Intense Explanations And Silliness
After a blistering set on Saturday afternoon, I was able to eventually catch up with the 4-piece called Circus 66. It was one of those moments as an interviewer you are put through your paces with folks interjecting at various moments quite quickly, with at least 2 band members having fun and trying to confuse the life out of me. In the middle of all that rock n roll chaos, we get an insight into what the band are about both musically and lyrically. It is a mix of intense explanation and silliness and I had a blast trying to make sense of it all. Here is the transcript as best as I can do.
At points, I will name people talking, but at other times as I lost track (put it down to old age) so have just put the name of the band. Where there are moments of members coming in with comments fast after each other I will put // between comments to show more than one member has got involved with the answer. Hopefully, it will all make semse to you dear reader. Let’s dive in…
So It Begins
CGCM: If I may ask as I am learning about you sitting here, can you run through your names and your instruments?
Circus 66: My name is Annabelle and I am the singer of the band and I also participate in writing some lyrics // My name is Matt and I play guitar in the band and I’m not that egotistical // My name is Leigh and I am the bass player // NO // I am Leigh and I play drums // My name is Luke and I am an alcoholic.. // Annabelle: No his name is actually Mustard he lied // Have you figured out how this interview is going to go yet? (loads of laughter and one already confused interviewer)
CGCM: It is alright, I just go with the flow. I have interviewed Gwar so anything after that is a piece of pish. (laughter) If I may ask how the band formed, how it all started, who knew who and all that kind of thing.
Annabelle: Well Matt is the original member from Circus 66 Mark 1 in 2013…
CGCM: What just another 65 to go? This should be long (laughing)
Circus 66: No that is just the drummers (laughing)
Annabelle: and what has happened, is they looked into, eh, (pauses) they were a 3 piece originally… Matt steps in and says… Do you want me to take over on this? // To which Annabelle said “go on then”
Short History Of Circus 66
Matt: As I am kind of the original member I thought I should! (absolutely everyone laughing and cheering him on). So I started this band as a side project about 10 years ago, just playing as and when but I wanted more out of the band, some of the others didn’t, so new lineups ensued and finally got a decent lineup. Annabelle joined in 2016 and we further changed the line up // Annabelle: We like the lineup we’ve got now so it’s fine // Matt: Ah they’re alright (everyone laughs). Early 2019 those 2 wonderful people (points at rhythm section) joined the band and solidified things and we’ve been together ever since. We have done 1 album (called Follow The Black Crow) and we are doing another already. So that is the very short version of the history of this band.
The Badly Behaved Joined The Circus
Circus 66: At this point one of the 2 reprobates spoke up saying “We didnt actually think that we were going to make it past the first gig as we both got absolutely battered on that first show, in fact I can’t remember that performance at all. They then start arguing over which one is in fact Leigh whilst everyone else laughs at my expense. Probably! // Despite that we kept getting asked back, I thought we would get fired, or at least I would // I just kept showing up…
CGCM: I take it you still managed to do the show despite getting pissed beforehand?
Circus 66: Yeah // Yeah // Yeah // Annabelle: I guess we made it look like it was part of the show, I went over to him (I think she means Luke) as cover for it. It was like (in a silly voice) “I got ya, I got ya” (laughs) // It was an emotional first show but we got through it (everyone agrees they did) // That was March 2019, our first show together
Annabelle: (Trying to get things more serious despite the ridiculous banter going on in the background) So that was us solidified as a 4 piece and it showed we were capable of bigger and better things. So we have the first album, we’ve been through some ups and downs but it has all been worth it. Really enjoyed recording. We learned the good, the bad and the ugly and best parts of everything…
The Rock N Roll Lifestyle
Cheers abound as the kind folks in the media team bring tea and coffees to the band…
Matt: We are so rock n roll the bassist is having a cup of tea…
Annabelle (continues): The album was recorded before and during Covid. We found it a bit challenging of course, especially due to the times we were in. We managed eventually in 2021 to get the album out and got to tour it. That was brilliant and we certainly learned from it so now that we are doing album number 2 we have more information to help make it better, stepping things up.
CGCM: Would you say so far has the material changed in any way, stylistic choices or whatever?
Circus 66: It’s evolved I think. I mean the first album it was dark times with Covid so a lot of the lyrics, themes, music, a dark sort of space, the songs were emotional. What we are trying to do here on the new album is to push the light through the dark. It’s all about positivity and empowerment I guess. // Annabelle: It’s empowerment over everybody, for everybody. The music itself is to inspire you to get through the bad day, kind of saying “tomorrow is a better day, so get up and kick arse”.
Perform
That is what we are trying to put across to people when we perform and when we write. I think it is important to encourage people to look at better days, I mean let’s face it the world is going to an absolute pile of shit. Music is a universal language so everybody can understand it, so even if English isn’t someone’s first language they should be able to listen to the music and get something from it. We have just signed a distribution deal with D. I. Records so the second album will hopefully go across worldwide.
It is what we want to do, put positivity out there. // Matt: Obviously we’re biased but we’ve tapped into that vibe pretty well… // We are the only ones putting pressure on ourselves. We are an insanely creative group, that struck me coming into the band…
At this point, everyone takes the piss out of the “insanely creative” comment, with some doing the words in silly accents and generally ripping the piss out of the speaker including a mocking “well you heard it hear first“. This leads to more laughter and silliness and folks talking over each other…
What Did The Singer Just Say? Shock Revelations
Circus 66: (getting more serious) The thing is you cannot force creativity, I mean it is possible to get in a room and go “lets write a song” and find nothing good happens or comes out… // We haven’t had that really on this album, it seems a very natural and enjoyable experience just creating music, putting things together, I feel pretty proud of it…
// Annabelle: It is a lot of work but for us it is worth every second. Even if you don’t bother with lyrics I think the music speaks for itself… // Matt: Bloody hell a singer saying that. Can you make sure you document that? (everybody laughs and I promise it will be in the transcript. Some of the band ask if they can copy and paste it elsewhere and I laugh telling them they can do what they like, it is THEIR interview. More laughter and silliness ensued).
