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Gallows Ghost are a female-fronted 6 piece band whose sound is described as electronic rock and roll, with some added folk, in the form of cello and violin. Kate Young, daughter of Hammer Horror diretor Robert Young, has the voice of an angel – full tones and pitch perfect.  

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They cite their influences as being Alice in Chains, Primal Scream, Maya Jane Coles, Massive Attack, Chemical Brothers, Hammer Horror, H.P. Lovecraft, Jonathan Glazer, Iris Van Herpen – vocally however Kate reminds us of Annie Lennox or Florence Welch. Apart from singer Kate, Gallows Ghost is made up of Lewis Young (bass and keys), Mako (guitar), Hannah Lloyd (Cello), Rachel Swift, (Violin) and Jack Darvill (Drums). They’ve only been together as a band for 18 months, but their sound is slick and polished, and, with the help of Bristol producer Chris Gouldstone, have come together to make their new EP, “Arrows”, a thing of beauty.  They’ve  certainly  not  been  sitting  around  in  that  time.    Gallow’s  Ghost  has  played  various  venues  and  festivals  including  headlining  the  Bestival  Bandstand,  Bush  Hall,  Oxjam,  Wilderness,  Secret  Garden  Party  and  Metropolis  Studio  Sessions  and  other  places  around  the  UK,  where  they  are  gaining  a  steadily-­‐increasing  fanbase.    “Arrows”,  title  track  from  the  EP,  is  due  for  release  on  26  January.    It’s  a  haunting  melody  with  soaring  strings  and   pulsing   drumbeat.     Gallows   Ghost   will   be   performing   an   acoustic   set   at   The   Camden   Lock   Tavern   on  February  5th  and  will  have  a  full  live  gig  for  their  EP  launch  at  Hoxton  Bar  &  Grill  on  February  25th.    The  EP  will  be  released  on  23  February.        EP:    Give  us  the  potted  Gallows  Ghost  story!    Kate:    Myself  and  Mako  the  guitarist  started  a  couple  of  years  ago  writing  folk  songs  together  but  we  always  had  a   bigger   sound   in   our  heads.  And   in   a   really   bizarre   and   serendipitous  way  we   started  bumping   into   various  musicians  in  all  sorts  of  strange  places  and  they  gradually  all  became  members  of  the  band  and  Gallows  Ghost  was  finally  born!    EP:    You  have  a  very  polished  style  considering  you’ve  only  been  together  for  18  months  –  to  what  do  you  attribute  that?    Kate:    We  really  spend  a  lot  of  time  writing  and  creating  our  tracks,  pulling  them  apart  and  working  them  over  and  over  before  we  before  even  get   them  into  a  rehearsal  space.  We  have  such  esteemed  influences  we  really  don’t  want  to  put  stuff  into  the  world  that  isn’t  on  a  par  or  at  least  aiming  to  be.  I  must  say  the  band  are  all  pretty  amazing  musicians  so  that  helps!    EP:    Tell  us  about  your  musical  influences:    Kate:    We  are  into  a  lot  of  different  styles.  As  well  as  coming  from  traditional  folk  like  Shirley  Collins,  Burt  Jansch  and  Fairport  Convention,  some  of  my  favourite  singers  are  Doug  Pinnick,  Chris  Cornell,  Layne  Stayley  and  Jerry  Cantrell  from  Alice  in  Chains….we  kinda  love  a  lot  of  old  metal  and  grunge!  We  are  also  hugely  influenced  by  trip  hop  and  electronic  music  and  adore  Massive  Attack,  Moderat  and  London  Grammar.  The  list  really  is  endless!!  I  guess  each  member  of  the  band  has  a  huge  melting  pot  of  influences  where  they  are  coming  from  musically  and  the  combination  of  that  makes  us  sound  like  we  do.      

  7  EP:    Do  you  feel  your  modelling  experience  has  helped  your  stage  presence?    Kate:    I  definitely  think  so.  Whether  it’s  modelling,  acting  or  music  I  throw  myself  into  it  with  all  guns  blazing!  I’m  at  my  happiest  being  a  performer  and  modelling  has  been  another  facet  of  being  able  to  express  myself.  Singing  is  my  absolute  passion  and  love  though.    EP:    Talk  us  through  “Arrows”:    What  was  it  like  working  with  Chris  Goulstone?    Kate:    One  of  the  most  amazing  and  intense  experiences.  He  has  a  real  understanding  of  us  as  a  band  and  what  we  wanted  in  our  sound  (being  an  original  part  of  the  Bristol  trip  hop  scene!)  And  watching  him  work  and  move  our  songs  forward  was  so  exciting.  That  man  has  the  fastest  fingers  we  have  ever  seen!  He  is  a  maestro!        

