Following the release of their debut album 'Chapter 1', we caught up with Yorkshire alt-rock band 'Least We Got Shoes' to find out more about their evolution as musicians and as a band. Be sure to check out 'Chapter 1' at the end of the interview.
How has your music evolved over the years, and how do you see it reflecting your personal journey?
I use music as my therapy and so it’s evolved over the years and influenced the themes in my songwriting - the content is drawn from personal experiences.
Can you share a personal or unexpected story linked to your band/stage name?
The idea of ‘least we got shoes’ basically comes from a positive mindset movement that we are trying to create, in that no matter how hard things may seem or the challenges that life may throw at the collective us; at least we got shoes. We are fully aware that some less fortunate members of the global society might not even have shoes, but the point of the ethos is that at least you have something, whatever that something might be.
Which artist or life event radically changed your approach to music?
I think having the covid lockdowns played an integral part in how I approached music, because of the isolating nature of it. It made me realize that life was too short to just sit around worrying about what others might think and to just put the songs out there.
How would you describe your creative process?
The ideas usually come from something that’s happened in life or something in the news - I might hear a quote that sparks something in my brain.
What is your writing process like?
The writing process at the start is usually just me, an acoustic guitar and a bunch of poems/songs. I’d then put down a melody and play it to Ben, who will embellish and structure it, but more recently for the second album we’ve been writing as a band with a view to how the songs will come over live.
When you’re in the creative process, is there a consistent theme or emotion that drives your songwriting?
There does seem to be an underlying theme of sadness to my songwriting, but with a sprinkling of happiness. Most of the greatest songs are about some kind of loss, tragedy or redemption right?
Each aspect of music – writing, recording, practicing, and playing live – offers something different. Can you share a particularly meaningful moment from each?
Writing: it basically keeps me sane, getting all the stuff out of my head and onto paper.
Recording: I love hearing a song that came from nothing come together in the studio and bouncing ideas around about the structure or arrangement.
Practicing: it’s great having all four of our personalities bringing something different to the rehearsals and unifying them into the songs. There’s no egos, just four friends playing music together.
Playing Live: again; it’s just four people making music and having a great time doing it. Seeing all the hard work pay off and having a good time, interacting with the crowd and that collective unifying joy of music.
Do you take advantage of technology and collaborate remotely, or do you wait until you’re physically present with the rest of the band?
The first album (Chapter 1) was done a lot remotely, purely because of the lockdown rules at the time, but the new one is definitely a physical process.
Is there a song in your repertoire that holds a particularly deep personal meaning for you? Can you share the story or inspiration behind it?
There’s a song called ‘My Friend’ about someone really close to me who died of cancer and it was shit. I wrote it in fifteen minutes just before his funeral and I love it, because I think of him and it makes me smile.
Share one thing about the band that has never before been revealed.
I’m not sure if he’d be embarrassed about me saying this, but our drummer Rob has written a book and he should be very proud of that achievement, because as a band and as friends we all definitely are. It’s available on Amazon at: https://amzn.eu/d/1Ol57lk
Listen to Least We Got Shoes 'Chapter 1'
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