CGCM: I explain that outside of a quick listen online I didn’t know them, I liked the 2 songs I checked out and that having seen them live I liked those even more. I explain I had an image due to the song titles that they were perhaps into shock rock or horror due to titles like “Monster” and I finish by saying… I think I had you down wrong as a band
Album Differences
Annabelle: Yeah, I can see why. What we did on our debut album we unleashed songs, em, lets say, lets say everybody has a Jekyll and Hyde in them, you know you are always battling something. The “Monster” thing, we all have our own personalities and at times we have to withdraw back from certain emotions. The first album is trying to battle the inner demons in an attempt to get through to the other side and the new one “Elements“ (the name of the new album) is where the positivity comes out. Album one is we all go through the hard stuff, everyone goes through horrible or heavy stuff at times, album number two is the other side, no matter how long that takes, you do it, just do it, fight through. Again it is all about positivity.
CGCM: So I got it all wrong again. I thought it was about the creatures or characters but it is more deep then that…
Circus 66: I think the best way to say it is album one is the mask is on, album two the mask comes off (everybody agrees with this) // Annabelle: To be honest when it comes to lyrics and meaning we leave it to the listener to take it as they see fit. We write lyrics hopefully for everybody to relate to in some way. We are kind of in the same boat but sinking differently (starts laughing at herself… composes herself and says) and that is why we need positivity out there.
CGCM: So what comes first lyrics or music?
What Comes First
Matt: To be honest from the get-go we hone in on lyrics to get us in the mindset so musically as well, when I am coming up with some arrangements or riffs I can say whether or not that the music is getting the lyrics across. The lyrical themes for instance can tailor my note choices to an extent. I think at points I need to get to a particular note to make the point so I have to work out how to get there //
Annabelle: To be fair the first album is almost a story or collection of stories as an interpretation of what people could feel at points in their lives. I think those can be interpretated by anyone for their own situations. With the new album it is all about surrounding yourself with positive things or people to help you through hard times. Sorry I will shut up, I am being rather sensitive here. I am usually quiet by the way… // Matt: Not when someone sticks a microphone in front of you… (everybody laughs)
CGCM: It is good that you talk, not much of an interview if nobody speaks. It is good that folks get to know about your band, even I love finding out stuff and also learning about the themes you have…
Songwriting
Matt: Oh, we love a good theme! It definitely helps me in the songwriting stage, I know what I am aiming for…ish! It is storytelling. Many of my favourite bands are storytellers, especially how they write so each song is its own theme and you can take what you want from it. I like having some direction so I can share something with the band and see what they think rather than shooting in the dark, or coming up with some riff to try and show how cool I am, that doesn’t work.
For the new album we feel we are hitting the nails on the head, but we are only half way through. We have got into the mindset now, we know what we have got to do to finish it. // Of course we are “insanely creative… (everybody bursts out laughing) // to quote a certain bassist (more laughs and pointing fingers) // Annabelle: We have learned from the last album and are evolving and improving on it and taking things to the next level.
CGCM: So when do you think it will be out? Later this year?
Exclusives
Matt: No realistically be next year. We will be also gigging during the period // July is busy isn’t it? // It is quite full // There is a crowdfunder going on at the moment through the website, we are trying to get a few more funds and some more pre-orders just to help fund studio time as that is expensive and we are all skint. Simple as that. So yeah some festivals to focus on. There will be a single drop at some point //
Matt: Yes there will be, now we are with D.I. Records it takes a little longer as they want to do it properly, do a campaign, all that kind of stuff so we can’t just drop it whenever we want. We need to finish it before they do their 2-month or something campaign. I reckon new single will be end of August or September time. We hopefully shoot the video end of July for it. Musically it is almost done // Hell this is ALL exclusive stuff (cheering and laughter).
It’s a Wrap
At this point we wrap up and have general chat. When I mentioned how I like to help bands one of them (Leigh) went “OK, give us all your goddamned money” to laughter for another to ask “have you ever been robbed mid-interview?” I pointed out he would be caught as I have the thing on tape! Annabelle remarked they could always get another drummer! Again loads of laughter, in-jokes (which they welcomed me in on which was cool). I can honestly say I had an absolute blast.
It was interesting, full of (of course) positivity and a bloody good laugh. I hope this transcription gives an idea of what the 25 minutes or so was like and that those reading this who didn’t know them before will check them out. Thanks to the whole band and on behalf of CGCM we wish you all the very best going forward. Stage photos by the wonderful Ian Owen at CGCM.
The band are crowdfunding for the next album Elements and if you wish to help then please click on this LINK
Festival dates:
July 1: SOS Festival (Whittles Oldham)
July 15: Amplified (1865 Southampton)
July 22: Maidenhead (Kidwells Park Maidenhead)
September 9: Steel Paws (Corporation Sheffield)
AND
January 20 2024: Dementia Awareness (The Station Cannock)
Support gigs:
August 11: St Austell Club Cornwall (with White Raven Down)
September 30: The Gifford Arms Wolverhampton (with Black Roze)
Official Website // Officail Facebook
Check out my other reviews and interviews here. Tom