 

EP:    Tell  us  about  playing  Bestival  –  how  exciting  would   that   have   been   for   you,   headlining   the  Bandstand!    Kate:     It  sooooo  was!!  We  played  our  hearts  out  to  a  beautiful  sea  of  people  waving  pineapples  and  crazy  looking   pirates   (it   was   desert   island   theme)   and   it  was  a  huge  privilege  to  be  playing  at  such  an  amazing  festival….huge  love  always  to  Rob  Da  Bank!    EP:    What  does  the  future  hold  for  Gallows  Ghost?    Kate:    Putting  out  loads  more  music  and  playing  gigs  with   some   of   our   heroes   would   be   a   great   start!  Maybe  a  tour  with  Kasabian…..Tom,  Serge  hello?  

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 You  may   remember   Sam  and  The  Womp   from  2012,  when   they   shot   to   the  UK  number  one   spot,   and  achieved  4x  platinum  status  in  Australia,  with  their  dance  track  “Bom  Bom”!    The  UK  band,  which  mainly  consists  of  vocalist  Bloom  de  Wilde  and  trumpeter  Sam  Ritchie,  have  spent  the  last  two  years  bringing  their  party  driven  sound  to  the  live  circuit,  and  producing  a  baby  daughter.  But  now  they’re  ready  to  tackle  the  charts  again  with  their  new  track  “Zeppelin”.    Bloom  states,    

‘For  me,  as  a  musician  you  have  the  chance  to  set  something  free  into  the  world  to  let  it  take  its  own  journey.    “Zeppelin”  is  like  a  new  child  ready  to  start  its  own  life’.  

 “Zeppelin”  is  a  very  different  sound  to  “Bom  Bom”.  Described  as  a  “ska-­‐dance  fusion”  the  track  has  potential  to  be  another  huge  hit.  We  found  ourselves  dancing  in  our  chairs  after  the  first  listen.    Due  to  be  released  on  February  2nd,  the  accompanying  video  is  both  vibrant  and  colourful,  a  perfect  match  for  this  vibrant,  colourful  track!    The   mix   of   Sam’s   jazzed-­‐up   trumpets   and   Bloom’s   Bjork-­‐like   vocals,   give   the   band   a   truly   distinctive   and  enjoyable  sound.    We  look  forward  to  Sam  and  the  Womp’s  album  release  later  this  year.        

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 IT'S  FEBRUARY,  WHICH  MEANS  VALENTINES  DAY  WHICH  MEANS  LOVE...AND  WHAT'S  MORE  APPROPRIATE  THAN  A  BAND  THAT'S  ALL  ABOUT  LOVE?    Alice  and  the  Lovers  hail  from  Swindon,  a  town  that  also  spawned  blonde  bombshell  Diana  Dors  and  seminal  70s  group,  XTC.    Lead  singer  Alice  Offley  wanted   to  get  back   to   the  60s  girl  group  sound  and  so  roped   in  her  sister  Amy.  They  were  soon  joined  by  Rio  Tasia  on  guitar  and  Rosie  Lefevre  on  drums.        Alice  can  play  a  multitude  of   instruments,  while  Amy  is  a    guitarist.  Alice  and  Amy  were  brought  up  on  classic  records  from  The  Beatles  to  Kate  Bush;  piano  playing,  and  family  sing-­‐alongs.    Alice's  musical  influences  go  way  further  than  that  though.        She   cites   retro   country   stars   as  her  personal   influences   from  1950's   country   stars,   like   Loretta   Lynn   and  her  hero,  the  King  of  Rock  n  Roll,  Elvis.      A  pianist  and   lover  of  old  harmony  bands  such  as   the  Shangri  Las  and  Everly  Brothers,  she   felt   lonely  playing  solo   gigs,   so   put   a   band   together   of   her   sister   and   female   friends.     Alice   and   the   Lovers   came   together   on  Valentine's  Day  2013.    Alice   and   the  Lovers   say   they  make   "dark   romantic   pop",   and   they're   right.    New   single   "Valentine"   (out   this  Valentine's  Day  -­‐  when  else?)  has  hints  of  Lana  del  Rey  and  a  lot  of  the  60s  girls  groups  like  the  Shangri  Las.  It's  cool.    They're  based   in  London  these  days  and  you  can  see  them  at   the  Dublin  Castle  on  12  February  (limited  tickets  available).                                      

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