INTRODUCING INTERVIEW: State Of Play

Since catching our eye back in May when we premiered their track ‘What It Is To Be’, State Of Play have been wowing crowds around the UK. As we’re expecting big things from the group, Matt Tarr caught up with guitarist & songwriter Fando to give us a quick insight into the inner workings of the band…

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

So let’s get this out of the way first; why the name State Of Play?

Fando: Ha, yeah that question does seem to come up a lot. It’s a pretty arbitrary name to be honest. Naming a band is something people can spend ages on, and I don’t really think it’s too important what you call yourself. I think the idea is that you want people to start to associate the letters and words you use with your band and music, rather than what the words themselves actually mean. So if I talked about ‘The Doors’ you’d probably think of Jim Morrison and ‘Light My Fire’ before you think of a door. Same with ‘Red Hot Chilli Peppers’, or ‘Rolling Stones’ or ‘Beach Boys’…

Your music encompasses several different styles, most evidently a fusion between rap and rock. What influenced your style?

Fando: I don’t think we can easily say something directly influenced this fusion. I mean there are obvious comparisons people make to bands like Rage Against The Machine, just as an example of a rock band with rapped vocals. But when Ant (rap vocals/lyricist) and I met, it was really just to have a jam and see what it would sound like.  I think our main strength as a songwriting partnership, comes from the fact we both grew up on totally different music, Ant with Hip Hop and R&B, and me with Indie and Alt Rock.

If you had to define the genre of music you make, what would you call it?

Fando: Psychedelic industrial pre post, post modern, neo romantic, funky house, with elements of light lounge room jazz…not really, that’s a joke. We always suck at answering this question, we tend to say it’s Alt Rock meet Alt Hip Hop…but as you say above ‘a fusion between rap and rock’ works too.

51e771_9c96cafa1d594cca92f83bb803c5a292.jpg_srb_p_870_580_75_22_0.50_1.20_0.00_jpg_srb

How did you all meet and end up becoming State Of Play?

Fando: Me and Ant met through a mate of mine who was editing a video of Anthony’s old ‘solo’ stuff. Missy (vocals) knew Ant’s friend from acting school in New York and Ahmar (rap vocals) & Ant were already good friends. Spoon (drums) was stolen from another band and no one really knows where Will (bass) came from – he just started showing up at practices and everyone was too polite to ask him to leave.

Having so many members involved, is there one of you who handles the songwriting duties or do you all band together to write your music?

Fando: There’s like 7 of us including our manager; bass, guitar, drum, and three vocalists! Although everyone works on their own parts and are all great musicians in their own rights, Anthony and I handle the majority of the song writing.

Playing live seems to be something you guys love doing. Is that true?

Fando: Yep, very true. That’s kind of our forte and something we’ve really tried hard to capture on this EP. Don’t tell him I complimented him, but Ant’s a great front man and the crowd seem to really feed off his, Missy and Ahmar’s energy live. I think we have a pretty good combination of dancey, almost dub/drum and bass beats that people can wile out to, but in the form of a ‘song’ structure, so there’s a lot of dynamics there too.

What can we expect from you for the rest of 2015?

Fando: Some festivals, some new material and we’re mad excited for all of it!

————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

And if that hasn’t given you enough of a taste of what State Of Play has to offer, then you can stream their latest EP Talking In Static below. Capturing the anthemic energy that’s seen the group become a recognised force on the live circuit, it marks their first recorded effort since signing to Trashed – the management company behind the success of acts such as Sonic Boom Six and Boy Jumps Ship.

Also, make sure you keep your eyes on the State Of Play Twitter and Facebook to be up to date on all the latest tour dates and news direct from the band themselves.

Matt Tarr
@MattTarrJourno

Matt Tarr

Matt Tarr

Urban Music Editor
With grime and hip hop being major influences on him growing up in South East London, Matt's passion is urban music but over the years he has gathered a hugely diverse taste, ranging from Wiley to The Smiths by way of Machine Head, that has made him a very open minded individual.
Matt Tarr
Gigslutz Urban Interviews
About Matt Tarr
With grime and hip hop being major influences on him growing up in South East London, Matt's passion is urban music but over the years he has gathered a hugely diverse taste, ranging from Wiley to The Smiths by way of Machine Head, that has made him a very open minded individual.