Young indie upstarts Menace Beach are an amalgamation of some of the best bands Leeds has to offer.
Joint singers Liza Violet and Komakino's Ryan Needham (above) are joined by south Yorkshire psych luminary Matt ‘MJ’ Johnson of Hookworms for guitar and production duties, while Rob Lee (Pulled Apart by Horses) also chips in on guitar, Nestor Matthews (Sky Larkin) takes on the drums and Matt Spalding (You Animals) appears on bass.
Following two quick fire releases on French label Desire Records and Too Pure Singles Club, they signed to Memphis Industries (home to Field Music, Polica, Dutch Uncles).
The first fruits of this relationship were the five fuzzy psych-pop tracks on the fantastic Lowtalker EP, which saw the light of day in January.
Channelling the scuzzy indie spirit of early nineties Seattle with the kitsch nostalgia of the retro-facing Pebbles psych compilations, this band are unafraid to wear their influences on their sleeve.
But, with a name like Menace Beach – lifted from a grainy early nineties Nintendo videogame – what else would you expect?
We spend 30 seconds with Ryan to learn more…
We first started writing music because…
I guess like most people, as a kid I was just totally obsessed by every aspect of it. It just looked like the best thing in the world to do and I still feel like that most days.
We have been making music since…
2012 as Menace Beach.
Our music is…
Much louder live than it is on record.
You'll like us if you listen to...
Anything that's a little bit noisy but also kind of rooted in pop music.
Our favourite venue is…
Brudenell Social Club, Leeds. Rotown in Rotterdam also gets an honourable mention.
Music is important because…
It can really help keep people's minds together.
Our biggest inspiration is…
Leeds. Since moving back here two and a bit years ago I’ve felt totally switched back on.
Our dream collaboration would be…
At the minute, mine would be Prince circa When You were Mine.
To try us out, listen to our song…
Tennis Court is the newest one.
If we weren’t making music we’d be…
Pretty bored. I'd probably have learnt to drive a car.
In 10 years time we want to be...
Living somewhere hot and relaxing. I guess that will either be a result of the earth’s atmosphere changing or me moving.
Menace Beach are one of the latest acts to receive support from the PRS for Music Foundation's Momentum Music Fund, which will help them create their debut album. To find out more about the fund, please visit http://www.prsformusicfoundation.com/Funding/Momentum-Music-Fund
https://www.facebook.com/menacingbeaches
Joint singers Liza Violet and Komakino's Ryan Needham (above) are joined by south Yorkshire psych luminary Matt ‘MJ’ Johnson of Hookworms for guitar and production duties, while Rob Lee (Pulled Apart by Horses) also chips in on guitar, Nestor Matthews (Sky Larkin) takes on the drums and Matt Spalding (You Animals) appears on bass.
Following two quick fire releases on French label Desire Records and Too Pure Singles Club, they signed to Memphis Industries (home to Field Music, Polica, Dutch Uncles).
The first fruits of this relationship were the five fuzzy psych-pop tracks on the fantastic Lowtalker EP, which saw the light of day in January.
Channelling the scuzzy indie spirit of early nineties Seattle with the kitsch nostalgia of the retro-facing Pebbles psych compilations, this band are unafraid to wear their influences on their sleeve.
But, with a name like Menace Beach – lifted from a grainy early nineties Nintendo videogame – what else would you expect?
We spend 30 seconds with Ryan to learn more…
We first started writing music because…
I guess like most people, as a kid I was just totally obsessed by every aspect of it. It just looked like the best thing in the world to do and I still feel like that most days.
We have been making music since…
2012 as Menace Beach.
Our music is…
Much louder live than it is on record.
You'll like us if you listen to...
Anything that's a little bit noisy but also kind of rooted in pop music.
Our favourite venue is…
Brudenell Social Club, Leeds. Rotown in Rotterdam also gets an honourable mention.
Music is important because…
It can really help keep people's minds together.
Our biggest inspiration is…
Leeds. Since moving back here two and a bit years ago I’ve felt totally switched back on.
Our dream collaboration would be…
At the minute, mine would be Prince circa When You were Mine.
To try us out, listen to our song…
Tennis Court is the newest one.
If we weren’t making music we’d be…
Pretty bored. I'd probably have learnt to drive a car.
In 10 years time we want to be...
Living somewhere hot and relaxing. I guess that will either be a result of the earth’s atmosphere changing or me moving.
Menace Beach are one of the latest acts to receive support from the PRS for Music Foundation's Momentum Music Fund, which will help them create their debut album. To find out more about the fund, please visit http://www.prsformusicfoundation.com/Funding/Momentum-Music-Fund
https://www.facebook.com/menacingbeaches
