THESE DEAD MACHINES – interview

Introduce your band, and describe your latest release:

The band is me, Dan. Until the late stages of the pandemic we were a 3-piece band under a different name but these days it’s just me! After playing around, working out how I’d continue after the band, I kind of found my sound and so after a few singles, found I had a collection of songs that worked well together. I’d not made an album before so loved getting to explore all of that – the themes and sounds that go across them.

What’s the hardest part about being a band in this day and age?

There are many…and perhaps some of them related to the loss of the dream of the heyday of the industry of years gone by? Another is that the viability of so many things is thrown off balance so while in theory anyone can make and release music in some form, it’s hard to have the money and the effort to sustain

When did you realise that your project had the potential to be much more than just a fun idea?

I think like many people, I just need to make music in some form or other. There was a moment in lockdowns that got me when I saw that we as a band had put out a bunch of singles but there were loads and loads of ideas that I hadn’t finished…and that didn’t feel good. Now I’m doing this as a one man band, I’d just going with it and trying to finish things instead of have 100s of unfinished ideas

Tell us about your latest release, why should we check it out?

It’s simple and honest. Though I mash up the lyrics, it’s about loss and a lot of personal stuff. It’s as much about the positive stuff even in the darkest of places.

How does a song typically come together for you?

I try not to learn other people’s songs, so when I get the spark or the urge to play something, it has to be how I’m feeling now. That sucks if people ask you to play something and you don’t know any crowd pleasers! It often means if I jam around a bit and swap instruments, you kind of hit the truth of what you’re feeling and a riff, a verse or verse and chorus kind of appear in a raw way. I try and capture that and name it…then if I’m in a mood that relates, I’ll pick up one of those ideas and move it on a bit more.

How would you describe your sound to an unfamiliar reader?

It does have a foot in the 90’s alt rock but qualities you can’t put your finger on…and a touch of the electronic from time to time

What do you want listeners to take away from listening to your band?

They might not know what I’m singing about but kind of identify with it. There’s big themes and throwaway comments…serious but not being serious about it…if you know what I mean

Where would you really like to tour that you haven’t done so yet, and why?

Those rare places where there’s a bunch of creative people sharing what they do. It’s not about volume of people, but just being able to share and listen

How would you say that the sound of your band has progressed over the years?

What I’ve lost in bouncing off others and playing live, I feel like has encouraged me to be more prepared to explore my sound and maybe have confidence in doing that? In a bunch of ideas I’ve had since I finished the album I can get the sense of how things are evolving and will keep doing so

How excited are you for 2025, and what can fans expect from you?

I’m starting with promoting an album and will drop more singles from it but eager to get back and record what may be an EP and just keep working on building an audience, one person at a time. It’s still one of the coolest things about doing this – seeing that a bunch of people in different parts of the world are listening to what you do!