- Fri, 2011-06-17 17:25
With the release of their debut single Spiralling Breeze / Mushroom 30,000 on Emerging Species, London nine piece Gentle Mystics are now set for a summer of festival appearances before the release of their album in autumn. Folk/Hip-Hop/Dub/Balkan/Jazz just about covers the output of the multi-instrumentalists, although to be honest, we recommend donning an open mind and listening for yourself. We did our best to glean more information from the band with a bunch of questions sent across via email, although as it transpired, this probably wasn't the best way to find out more...
"I Like Music because… of R Kelly.” Gentle Mystics
ILM: For all those yet to hear Gentle Mystics, how would you describe your sound?
Gentle Mystics: Turbo-Folk with a bass face riding on the back of a Lama on absinth.
ILM: When and why did you make the transition from a three piece to a nine piece?
Gentle Mystics: Not enough cocks. We wanted it to be a proper sausage party.
ILM: Can you tell us a little about who is who and who does what in the band?
Gentle Mystics: Alex - electronic guitar - has a passion for rare teas. Noemie - percussion - credited in many circles as the pioneer of Aqua Crunk. Harky - flute - filth merchant. Cosmo - disk-jockey - enjoys the company of mountain goats. Merlin - Stylaphone - sells pears. Rob, Orlando and Josh - heart strings - all three members are working on a collaborative novel based on the life and times of Rosie and Jim. Elian - plays the 'cosmic key' seen in the 1987 awarding winning film 'Masters Of The Universe' - close personal friend of Dolph Lundgren. We’re on a whole next level.
ILM: How would you describe your process of making music and putting together a track?
Gentle Mystics: A bit like UFC but with sacrificial virgins.
ILM: Who / what are your biggest inspirations?
Gentle Mystics: Dick Cheney.
ILM: We understand there are a lot of instruments featured on the album - can you tell us a little more?
Gentle Mystics: in•stru•ment - a contrivance or apparatus for producing musical sounds: a stringed instrument.
a lot - Very many, a large number; also, very much. For example, A lot of people think the economy is declining , or Sad movies always made her cry a lot . It is sometimes put as a whole lot for greater emphasis, as in I learned a whole lot in his class. It may also emphasize a comparative indication of amount, as in We need a whole lot more pizza to feed everyone , or Mary had a lot less nerve than I expected . [Colloquial; early 1800s]
ILM: What can we expect from the album? Are you pleased with it?
Gentle Mystics: An ear bashing, nah, just joking, it’s cack.
ILM: What can we expect if we come to see Gentle Mystics live?
Gentle Mystics: Interpretive dance meets Teletubies.
ILM: What do you look forward to the most about playing live?
Gentle Mystics: Girls. Kebabs. Sniff.
ILM: Out of all the shows you've played, which have been some of the most memorable?
Gentle Mystics: Probably Wembley, maybe Woodstock… It’s a toss up.
ILM: What music have you been listening to recently?
Gentle Mystics: GaGa, Black Eyed Peas, Bruno Mars, Necro, Rebecca Black etc.
ILM: What has been your most recent musical discovery?
Gentle Mystics: Drums – completely mind blowing.
ILM: What are your future plans?
Gentle Mystics: Girls. Kebabs. Sniff.
ILM: Anything else we should know?
Gentle Mystics: There’s a giant lizard right behind you.
