Introducing Interview: The Nickajack Men

Set to release their debut EP next week, Falfirk-based band The Nickajack Men create catchy, country-tinged offerings, filled with rich musicality alongside heartfelt emotion.

We caught up with the band to find out more…

Hey, The Nickajack Men! Please introduce yourselves.
We are an alternative/country rock band from a small town called Denny. The Nickajack Men are lead singer and guitarist Lewis White (23), lead guitarist and singer Michael Garner (19), bass guitarist Jamie Burns (22), on drums Matthew McAlister (22) and our recent addition to the band Matthew Boyle (22) on keys.

How did you all meet and start making music together?
I had met Lewis at a friend’s party. We got to talking about what music we were into, and we had similar tastes. Then a few weeks later he emailed me and asked if I wanted to start a band. I was more than up for it! We needed a bass player and drummer – Lewis had known Jamie from school and he had recently played bass in a band. Matthew then joined on drums, he and Lewis had been friends since a young age and in the past year the four of us were becoming desperate for someone who could play keys and we managed to meet Matthew Boyle through a mutual friend.

You describe yourselves as ‘alt country’, can you elaborate on what that means?
We originally started writing songs that were very country but as we progressed as a band the songs became more alternative and heavier. There are a lot of bands that try to do the same thing so we aim to be a little different.

Who would you say are your biggest musical influences?
Our biggest influences as a band would have to be bands from America such as The Districts, The War On Drugs, Delta Spirt, Houndmouth and Alabama Shakes. We’re always listening to those bands, and they are true pioneers of the music they put out there.

Can you tell us about your new EP Wasting Away?
The EP is mainly themed around the idea of escaping from everyday life instead of just wasting away in the same old job and routine. We decided to record what we thought were our four strongest songs at the time with Paul McInally, at 45 A-Side recordings. He did a great job and we had a blast recording with him.

Any weird/fun stories you could share with us since you’ve been a band?
We played a sold out gig in our hometown of Falkirk the other week – it was a great night. At the end of our last tune, Lewis had just taken out most of the drum kit and after leaping off the bass drum, he must have felt a little queasy because I just turned around and he had projectile vomited all over the stage and Jamie’s hand… Twice. Safe to say the sound guys at the venue were not best pleased but things happen.

If you could collaborate with any artist, dead or alive, who would it be?
That’s a very hard question. I’m sure the five of us would each answer this question differently but if I’m honest I must say working with David Bowie would have been an experience. He was constantly coming up with new, exciting things and was brilliant at re-inventing himself. That’s what you call an artist.

Any gigs coming up?
We are heading back to King Tuts in Glasgow to celebrate the release of the EP on the 24th of June with support from Miracle Glass Company and Noah. We’re buzzing for it!

Huge thanks to The Nickajack Men for answering our questions!

Wasting Away, the debut EP from The Nickajack Men, is out 26 May via NJM Records. Find out more at the band’s Facebook page.