It’s always nice to have a side of sunshine when you’re in the midst of winter, so we thought there was no better time than the present to deliver a new interview with The Northern Threads. We talked not only about their latest release, “Sunshine Collective,” but also about what is on the horizon in the coming months.
Kendra: We’ll start with an easy one, how did you all come together? Were you friends before the music, or were you four musicians looking to connect?
Robbie: We were all best mates before we properly started the band, me and Jake played a few acoustic gigs initially, then got Ethan on board to play bass and then Ethan brought Sean in on the drums. We all sort of learned our craft together through being in the band really, we still struggle to call ourselves “musicians” really, we’re just four mates in a band who write tunes.
Kendra: So listening to “Sunshine Collective” took me back to the 2000s when shows like ‘The OC’ were huge and everyone was wearing Abercrombie. Well, everyone with money so not me…but anyways, I wanted to know was that the era you sort of found yourself coming of age musically?
Robbie: I would say so yeah, with us being born between 1998 and 1999 we probably caught the back end of the 2000s when it came to bands/artists, etc. For me personally, there was always music in the house growing up, either coming from my parents or my brother, stuff like the mod scene and then more modern indie music at the time. But as a band, we love all sorts, the music we play in the van will vary from guitar music to house music and anything in between really.
Kendra: While “Sunshine Collective” felt like a day in the sun, “Solace” delivered a night out on the town. Perhaps at a show? With that, what’s your favorite local spot to play as a band vs. your favorite to go to as a fan?
Ethan: In Whitehaven, there aren’t many venues that can hold a band, but the one that does have them on often is the yellow earl. We go down most times there’s a band in, even a tribute act on occasions. I would have to say the same place as a “fan.” The bands that play there are more or less picked out by people in the town. It’s a place for live music and like-minded people seem to congregate there.
Kendra: We’re in the midst of the winter right now, but my mind can’t help but warm up thinking about all of the summer festivals approaching later this year. For you, what are three elements that make a festival perfect?
Ethan: Honestly I don’t think festivals have any ideal elements. Especially in England. But if I had to pick three. I’d go for friends, music, and drink. In that order.
Kendra: So time for a side note – with love in the air, I’d love to know what is the #1 song you’d put on a mixtape as part of a Valentine’s Day gift?
Jake: I’ve actually got a playlist called “Smooth Tony” for this particular vibe, definitely going for “You To Me Are Everything” by The Real Thing. If it needs something more up to date I used to love “Hate That I Love You” by Rihanna and Ne-Yo. Both songs make me want to let my hair down and that’s what I love about guilty pleasures.
Kendra: Lastly, what else can be on the lookout from you come?
Jake: We are currently working on some demos for an EP to be released coming up, patching up our live sets with a new setlist and really just tightening up our performance for recording. With the new EP, there will be all the jazz of new merch designs and social media content so keep an eye out for that.
