It’s a cold Saturday morning and I’m on my way to 2 fly studios in Sheffield to interview The Headliners. I’ve seen these guys a couple of times do their stuff and both times I’ve been impressed with their music and obvious enthusiasm. As I walk into the studios…I’m lost straight away….I hear music playing and decide to follow it……then I knock on a few doors…and nervously put my head around each door and say “headliners?” and the bands occupying the studio space all shake their heads and offer suggestions of where they might be….I even bump into The Dead Deltas (aka The Chartists)..Who helpfully direct me to the studio where I eventually I meet The Headliners….who aren’t the Headliners anymore?!…which is what I wanted to talk to them about….

 

The Headliners – who got together in 2006, began when Ol (the drummer) and Sean (guitar) met at Barnsley College, they were studying music. Pat (bass guitar) was best mates with Sean so he joined the band. Leroy (lead guitar) had just left his old band so the lads nabbed him. They tried a girl singer for a short while - but it didn't work out, so they eventually asked Ol’s brother Sam to do vocals. Sam was happy enough to give the singing a go, even though he hadn't actually sung before. Then after a few rehearsals they did their first gig (which consisted of covers) - they soon got bored with that and eventually started writing their own proper songs (apparently they were pretty bad at first - but they were catchy tunes – you know….rubbish… but catchy!) Then after months of promoting themselves and improving their own material they eventually got their first music break and were offered a slot at the Leadmill supporting The Pigeon Detectives. Since then they have gone from strength to strength e.g. they won the 2007 Channel 4 Unsigned Competition…played T4…etc…

 

After bumping into Ol…I was taken upstairs to the studio where I shyly perched myself on the sofa. As I waited for the rest of the band members to arrive, Alan Smythe (The Producer) began to play a track (Hanging On The Washing Line) which he’d been mixing. As the track was being played all the Headliners had arrived armed with hot drinks and snacks…Sam wasn’t happy…he’d been “driving around like an idiot for an hour trying to park……”No one then said anything, they just stood and listened to the mix Alan was playing. When the music stopped Alan asked “well? What do you think?” and this is where I realised I’d interrupted a group of young lads trying to please their new label…their fans and themselves. The discussion at times became quite intense….all of them putting their opinions forward…Sam wasn’t too happy – “where’s the clever bit? That bit makes it different. And it’s gone..?!” It was interesting witnessing the discussion…because obviously this is what happens in the music industry….I was taking it all in...I think I could have just stayed to watch them work it out…but no… Alan looked round and said something like have your photos done and we’ll come back to it…that was my cue….the actual interview began…..

 

Gail: “So you’ve recently signed a deal. How did that happen?

 

Headliners (OL): “The bloke who runs the label saw us at Glastonbury – we were in a tent and there were only about 10 people there….it was a bit….you know (a hand gesture to suggest rubbish)….there was a little girl running around the floor and a (his eyes then lit up) multimillionaire was there an’ all. He then contacted Glastonbury – then Glastonbury got in touch with us…then signed us.”

Gail: “What label is it?

 

Headliners (OL): “It’s a brand new label called Global Mongrel…but yeah….he’s a great bloke to work with….all happy wi’ it.

 

Gail: “You’ve also been recording your album…how is that going?...are you pleased with it?

 

Headliners: (nervously laugh – because of the discussion I’ve just witnessed)

(SAM) “We’re extremely pleased with it….More annoyed wi’ parking!”

 

Gail: “Anything you can tell me about the new album?

 

Headliners (OL and SAM): “Probably very different to what people are used to. This track (Alan is still fiddling around with the track as we are doing the interview) is a million miles apart…a lot different….we’ve worked on ‘em all…we’ve recut and worked on all the structures with Alan….we’re wanting a more different sound not as...erm…”(SEAN cuts in) “start and stopping” (OL continues) “ Yeah…when you’re in rehearsal you can’t really get anyone else’s opinion – but when you work with a producer …you do start listening to it and it makes more sense that it should keep going…and where to catch peoples attention…you know…grab it…and let it go again.”

