Automotion

Musicians — London

01Profile

A Automotion Photo

03Interview

Name, where are you from?
Jesse Hitchman, North-West London.
Lennon Gallagher, North-West London.
Otis Eatwell-Hurst, South London.
Luke Chin-Joseph, South-East London.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
JH: Scottibrains at Shacklewell Arms, LIGHTS, SMOKE MACHINE, PEDAL NOISE, ACTION.
LG: Probably Damo Suzuki x black midi way back in 2019. Was fairly great to see a krautrock legend play with black midi. Fantastic gig.

If you could be on the line up with any two bands or artists in history?
OEH: Death grips, the instrumentals are crazy, and the band Madness, always been a fan of them, I saw them at Boomtown a couple years ago and they made that weekend.
LCJ: If I could be on the line up with any two bands or artists in history it would have to be Jimi Hendrix and Jean-Michel Basquiat. There would be Basquiat paintings draped all over the walls and ceilings and a live set from The Jimi Hendrix Experience. There was a period of time in my life I solely - I'd go as far as saying religiously, listened to Hendrix and he in my opinion is the greatest to ever pick up a guitar. I am also a big fan of Basquiat and feel inspired greatly not only by his work but the colourful and itinerant life he led. Basquiat's band Gray would also have a slot on the bill.

Which Subcultures have influenced you?
LCJ: Skateboarding has influenced me greatly over my life. My mum bought me my first board at the age of three and I feel the hobby will always be a part of my life. It’s an outsider's sport that encourages creativity, style and uniqueness. I love the music and people it attracts as well as the DIY nature of the sport. As a skateboarder you rely on your environment and creativity to perfect your craft which is super fun.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
JH: Diogenes The Cynic, now there’s a guy who really goes beyond custom. Real funny guy, the story goes that a group of philosophers in Athens came to the conclusion that the best definition for a human was a featherless, bipedal animal until Diogenes rocked up with a plucked chicken; here’s your human.
LCJ: Marcel Duchamp. To gain a little perspective on how he viewed the world. I would ask him very basic and mundane questions like what he likes to drink with breakfast and feel I would still get the most interesting answers. I would like to understand a little bit more about how he perceived the world as his thinking was so ahead of his time.

Of all the venues you’ve been to, which is your favourite?
OEH: The Windmill in Brixton, there’s a huge feeling of community there and it is filled with amazing artists and staff, there's always something good going on there.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
JH: Pierre Schaeffer, early developments of the looper, all-round EVENT.
LG: Pink Eye Club.

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
LG: 'Mushroom' by CAN. I would bang this track out on my commute to school.

A song that defines the teenage you?
JH: 'Mr. Clarinet' by The Birthday Party. Nick Cave was the guy at that point for me, angry and angsty but not embarrassing to look back on.
LCJ: 'Ammi Ammi' by Archy Marshall. A song about growing up in south London and Archy's lyrics explain my experiences perfectly.

One record you would keep forever?
JH: 'No Pussyfooting' by Fripp and Eno. My ticket to The One, I could even call it God or Looper.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
LG: "I was a prisoner in your skull"

From 'I was a prisoner in your skull' by swans.

JH: “Then she sank down to her knees, grasped the cutter by both handles, took a deep breath, and plunged the long blade through the middle of the package, through the masking tape, through the cardboard, through the cushioning and right through the centre of Waldo Jeffers’ head”

From 'The Gift' by The Velvet Underground - Poor Waldo!

A song you wished you had written?
LG: 'Good Morning, Captian' by Slint. That was one of the first tracks by them which got me completely obsessed.
OEH: 'The Bottle' by Gil Scott Heron easily one of the best funk songs ever written.

Best song to turn up loud?
JH: 'Krieg in den Städten' by Einsturzende Neubauten. Who listens to typical Instruments anyway, a construction site seems much more suitable.
OEH: 'Bangface Time' by Hellfish - original mix.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
OEH: 'In The Navy' by Village People.

The song to get you straight on the dance floor?
JH: 'Requiem: II Kyrie' by George Ligeti. I dance the dithyramb to the monolith.

Best song to end an all-nighter?
JH: 'A New Career in a New Town' by David Bowie. A new journey and a new day.
LG: 'The End' by The Doors seems to be pretty fitting no?

Any new bands you are into at the moment?
Rattletooth, Muck Spreader, Fatdog, Sam Akpro and Josef Kurtz. Lots of good bands coming out of London at the moment.

