Interview: Five Minutes with Paradas
Indie-rock outfit Paradas, have announced that their new single ‘With No Feeling’ which will be released on the 17th of April 2020 via Paradas Records. The single premiered via VENTS Magazine and comes directly off their upcoming EP, After This (17 June 2020). The group has received support from BBC Radio including BBC Introducing Alan Raw and BBC Sussex & BBC Surrey’s Sylvie Blackmore. Paradas consists of South African lead singer Liam Schwegmann, London drummer Danny Pash, Lincoln pianist Harry Scott, Manchester lead guitarist Matt Hanson, and bassist Cameron Maxwell. They have supported acts like Red Rum Club and Max Bloom, of Yuck. The band is inspired by acts such as Kings of Leon, Stereophonics, Pixies, Courteeners and Foo Fighters.
We find out more about these indie-rockers in this exclusive interview below.
Set the tone for us. Why the arts?
Creating music has always been a huge passion of ours as well as an emotional outlet. We can’t and don’t want to see ourselves in any other career.
Which comes first when you’re producing – the sound or the idea?
We start off with an idea, it could be a chord progression, vocal melody or a guitar riff, that is then influenced and developed by the rest of the band.
Does your material feature any collaborations?
No, it does not.
What’s on your current playlist?
Ocean Alley
Kings of Leon
Inhaler
Blossoms
Miles Kane
Talking Heads
The Beatles
Tom Misch
Biffy Clyro
Tell us about the chemistry you have with your fans on stage.
We enjoy performing live and the energy we give off onstage impacts our crowd. This then creates the chemistry between us and our fans.
What techniques do you experiment with to get your original sound?
Our sound comes from a combination of layering guitar riffs, melodic vocals lines, intricate bass lines on top of an alternative rock drumbeat, with afro driven breakdowns.
Take us through a day in the recording studio.
We like to track a song a day separately so that we can focus and capture the specific sound, and feel of each song correctly. This means we layer from the bottoms upwards: Drums, Bass, Guitars, Keys then vocals. We also like to indulge in a couple of beers and Maccies throughout the process, for moral purposes.
Was there a specific moment in your life where you thought, “this is what I want to do”?
When I looked at my GCSE grades compared to my Fender Jazz master. I’ve always had a huge passion for creating music and nothing comes close. – Matt Hanson
Started music as my chat with the ladies was sh*t, then the passion of it stuck but I always have enjoyed the art of songwriting, and wanted to make it a profession – Liam Schwegmann
I couldn’t do anything else so I learned to play drums, still can’t really do that. I started from a young age and it became my place to get away from everything – Danny Pash
What do you keep close by while you’re playing a set?
Set List
Guitar Picks
Drums Sticks
Beer
Glass of water
Any emerging artists on your radar?
Inhaler
ISLAND
Ocean Alley
What gets your creative juices flowing?
A couple of acoustic guitars, some beers, a pen, and a note pad.
Take us through your collection of gear, tech or software that accompanies your creative expression.
Danny (Drums) – Sonor select force kit with Promark drumsticks, Evans drumheads, and Sabian cymbals.
Matt (Lead Guitar) – Fender Jazzmaster guitar, MXR Carbon Delay, Fender Distortion, Boss Tremelo, and a Big Muff, Marshal MG 100 Amp Head with Cab.
Liam (Vocals & Rhythm Guitar) – Fender Troublemaker, MXR Carbon Delay, MXR 78 Distortion and Strymon Flint Reverb and Tremolo, Marshal Origin Amp
Cam (Bass) – Sterling Ray4 Sub Bass, Ashdown Mag 300 Amp
Harry (Keys) – Roland RV170 and a Yamaha PSR-E463
Any side projects you’re working on?
Our main focus is writing and creating new music for the band.
How have you refined your craft since you entered the industry?
We have developed our own unique sound within the alternative rock scene over that the two years the band has been together.
Breakdown the news for us: what can we expect from you this year?
The release of our debut EP, a possible tour and the birth of a Paradas 5 a side team.
Follow Paradas:
Facebook – Twitter – Soundcloud – Youtube – Spotify
