The Rhythm Method

Musicians — London

01Profile

A The Rhythm Method Photo

03Interview

Name, where are you from?
Joey and Rowan, South West London,

What do you do?
Joey is a barber who makes music on the side. Rowan is an English graduate with a flair for writing the best pop songs of the day.

Describe your style in three words?
Smart, casual, un-ironed.

If you could make a record with anyone from history?
I'd say Oliver Reed. He wasn’t a recording artist of course but we would have loved to have done a William Shatner meets Johnny Cash style covers album in the twilight of his career. Would have got him to do our stuff. Imagine him bellowing Home Sweet Home.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
J: I'd say Jamie T outside The Archway Tavern on the first day of my GCSE study leave in 2007. The defining artist of my adolescence and probably one of the defining moments. He started his set with the theme from 'Round The Twist'.
R: I had the privilege of seeing Peter Andre perform at the Royal Albert Hall, he did a rendition of ‘Zorba the Greek’ with a hen party.

Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
R: The Prince Albert in Stroud was great. Pics of Keith Allen, loads of dogs and the landlady is a gem.
J: I'll always have a soft spot for Nambucca as it's where we met and spent a lot of our formative years. We played our second headliner there and sold it out. Supporting Slaves at the Albert Hall in Manchester was another planet.

What British music icons inspire your sound today?
J: I think despite him being a curmudgeon today, Ray Davies is still the archetype of the storyteller from London.
R: Someone like MJ Cole is a big influence. A very musical guy but without ever getting into muso territory, always sounding like London.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
J: I'd like to spend an hour kicking the f*ck out of Piers Morgan.

Which subcultures have had an enduring effect on you?
R: We like to think some of the older subcultures, particularly pub rock and UK lovers rock, are in our musical DNA. We don’t explicitly take influence from them but it’s all in there.
J: We came of age in the indie scene, and Rowan was accidentally responsible for the worldwide trending hashtag #indieamnesty. I'll always love Morrisey and Pete Doherty but I'm not sure we're involved with indie in its current guise though. I spend a lot of time disparaging it. Only because I feel let down.

If you could share the bill with any band in history?
R: We both love Carole King. Imagine us all doing ‘Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?’.
J: Madness, and we're doing it in November for their House of Fun Weekender. 'Embarrassment' is one of my favourite songs.

What music did you listen to growing up?
R: I grew up, as I suspect most people did, listening to a diverse range of stuff. There was a lot of pub rock and new wave like Dr Feelgood, Squeeze and Nick Lowe. All snooker music basically.

If you could re-live one year of your life?
We don’t wanna revisit our past, to be honest, the future looks a lot brighter. We’re creating a small but dedicated movement and that’s the most exciting thing we’ve ever done.

04Playlist Notes

What was the first song you played on repeat?
‘Up the Junction’ by Squeeze... or maybe ‘I Found Lovin’ by the Fatback Band.

One record you would keep forever?
'Sweet Talkin’ Woman' by ELO. Perfect pop song.

A song from your favourite album?
‘Tapestry’ by Carole King. The track would have to be ‘So Far Away’.

A song you wish you had written?
I wish every day that I had written ‘You Only Get What You Give’ by the New Radicals.

A song that defines the teenage you?
‘You’re Wondering Now’ by The Specials. The sound of adolescent ambivalence.

A song lyric that inspires you?
"I’d like to see you,
But then again."

Is one of my favourite lyrics ever, from  ‘I’m Not in Love’ by 10cc.

Is there a song you like that people wouldn’t expect?
I think anyone who knows us knows that we have time for anyone and everything. That’s the way it should be.

Best song to turn up loud?
‘Don’t Break My Heart’ by UB40.

Best song to bring people together?
Anything by Earth Wind and Fire from their golden era, basically.

Any new bands you are listening to right now?
There’s a really good new French outfit called The Blaze, their song ‘Virile’ is my favourite of recent years. We also like Rae Morris’ new track ‘Do it’.