03Interview

Name, where are you from?
Jesse Hitchman, North-West London.
Lennon Gallagher, North-West London.
Otis Eatwell-Hurst, South London.
Luke Chin-Joseph, South-East London.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
JH: Scottibrains at Shacklewell Arms, LIGHTS, SMOKE MACHINE, PEDAL NOISE, ACTION.
LG: Probably Damo Suzuki x black midi way back in 2019. Was fairly great to see a krautrock legend play with black midi. Fantastic gig.

If you could be on the line up with any two bands or artists in history?
OEH: Death grips, the instrumentals are crazy, and the band Madness, always been a fan of them, I saw them at Boomtown a couple years ago and they made that weekend.
LCJ: If I could be on the line up with any two bands or artists in history it would have to be Jimi Hendrix and Jean-Michel Basquiat. There would be Basquiat paintings draped all over the walls and ceilings and a live set from The Jimi Hendrix Experience. There was a period of time in my life I solely - I'd go as far as saying religiously, listened to Hendrix and he in my opinion is the greatest to ever pick up a guitar. I am also a big fan of Basquiat and feel inspired greatly not only by his work but the colourful and itinerant life he led. Basquiat's band Gray would also have a slot on the bill.

Which Subcultures have influenced you?
LCJ: Skateboarding has influenced me greatly over my life. My mum bought me my first board at the age of three and I feel the hobby will always be a part of my life. It’s an outsider's sport that encourages creativity, style and uniqueness. I love the music and people it attracts as well as the DIY nature of the sport. As a skateboarder you rely on your environment and creativity to perfect your craft which is super fun.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
JH: Diogenes The Cynic, now there’s a guy who really goes beyond custom. Real funny guy, the story goes that a group of philosophers in Athens came to the conclusion that the best definition for a human was a featherless, bipedal animal until Diogenes rocked up with a plucked chicken; here’s your human.
LCJ: Marcel Duchamp. To gain a little perspective on how he viewed the world. I would ask him very basic and mundane questions like what he likes to drink with breakfast and feel I would still get the most interesting answers. I would like to understand a little bit more about how he perceived the world as his thinking was so ahead of his time.

Of all the venues you’ve been to, which is your favourite?
OEH: The Windmill in Brixton, there’s a huge feeling of community there and it is filled with amazing artists and staff, there's always something good going on there.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
JH: Pierre Schaeffer, early developments of the looper, all-round EVENT.
LG: Pink Eye Club.

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
LG: 'Mushroom' by CAN. I would bang this track out on my commute to school.

A song that defines the teenage you?
JH: 'Mr. Clarinet' by The Birthday Party. Nick Cave was the guy at that point for me, angry and angsty but not embarrassing to look back on.
LCJ: 'Ammi Ammi' by Archy Marshall. A song about growing up in south London and Archy's lyrics explain my experiences perfectly.

One record you would keep forever?
JH: 'No Pussyfooting' by Fripp and Eno. My ticket to The One, I could even call it God or Looper.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
LG: "I was a prisoner in your skull"

From 'I was a prisoner in your skull' by swans.

JH: “Then she sank down to her knees, grasped the cutter by both handles, took a deep breath, and plunged the long blade through the middle of the package, through the masking tape, through the cardboard, through the cushioning and right through the centre of Waldo Jeffers’ head”

From 'The Gift' by The Velvet Underground - Poor Waldo!

A song you wished you had written?
LG: 'Good Morning, Captian' by Slint. That was one of the first tracks by them which got me completely obsessed.
OEH: 'The Bottle' by Gil Scott Heron easily one of the best funk songs ever written.

Best song to turn up loud?
JH: 'Krieg in den Städten' by Einsturzende Neubauten. Who listens to typical Instruments anyway, a construction site seems much more suitable.
OEH: 'Bangface Time' by Hellfish - original mix.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
OEH: 'In The Navy' by Village People.

The song to get you straight on the dance floor?
JH: 'Requiem: II Kyrie' by George Ligeti. I dance the dithyramb to the monolith.

Best song to end an all-nighter?
JH: 'A New Career in a New Town' by David Bowie. A new journey and a new day.
LG: 'The End' by The Doors seems to be pretty fitting no?

Any new bands you are into at the moment?
Rattletooth, Muck Spreader, Fatdog, Sam Akpro and Josef Kurtz. Lots of good bands coming out of London at the moment.

 

05Videos

Automotion - 'Auto 3'

Automotion - 'Mind and Motion'