Last Wednesday night saw me getting down to Timbre @ The Substation (where resident pests spared me no mercy), ready to be enlightened by the British boys that are Will and The People.
A quick search on Youtube would reveal a few of their songs from the various records (one EP and two albums) they’ve made that when listened, will have you reveling in nostalgia. There’s just something about their songs – the way the beats are produced, the way the genres are blended, that takes you back to a certain time period you can’t quite put your finger on. They will appeal to all you ska, reggae, pop and indie fans, uniting all of you to be One (that’s a song off them too, about how we are all well, one).
But as multi-genre and uplifting and gratifying their songs are, nothing can quite prepare you for their live performance. It’s like each of their songs had a life of it’s own, and every instrument became prominent and distinct. It did help that their on-stage persona was exhilarating and that they were very interactive, altogether manifesting into a very very delightful night filled with loads of dancing and groove. My favourite was Holiday (have been listening to it non-stop since I heard it on Wednesday), a track that changes its tune multiple times during the song (ergo you’ll probably never ever get bored of the song), with Jim distinctive keyboard-playing and the excellent guitar riffs setting an insanely catchy beat to the song.
All these talk about how good they sound might have you thinking of all those infectious pop hits we see on the charts but these boys, however jovial and fun they are, are serious in what they do. Expect lyrics that drive deep into the motivation behind it, carved beautifully into an array of words that fall pleasantly into your ears.
I do feel there is one thing flawed about their performance, and that is the venue. Majority of the crowd were seated down during their set, though eventually many got up and started dancing because their songs are that infectious one has to be tone deaf to not stand up, but that wasn’t the issue. I felt they should have played at a venue where they can be exposed to the younger generation, even though that may not be the range of audience the band would want to appeal to. I think a lot of peers who are of and/or around the same age as me would have greatly appreciated the band’s music and would have invigorate much more movement and interaction.
It really puzzles me why the band hasn’t gained the recognition they need, nay, deserve. For a band that are able to infuse so many genres and make it their own is praiseworthy and admirable. And they are so enjoyable!!! I loved them so much I went down for their last gig in Singapore at the Beer Market. The band treated every show like it was a big festival and they made sure that the crowd is a part of their show.
Perhaps it’s because the band are influenced by Bob Marley, the king of Love, Peace and Harmony himself, but Will and The People certainly is not like any other band I’ve seen and heard and their vision in both music and life is certainly to be aspired.
Fever Avenue had the pleasure of speaking to the humble (and suffering from terrible jetlag) Will Rendle (frontman) and Jim Ralphs (keyboardist) after their gig in Timbre last Wednesday and what an enjoyable chat it was! With their English accents and styled in a way that only the British seem to effortlessly pull off (with the rest of the world trying but failing), we talked inspirations, new album and a certain someone’s specialty in spaghetti bolognese in the badly-lit car park of Timbre.
Hey! I really enjoyed your set just now. What were your thoughts on it though?
Will: It was very hot and sweaty.
…You should have dressed up like Jim (who was decked in singlet and shorts).
Jim: Yup!
Will: But it was fun, we really enjoyed it. We love playing to people in foreign countries, it was exciting for us.
Have you had a look around Singapore?
Will: A little bit.
Where did you go?
Will: Clarke Quay…of course (laughs). We went swimming in the water as well, jumped off the bridge.
(Laughs) Nice.
Will: (Laughs) and then we had a shower of course.
Good to know! So anyway I heard you guys played for Kate’s and William’s wedding in Bath, is that true?
Will: Yup yup.
How was that like? How did the band even get the gig?
Jim: Yeah how did we even get it? Just because we were working and it was in Bath in England, which is a really nice place, and Charlie was originally from Bath so…
Will: And we got asked to. Also, I have the same name as William and my girlfriend is called Kate so they let us do it.
Are you sure it wasn’t your own wedding?
Jim: (Laughs)
Will: (Laughs) no it wasn’t! We were thinking about trying at the same time but…yeah the gig was fun anyway.
You’ve played gigs practically everywhere, from dressing rooms to Glastonbury, but which was your favourite?
Will: Definitely tonight, because I can’t remember any of the rest.
Jim: Yeah, that one was the clearest.