 

Gail: “Was that what all the beginning bit was about – when I came in?”

 

Headliners: (OL) “yeah…the bit we liked in the song was dropped, that’s why they (gesturing towards SAM/PAT/SEAN) wanted to change it.”

 

Gail: “So why have you got to change the name?”

 

Headliners (ALL): “Someone already has copyright on the name Headliners.”

“And on ITunes there’s another band releasing music called Headliners...”

“So we thought fresh start...when you first start …it’s alright having a name because you ain’t got no music…so you can call yourself whatever you want really….when you start having music and have an audience….”

“You find something that’s not only suits what you’ve already got…”

“It’s got to be a name that’s completely label-less, that’s the best idea for us because the name will grow with the band as popularity grows, you know Coldplay, Snow patrol, Arctic Monkeys...they don’t mean sod all as names…they’re just labels.”

 

Alan (the producer) “Arctic Monkeys went through a period of changing there name anyway…”

 

Headliners (LEROY/OL): “Bands become their name after a while.”

 

Gail: “So what is your new band name?”
 
Headliners (OL): “Glass Youth”
 
Gail: “How did that name come about? Whose idea was it? Are you all happy with the name?
 
Headliners/Glass Youth (OL): “We were thinking of names, and I saw some American society called 'Alaska Youth Demo' and Sam likes the word 'glass' - so we changed it to 'Glass Youth Demo', then we dropped the demo….
It was one of the 1st names we picked but then left it for a while. We meet with our PR company who didn’t like the names we had, so we said that one. They loved it, we loved it and that was done.”
 
Gail: “So what other names were you considering?”
 
Headliners/Glass Youth (OL): “We were considering 'Bamboo State', 'PetSound', 'Shapes & Daggers'…..we got some real mixed feedback on these. Shapes & Daggers – seemed to have a love hate vibe from people…… Some love it, some hate it. Pet Sound…too many people disliked it. Bamboo State - had the best feedback….”
 

 

Gail: “You’ve done many gigs…I’ve even seen you a couple of times!....but which did you like the best?

 

Headliners/Glass Youth (ALL): “Carling Academy was absolutely fantastic…I really enjoyed that….”

“It was good…but my favourite wa’ T4…..I just enjoyed that…because as soon as you walked out after winning……

“Carling Sheffield has always been mental though…which is why I love it down there…”

 

Gail: “Any new gigs planned?”

 

Headliners/Glass Youth (ALL): “There will be soon…..one in Boardwalk at the end of this month on 24th…..

“Harley on the 4th February…”

“Couple of them gigs we want everything to be finished….”

“We’ve got to relearn all our songs...that’s gonna be tricky…..”

“After that we’re doing some local gigs you know end of Jan...Beginning of February…then we gotta talk with our label and get our tour sorted out and support tour sorted out….”

 

Gail: “anything else in the pipeline – as well as finishing the album and touring?

 

Headliners/Glass Youth (OL): “It’s kinda not up to us anymore...they’ve took over that side of it. They’ve got a plan for us, we’ve got a meeting with them towards the end of next week…where we’re gonna sit down and talk. Soon as we’ve got a track - we can start up again and hopefully it should be a lot easier this time round...coz we’ve got backing.”

 

Gail: “Anyone you’d like to work with?

 

Headliners/Glass youth (SEAN): “No not really…..we tend to do our own stuff….”

 

Gail: “Anyone you wouldn’t want to work with?

 

Headliners/Glass youth (ALL): “Bit controversial innit?”

“We’d like to support local bands…like Alvarez Kings…wouldn’t we?” (They all nod and make agreeing noises).

“We’re all good friends with them…but I don’t know about anyone bigger than that..?”

“There’s tons of bands we’d love to gig with eventually…”

“We do our own thing at the moment, its working so far…”

 

Gail: “What are your personal musical tastes?”

 

Headliners/Glass youth (LEROY): “I come from a rock based background…Motown…soul…everything really…obviously with mi’ dad being a musician all his life….the same as Sean… my dad liking rock music…its what we like…Pat’s into mostly older stuff……it’s varied between the lot of us…

 

Headliners/Glass Youth (SAM): “I like Frank Sinatra…..I’m into owt’ really…”

 

Gail: “So what’s on your MP3 players then?”

