It's a wicked Wiija
night at Camden Dingwalls, the last half hour has been spent
interviewing Sgt Rock but headliners and label mates Brassy
are also under the light. Being the centre of attention is something
the band revels in.
It's 2000, but the first actual Brassy record release was 'Boss'
in 1996. Does that make you feel old, that you've been around
a bit?
"We certainly do," quips Jonny. "We've been producing
singles so it's good to finally get the chance to record an
album properly."
"There's been lots of singles, lots of toilet tours,"
admits Stefan.
"More toilet tours than I care to remember really,"
laughs Karen loudly.
Manchester bands with American female singers aren't exactly
the norm. Muffin claims she trapped her thigh getting off the
plane and met Karen at the Swedish massage parlour where she
went for treatment, later the two would form a great friendship.
Karen massaged your thigh then?
"Yeah. I had this really serious injury to one of my muscles
I was on crutches."
"And I came in asking for extras," laughs Jonny. It's
a comment that sends us laughing and gives us an insight to
Jonny's forthcoming examples of very down-to-earth humour. "And
Karen slapped me in the face. I said 'Right I'm leaving, but
girl you've got good rhythm'."
It took effectively three years to get where they are today.
At a time when Britpop was ruling the airwaves 'Boss' led comparisons
to Elastica, which were inevitable but over time things would
change. Three singles were released on independent imprint Costermonger,
home also to Gene, before the label ran out of money and left
Brassy having to fend for themselves. The band's drummer Jonny
Barrington under the alias of DJ Swett would subsequently introduce
some scratchings and a few breaks and beeps.
"We targeted some record companies with our new material,
Wiija was one of them," exclaims Jonny. "They liked
what they heard and signed us."
Indeed their debut for the Wiija Records label, the 'Bonus Beats
EP', attracted the attention of turntablist Rob Swift who offered
to remix their single 'I Can't Wait'. To be in a position with
a credible label would be rewarding as Stefan would explain.
"Signing to Wiija was a great pay off for all the hard
work we'd made and the crap that we had to put up with."
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