Interviews
Satellite State talk to Britsound
Interview with Gary Nicks from Satellite State, March 2008
Rob Quicke: So tell us about Satellite State, a lot of people in America haven't heard of you. What's the story so far?
Gary Nicks: Basically we're a five piece from Guildford and we started back a couple of years ago now. And then we decided we need a bigger sound to create a bit more of a broader sound really. So we got our laptops involved, a lot of synthesizers and a pianist and we're just trying to write some epic rock pop music. It has been described as having like a U2 sort of sound to it; that similar sort of a genre if you like.
Rob: So it's definitely a sound that you are going for, that kind of big, epic sound?
Gary: Yeah, definitely. We've been compared to these bands and as we've said before in these interviews, we're not trying to reinvent the wheel or anything, but we've definitely got our own mark on this sort of thing.
Rob: So what has the reception been? Because you've been played on BBC Radio One and also you did really quite well in the First Cut Awards National Band competition. You've been getting some momentum haven't you?
Gary: We've been doing really well. The amount of reviews that we're having, every review that I've read pretty much so far has just been complete praise sort of thing and, you know I haven't heard one bad review yet, touch wood. But yeah, it's going really really well for us, yeah it's good. Steve Lamacq, a DJ on Radio One, played us and he was really into it. He even described our guitarist as Johnny Marr or something like that. But, yeah, it's really cool, it's going really well for us.
Rob: Are you signed at the moment, or unsigned?
Gary: We're unsigned-ish, we've got a record coming out which we're putting the final touches on tomorrow in fact, actually Saturday. That's going to be coming out next month. They are just distributing it for us so we are unsigned but this is a way for us to get the record out into the shops early and increase the fan base hopefully. Although the amount of fans on MySpace who are asking for it already is quite amazing - 11,000 in fact.
Rob: Wow.
Gary: It's going really well for us.
Rob: Let me ask you, I know it might be too soon to ask, but what about America? Because this type of music, epics of anthrax music could do really well in America and obviously we love it here on Britsound. So what are your plans, at some point are you going to come over here?
Gary: Well basically we're sorting out the UK tour at the moment, which we're excited about. And if anything happens from that and we do get picked up by a major label, obviously they'd be able to send us out there and we'd actually love to go out to America. It's such a large place to play, that sort of thing. And also a lot of our MySpace fans are actually a lot of Americans. They seem to get what we're doing and understanding that so I think it would really important for us to get out there really, so definitely.
Rob: Do you follow the English music scene much. I mean do you read the NME? Does that matter to you?
Gary: Personally, for me, I actually hate the NME, in fact I think I've got a few of them. . . but I don't want to slag them off or anything but they kind of build bands up, and then as soon as they achieve anything, they just knock them down again. So I'm really not interested in them whatsoever. But the British music scene, personally for me, I'm into Irish Scottish folk music and that sort of thing. That's my personal thing really, but definitely the English scene is amazing at the moment. It's really good.
Rob: Tell us about the actual songs, where were they recorded? Because the production, you can tell it's not like recorded in a million dollar, a million pound studio. But at the same time you managed to capture a real energy in those songs. I'm talking about "One Small Step" and "Clockworks" for example. Where were they recorded?
Gary: We recorded them ourselves and we have our own studio in our pianist's flat. Obviously we didn't have separate booths or anything. We just did it ourselves, all recorded it at the same time sort of thing and we got a real good vibe about it. My brother, he produced the whole thing, so it's really good.
Rob: So, OK, let's say you get signed by a major label and you release an album and it's a huge commercial success. You mentioned in Britain, this is all particularly unique to Britain in a way, the music culture, the music press, they seem to build you up and then destroy you. Would you be ready for that kind of thing and would you - are you prepared for the big times, so to speak?
Gary: We have been going for a couple of years now and yeah, most definitely yes. We definitely matured over the past couple of years and we've got a lot of confidence on stage now and we really believe in our music and stuff and what we're doing so I really do think we're ready for the majors. I don't want to big us up too much but I think we can run with the big boys, if you like. So definitely yes, we're really up, we're really confident about it.
Rob: And in terms of what you want to achieve this year, you're releasing your debut EP, you're doing this UK tour, what else are you going to be doing in 2008?
Gary: Literally I think we are just going to be gigging with this EP, really just going to gig it to the death. Just really try and increase our fan base a lot more. Just try and get out there and hopefully look for that major deal if it comes along!
