INTERVIEW

An Interview with Welly

Credit: Welly Via Instagram (@worldwidewelly)

Words by Emily Jade Ricalton

Consisting of a five-piece band that is led by their lead frontman, songwriter and producer, Welly is a satirical act that has been compared to the likes of Blur. Having been inspired by Common People after his dad showed him the music video back in 2014, Welly saw how music could be translated into real-life circumstances, such as going to the supermarket. With the release of his new song Shopping, we were fortunate to sit down with Southampton-born front man and explore his rising career in music. 

How did you get started in music and what made you want to get involved in the industry?

W: I had a breakup at 16 and I suddenly had a lot of free time. I decided I'd either learn the guitar or learn the skateboard. Yeah, I actually chose the skateboard, but I was really crap at it. It (music) was just something to do. I was in a band before that and I do play the drums, but then I started liking writing songs. And then yeah, I just moved to uni for it. Gradually, all those people in that band came back to Brighton and we just cracked on from there.

You're from Southampton, would you say that's got an impact on your music at all? 

W: Yeah, the whole album, when it comes out, is about Southampton. It's just like every other city, but a nondescript city in the UK. You know, where it's just got a couple of shopping centres and office blocks that are closed down, but with a Gregs underneath it all. Most of England really looks the same. It's just like that. I think the album is about how there's all these places that people complain about, such as their communities, but then they do nothing to help, or they don't do anything in their local area. Whereas, you know, when we were teenagers, we would go up and down our town and just complain like ‘no one is here’. No one's doing anything to stop this, but the younger generations were the ones who had nothing else to do. We'd be the ones who would see that. I mean, I'd love to think that there's 1000s of people that have the exact same experience. Well, you get those Instagram pages that are about ‘English nostalgia’, and it shows that we all literally had the same childhood. I had the same things for lunch. We all bought the same stuff. We all watch the same shows. 

Yeah, I do get it. I grew up in a small town, and it is the same. Obviously, you say with your music TV has had an impact on it. Do you want to explain that? For example, what shows have had an impact on the aesthetic of your music? 

W: I think this inspiration comes out in the live shows. Everyone quite likes those old things, especially when it comes to British TV. I just wanted to have a live show that felt like Dick and Dom's bungalow. You know, where it just feels like real life and real fun. So, even if you don't like the music, you can drag your friends along and just have some fun.You don’t know the music much, but they throw themselves about. We're gonna get people on stage for definite. We do like raffles and just stupid stuff, such as spray whipped cream into people's faces and things like that. I want it to feel like a kid's party.

I think it's unique compared to what other people are doing as well. I mean, if you're doing stuff like that, it just keeps the audience there, especially when you're playing music some people aren't going to know. 

W: I think people might find it like ‘what are you doing?’, but I'd rather be more fun than trying to be overly serious. 

Obviously, there are comparisons to Blur, and I would say that is the main genre and band that springs to mind if you are comparing sounds. I mean, It's a great band to be compared to. I know it can be hard being compared to people, but would you say you were inspired by them? Is it a sound that you aspire to and want to gain from your songs?

W: I wanted this first album to be like an English songwriter, so I wanted to be like The Jam or Blur. I'm not going to try and pretend we're DIY with a lot of poetry and stuff like that, but I'm not going to complain when someone says ‘oh, it sounds like Blur’. That's amazing. Yeah, that's absolutely great, I am so fine with that.

No, I like that a lot. How would you say you are different though from them, such as sound-wise or your writing style? 

W: Well, we haven't got much money or a record deal, that, I suppose, is the main focus for something like that. The whole album is the idea of looking like it’s been told from a bedroom window, seeing all these characters and seeing all these different sorts of people. Anyway, it’s different from Blur as we're not as good looking as Blur, I will say that.

I would say your music to me, like the satirical aspect, can be quite punk-based. Would you agree with that? If not, what genre would you identify with?

W: Yeah, I'd say it's like dance punk. I would say I write dance-pop tunes, but with really basic instruments. Most of our equipment on stage has cash converters stickers on them. Our drum machine was 20 quid. The guitar for the whole album was recorded on a board and a squat that I bought for 60 quid. I like punk because I want people to watch it and go out and do that, and it’s that easy. 

So, what’s it like being an upcoming artist nowadays? Are there any restrictions within the industry?

W: I mean, we've got a bit of money from a distributor and we would love to go and record, take the time off and things like that, but there's not been anything massive as of yet. You know, we're not suddenly wearing suits or anything. I’m not complaining about how much money we have. I don't feel restricted by not having money. You know, the days of  quitting your job are sort of over due to the economic environment. I don't know if it is restricted. I like having a job on the side as it means that you've got something to fight against. I've been unemployed doing this (music) and it's the pits because I have spent so much time worrying about it. You need to have some sort of real life connection and this is where I’m at now.

Obviously you do still currently work in a grocers, has this impacted your new single Shopping?

W: Probably, yeah. I mean, I think a lot of this stage stuff comes from working at the grocers by just being like ‘two for a fiver’, and all that sort of stuff. It gives you the chat to talk on stage. 

You do have a uniform in the music video as well. Was this inspired by your current job do you think?

W: Totally. It was also inspired by Madness, who would do this thing for every video. They would have a different outfit in these videos and then they would create different personas for each outfit. So every single we're doing on this album we’re wearing a different outfit, like we're all wearing stag do t shirts or PE kits. I just liked the idea of having a different style for each song.

Right, this is a cliche question, but it can be interesting especially when you're up and coming. What are your future goals and where do you want to see yourself in five years?

W: Yeah, well, I'd love to be absolutely massive. I'm not in this because I want to have a couple of nice records. It's like no, I want to do this because I want it to be huge and because I think people will like it. I do it for myself as well. I’d love to do a pantomime. That's why I call the band a Welly pantomime.

Are there any festivals or arenas that you’d like to play in the future?

W: I’d love to play Southampton Common one day. You know how everyone dreams of playing Knebworth, we'd love to play Southampton Common. 

Just to finish, I'm just going to ask you what are the five albums you would listen to for the rest of your life? 

W: The Pet Shop Boys Behaviour,  The Pet Shop Boys Actually, Madonna's Like A Virgin, The Divine Comedies Liberation and ABBA Gold. 

Listen to Welly’s single Shopping here. As well as his brand new single Soak Up The Culture here.