03Interview

Name, where are you from?
Joey and Rowan, South West London,

What do you do?
Joey is a barber who makes music on the side. Rowan is an English graduate with a flair for writing the best pop songs of the day.

Describe your style in three words?
Smart, casual, un-ironed.

If you could make a record with anyone from history?
I'd say Oliver Reed. He wasn’t a recording artist of course but we would have loved to have done a William Shatner meets Johnny Cash style covers album in the twilight of his career. Would have got him to do our stuff. Imagine him bellowing Home Sweet Home.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
J: I'd say Jamie T outside The Archway Tavern on the first day of my GCSE study leave in 2007. The defining artist of my adolescence and probably one of the defining moments. He started his set with the theme from 'Round The Twist'.
R: I had the privilege of seeing Peter Andre perform at the Royal Albert Hall, he did a rendition of ‘Zorba the Greek’ with a hen party.

Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
R: The Prince Albert in Stroud was great. Pics of Keith Allen, loads of dogs and the landlady is a gem.
J: I'll always have a soft spot for Nambucca as it's where we met and spent a lot of our formative years. We played our second headliner there and sold it out. Supporting Slaves at the Albert Hall in Manchester was another planet.

What British music icons inspire your sound today?
J: I think despite him being a curmudgeon today, Ray Davies is still the archetype of the storyteller from London.
R: Someone like MJ Cole is a big influence. A very musical guy but without ever getting into muso territory, always sounding like London.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
J: I'd like to spend an hour kicking the f*ck out of Piers Morgan.

Which subcultures have had an enduring effect on you?
R: We like to think some of the older subcultures, particularly pub rock and UK lovers rock, are in our musical DNA. We don’t explicitly take influence from them but it’s all in there.
J: We came of age in the indie scene, and Rowan was accidentally responsible for the worldwide trending hashtag #indieamnesty. I'll always love Morrisey and Pete Doherty but I'm not sure we're involved with indie in its current guise though. I spend a lot of time disparaging it. Only because I feel let down.

If you could share the bill with any band in history?
R: We both love Carole King. Imagine us all doing ‘Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?’.
J: Madness, and we're doing it in November for their House of Fun Weekender. 'Embarrassment' is one of my favourite songs.

What music did you listen to growing up?
R: I grew up, as I suspect most people did, listening to a diverse range of stuff. There was a lot of pub rock and new wave like Dr Feelgood, Squeeze and Nick Lowe. All snooker music basically.

If you could re-live one year of your life?
We don’t wanna revisit our past, to be honest, the future looks a lot brighter. We’re creating a small but dedicated movement and that’s the most exciting thing we’ve ever done.

04Playlist Notes

What was the first song you played on repeat?
‘Up the Junction’ by Squeeze... or maybe ‘I Found Lovin’ by the Fatback Band.

One record you would keep forever?
'Sweet Talkin’ Woman' by ELO. Perfect pop song.

A song from your favourite album?
‘Tapestry’ by Carole King. The track would have to be ‘So Far Away’.

A song you wish you had written?
I wish every day that I had written ‘You Only Get What You Give’ by the New Radicals.

A song that defines the teenage you?
‘You’re Wondering Now’ by The Specials. The sound of adolescent ambivalence.

A song lyric that inspires you?
"I’d like to see you,
But then again."

Is one of my favourite lyrics ever, from  ‘I’m Not in Love’ by 10cc.

Is there a song you like that people wouldn’t expect?
I think anyone who knows us knows that we have time for anyone and everything. That’s the way it should be.

Best song to turn up loud?
‘Don’t Break My Heart’ by UB40.

Best song to bring people together?
Anything by Earth Wind and Fire from their golden era, basically.

Any new bands you are listening to right now?
There’s a really good new French outfit called The Blaze, their song ‘Virile’ is my favourite of recent years. We also like Rae Morris’ new track ‘Do it’.

 

05Videos

The Rhythm Method | Something For The Weekend (2017)

The Rhythm Method | Party Politics (2016)

The Rhythm Method | Wandsworth Plain (2019)

The Rhythm Method | I Love My Television - Lockdown Mix (2020)