Brigade

Fri 2 May 2008

Getting to grips with Brigade

With the upcoming release of their second album ‘Come Morning We Fight’ out on the 12th of May Rockbeast caught up with the guitarist James Plant of young rockers Brigade who are set to make a huge impact of the rock world and slowly win over everyone along the way.

RB - How are things going?

James - Very good thank you. We are just resting between tours at the moment but everything is going well.

Brigade

RB - For those out there who don't know who you are could you please just describe your band and maybe why people should check Brigade out?

James - We are a four piece rock band from London. We write big anthemic rock songs with heaps of melody and I think people should check us out if they are into bands such as Placebo, Feeder and Jimmy Eat World. They will not be disappointed!

RB - You have a tour coming up with Fightstar do you plan on doing anything new on the tour?

James - Well our new album comes out the week before so we will definitely be playing lots of new material from that album. We may well have a few tricks up our sleeve too but I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise!!

RB - Your new album ‘Come Morning We Fight’ is due for release on the 12th of May, for those who are tempted to pick up the album but haven’t heard any music how would you describe the sound of the album?

James - It's just a great rock record. We really have come on in leaps and bounds as song writers and I am very proud of every second of it. The album itself is very up lifting and it has a very British feel to it. Anybody that is into rock music would really love this album!

RB - What is the general topic of the album, what are the main subjects dealt with in the lyrics?

James - We have always felt like the under dogs in the industry and have always felt that we are fighting to get our music heard so I guess the general topic of the album is that we are now coming out fighting and people should stand up and listen to this. From a lyrical point of view, our singer Will, had just come out of a six year relationship so I guess a lot of the lyrics are about him dealing with that.

Brigade

RB - You're playing this years Download festival, Zoo8 festival and Guilfest, what are your plans after the festivals?

James - Well around the end of July/August we are going to go out on a headline tour for the album for a few weeks then we hope, towards the end of the year, to get out and about and do some gigs in Europe.

RB - Since your formation in 2003 what have you learn, personally and as a band?

James - As a band we have learnt how to travel well and how to kill a lot of time! We are so close as a unit now and it really does feel like a big happy family. That may sound a bit cheesy but it's true. We have to spend a lot of time with each other but its safe to say we all get on really well. Personally I have learnt so much about how the industry works and I guess my confidence in my own abilities have come on a lot too.

RB - Your still a young band in the world of rock music but what advice would you give to bands trying to break into the music world?

James - Just get out and play as much as you can! The only way to get better is to take every gig you can and you will learn so much about yourselves and your band mates. And keep writing new songs all the time. 

Brigade

RB - Following on from the last question what goals have you set yourself from the beginning and what have you added along the way?

James - Well when we first started out our goal was to get a deal and to release a record. We managed to do that so now our goal is to remain in the public eye and to write great rock songs that will stand the test of time. As long as we have the opportunity to keep writing and releasing music then we will be happy.

RB - What do you feel the future holds for Brigade?

James - We have always considered ourselves to be a slow burn band. We are probably never going to be hyped like some of the scene bands so I would like to think the future will see us release a few more albums and gain more respect from the public and music industry alike!

RB - When your not out on the road or recording music what do you do with your time?

James - We all still have our day jobs so that keeps us pretty busy. Our drummer Andy is well into martial arts so I know he does a lot of that.

RB - To wrap things up is their anything else you would like to add?

James - I would just like people to go out and get our new album and listen to it with an open mind. As I said earlier, you will not be disappointed!!!

RB - Thank you very much for your time and congratulations on writing a great album and good luck for the future.

Interview by Alun Williams
Photographs taken from the band's website