Mama’s Gun : Interview

Combining the Neo-Soul sound of Mid 90’s America and mixing it with a splash of 70’s Funkadelic, Mama's Gun are a band that take the best bits of the past, present and future to create a unique tantalising sound that is sure to put a smile on everyone’s face.

The band have just released their debut album ‘Routes to Riches’ using an independent business model that saw them negotiate a deal with Universal, allowing the band to retain full creative control of their sound.  Furthermore, Mama's Gun have already enjoyed success finding themselves on many radio station playlists through 2008 with their single ‘Pots of Gold’ and have provided support for artists including Taio Cruz and De La Soul as well as having their own sell-out London date.  

We caught up with Lead Singer/Producer/Song-writer/Multi-Instrumentalist Andy Platt to really get under the skin of the band.

4or The Record: How did the band get together?

Andy Platt: We found each other through friends of friends (who thought we were musically compatible) and through social networking sites like Myspace.

It was pretty cool being able to use the voyeuristic side of the internet to be able to check out guys talents and playing abilities to find the right players and be able to form this ultimate band.

4TR: Who or what influences the band's song-writing?

AP: I write all the songs and would say I am influenced on a daily basis by the worry that I may never be able to write another song. I know that sounds weird but writing music is something I feel compelled to do, it’s not something I choose to do and therefore it’s who I am, it’s my life!

4TR: What did you listen to when you were growing up?

AP: I listened to a huge range of music throughout my growing years. First off I guess it was mainly the likes of The Beatles, ELO, Queen, The Who, The Doors, Joni Mitchel, then into my teens I hit the heavier rock stuff quite hard and got pretty into Nirvana etc but throughout all this I have always listened to and heavily admired Motown/Soul artists such as Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and many more from the jazz funk & blues world.

4TR: Are there any artists or bands you really like at the moment?

AP: I really like the Fleet Foxes a lot, Also Nino Michschella has a great new album out as does the artist K-os and I like a lot of the new stuff coming out on the Ubiquity label.

4TR: Can you explain the story behind your new single 'You are the music'?

AP: It’s a song salutation to that thing that drives songwriters everywhere, ‘the muse’. In this case it’s a certain person but I’m afraid I can’t reveal who that is, hopefully there is sentiment here that everyone can relate too.

4TR: How would you describe the sound of your album?

AP: Hopefully when you listen to the album, it’s a kaleidoscope of a record that travels through genres and isn’t tied down by anything. It’s just about good songs and a bunch of guys enjoying themselves playing it. The one thing it tries to keep is the euphoria of soul music, of Motown and all great records. It’s not trying to be anything, it just is.

4TR: Are you happy with the result?

AP: I don’t think anyone is every fully satisfied with any piece of art they create, be it a sculpture, a painting or an album, but you do feel extremely satisfied that you have achieved what you set out to achieve. Especially after all the hard work that has been put in, and to see that you have created a sound and collection of songs that represent you in a form you can share with others.

4TR: Do you get a 'buzz' out of playing live?

AP: Playing live is a major facet of Mama's Gun and is as crucial as the creation and recording of the music itself. It is something every one of us gets our fuel from and it’s also the only time where you stand face to face with your fans, literally sharing what we do with them and for them.

4TR: What do you think of the current state of the UK music scene?

AP: I think it’s a very exciting time for UK music because it’s wide open. Everything is in a state of change and flux and bands like us are taking advantage of that fact and are finding new and innovative ways to bring our music to the public and to build our fan base in ways that perhaps were closed doors before now.

4TR: What would success mean to the band?

AP: The biggest difference it would make to us is that it would allow us to have the time to be artistically free in all aspects and to make our music as authentic and credible as possible. Also it is every artists dream to share their life time work with the world, experiencing that happening would be the ultimate achievement for me.

4TR: What has been the proudest moment of your career so far?

AP: I probably felt the proudest the first time I heard myself on national radio, it was such a moment to have Chris Evans on the BBC Radio 2 drive time show embark on the very first play we had ever had publically!

4TR: Do you have any plans for the band’s future?

AP: Of course, Mama’s Gun is only at the beginning of our journey, we can’t wait to record more albums and to play to more and more people around the world. We have been performing a lot overseas lately and it has been really amazing to see the global power of music to translate past the barriers of language.

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