Will: We’ve only had two drinks so far…but maybe by tomorrow, I’ll say that the gig we played in a boat in Monaco was quite fun.
Do you remember that clearly?
Will: Yeah I remember it, a little bit. They had a lot of champagne, a lot.
You already have one EP and two albums out, do you guys have a message to send across to your listeners or is it more of a “I love music so I’m gonna make them” kind of thing?
Jim: Um…that’s quite a good question.
Will: Messages of Love, messages of Heartbreaks, messages of political meltdown and messages for things children should avoid.
(Laughs) like what?
Will: Smoking (laughs).
Any future plans for a new album?
Will: Yeah, we just made a new album last month and it’s going to be released in two months time.
Worldwide?
Will: Worldwide.
Are there any bands that influence you? Apart from Bob Marley of course.
Will: Yep, Nirvana…
Jim: Radiohead.
Will: The Cat Empire, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, not their music though just their attitude.
You guys have been around for quite a bit…tell us, have you guys ever craved for mainstream success?
Will: We used to, we don’t anymore.
Why’s that?
Jim: We’re playing gigs, and that’s success for us.
Will: We get to play with each other, everyday, in front of loads of people so…
You guys are staying together right?
Will: Yeah we live together. What we do is we go to different countries and we tell people we’re massively famous in England and they go “Ahh okay” (laughs).
Jim: (Laughs)
Will: Yeah and also, it’s not our ambition in life but I think at some point we will break into the mainstream…I think we will, I think we have to because we have to tell people things. The world is horrible, it’s a fucked up place you know but music can help that, music can heal.
Have you guys ever thought of being anything else, apart from being a musician?
Will: Yes, a rally driver. I’m going to be a rally driver when I’m older. I’m gonna earn some money from gigs, I’m gonna be rich and spend it all on rally cars.
Jim: Tough question…I’d be travelling the world probably, with no money and writing things I guess. I haven’t really thought about it.
Will: Yeah I think Jim would be a writer.
Do you(Jim) write the music?
Jim: Yeah, we all do. Keo is actually quite a good poet as well, he’s actually more of a writer than I am really but um yeah that’s what I’d like to think I’ll be. It’ll be cool, wearing a beret and have a beard and shit…
Will: And speak in a (imitates the french accent) French accent.
Jim: Yeah (laughs).
(Laughs) So how’s the song-writing process like?
Jim: Well in the past, because Will has been doing this a bit longer than we have, he wrote a long of songs that you hear but recently, because we all live together, it’s more of a collaborative process where we all get in a room and someone has an idea, usually Will has an idea and brings it to the rest of us…
Will: …we better tell them the truth. We buy our songs in the Black Market. There’s a special Black Market you can buy songs off and we buy them. We don’t write any of our music (laughs). They cost us a hundred dollars each.
Expensive.
Will: Yeah, that’s a lot of money. Clever Russians.
(Laughs) I’ve seen your music videos,especially like Mr Sketchy and Addicted, what were your inspirations for them?
Will: Those two videos are very similar. These songs were written in a period when I didn’t have a band. I was quite lonely, and the songs were about being inside a house. Mr Sketchy is about being paranoid and not wanting to answer when the phone rings. And Addicted, the lyrics “I don’t want to go to sleep alone/but do I wanna wake up with you?” …it’s philosophy really. Because a lot of people have partners just to feel comfortable but they don’t really love them, do you know what I mean? It’s a message to send across -If you ever get married, make sure you really love your partner so much that you’ll jump in front of a car for them.
Are you married?
Will: Nah.
Jim: Nah, I’m farrr too young.
Will: I married Charlie though, because he wasn’t allowed to stay in the country unless I marry him (laughs).
(Laughs) alright, we’ve come to the last question. 2012 looks bright for Will and The People, any words for your fans?
Will: Peace, Love and Harmony. Oh and another thing, if anyone ever needs someone to cook them a spaghetti bolognese, just ask.
Jim: Yeah he’s reallly good.
Can you send it over from England then?
Will: Yep!
(Laughs) give me your address then!
Will: (Laughs) yeah we can do that.
Alright then, thanks guys!
Will: Thanks!
Jim: Thanks guys!
Here are some videos of them you HAVE to check out!
Image credits: WATP
