Band of the Week #005: Shanghai Blues
This weeks 'Band of the Week' is London four piece Shanghai Blues, who over the last twelve months have wasted no time in gaining the attention of Spotify and BBC Introducing. After a number of crazy headline shows, the band this week released new single, 'Tense' and took a few moments to talk to us about the track and their plans for the future.
What are the ideas and themes behind the track?
Lyrically it's somewhat of an unconventional love song. It's essentially written around the protagonist expressing the adverse effects of feeling helpless without someone but feeling powerless to change that because just like the chemical dopamine, she's the only thing that makes him happy. As with everything it's super open to interpretation because it's written from a personal experience, and people always seem to take different things from the story. Musically, we wanted to push the boundaries and build on the foundations we'd laid with our previous releases. AKA - melt your fucking face off with some blistering lead sections. Music lacks balls these days, and we're trying to bring that back.
How did the song come about? Where was it recorded? Any behind the scenes studio stories?
Tense came about almost by accident. In fact, our whole creative process revolves around a very small, very loud rehearsal room in East London where we smash ideas at each other. We recorded with Oz Craggs (Mallory Knox, Neck Deep) at Hidden Track Studios in Folkestone. The whole experience revolved around lots of beer with our pals Skies and Native People, many trips to Mr. Baguette and the phrases "chezzz" and "heeeeyyyyyy" being thrown around far too much. James actually improvised a section of the solo during the take that got used and had to admit afterwards that he wasn't entirely sure how he actually played it, haha!
You are heading out on tour soon. What are you looking forward to the most about it?
So so excited to be on our mini tour! It kicked off a few weeks ago headlining Old Blue Last which was just mental. We're stoked to be getting out of London to play to a whole host of new faces in new city’s. We've got CSP in Canterbury this coming Saturday (29th), a headline hometown show on the 6th and then we're off up to Leeds to support Theme Park on the 12th. The 19th will see us back in London supporting the mighty Glass Caves which is going to be insane!
Catch Shanghai Blues at one of these dates below:
April 29th - City Sound Project
May 6th - Luna Lounge
May 12th - Brudenell Social Club w/ Theme Park
May 19th - Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen w/ Glass Caves
June 10th - Sanctuary Live UK