a house with Cat Stevens, Neil Diamond, and Simon and Garfunkle, the first time I ever heard Kiss's "Detroit Rock City," it was a moment of musical epiphany. It was just so vicious, aggressive and mean. It changed the way I listened to music. I've had a few minor epiphany's since then, when you come across a band that just brings something new and revolutionary to your ears.

What have been your musical epiphany moments?

The first time I heard Oasis when I was 7 was a big moment. Since then I always knew I'd want to play in a band. The first time I heard The Strokes was a big eye opener same goes for The Libertines and discovering The Jam.


Talk to us about the song-writing process for you. What comes first, the idea? A riff? The lyrics? How does it all fall into place?

There's no set process really. We think thats what makes a good original tune. Just let it come how it comes.


Where do you look for continuing inspiration? New ideas, new motivation?

We look to anything that we consider good whether that's a song, a performance or a band, and try to better it. We have no intentions of settling for second best.



Genre's are so misleading and such a way to pigeonhole bands. Without resorting to labels, how would you describe your music?

It's just what we're all into as individuals. We've all got similar tastes in music so we're all very much in the same mind set. Our music is intended to sound big.


What is you musical intention? What are you trying to express or get your audience to feel?



Enjoyment most importantly. But I'd want people to feel that something is happening here, something that matters.



In songwriting, how do you bring the song together? What do you look for in terms of complexity? Simplicity? Time changes?

Impact. Thats the main thing we look for, the way a chorus comes in the way a song comes, it's always got to have impact for us.



The business of music is a brutal place. Changes in technology have made it easier than ever for bands to get their music out, but harder than ever to make a living? What are your plans to move the band forward? How do you stay motivated in this brutal business?

Keep enjoying it. If that's missing then there's no point in playing music. That's all we want from music regardless if fame and money comes.


Come on, share with us a couple of your great, Spinal Tap, rock and roll moments?

We had a gig where our bass drum went through so our drummer picked it up and threw it across the venue and when someone brought it back to the stage he did the exact same thing. That was a bit mental.


Where do you see you and your music going in ten years?

I couldn't answer that and I wouldn't want to. I suppose it would take the fun out of it you knew how the next ten years are going to turn out.


What makes a great song?

A great chorus.



Tell us about the first song you ever wrote?

It was called "The Blowout", written about our former guitarist trying and failing to chat up girls.


What piece of your music are particularly proud of?

A song we have at the moment called "He's a victim." It's perhaps the best song we've written so far.



Who today, writes great songs? Why?

The Enemy and Kasabian. Big guitars, Big choruses.



Vinyl, CD, or digital? What's your format of choice?

I respect the age of the vinyl because back then music was much more "real" and people seemed to buy music for the love of it rather than just downloading it just to check it out. It's just a shame things aren't like that these days because the quality of bands these days are that good that they deserve better.


What's the best record store in your town?

Fop in Manchester is probably the best place to buy music, Action Records in Preston is a top place to go aswell. Blackburn is short of a good record shop to be honest.


Thanks, Neal. Trust us, waveriders, The Torrents are a band on the rise and one you're going to be hearing a lot more from in the future, both on the Ripple and the rest of the world.