Band Of The Week #131 - Marsicans
This week’s Band Of The Week is indie-pop darlings Marsicans - who have finally graced us with their debut album ‘Ursa Major’, which is out now via Lab Records. The release sees the band pass all expectations to create something that is simply perfection at the highest level. We had a chat with vocalist James Newbigging about how the album came together at the famous Rockfield Studios.
Hey Marsicans, how are you? So the album is FINALLY here, how does it feel to have it out there? It has felt a long time coming.
We’re doing great thanks. It’s been a weird few months for everyone (to say the least), but having the album coming out has probably kept us sane. I’ve currently got a weird mix of excitement and relief, I mean, our album is out!
So the album is called ‘Ursa Major’ - does that title hold a certain meaning to you?
A Marsican is a bear species in Italy, and Ursa Major is The Great Bear constellation. We've never really mentioned the bear connection before, but we wanted to connect everything together through the artwork and lyrics. The lyric "It's time for a curtsy, Ursa Major"is from the song 'Juliet', technically the 1st song on the album and it was written to be that exact thing. It's almost like the album is introducing itself at the start and saying, "Here it is, thanks for waiting... now enjoy".
It was recorded at the legendary Rockfield Studios - where names like Queen, Oasis and The Stone Roses have all been. How did it feel to be in that room surrounded by all this history?
It really is a special place. I felt an enormous sense of privilege being able to record the album somewhere which is such a big part of music history. The first day we got there, Kingsley Ward, the owner, sat down in the studio and started talking to us about the place, what had gone on there and just generally filled us in on the place. We’d recorded some parts already before we went down, but a lot got re-recorded because we felt we zoned in a lot more when we got to Rockfield itself. It seemed to unlock a new part of us which I am very grateful for.
Usually you record in a tiny basement underneath a terraced house in Bradford, so what led you to Rockfield?
There were a couple of things really. We’d tried a few studios leading up the album sessions and knew we wanted to go residential this time to really concentrate on the album and the album only. I love how we normally record but, at the end of the day, when you get home and end up washing up or taking the bins out, you’re kind of forced back into reality a bit. We knew living somewhere whilst recording would free up our minds a bit, and there were many times on an evening where we’d be sat outside talking shit and ideas would come out of nowhere, which we would go down first thing to try out. We never quite managed to get a pedal steel player down to Wales though!
What is this unique connection you have with Coldplay and ‘Ursa Major’?
We were lucky enough that they tweeted a link to our single ‘Friends’ a couple of years back. Through our manager, they’ve sent us the odd encouraging message since, and even just writing this, it’s surreal. They recorded their debut album at Rockfield and said they had an incredible time. We might not quite reach where they have, but it’s nice to at least follow in a few of their footsteps.
What are the key themes and influences on the album?
Influence-wise, we tried to pull from as many places as we could. When we’re recording we’re very open to whatever sounds we can find and, if someone pulls out a new instrument from a cupboard, it’s probably going to find its way onto a song, some way or another. Joe Jones the engineer was amazing to work with. He knew the studio space so well and was always passing us synths/ basses etc. that he had to try help us find certain sounds.
The record mainly focuses on feeling lost in the world and trying to find your place within it - and wondering if there is actually a set place for you within it. I think one of the main things that’s informed me over the past couple of years is I don’t know what I’m doing, no one else really knows what they’re doing, and that’s fine. Actually processing and being comfortable with that is something I think I’ll spend a lifetime doing.
There is a track on the album called ‘Someone Else’s Touch’ - which is one of the oldest songs to make it on the release. What made you decide to add it to ‘Ursa Major’?
When we initially wrote it, we knew we loved the track. At the time we were only releasing singles really, and it didn’t feel right for that. So we kind of agreed we’d save it for the album. It was one of those "when the time feels right" things, and I think it being right in the middle of the album is both the right time and place for it.
Do you have a favorite lyric on the album? If so, which one and why?
One of my favourites is “it’s just some love story shit” (from 'Sunday'). I was at my friend’s house and I asked his dad what he was watching and he came out with the line. When I’m writing, I usually try to take a huge subject matter and distill it down to something very basic and almost trivial, and I felt like it he nailed it without trying. It’s a perfect mix of tongue in cheek, but actually still acknowledging his participation within it. To me, it sums up the whole love song theme in 6 words - cheers, Brian, if you’re reading this.
Now the album is out there - what next for Marsicans?
We’ve rescheduled some tour dates for April, so fingers crossed for that. We’re desperate to get playing live again, but it’s just a waiting game. Rob and I used lockdown to dive into writing again so there’s enough for at least the next album, and probably one after that.