INTERVIEW – BLUES IN BRITAIN

Q. Taking you all one at a time, tell us about yourselves and how you came to be a part of 3 MILE SHOUT

RICHARD MANWARING

A. I’ve played in bands since the age of 13 or so, mostly playing hits of the day. But through my childhood-friend guitarist Cliff Gater, I began a great affection for blues and R’n’B from Chicago and New Orleans. Those Chess records formed a large part of my collection. Once I started working in studios, I didn’t have an opportunity to play seriously for many years but fell back into it in the late 90’s with a nice bunch playing covers in social clubs and parties. That band broke up and I just wanted to play to keep my hand in – for fun. So by chance Richard Hewlett and I met at rehearsals and then later met Richard Woodfin through Bandmix – we hit it off and here we are several years later.

RICHARD HEWLETT

A. I suppose I would have to describe my years in playing in bands as Off and On. I first gave myself blisters in the mid seventies with a Fender Prescision and played with the usual covers bands on the London circuit bashing out some Rock and Blues. My music influences then shifted to include modern jazz and fusion which gave me blisters all over again but in a more rewarding way. About five years ago while at a rehearsal studio I met Richard Manwaring, we shared music tastes and as we were both a little weary of playing covers decided to embark on a path of writing our own music. After a long search we hooked up with Richard Woodfin by answering his musician profile on Bandmix and 3 Mile Shout was born. 

RICHARD WOODFIN

A. A very similar story really, lots of playing in bands over the years ranging from covers to originals, so many musical influences really! My first band was back in my home town of Liverpool and we felt we had really made it when we were offered a slot at the Cavern Club on a Thursday lunchtime, at least 3 people saw us play!

Q. So was this at first just to play some gigs together and have some fun, or with the aim of making this album Low Battery.

A. The idea first and foremost was to have fun and help to keep our hand in. As mentioned previously, we have all at some time played in covers bands and thoroughly enjoyed it. But when we got together we thought it would be really stimulating to have a go at writing some songs ourselves. Not as easy as it sounds as it turns out trying to write pieces that encompass our various influences and possibly hoping that other people might enjoy them as well!                                

3 Mile Shout was formed with the intention of writing and recording our own music and making our own album. Happy to say there is a whole lot more to come. 

Q. Who came up with this great little album title ?

A. Richard Hewlett says he was trying out some bass lines with a funk flavour and recording the ideas on a portable recorder that insisted on frequently reminding him of the battery level remaining.
He finally took the hint and put forward the title 'Low Battery'. Everyone can associate with a ‘Low Battery’ at some point!

Q. Tell us about the songs and how you came to bring in these songs for the album;

A. The three of us all have initial ideas that flow at a good rate. An idea will then be worked on and if we all 'feel it' it will be taken from concept to a cohesive song.    

In all we wrote and recorded 20 songs from which the 10 that make up ‘Low Battery’ were chosen. For us, writing and recording does take up quite a bit of time. We always work towards writing a song that has strength in the music and also the lyrics. Wherever possible the finished song should generate emotion either by the music or by the lyrics or ideally both. To end up with 5 songs which we think are worthy of recording takes us about 6 months and the same to record, overdub and mix. So ‘Low Battery’ is the result of a couple of years! It really is apparent that “everyday is a school day” in that it has been such a privilege to work with and record these fantastic musicians. They bring their own special talents to the party to the great benefit of the songs. 

Q. You recorded in Norfolk, share about the time there, plus those you brought in to guest on the album with you;

A. The Grange in Cockley Cley, Norfolk, is a fantastic recording studio with a large control room and a great sounding recording area with separate drum and breakout rooms. All the microphones and gear are of the highest quality which I think you can hear in the recordings. Having built it, owner and engineer Dave Williams uses his in depth knowledge of the space to the great advantage to anyone recording there. We tracked 5 songs at a time at The Grange and then transferred to The Last Post in West London for overdubs and mixing. We owe a great debt to the wonderful musicians who agreed to play – and sing – on the songs. Sax player James Knight really lifted Feeling Good, Don’t Tell Me and of course Low Battery. Holly Harrigan was a joy to work with  - she understood the angel character in The Ballad Of Wild Billy Drew straight away and Wily Bo Walker brought atmosphere in spades to Cold To The Bone. Our old friend Roger Askew recorded great vocals and piano on City Night. Also When The Tide Comes In along with Gaby Szabo’s vocals and Basia Bartz’s glorious violin solo. Another old friend, Trevor Vallis was first choice to sing Drivin’ and Fast Train with the sax of Roger Phillips and Frank Dunsmuir’s guitar solo. We also had great remote contributions from Nitromaniac Lui König in Munich and Pete Dugdale in Sydney, Australia. All through the wonders of technology!

Q.  So next up, the plans for the band with the album now out, gigs, festivals, and future ideas you have;

A. We haven’t any plans for live work as yet. We have made a rod for our own backs with our production in that we would need quite a few guest musicians to give a semblance of the sound on the CD. So at the moment the band’s focus is on our next album and that is well under way. We are very pleased with the progress and believe the tracks have the same feel and atmosphere of 3 Mile Shout with the right amount of groove and story telling. 

Q. Right, to help everyone get a chance to get hold of Low Battery, where can it be purchased;

A. Low Battery is available to download from iTunes and Spotify.
It can also be listened to on the band's website: www.3mileshout.com - CD's can be purchased on the Store page of the website. 

Q. Thank you so much, the album really is great and deserves to do well, but anything you’d like to add feel absolutely free to do so;

A. Thank you for your questions and your interest in the band. It has been a pleasure to make Low Battery and get it 'out there' and we really hope everyone enjoys the album. We’ve had a great time creating the songs, somehow resolving our likes and dislikes and working with some truly wonderful musicians. From the germ of an idea to a full blown CD has been quite a ride. We will never fail to be completely blown away by the effect music can have, and can’t wait to get more stuff written, recorded and mixed.

Thank you all so much, its Low Battery time all round - Watch out for them near you soon,

Pete Clack