01Profile
A Norman Photo
Norman
Musicians — Bristol
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
Norman, Bristol, but Harry and Natty would like to emphasise that they’re from St. Paul’s and Brislington, respectively.
Describe your style in three words?
Jack: Charity shop chic.
Meg: Dark, smart, mesh.
Henry: This will do.
Harry: People have said I'm always 'well put together'.
Natty: Powerful Sweater Vests.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
M: The Cure at the Royal Albert Hall. They were a huge influence on me growing up and they got me properly into music so seeing them live was the pinnacle of happiness for me when I was 15. I cried for days after I saw them.
N: Serpentwithfeet and End of The Road was breath-taking, such a simple stage show that really drew focus to the brilliance in the songs. The most expressive voice I have ever heard in such a beautiful setting - really got the tears going.
If you could be on the line up with any two artists in history?
J: Firstly, Suicide so that I can see Alan Vaga do his thing. It would have to be young Suicide tho, wanna get hit in the face by some chains. I’d also have Grace Jones play. She’s everything. I was lucky enough to see her when I was 16 at Love Supreme. I didn’t know who she was at the time but it really blew me away. That still ranks in the top shows I’ve seen.
He: The Birthday Party and CAN would be one hell of a night.
Which subcultures have influenced you?
J: In terms of fashion, I guess Teddy Boys. They always dressed the coolest to me, always had the best shoes. Beatniks have influenced me a lot. The only book I’ve read as an adult is this Beat Poetry compilation, which has really influenced how I write lyrics.
M: Mods and Goths: I love the fashion and music from both. I don't think any of it will really go out of style if you do it subtly- whether it's music or clothes. I try as much as possible to incorporate both into any fashion or music choices I make.
He: I find Motown really intriguing and inspiring. I love the music, the history behind it and everything that’s come from it, plus it’s always inspiring to see people, throughout all of history and culture, breaking down barriers of segregation and giving us some really timeless music.
Ha: The late '70s / early '80s No Wave movement in New York. The way punk/jazz/electronic or whatever other influences were dismantled & put together again in a genuine (at the time) 'we're not trying to be a scene' way.
N: I spent most of my late teenage years being a subcultural sponge, it's always been something very close to my heart. It started when my friends and I would go to ska and mod weekenders with their skinhead dads. I don’t think there has been a British musical subculture I haven't spent hours researching, recently I have been super influenced by Psychobilly and the Bootboy/Glam rock crossover, both really interesting movements.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
M: Virginia Woolf: she wrote so much about the obstacles women face in being creative- whether it's external expectations or internal prejudice against ourselves as women. These both hinder us from achieving what we want. I'd love to talk to her and ask her advice on overcoming self-doubt. Her non-fiction writing is beautiful and incredibly influential as well. She had a unique mind.
Ha: Frank Sinatra - his musicality as in rhythm and phrasing plus deep feeling wise, his voice was perfection. I reckon I'd just breathe in his aura and expensive cologne for an hour. There are loads of lesser-known records of his which are amazing. One I've listened to a bit at the moment is 'Drinking Water'.
Of all the venues you’ve been to or played, which is your favourite?
He: The Old England. It’s our roots. I love the stage, the room, the sound, the pub, location, there’s probably nostalgia and sentimentality there for me too but I’m always my happiest playing there.
Ha: Away from Bristol as each venue has memories, The Lexington in London for me. I love the layout, decor and how it feels looking out on the audience when on stage.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
J: Arthur Russell, no question. I’d consider Arthur Russell a hero of mine so I’m always going to say he’s underrated. He had a massive impact on mainstream artists like Laurie Anderson and Talking Heads but was never really credited for his influence. He had such a unique view on songwriting, composition and production due to his ridiculous backstory - running away from home to a Buddhist commune, then accompanying Allan Ginsberg on cello in San Francisco, then going to New York and everything he did at The Kitchen. I find him really inspiring.
He: Gotta be Tony Williams again (sorry to be boring). Amongst drummers, he is far from an unsung hero, but his influence on music as a whole is horrifyingly overlooked. He was 17 when he joined Miles Davis, which is unbelievable enough, and Miles essentially changed his sound around his style. So when people say Miles Davis changed Jazz 5 times, Tony was pretty much one of them. After he left Miles, he recorded ‘Emergency!’ which was such a pioneering influence on Jazz fusion. He was a damn good composer, which is really overlooked and I actually really like his vocals and lyrics; I could listen to the tune ‘Beyond Games’ all day every day.
