This is the interview from my double page spread, with Jack, the lead singer of SixPence.
So... What are you exactly?
We are really just a standard rock band. There’s not much to it really, we’re just Steampunk. We make the usual rock music, but use more, classical, instruments, such as an accordion, banjo, perhaps the odd harmonica if we’re up to it. These instruments can mix in with your standard electric guitars, drums, keyboard, etc. to create something we find quite fun.
So you each play quite a few instruments then?
Well, I suppose you could say that. We’ve been playing instruments for quite some time now. We each play our own instruments, but try to share our knowledge with each other in our spare time.
When was it you met each other then?
It was during the first year of secondary school really. I (Jack - The middle member of the image) was going through some tough times at school, and was finding it quite hard to make friends at a new school. Of course when you’re a young child the sudden change from primary to secondary education can be quite daunting, and then when Laura (right) and James (left) joined the school shortly after the first term began, we began talking and found out we all shared similar interests, and have been friends ever since then. And now were in a band together.
So, how long have you been together, and what does the future hold?
So far, we’ve been together for 2 or 3 years, and we’ve just been able to team up with a record company to release our first album. We’re currently recording it now. We hope people enjoy listening to it just as much as we enjoy making it.
What other bands had inspired you? Why are you where you are today?
We did take a bit of inspiration from other bands such as the renowned Steampunk band Abney Park, as well as some conventional bands like the Rolling Stones. So far our whole experience has been funded from our own pockets, but now we’re starting to get some followers, we look forward to the future.
What was life like for you before your success?
Hard. It wasn’t easy to get our first gig, and when we did our style of music didn’t go down too well. But then we began working with people who would prefer our style of music, and then things began to go uphill. Now we’ve released two full albums, and there’s talk of our own merchandise, even our own tour! More on the tour and merchandise: A tour and merchandise is something we’ve been looking forward to for a long time. We’ve opened for a few smaller concerts, but people were a bit tentative about our style of music, and we didn't get very far this way. So we began to reach out to Steampunk event groups and when we were noticed by an small record company, the offer was too good to refuse, and we received the offer for our own tour. The merchandising however, posed a bit of an issue. People didn’t seen to like the idea of us making and selling shirts and such for quite a high price. But of course these items were hand made, a few by us! We all enjoy making our own things, its part of being a Steampunk. But of course part of it goes to charity.
Which charity are you supporting?
This is actually a charity we’ve set up ourselves, to support those who, like myself, had trouble finding friends at school and were subject to bullying. Its aim is to give people someone to talk to if they need the help. It’s an important subject to us, and we hope we can help a lot of people.
We wish SixPence all the best, and wish them luck in the future with their Musical Career!
We are really just a standard rock band. There’s not much to it really, we’re just Steampunk. We make the usual rock music, but use more, classical, instruments, such as an accordion, banjo, perhaps the odd harmonica if we’re up to it. These instruments can mix in with your standard electric guitars, drums, keyboard, etc. to create something we find quite fun.
So you each play quite a few instruments then?
Well, I suppose you could say that. We’ve been playing instruments for quite some time now. We each play our own instruments, but try to share our knowledge with each other in our spare time.
When was it you met each other then?
It was during the first year of secondary school really. I (Jack - The middle member of the image) was going through some tough times at school, and was finding it quite hard to make friends at a new school. Of course when you’re a young child the sudden change from primary to secondary education can be quite daunting, and then when Laura (right) and James (left) joined the school shortly after the first term began, we began talking and found out we all shared similar interests, and have been friends ever since then. And now were in a band together.
So, how long have you been together, and what does the future hold?
So far, we’ve been together for 2 or 3 years, and we’ve just been able to team up with a record company to release our first album. We’re currently recording it now. We hope people enjoy listening to it just as much as we enjoy making it.
What other bands had inspired you? Why are you where you are today?
We did take a bit of inspiration from other bands such as the renowned Steampunk band Abney Park, as well as some conventional bands like the Rolling Stones. So far our whole experience has been funded from our own pockets, but now we’re starting to get some followers, we look forward to the future.
What was life like for you before your success?
Hard. It wasn’t easy to get our first gig, and when we did our style of music didn’t go down too well. But then we began working with people who would prefer our style of music, and then things began to go uphill. Now we’ve released two full albums, and there’s talk of our own merchandise, even our own tour! More on the tour and merchandise: A tour and merchandise is something we’ve been looking forward to for a long time. We’ve opened for a few smaller concerts, but people were a bit tentative about our style of music, and we didn't get very far this way. So we began to reach out to Steampunk event groups and when we were noticed by an small record company, the offer was too good to refuse, and we received the offer for our own tour. The merchandising however, posed a bit of an issue. People didn’t seen to like the idea of us making and selling shirts and such for quite a high price. But of course these items were hand made, a few by us! We all enjoy making our own things, its part of being a Steampunk. But of course part of it goes to charity.
Which charity are you supporting?
This is actually a charity we’ve set up ourselves, to support those who, like myself, had trouble finding friends at school and were subject to bullying. Its aim is to give people someone to talk to if they need the help. It’s an important subject to us, and we hope we can help a lot of people.
We wish SixPence all the best, and wish them luck in the future with their Musical Career!