Interview: Pocus Whiteface

Just based on the strength of their 7", I thought Pocus Whiteface would make a fine interview. Since they're across the ocean, we did this one via email, but each member got his two cents in.

RnRnMN: Many of the bands that you list as influences fall into the post-punk genre and I can definitely hear that in your sound. However, I also hear a looser garage sound. Where does that come from?

Joe: When i was starting out playing guitar I played a lot in my grandparents garage, so it could be that. We always played with door open to get that loose "open" sound. Although i play drums now, there's a lot feel that you learn at an early age.

Theo: Possibly from me. I didn't start the guitar until I was 20 and as such I'm a fairly loose guitarist who likes to use distortion to get around my lack of precision. Also I'm probably more heavily influenced by that sort of music when I write my bits.

Will: Probably from Theo. I need to loosen up more. But I love how Theo's great loose style often dances over the top of the bass and drum groove.


RnRnMN: There are a lot of bands out there playing both garage and post-punk influenced material. Why should someone check out Pocus Whiteface? What sets you apart?

Joe: The Songs. Non-yankee sounding vocals. We're not trying to sound like the Killers, the White Stripes, or anyone recent. There's clearly a love for our favourite bands, but the influence swirl together like some kind of delicious ice cream.

Theo: It's not a question I've ever even considered. I'd have thought what sets us apart is a spread of styles that still sound strongly of 'Pocus' and somewhat humorous take on lyrics and song structure. I think we write in a way that's quite cooperative and makes the songs much stronger.

Will: We try to keep our songs interesting. There's often something quirky going on.

RnRnMN: If you had to pick a theme for Pocus Whiteface, what would it be?

Joe: something like the theme from Minder. Upbeat but with an gritty english sound.

Theo: 'Twisted' maybe? Not in a Marilyn Manson way obviously, but I think a lot of our songs have slightly odd ideas lyrically or tend to break up a straight song with something different. I once described us as sounding like all the unlistenable bits of In Utero, though I'm not sure how true that is.

Will: Um, probably paisley.

RnRnMN: Your EP is a free download on the internet. Obviously, you didn't plan to make any money on that directly, but there must've been a plan for how it would work out. What was the plan? How did it work out?

Will: As far as I remember at the time we didn't have a plan about anything. We'd played together for a couple of months only when the
Hemrig guy contacted us about putting some songs out through his website. Seemed a great idea. We gave him the best we had at the time.
I guess they're demo takes really. There's always the option of putting newer versions of these out on a future release.

Joe: It's all good publicity. :0) It's worked out very well.

Theo: well actually I don't remember there being a plan. Shortly after we put our music up, Tim contacted us to say he had a free net label and wondered if we'd let him put 5 or 6 tracks out as an EP. I guess the main plan I had was that we'd write a lot more good songs because it would have been a bit depressing if that stuff, good as it was, was the best thing we'd ever do. And I think we've written stuff as good as the best in the EP, and better than most of it since then, so that's good. We still play three tracks from it live in almost every gig and if we had a 45 minute headline slot we'd probably play more. The plan was to have that as an early free release and then charge something for music from now on, even if only a nominal amount, and I think we're doing that okay.

RnRnMN: The 7" comes in a really nice package (heavy sleeve, nice vinyl), especially for something self-released. It seems like the opposite end of the spectrum from the internet EP. I'm guessing that you aren't making a ton on this either, but that there is also a plan. How has the 7" worked out versus the free EP?

Joe: I love the 7" - two great songs and as you say, great packaging. We sell a few at each gig and it's a change from the ubiquious CDR's.

Theo: Ah, I've probably given too many away for free to hard-up friends but we're trying to push it now so that little independent stores stock it and trying to remember to bring them to every gig if possible. I think our 'profit' on each on is in the region of 20 pence but then there are always going to be ones you give away to friends, family, labels, etc. When we made them it wasn't to make back any money. We deliberately decided we'd rather have good artwork and a heavyweight sleeve and make sure it was really worth holding on to. We wanted to put those very early songs out there and their short length made this seem like a great way to do it; if we did it again now I'm guessing we'd put Dr. Emery's First Law of Arse and Keeps You from Mine on there or something but these things take so much time from conception, recording, mastering, etc.

Will: I've always loved the packaging a record comes in. It matters. I dunno how we are financially on this one. We're trying not to give too
many away ..

RnRnMN: Do you have a full-length release planned?

Joe: We've only just started talking about it.. but yes, there will certainly be an album next year. We've got the skills to record to a decent quality now, so we've just got to record an album !

Will: Maybe. We've almost got enough material for a solid full-length. We're probably about to do another EP first though. It might then be a little while longer before we can do a really good one without reissuing tracks from either this or the first EP.

Theo: Not as yet. We could do one but we'd really need a label to do it. So until then it'll probably be EPs or strange stuff. We're planning a 10 -copy ultra-limited run of 10"s done by our friend Doug who mastered the 7". Each one would be expensive and more about the collection and art value than the music, most likely.

RnRnMN: Will's artwork on the 7" is really cool. It's actually the first thing that attracted me to check out Pocus Whiteface. Will, how does art fit in with music for you?

Will: Pretty much as I said above. Though I guess I have a lot more music as mp3 than other formats now, I love the whole package you get when you buy a record. Like you say, I've checked out several bands because I liked the artwork. Maybe it shows that the band cares more about how the music is to be received. Especially when the band is closely involved in the artwork.

RnRnMN: Looking at your gig list, it seems that you've played mostly local shows. Do you have plans to expand that with a tour? Any plans to come to the US?

Joe: I love travelling, but there's the practicality of taking extended leave from work to consider.. It's be great to do a few gig in the US though..

Will: Yeah! When we get a sponsor. Early days yet. There's so much scope for playing in London there's not been much need to play anywhere else yet .. But we'd like to start playing shows further afield certainly.

Theo: We would love to play outside of London but it's hard to find promoters and then get those promoters to put you on. We don't have a big 'buzz' around us I guess and we don't have a touring vehicle, but we do have a willingness to spend our money to achieve these things. I am going to look at organising gigs in other cities maybe but it's a lot of money to have to lose really. As to the US, well I think we'd need some big label funding that.

RnRnMN: Pick one from each pair:

The Beatles versus the Stones
Joe: phew, tough one. Love the rockier side of the Beatles. Has to be Stones though, i really grew up on them.
Will: Stooges

Iron Maiden versus Judas Priest
Joe: I never really got Judas Priest. Iron Maiden anyday, especially the first four albums..
Will: Iron Maiden (esp. Number of the Beast)

The Buzzcocks versus the Fall
Joe: the Fall.
Will: Buzzcocks. Probably.

Husker Du versus the Pixies
Joe: I'm a bigger fan of the Pixies
Will: Pixies. Though Husker Du are brilliant.

Public Enemy versus NWA
Joe: Public Enemy -they held it together for more than one album !
Will: Public Enemey

Hank Williams versus Johnny Cash
Joe: johnny cash. Fulsom Prison is such a top album...
Will: Johnny Cash

Theo: I'm goint to pick 'Public Enemy versus NWA' so I look cool...but actually 'Husker Du versus Pixies' is probably more my sort of contest, and I'd be on the side of the Pixies there. (Oh and I'd pick Public Enemy over NWA but I don't really know much more than an album and a few singles so it's a bit of a cheat.) [I realise I answered the last question wrong. But Will said to keep it that way, so I have! :D]