Gigslutz Unsigned: Interview with The Turning

Organised in connection with Blastbeat UK – a charity working with young people to create their own social enterprises, with a focus on music – ‘Hard Daze Night’ promises to be an impressive occasion, featuring three young, upcoming bands from the UK as well a Parisian Quartet; not bad for a Tuesday night. I arrive at The Borderline, at this fantastic event for anyone from the ages of 14 and over, feeling a little out of place (old), but ready and pretty excited about having a quick catch up with the night’s headliners: The Turning. Fresh off accompanying The Strypes on the last leg of their recent UK tour, these four West London-based lads have been fast making a name for themselves with their fresh, indie mod-beat sound. Here we talk Lanzarote, The Strypes, Glasto and… Ruben’s Feet.

Gigslutz: So, I’ve heard you only played your first gig together about a year ago – pretty impressive how far you’ve come in just a year! So, how did you all get together as a band?

David: Yeah, we’ve come quite a way!

Luke: Well, those three were in a band and I was singing with another band at the time that Robert (our manager) looked after, so I met them through him – we played at some of the same events and were into similar music, so we thought we’d have a go at it.

David: Yeah, we’d been in a band together for about three years or so, then that sort of imploded. So, we were looking for a singer, then we spotted Luke at a gig…

Ruben: It was obviously hard at first with him living in Ireland – there was a lot of to-ing and fro-ing at the beginning, but we’ve made it work.

Luke: Yeah, I’m pretty much based in London now anyway!

Gigslutz: So, are you all still at school now?

David: Us three from London are about to finish our last exams, our A Levels, and then we’re just gonna go flat out with the band! But he (Luke) has just left that..

Luke: Yeah, i’m the runaway of the band! I’m not doing A Levels.

Gigslutz: I see! And, for the three of you, how is it fitting in your school work with being in a band?

Louis: Well, it’s settling down now, as it’s just these last couple of months of it, then we can just focus on the band.

Ruben: Yeah, it has been pretty tough – with all the time spent rehearsing and gigging, and particularly travelling to other countries and stuff, so it’s naturally going to be a bit tough – but it’s just about getting the balance, and I think we’ve managed that.

Gigslutz: Well done, that must be tricky! And, talking of travelling to other countries, you’ve just got back from Lanzarote, how was that?

Ruben: It was cool, we were just gigging at the same bar every night for a person that Robert, our manager, knew.. He used to manage them in a band called The Revs in the ‘90s/2000s. So, was really good – playing every night for about an hour and 15 minutes sets.

Luke: Yeah, was just really fun. Really good experience.

Gigslutz: Yeah, good preparation for other gigs. So, did you have time for any touristy things whilst you were out there?

Louis: Lots of swimming…

Ruben: And climbing around volcanoes..

Luke: Yeah, we did a photoshoot so we went to lots of touristy places, because that’s where the best scenery would be.

David: We had a photographer come with us, so were up early every morning for a photo shoot in different places.

Ruben: Yeah, we had to get up at silly o’ clock!

Gigslutz: Must have been hard after all those gigs in the evenings!

Louis: Though we then got spend the day on the beach in the sun. Lots of swimming!

Gigslutz: In the sea or the pool?

Louis: Didn’t quite make the sea actually… Oh, actually we did on one day!

Luke: Yeah, we went snorkeling – that was great!

Louis: Yeah, it was great – there were lots of fish!

Gigslutz: Anything else to see other than fish?

Ruben: Nah, just rocks and fish.

David: Ruben’s feet…

Louis: I loved the snorkeling!

Gigslutz (changing the subject from Ruben’s feet!): You’ve recently toured with The Strypes – how was that?

David: Yeah, we supported them on the last leg of their UK tour in February.

Gigslutz: And did you learn anything from them about being in a band at such a young age?

David: A bit of discipline really.

Ruben: They take it all very professionally. Before, we sort of knew the tricks of the trade and stuff, but being around a band who are doing so well you learn a lot: like how to rehearse, how to deliver your songs. Everything basically!

David: The show, I think we learnt about – how to put on a show. The consistency of the level of energy you’ve got to give every night. Those guys really have their stage presence down to a tee.

Gigslutz: Yeah, they’re pretty impressive!

And so, is an album in the pipeline for you guys?

Ruben: No no, just singles at the moment.

David: Well, our main focus is to try and get our live sets sorted 100% and gig as much as possible. And once you’ve done that, the album should come easily. But we have been in the studio focussing on a single, which we want to get perfect. It should be out in May or June.

Ruben: Yeah, the idea is to record just before we go off and do our exams. So get that and a video out while we’re not gigging, so there’s something out there for fans.

Gigslutz: Ah, good thinking. And then you’re heading off to Europe in June?

Luke: Yeah, to Belgium. That should be fun!

David: And we’re hoping to get to The North a bit more – Manchester, Sheffield, Liverpool, and we’ll hopefully add a few more dates to try and get round a bit more. Just gig, gig, gig!

Gigslutz: Your music, despite your young age, has a pretty retro sound – Who are your main musical influences?

David: Well, there’s the stuff like The Beatles and The Kinks, and then there’s the ‘90s stuff.

Luke: Yeah, that’s my expertise… Blur and Oasis and that. They’re my main influences.

David: Yeah, Luke’s more into the ‘90s stuff..

Ruben: And then punk/mod stuff like The Jam.

Louis: And even current bands, like The Arctic Monkeys.

David: So, basically good old rock ‘n’ roll with punk and ‘90s britpop too.

Gigslutz: A good blend of different influences then!

Gigslutz: As well as your good music, you’re also becoming known for your ‘sharp wardrobe’, what or who inspires your fashion choices?

David: Well, Miles Kane – he’s pretty cool, isn’t he? And, the obvious one, The Beatles. And Small Faces.

Ruben: Yeah, just always look sharp basically.

Gigslutz: That’s a good ethos to have!

Gigslutz: And, do you have a dream venue that you’ve always wanted to headline?

Ruben: Wembley!

Gigslutz: Aiming high!

Luke: Well, obviously this is just completely a dream but… Slane Castle, in Dublin. That would be huge!

Louis: The bigger the better I think!

David: And then there’s festivals…Like Glastonbury. Headlining Glastonbury, that’s the absolute dream.

Louis: Yep, Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury!

Gigslutz: Good ambition to have! And festivals are also quite a good way for lesser known bands to connect with more fans, with ‘unsigned’ stages or things like ‘BBC Introducing’, have you ever thought about doing that?

Luke: Yeah, we haven’t really gone down that route.

David: Not yet..

Luke: I don’t see why we wouldn’t do that though, never actually had time to think about it!

David: I think we’d ideally like to crack the clubs and stuff first, up and down the country. Be able to pull a crowd together from more places – I think that’s a good place to start.

Ruben: But yeah, would definitely like to get into the festivals at some point.

David: Yeah, and you’d get a free ticket too!

Gigslutz: Always a bonus!

Gigslutz: Well, thanks very much for your time – enjoy the gig tonight!

The Turning are: Luke McLaughlin – Vocals/Rhythm Guitar, David Barden – Lead Guitar, Louis Gilbert – Bass and Ruben Kenton-Harris – Drums. Find out more about this impressive young band at http://theturningofficial.com/. And about the Blastbeat UK project: http://blastbeat.org/