Though they may have made a big name for themselves as part of Hooton Tennis Club, musicians James Madden and Ryan Murphy are now looking to kick things off with their new project Seatbelts as they deliver their latest single ‘Sinful City’.
Displaying a rich and diverse range of influences that span the world of music, culture and literature, ‘Sinful City’ sets itself as a wonderfully inventive and distinctive highlight on the new music soundscape. Exuding a distinctly Ziggy Stardust-era Bowie throughout, not to mention a bright and bouncing brass accompaniment, this new offering pits Seatbelts as an outfit we need to keep a close eye on in the months to come.
So with their new single out and about right now, we talked to the band to find out more about their inspirations and what plans they have in the near future.
Words by Chris Bound
Discovered via http://musosoup.com
Chris) Hi guys, how are you today?
Seatbelts) Good, thank you. Fresh from watching Bowie 2000 at virtual Glastonbury. We had the projector out, and flags and beach balls bouncing around our living room. So we’re feeling extremely inspired.
How would you best describe your sound and who have been your biggest influences?
Serious fun. Influence-wise: writers Mark Fisher and Bruce Chatwin. Filmmakers Jean-Luc Godard and Kelly Reichardt. Bands The Go-Betweens and Talking Heads. To name a few.
How would you say the band differs from your other project, Hooton Tennis Club?
Both bands have core musicians but Seatbelts is more open to changing formations and players. I guess this means that the approach and sound is different.
Can you tell us how your new single, ‘Sinful City’, came about?
It’s a product of living in the city. Late nights, expensive rents, luxury apartments, shit jobs and hankering for a break.
Was there a particular style you were looking for when you wrote it?
We just wanted it to sound immediate. Slowly building up like a scene from Jean-Luc Godard’s film, Weekend. The Solina strings towards the end aim to soften the song, inviting a utopian escape.
Can we expect a new EP or an album from you in the near future?
We’re aiming to release a new EP towards the end of July. We’re very excited to put this one out. Recorded in the heart of the Highlands with Edwyn Collins, it's magic.
The coronavirus outbreak has obviously affected everyone’s plans but what have you got in store for the rest of the year?
Continue to keep our plants healthy, some painting and keeping ourselves healthy. A few of us have various other music projects we’re working on too.
And finally, what has been your fondest memory as artists?
It’s got to be the aspect of working towards something, together. So more a feeling, an accomplishment, a tiny little growth for each of our souls. That’s priceless.s