Great cynics (UK)
Cynics is a great acoustic driven band from the UK. Always in for a party and the songs will be stuck in your head for days, which in this case is a good thing! North Empire had a few questions for Giles. Also in the band are Bob (drums) and Anna (bass).
Could you please introduce yourself first?
Giles Bidder. I play guitar and sing in Cynics, which was originally a solo acoustic thing.
Always the most cheesiest question to ask, but why are you called Cynics?
Anyone who starts a band or zine/comic/anything creative, there are always people who doubt you and tell you it’s never going to go the way you want it to. Calling it Cynics was my way of saying that no-one has the right to tell you what you can or can’t do.
What have you done before and what has made you decide to go acoustic?
It’s no longer acoustic, Cynics is now a three piece band. I decided to start it as an acoustic thing cos I had just moved to a new town after where I didn’t know very many people to start a band with. I had an acoustic guitar, I learnt some chords and starting writing songs that sounded pleasing to me. It was never an official decision or whatever, it was just conveniant, fun and stress free. Before all that I played trumpet in a ska band.
So you’ve been in bands before, went acoustic, what made you want having a band again?
Late last year I had an album’s worth of songs written and I figured if I didn’t record an album soon then I never would. I practised with a drummer and it made the songs sound a whole lot more fun, so we kept it that way. We’ve never had an official plan, we’ve just done what feels natural.
What are your songs about generally?
Just things that create a spark in my head. I sing about what I know or what matters to me. I’m not big into metaphors or anything like that.
Do you have any plans for a full length?
We recorded our first album in January which is coming out in June. We recorded it with Peter Miles, who’s produced some of my favourite bands like The Steal, Captain Everything! and The King Blues.
What do you expect from touring the mainland?
Apparently promoters there are very hospitable, so I think I’ll be saying “thank you” a lot. I would also really like to find some lakes along the drives to go swimming in.
What is your aim in music?
To show that anyone can do what we’re doing and to share our music with as many people as possible while seeing as much of the world we can.
Is there anything you would like to achieve?
My general aim in life is to never have a real job.
Any fun stories about fun people/situations you’d like to share with us?
Most stories I have will probably make me appear like a huge weirdo and/or criminal. But the other night a female friend pissed all over me down a back alley in Camden.
Anything to add?
We’ve had a lot of luck recently, so thanks to everyone who has had their part in that. Our album is out in June, so get hold of it and email us to play in your town and get us on tour. You can download Dave & Angela, a 3 song sampler from the album, for free/donation at; www.kindlikerecords.com- tell your friends and keep on keeping on.
Cynics will be on tour as a full band throughout mainland Europe soon, accompanied by Bad Ideas (UK). North Empire will be putting them on (with Translated) May 17th at Cafe Lokaal, Heemskerk, NL. Check out the other dates / free downloads / other info over at:http://ihatecynics.tumblr.com/