Read the full unabridged interview below
02Playlist
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
J: 'Anyone Else But You' by The Mouldy Peaches (also the first song I learnt on guitar).
N: 'I Believe in a Thing Called Love' by The Darkness on my Sony Discman.
A song that defines the teenage you?
He: 'I Am The Resurrection' by The Stone Roses.
Ha: 'If Your Girl Only Knew' by Aaliyah - I was (and still am) an R&B head when young and this reminds of taping off pirate radio in the '90s.
One record you would keep forever?
He: 'Setting Sons' by The Jam.
N: I could listen to Townes Van Zandt’s S/T for eternity.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
M: "I never thought that I would find myself
Dead amongst the stones
The columns are all men
Begging to crush me
No shapes sail on the dark deep lakes
And no flags wave me home"
From 'All Cats Are Grey' by The Cure.
The song that would get you straight on the dance floor?
M: 'Band of Gold' by Freda Payne.
Ha: 'Down in The Valley' by Otis Redding.
A song you wished you had written?
J: 'Sad Nudes' by Cate Le Bon.
N: 'Heart Of Life' by Marching Church has consistently blown me away, pure genius.
Best song to turn up loud?
J: 'My War' by Black Flag.
He: 'Kool Thing' by Sonic Youth.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
J: 'UGH!' by The 1975.
N: 'Stupid Horse' by 100 gecs.
Best song to end an all-nighter on?
He: 'Tears Dry On Their Own' by Amy Winehouse.
N: Easily 'The Night' by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons for one last good dance.
Any new music you are listening to right now?
J: Great Dad, Jockstrap, Platonica Erotica.
M: Walt Disco, Sinead O’Brien.
He: SLONK, LICE, Lynks Afrikka.
N: Yowl, Italia 90, PVA.
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
Norman, Bristol, but Harry and Natty would like to emphasise that they’re from St. Paul’s and Brislington, respectively.
Describe your style in three words?
Jack: Charity shop chic.
Meg: Dark, smart, mesh.
Henry: This will do.
Harry: People have said I'm always 'well put together'.
Natty: Powerful Sweater Vests.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
M: The Cure at the Royal Albert Hall. They were a huge influence on me growing up and they got me properly into music so seeing them live was the pinnacle of happiness for me when I was 15. I cried for days after I saw them.
N: Serpentwithfeet and End of The Road was breath-taking, such a simple stage show that really drew focus to the brilliance in the songs. The most expressive voice I have ever heard in such a beautiful setting - really got the tears going.
If you could be on the line up with any two artists in history?
J: Firstly, Suicide so that I can see Alan Vaga do his thing. It would have to be young Suicide tho, wanna get hit in the face by some chains. I’d also have Grace Jones play. She’s everything. I was lucky enough to see her when I was 16 at Love Supreme. I didn’t know who she was at the time but it really blew me away. That still ranks in the top shows I’ve seen.
He: The Birthday Party and CAN would be one hell of a night.
Which subcultures have influenced you?
J: In terms of fashion, I guess Teddy Boys. They always dressed the coolest to me, always had the best shoes. Beatniks have influenced me a lot. The only book I’ve read as an adult is this Beat Poetry compilation, which has really influenced how I write lyrics.
M: Mods and Goths: I love the fashion and music from both. I don't think any of it will really go out of style if you do it subtly- whether it's music or clothes. I try as much as possible to incorporate both into any fashion or music choices I make.
He: I find Motown really intriguing and inspiring. I love the music, the history behind it and everything that’s come from it, plus it’s always inspiring to see people, throughout all of history and culture, breaking down barriers of segregation and giving us some really timeless music.
Ha: The late '70s / early '80s No Wave movement in New York. The way punk/jazz/electronic or whatever other influences were dismantled & put together again in a genuine (at the time) 'we're not trying to be a scene' way.
