Interview with Sergeant
18th June 2008
Sergeant comprises 4 like-minded friends who have a refreshing outlook on life. They signed to Mercury Records last year, released their debut single this May to critical acclaim, recorded their debut album with John Leckie… things are definitely on the up and up.
As they’re about to play King Tut’s for 32 Music followed by T-in the Park next month, we caught up with them in Manchester after their sound check at The Roadhouse to chat about their journey so far.
32: Debut single ‘K-Ok’ was well received in the media with NME describing it as ‘…the most perfect jingle-jangle pop anthem we can imagine being penned’; I hear it’s about a policeman… what’s the story there?
Bill: It’s not specifically about a policeman.
32: We’re off to a good start!
B: It’s one of those stories that circulate. That’s what everybody thinks but that’s not what it’s about. In a nutshell it’s about people trying to tell you that following your dreams is a waste of time & stuff and just going out to prove those people wrong.
32: Coming from Scotland were you watching bands like Biffy Clyro and Snow Patrol taking years to break through and worrying that it could be the same for you?
Nick: I dunno, I think years ago it was a little bit different in the sense that a lot has changed in the last 6 or 7 years. I don’t think it matters where you come from now. If you write good songs and good music you can make it anyway ‘cause the way of the world and the music industry’s a bit different now. Whereas before I think you needed to be from somewhere ‘cause you needed to grasp an audience to sort of get your feet on the ladder, I don’t think it’s like that anymore.
32: Was there ever the temptation to leave Scotland?
N: I think if your songs are good enough you don’t have to go anywhere really.
B: We’ve never had the urge to move to London or Manchester or anywhere.
32: Did the fact your A&R man (David O’Hagan) is based in Scotland influence your decision to sign to Mercury?
N: I don’t think it influenced us. I think everything else with the label was the right thing to do. He was the first person to come and see us ever.
B: That was probably a factor.
N: THAT was a good factor that he was the first person to see us.
32: I heard you turned down the first major label deal you were offered. Was that because you had specific ideas that were not being met at that point?
N: I think the best thing is to get the right people right around you and that’s the case with this band. It’s always been like that… to help with things & stuff. I mean you come across somebody you don’t really connect with there’s no point in going ahead with it really.
32: Back in 2006 you played T-Break and by your own admission it wasn’t very good. What happened over the following 12 months to become a hotly tipped buzz band?
N: We were a different band back then I think. Well, we were the same band but it was before we had majorly put effort into rehearsals & playing live. That was new to us. That was relatively early for us. I wasn’t expecting anything to happen for a while.
B: We sent a demo off not expecting to even play the heats.
N: I’m kind of glad we never got through in a way ‘cause bands in competition together… that’s not what music should be about anyway.
32: I read a quote that Nick had said that ‘Sergeant are all about positivity’, where does that come from?
N: It comes from growing up & listening to people moaning about everything. Your life and how it’s shit. Where we come from or wherever, you’re never gonna get anywhere, never gonna get to do anything. We just kind of thought, ‘well why is that? Why’s that the case?’ It just comes from there really. Every other band that comes out seems to moan about where they’re from and how it’s shit but life’s what you make it at the end of the day isn’t it?
32: There must have been times when that positivity was put to the test?
N: We always said ‘when it happens’, there was no if I don’t think which is maybe why we’ve come as far as this and it’s still going. That was talk from the beginning. I don’t think it’s arrogance or anything, it was just sort of believing in ourselves I think.
32: You need that self-belief or there’s no point.
N: Yeah, there’d no point at all otherwise you’d be sitting in your bedroom playing acoustic guitar still and no-one will have ever heard your songs.
Scott: I think we were totally switched on enough to know that we wer4en’t completely shit either. We always knew we were alright.
N: All the songs that we wrote at first are still songs we play today.
32: Did you look at what was going on in Scotland musically?
N: We were just in our own bubble. The way we wrote music & stuff…. We were never influenced by anything that was out and around the time. If anything we wanted to stay away from it. We used our own tastes and music rather than thinking we could write songs like that ‘cause that’s cool.
B: We wrote songs we wanted to listen to.
32: What were you listening to? (Turns to Rory, what do you like Rory?)
B: 60’s & 90’s
Rory: 60’s & 90’s yeah.
32: You’ve recorded the album with John Leckie, how’s it coming along?
N: We’re going to finish mixes and by Friday it’ll be completely done. Friday’s the final deadline. We did have a deadline, it was a month ago but we decided that we’re not happy with 1 or 2 things.
32: Sunshine is the next single, seems appropriate for summer and perfectly times for T in the Park.
B: I think it’s being released at the end of August now. It’s been put back a little bit.
Summer last s longer now because of global warming anyway!
32: When’s your T in the Park slot?
ALL: Sunday
B: On the Future Stage but dunno what time yet.
32: And of course you’re doing a gig for us on Friday at Tut’s.
N: It’s been a while since we played Tut’s
B: It’s sold out. We’ve just confirmed 31st July at Glasgow’s Garage too.
32: You sold out a gig in December, which was something, like 1500 people.
N: That was our hometown, 1300 people.
B: That was without releasing anything.
Word of mouth is still the strongest.
If that’s the case, start spreading the word!
Many thanks to Sergeant for their time.
Don’t forget, for the chance to win tickets to this sold out gig, click HERE
photo:Debs Wild
