An interview with Alterpodes
An interview with Alterpodes
What inspired the name of the band? What are your influences?
RM: Alterpodes are alternate spaces – they can be thousands of miles apart yet remain closely related in the imaginations of those who live within them. In the band we all come from very different backgrounds and places but we connect through our music.
Some of our influences are: David Bowie, The Beatles, Placebo, The Cure, Wolf Alice, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Blur, Sonic Youth, Smashing Pumpkins, The Beatles, The Pixies, My Bloody Valentine, Blood Red Shoes.
How do you approach songwriting? Are there any themes that you are keen to explore when you start off?
RM: I always think of melody first and then the lyrics just come and the melody usually just sort of appears in my head depending on my mood and what’s going on at the moment, then I just follow that as a guide to record some basic tracks and just keep building up on it.
HA: Whatever is moving me at the time. I have to feel connected to something – whether it’s something someone said, a piece of art, a TV show. Something that makes me feel alive and in the moment. I just try and capture that for myself. If I can encapsulate it in a theme then all the better. Hopefully others can relate in the way it comes out.
How do you approach songwriting? Are there any themes that you are keen to explore when you start off?
RM: I always think of melody first and then the lyrics just come and the melody usually just sort of appears in my head depending on my mood and what’s going on at the moment, then I just follow that as a guide to record some basic tracks and just keep building up on it.
HA: Whatever is moving me at the time. I have to feel connected to something – whether it’s something someone said, a piece of art, a TV show. Something that makes me feel alive and in the moment. I just try and capture that for myself. If I can encapsulate it in a theme then all the better. Hopefully others can relate in the way it comes out.
Why do you write the sort of music that you do?
RM: I have no clue why but it just moves me and I hope it can also do the same for those that listen to it or in the future watch our shows, I believe music is a changing force throughout the multiverse and we are just channels of that energy.
HA: I love guitar music and rock and roll. Something about the analogue feel of it, of fingers on strings and fretboards. It hails from a time when the balance between technology and humanity was just right. When the former served artistry and not the other way round. You still had to learn to play and that freedom of expression and therefore subtlety of emotion comes across best on live instruments. And rock suits it because it is simple and about the message rather than about the form.
How do you decide what songs to perform live and how do you transpose them into that live setting?
RM: We have yet to perform live with the current lineup since the pandemic began, we had some shows lineup last year but they were all canceled.
HA: It depends on the venue and the audience. But we like and energetic set to keep people’s attention in a noisy small venue, so whatever songs suit that. But we might change it up midset – you just never know!
How do you decide what songs to perform live and how do you transpose them into that live setting?
RM: We have yet to perform live with the current lineup since the pandemic began, we had some shows lineup last year but they were all canceled.
HA: It depends on the venue and the audience. But we like and energetic set to keep people’s attention in a noisy small venue, so whatever songs suit that. But we might change it up midset – you just never know!
What plans do you have for the future?
RM: We want to tour and put out more songs! We have so many now even on the works but also finished which we will be releasing soon so stay updated!
HA: Get jabbed and get on the road! It’s high time some music was heard!