Tomorrow we premiere a new video from I See Vultures, so to whet your appetites a little… more about the band themselves!
Simple things first – where are you guys from?
DAN: We’re from Leicester.
How did you meet?
DAN: We’ve all been criss-crossing each other’s paths for years, sharing the stage in separate bands, or playing together in bands. We all go back a long way.
How long have you been playing as a band?
DAN: Myself (Dan), Dave and Hussein have been making music in various capacities for the past 10 years. When Jamie and Mitch joined a couple of years ago, we became I See Vultures.
Before you get sick of being asked… where does the band name come from?
DAN: The band name comes from some of the lyrics of one our first songs. It was about how the world is made up of many kinds of people, with the worst of them being like vultures. They pick apart those weaker – emotionally, financially and physically. I see these vultures everywhere and hate ‘em. It’s a name, sure, but it’s also a statement.
What are your influences?
JAMIE: Personally, I’m a big fan of The Fall of Troy, At The Drive In and Gallows to name a few. I think as a band we have a range of influences that mean that we don’t try to sound like a particular band we all like.
Describe your music. What makes you unique?
DAN: If you want a hit of loud, angry, intense and emotional music, a listen to I See Vultures will do the trick. If you want nuance, layers, and depth, you get that too. Because we write what we want to hear, carefully crafted, interesting music with complexity that means there’s a good chance you’re gonna pick up something new from the track on repeated listens.
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Do you have any particular lyrical themes?
DAN: Of course social and political themes will run through our music. There’s a lot to be angry about, and what’s better than using mediums like this as a cathartic release. Aside from those themes, a song like “Neversafe” is me showing I’m not afraid to layer my lyrics with an emotive, personal subject matter, but framed in a way that the listener can take out, hopefully, something meaningful to them.
What’s your live show like? How many shows have you played?
DAN: Covid screwed the first string of live shows for I See Vultures. But, going off the sorts of shows we’ve put on in previous bands, expect intensity, energy and chaos.
What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done at a live show?
JAMIE: I remember seeing Gay For Johnny Depp play at the 02 Academy in Leicester, the frontman called out someone stood at the back in one of their t-shirts for not getting involved and made him piggyback him around for a couple of songs before jumping on the bar and kicking a few hundred pounds worth of drinks over. I think any 1:1 interaction with fans stands out for me in a live setting.
What kit do you use / guitars do you play / etc.?
JAMIE: We’re definitely a fender band. Dave plays a strat and Mitch tends to alternate between strats and teles. In terms of bass, I play a 51’ reissue fender P bass. In terms of amps, Dave uses a custom built Marshall and Mitch uses Orange. I play an Ashdown head through Orange cabs and love the combination.
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What, if anything, are you plugging/promoting at the moment?
JAMIE: We are all proud of “Neversafe”, I feel that this song has allowed us to explore a whole new side to the band that we haven’t played with before, something more vulnerable that shows a little bit more of us as people. It’s also been fun to work on the video independently so we’re keen to promote that. It’s also important for us to plug everyone we’ve worked with on the first three releases, particularly Jamie Ward for recording and producing everything we’ve put out so far and Nick Lee Shield for directing, filming and editing “Escapist” and “Goodnight, City Lights”.
What are your plans for the next 6 months or so?
DAN: We’ve got some cool things planned, if Covid allow, but I’m not revealing anything yet!
If you were second on a three-band bill, which band would you love to be supporting and which band would you choose to open for you? A chance to plug someone you’ve toured with, or a mate’s band we’ve not heard of before!
JAMIE: Alexisonfire, I See Vultures, Beef D’Reef (amazing Leicester band)
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