N: I spent most of my late teenage years being a subcultural sponge, it's always been something very close to my heart. It started when my friends and I would go to ska and mod weekenders with their skinhead dads. I don’t think there has been a British musical subculture I haven't spent hours researching, recently I have been super influenced by Psychobilly and the Bootboy/Glam rock crossover, both really interesting movements.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
M: Virginia Woolf: she wrote so much about the obstacles women face in being creative- whether it's external expectations or internal prejudice against ourselves as women. These both hinder us from achieving what we want. I'd love to talk to her and ask her advice on overcoming self-doubt. Her non-fiction writing is beautiful and incredibly influential as well. She had a unique mind.
Ha: Frank Sinatra - his musicality as in rhythm and phrasing plus deep feeling wise, his voice was perfection. I reckon I'd just breathe in his aura and expensive cologne for an hour. There are loads of lesser-known records of his which are amazing. One I've listened to a bit at the moment is 'Drinking Water'.
Of all the venues you’ve been to or played, which is your favourite?
He: The Old England. It’s our roots. I love the stage, the room, the sound, the pub, location, there’s probably nostalgia and sentimentality there for me too but I’m always my happiest playing there.
Ha: Away from Bristol as each venue has memories, The Lexington in London for me. I love the layout, decor and how it feels looking out on the audience when on stage.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
J: Arthur Russell, no question. I’d consider Arthur Russell a hero of mine so I’m always going to say he’s underrated. He had a massive impact on mainstream artists like Laurie Anderson and Talking Heads but was never really credited for his influence. He had such a unique view on songwriting, composition and production due to his ridiculous backstory - running away from home to a Buddhist commune, then accompanying Allan Ginsberg on cello in San Francisco, then going to New York and everything he did at The Kitchen. I find him really inspiring.
He: Gotta be Tony Williams again (sorry to be boring). Amongst drummers, he is far from an unsung hero, but his influence on music as a whole is horrifyingly overlooked. He was 17 when he joined Miles Davis, which is unbelievable enough, and Miles essentially changed his sound around his style. So when people say Miles Davis changed Jazz 5 times, Tony was pretty much one of them. After he left Miles, he recorded ‘Emergency!’ which was such a pioneering influence on Jazz fusion. He was a damn good composer, which is really overlooked and I actually really like his vocals and lyrics; I could listen to the tune ‘Beyond Games’ all day every day.
Read the full unabridged interview below
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
J: 'Anyone Else But You' by The Mouldy Peaches (also the first song I learnt on guitar).
N: 'I Believe in a Thing Called Love' by The Darkness on my Sony Discman.
A song that defines the teenage you?
He: 'I Am The Resurrection' by The Stone Roses.
Ha: 'If Your Girl Only Knew' by Aaliyah - I was (and still am) an R&B head when young and this reminds of taping off pirate radio in the '90s.
One record you would keep forever?
He: 'Setting Sons' by The Jam.
N: I could listen to Townes Van Zandt’s S/T for eternity.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
M: "I never thought that I would find myself
Dead amongst the stones
The columns are all men
Begging to crush me
No shapes sail on the dark deep lakes
And no flags wave me home"
From 'All Cats Are Grey' by The Cure.
The song that would get you straight on the dance floor?
M: 'Band of Gold' by Freda Payne.
Ha: 'Down in The Valley' by Otis Redding.
A song you wished you had written?
J: 'Sad Nudes' by Cate Le Bon.
N: 'Heart Of Life' by Marching Church has consistently blown me away, pure genius.
Best song to turn up loud?
J: 'My War' by Black Flag.
He: 'Kool Thing' by Sonic Youth.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
J: 'UGH!' by The 1975.
N: 'Stupid Horse' by 100 gecs.
Best song to end an all-nighter on?
He: 'Tears Dry On Their Own' by Amy Winehouse.
N: Easily 'The Night' by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons for one last good dance.
Any new music you are listening to right now?
J: Great Dad, Jockstrap, Platonica Erotica.
M: Walt Disco, Sinead O’Brien.
He: SLONK, LICE, Lynks Afrikka.
N: Yowl, Italia 90, PVA.
Norman Mixtape Vol.1 (Songs from the basement, The Old England etc)
Mods and Goths: I love the fashion and music from both. I don't think any of it will really go out of style if you do it subtly.
Norman - Full interview