Interview - Sam Chadwick      

(The Velcro Teddybears)

 

 

You've been in The Velcro Teddybears from the beginning, do you ever take a step back and look at how you've evolved both personally and as a band?

 

I think you are constantly thinking about that evolution, maybe not in an entirely conscious way, but you are definitely aware of where you have come from, where you are at, and where you want to go. Whether that be in terms of the songs you are writing/ how you are writing, the shows you are playing at (too few, too many, right venues), or how you are putting yourself (both in the physical contact with those who interact with you, but also on the vast array of digital platforms which have become such a cornerstone for a bands development these days, be that a good thing or bad).

 

Obviously there have been a few changes over time, do you think that'll be it now or are you constantly looking to further your sound?

 

It would be wrong to say that we won't change over time, it might not be time for the symphony orchestra thing yet, but hopefully the further we go the greater access we will have to other musical tools. Like the conversion from acoustic to electric, there was never a pomposity of we are an acoustic band. It was a case of 'We all fit in a corsa. That's how we can travel. That's the sound we can make now'.

 

In terms of playing live, which still gets you going most; electric or acoustic?

 

For me, I take different things out of both. Our roots as an acoustic duo mean I was writing a lot of the songs to that format and some of the songs really only belong played that way. The electric thing is a completely different sensation, with that wall of sound behind you, it really was an eye-opener when we were first playing that live. I think we will always be able to balance both though.

 

You've just announced a 'mini-tour'. There are a few gigs back in Barnsley for you there, always nice to go back and play home?

 

It's always good to play at home. Barnsley has not had a great time of it, but recently it seems that there is a contingent that is willing to put the time in to provide good nights there. Both in terms of venues having music a staple entertainment source, and independent promoters putting nights together. One of the reasons for re-locating to Sheffield was the greater access to venues and events. The regularity with which we have played open mic nights to the biggest of the venues has definitely established us a notoriety within the city. This is maybe not quite so strong back in the home town, but that is something this tour will go some way to remedying.

 

You also do the sound for other bands, does having experience of dealing withsound men yourself alter the way you set bands up?

 

I treat every band the same, the same as how I expect to be treated when playing a venue. It does open your eyes to just how many, how shall we put it, 'wankers' are about. The 'soundman' is the one person as a band you should be making friends with. At the end of the day they will dictate your sound. A sort of primary objective I would have thought, but it is good to engage with other acts and have a constant stream of live new music.

 

You've released an acoustic E.P, and series of videos of you playing electric. What's next, an electric E.P?

 

It's always been a case of little steps for us, winning Yorkshire Unplugged gave us the studio time to do the acoustic E.P. that we had been working on for so long. The electric videos were a way to show what we can do in the new style without going to full extent of paying £250 a day for a studio and recording when we may have not have been completely ready. I think it will be a case of touring and writing through the summer, testing the new stuff and getting the set bang on. Then we will have a sit down and look towards recording a full album in the Autumn incorporating all aspects of our repertoire.