 

Headliners/Glass youth (SAM): “I’ll tell you who I’m really diggin’ at the minute… ‘Little comet’…have you heard of ‘em? Seen them a couple of times in Sheffield…just got signed as well…you’ll hear a lot about them this year definitely…..!”

 

Headliners/Glass Youth (SEAN takes out his MP3 player and reads out a list of artists on it): “Blocparty…Coldplay…Dizee Rascal…Good books…Kings of Leon…”

 

Headliners/Glass Youth (SAM cuts in): “Yeah….Kings of Leon are really good….”

 

Headliners/Glass youth (SEAN continues to read his list…) “Kooks…we are scientists….”

 

Gail: “Who’s got the most annoying ringtone?”

 

Headliners/Glass Youth (OL): “Mines always on silent…”

Headliners/Glass Youth (SAM): “Mines got an alarm…when I get one from me girlfriend…so that’s probably annoying…”

 

(They all burst into spontaneous impression of an annoying alarm noise…directed at Sam)

 

Gail: “So… a few Questions for the ladies…what are your ages?

 

Headliners/Glass Youth (SEAN): “20” (OL): “19” (PAT): “21” (LEROY): “19” (SAM) “25”

 

Gail: “Gosh I feel so old now!...erm….are you single, married or other?”

 

Headliners/Glass Youth (OL): “Other” (LEROY): “Single”  (SAM): “other” (SEAN): “other”

 

Gail: “Hmmmm…I’m quite interested in this…other…?”

 

Headliners/Glass Youth (ALL burst out laughing and joking…at the word other…): “We’re not other..other…(meaning gay)…just other…” (They all laugh again)

 

Gail: “Your favourite chat up lines?

Headliners/Glass youth (OL): “I had some funny ones from me holiday…but they’re probably a bit too rude, a bit too vulgar for this…?!”

Headliners/Glass Youth (SEAN): “Tell people we’re in a band.”

 

Gail: “Doesn’t that only work when you’re actually at a gig?”

 

Headliners/Glass youth (LEROY): “Actually we did use that once at the Leadmill…we were outside once…and said “oh yeah we’re in a band”...then these lasses turned around and said “no you’re not!””

 

Gail: “Any bad habits? Anything you fall out about?”

 

Headliners/Glass Youth (SAM): “There’s five of us in this relationship…so if you let it build up…you’d just explode…I mean…I’m not one for holding back…I just say straight away if something getting to me”

 

Headliners/Glass Youth (OL): “Yeah...I think everybody is the same in the respect by not keeping anything to themselves.”

 

Gail: “How’s the credit crunch affecting you?”

 

Headliners/Glass Youth: “There’s always a credit crunch when you’re in a band!”

 

Gail: “So...have you got a date for the new single?

 

Headliners/Glass Youth(ALL): “Not yet”

“If there’s gonna’ be a single…there’s three months preparing for it, at least...that’s what we’ve been told. So earliest I can see is April…that’ll be the first single.”

“We don’t have high hopes for the first one..”

“It’s not very common for a first single unless it’s plugged…to go amazingly well. Unless you’re Chesney Hawks…then that’s all you’ll get.”

“I just hope we’re not gonna lose fans over it and forget who we are and what our music is really about.”

 

Gail: “Anything else you’d like to add? That I might have forgotten to ask?”

 

Headliners/Glass Youth: (ALL): We are at the Boardwalk on the 24th and at the Harley on the 4th February”

“Keep going on MySpace for updates…we are putting a video up soon...of us in the studio messing about”

“We’ll be putting up new tracks from the new album….”

“New pics”

 

Well…that was the end of the interview…after I took a few photos it was time for me to go and leave them to it…and as I was leaving the lads said how much they are looking forward to playing again. I enjoyed the interview...I found their enthusiasm for the music industry obvious and I wish them well with their new beginning.