So to start things off, lets talk about the run up you guys have had to releasing your album. Your last release was in 2012, how was the process between then, signing to Holy Roar and finally getting the album out. How has it all felt for you guys?
It's a huge weight off of our shoulders, for a while we had been sitting on these songs and we weren't playing them live or anything. We tried a few out and we scrapped them. Then after our summer tour, our old vocalist left and we had to start from square one. It was a situation none of us wanted to face but eventually we just had to accept it. Once we had a line up sorted, the writing process was smoother but took some time to really come together, we wanted to make sure these were the right songs. We were approached by Holy Roar when we started recording the full length. Holy Roar are close with Lewis who recorded us in Southampton and he was keen on us and we were sending bits and pieces here and there and then it all came together. It feels great to release it on Holy Roar as they have been a well respected label in our eyes and we always admired bands from there.
Certain bands from the hardcore scene will spend years scrabbling round for attention and to get to the level that you guys have found in a relatively short space of time. How are you guys dealing with the pacey rise to prominence?
Thank you for thinking so, I think our profile has raised definitely, I think a lot of bands limit themselves because they wanna sound like "this band/that band" we have always been influenced by bands from different genres and also playing styles. A lot people have told us we're "refreshing" which is a huge compliment but we just keep doing what we do, I guess we all put our heads together and craft songs carefully, a lot of bands seem to fall under that bar, at the end of the day you can't polish a turd.
What advice would you give to others bands out there in terms of promoting yourself and getting your name out into the open?
Write songs carefully, be yourself, don't follow the crowd, think about what you're doing, tour and play as much as you can but not the same place to death.
With the landscape of music changing drastically over the past decade, as social media and downloads have usurped live music and physical music formats, what tool would you say is now the most effective for promoting your music these days?
Honestly, hands down the internet, there's so much promotion on there. I never get information from magazines anymore. Social media has become a huge platform for bands the trouble is with that is that people won't go to shows or pick up records at shows where it's needed the most for a band to get to the next show.
What has been your fondest memory or funniest anecdote you have picked up along your journey as a band so far?
My fondest memory is releasing the record, the amount of hard work each individual member has done for the band is crazy. Touring is an obvious choice as you make memories from that. One time we played a bar in Belgium and throughout our set this French guy was hitting the wall with his walking stick dressed in a kilt and yelling at our drummer wondering why he wasn't playing in some parts. It was hilarious. Definitely a be there moment, but it's all on film!
How important do you think it is to work alongside other bands, promoters and get involved in scenes in order to make a name for yourself or simply get the most out of your experience at any level of music?
It's a very important thing, where I'm from (in Brighton) the punk/hardcore scene is good, a lot of good promoters down here, (Darren Harvey, Dimitri to name a few) really care about the shows they put on and promote it as hard as they can. Always stay humble and you will be offered another show. Playing well always helps too!
Are there any acts you know or have worked alongside that you would recommend to your fans to checkout?
Yeah, our boys in Rough Hands have been there with us since day 1. We love those guys and we have some great memories with them. Dead Swans are great guys, we learnt a lot from them and also More Than Life in some respects, Bastions too. Black Shapes are great dudes and definitely share the same vision. We've played with a lot of bands that we've kept in contact, the list is endless.
What has been the favourite show and/or venue you guys have performed at?
For me playing with Dead Swans and Horror Show is always the stand out show we played in Stuttgart a few years ago, it was our last show on tour and it ended on such a high and met some really cool people from those bands.
Who has been the best promoter, live music, internet based or otherwise you have worked with?
I'm not so sure, Joe from Stateless Society has always taken care of us, Shivery Productions have always given us great shows when we've been in Germany. Mario from Italy has always looked after us and Darren Harvey too. Kieran Brindley from Leicester is a good friend of ours and always offers us shows.
One of the most heated debates on the underground circuit at the moment is the whole ‘bands being paid’ debacle. Where do you stand this?
Bands should be payed, they sacrifice a lot to play where they can. If it's a local show I feel we should play for bare minimum if a member needs to travel home the following day. You get screwed over sometimes but you learn from it. Don't be a dick and you'll be alright.
And lastly, what is next for Up River after the release of Undertow and now you have a lot more expectation and buzz behind you?
We just wanna tour and play shows, we wanna really raise the bar and push this record. I think that will come with promotion of the record. A lot of bands skip the local show stuff and pay for managements and become the flavour of the week which I don't believe in. We wanna do it the way that feels right, we've done our shifts and deserve a lot more.
Thank you for taking the time to do this with us, it means a lot to us. Buy our record and come to a show!
Thank you for taking the time to do this with us, it means a lot to us. Buy our record and come to a show!