A QUICK DOZEN with JAMES REDMAN, THE LIMBS

A QUICK DOZEN with JAMES REDMAN, THE LIMBS
By Shane Pinnegar

Perth band The Limbs have just released new single You Caught Me At A Bad Time. Singer James Redman got comfy to answer a Quick Dozen for us.

1. Tell us a little about your latest release. Are there any hidden nuggets the band put in the material that only diehard fans might pick up on?

The single is called You Caught Me At A Bad Time. I wrote it about a previous relationship, that with hindsight, was fraught with problems from the beginning. It tries to capture that moment where you realize that neither of you were ready for something. We’ve been playing the song for almost two years but have only managed to release the track now due to financial restrictions. It’s tough out there and very expensive. In terms of hidden nuggets, I guess you could say the plucked muted string in the verse could be heard as the hand of a clock ticking.. that’s the best I’ve got really.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realised you wanted to be a musician?

I started playing guitar when I was 14. I was pretty obsessed right from the beginning. A friend of mine played guitar and listened to The Smashing Pumpkins and got me into them. They were the band for me. They changed my life completely. All I did day and night was play guitar and watch their live performances and listen to Siamese Dream. I was absolutely obsessed and I knew that I wanted to be a songwriter and play music. That to me, seemed like the only thing that was worthwhile. I still think that way and I’m still stupidly hopelessly obsessed.

3. Who would be your main five musical influences?

Off the top of my head… Blur, Smashing Pumpkins, Pixies, Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be?

Damon Albarn from Blur. I’m obsessed with his way with melody. He’s also a genius arranger and composer.

5. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before?

I would say that we have punk furnishing with an 90’s alternative rock interior and a shoegazey front lawn.

6. What’s the best thing about being a musician?

Playing shows, writing songs, hanging out with the band, and sometimes recording, although that can be stressful sometimes.

7. When the band are all hanging out together, who cooks; who gets the drinks in; and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

Metaphorically Michael the bass player would be the cook, as he is want to merry make from time to time. I don’t know if he actually cooks. To this date he’s never cooked the band a meal. Three of the band members are dead poor so we buy our own drinks when we can afford it. I would definitely say I would be whipping out the acoustic but there’s never been a singalong. Maybe one day.

8. If you weren’t a musician, what would be your dream job?

I’m studying to be a professional writer. That may be my job one day, but it won’t be my dream. My dream job would be to be a musician, which judging from our financial situation, might not qualify as a legitimate job… yet.

9. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep, or you would like to be able to “do over”?

Most things I’ve done have been missteps. I’ve kept people in the band that were clearly not right for it. I’ve taken bad gigs, I’ve been a little anti-social. I’ve invested band money and time into people that did nothing for us. But I guess we’re feeling pretty good at the moment so things have worked themselves out despite my missteps… maybe they weren’t missteps after all.

10. If you were made ruler of the world, what would your first orders be?

Probably to make people read. Kill Donald Trump. Invest money into scientific research. Eradicate racism. Have compulsory seminars where people are explained in clear detail the devastating consequences of social media on the human psyche. Close down fast food chains. Shut down Infowars and put Alex Jones in jail. Throw all the guns out of America.

11. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

That is a hard one! Right off the top of my head I would say the recording sessions for Remain In Light by The Talking Heads. It would’ve been incredible to see David Byrne and Brian Eno work together. All the tracks have these very unusual structures and this intense kinetic instrumentation that the energy in the room must have been palpable. That album to me was a bit of a game changer in terms of how I saw song writing and structure. It also opened my eyes to how effective repetition and groove is. The lyrics are incredible too. It does peter out towards the end though.

I honestly could have a million of these.

12. What, for you, is the meaning of life??

Man this is a deep interview. Hitchhikers guide to the galaxy figured that out I think. It was 42. But seriously… Creativity and growth.

Category: Interviews