Inspired #396 - Daisy Brain
After explosive performances at Reading and Leeds Festival this summer - London based indie-grunge artist Daisy Brain is gearing up for a huge show at London’s iconic Omeara on the 12th December.
In April, Daisy Brain released EP ‘Disconnected Happy,’ featuring tracks ‘Down’, ‘What Would You Do?’ and ‘Digital Atlas’. These tracks received great radio support, including from the likes of Steve Lamacq, Daniel P Carter, Greg James and Jack Saunders. This summer, Daisy Brain released latest single ‘Small Matters’. The angsty track was met with great reception, premiering as Jack Saunders ‘Power Play’ on BBC Radio 1’s Indie Show. Accompanying the track, the ‘Small Matters’ video, which was directed by Sully and filmed at Hackney Bumps Skate Park and Paradise Slice pizza shop, gathers some of Daisy Brain’s friends to create a visual that showcases the highs and lows of life.
They took a moment to talk to us about the inspirations behind their music and latest single ‘Small Matters’.
Who are your top three musical inspirations and why?
Thurston Moore because of the way he uses guitar and effects pedals as a texture for his songs rather than using them in a more traditional sense. A lot of ambient/noisy textures you here in my music were inspired by him.
J Mascis because I've always hated guitar solos in songs until I heard his. I love how messy he plays and how scatty the melodies in his solos are. He also inspired me tonally and through listening to Dinosaur Jr, I learnt a lot about how to use fuzz pedals in non-traditional ways.
Stephen Malkmus because in a composition/song writing sense I feel he has shaped my music, especially in how I write songs on guitar.
Is there a certain film that inspires you and why?
As You Are. This film has an incredible soundtrack and a really dark undertone throughout the whole movie. The way each character develops as well as the story line, connects with me on multiple levels and I always imagine (at least sonically) as I write my songs, if they would work on that film as I go.
What city do you find the most inspiring and why?
Leeds. It’s where I use to live and where I started writing my own songs. When I imagine most of the scenarios in my songs, usually they take place there, even if in reality, they may have taken place somewhere else.
Who is the most inspiring person to you and why?
Russian Dan. I write with him. I lived with him. We create everything together. We’ve gone through the worst and best times of our lives together.
What were your inspirations when writing your new track?
Honestly, just the situation I was going through at the time. All my songs tend to be written during the time they are about. So, I was pretty anxious about everything when I wrote this new one, and almost couldn’t process/digest these situations in fear or having some crazy meltdown. lol.
How would you like to inspire people?
I want to inspire people to be honest about the way they feel. To accept the way they feel and project those feelings in a positive and productive way.
