Interview: Flowerpot

Flowerpot are a three piece band: Louisa Baker – vocalist / rhythm & lead guitar along with Morgan Pearce supplying the bass and Ellie Daymond on drums. Their sound is difficult to pin down, mainly because they’re not slaves to their influences nor are they treading old ground, rather they’re forging their own damn fine modern rock sound. 2016 is shaping up to be a good year for them already, they took time to tell us why prior to their next show at The Lanes.

Star Trek or Star Wars?

Ellie and Louisa…Star Wars; Morgan Scooby Doo!

Live or the studio?  

Ellie and Louisa…Live; Morgan either.

Glastonbury or Download?

Louisa and Morgan…Glastonbury; Ellie Download.

City or Rovers?

Louisa and Ellie…City; Morgan = New England Patriots.

Why Flowerpot?

The name gives off a much more subtle kind of impression than the music. We like this because we feel that when the music is put to the name is has an impact (surprise) to those hearing us online for the first time; and element of mystery

Your first recording Broken Stiletto is fresh out of the studio and in the public domain, how do you feel about it now it’s been set free (or do you need to put some time between the recording and the end product)?

We did allow some time before releasing the product to make sure we were happy with the outcome. So far we have had good responses and feel it is a good representation of what we sound like live. That said about the music, we feel perhaps our album artwork could have benefited from a lengthier design process, however, these are the things you learn from one release to the next.

What are the bands that you are all collectively happy to listen to on the road, and what bands drive massive wedges between you?

Collectively…Fleetwood Mac, R.H.C.P Nirvana. Individually: Ellie: Dead Sara, Bullet for my Valentine; Morgan: Blink 182, Hole, Courtney Love, TOP and Louisa: The Offspring, AC/DC and Blink 182,

Given the chance, what’s the one established act that you’d give your eye teeth to support on a national tour?

We hoped this question meant any artist dead or alive: unanimous answer NIRVANA!

The N.M.E., Kerrang!, Mojo, Classic Rock – how important is print media to a working band in the age of social media?

Extremely important, good public relations will help a band to grow and develop an awareness in the public eye. Certain types of media such as different magazines and musical genres will help a band target an audience they might not come across at a gig. With more awareness for your band in general, income streams to band become more accessible as people can purchase tickets to shows, buy merchandise and even advertise you by word of mouth. Other opportunities will come to the band as other businesses will keep an eye on what’s trending, and if they feel you are adding something to a particular market they are involved in, they will want the chance to be connected in the public relation scenes.

How important do you think artwork is for bands in these digital days?

We are a little torn on this particular question. Morgan has a flair for design and graphics and is very much into good looking artwork on CDs, digital images etc. In general we feel people like to see a visualisation of the music, which is of some importance, however at the end of the day if the music is good what is going to stop it? Most artists that are on major labels have a picture of them on the front cover as its more they are selling the image of the musician(s) rather than the music itself.

Speaking of the digital world: vinyl, CD or download – does it really matter (except to blokes of a certain age)?

As the industry became more digital, younger audiences didn’t have the experience of cassettes and vinyl, so now the re-introducing of vinyl and analogue sound is becoming more popular. It’s also another way to keep music more of a consumable product which obviously helps the industry to stay on its feet. If digital slightly lost its relevance because analogue makes a comeback, perhaps a lot of illegal downloading would stop as people would feel the quality isn’t as good. Maybe it’s what we need in order to save the music industry? Vinyl looks cool, it’s a product you hold in your hands, and usually the bigger format and feel of a vinyl makes it more personal.

Women in the music business have come a long way since Billie, Janis & Aretha; do you think women artists now have true equality with their male counterparts?

We asked ourselves this question about 3 or 4 times. What made us all say “No it’s not equal” was this counter question: “Think of the 10 best guitarists around today?” Now the same question but with bassists, drummers etc. Most of our own answers were completely male dominated. It is perhaps slightly getting better, but overall we feel women are not always being accepted as instrumentalists as they are accepted as vocalists. Which swings back the stereotype again: “Women can’t play instruments they can only sing”.

Many of the younger female artists (naming no names) are certainly willing to flaunt what they’ve got in videos & on stage in a way that’s totally different to the natural sensuality of, say Tina Turner or Janis; do you think this is a sign of empowerment as they claim, or are they just kidding themselves they’ve some control over their use of their sexuality?

Tough question, some use and abuse, others are naturally happy doing it and don’t see how it can come across. Louisa’s personal problem with this issue: If women are flaunting certain body parts to tease the male gender, it’s in the hope that they receive a reaction from the male. This reaction one would think would be an emotional response of attraction, perhaps lust, etc. Isn’t this the wrong type of reaction? Surely you want to impress the opposite sex and same sex with musical ability. If one man plays an instrumental solo for example and plays very well, another man can respect it and the relationship is of a professional level. Why is this so different for female musicians?

A lot of the old guard regard Simon Cowell as the Antichrist and his telly programme as the end of music as we know it, what’s your take?

Clever business man in our opinion. Able to brainwash a nation with a cleverly set up TV programme. He took Susanne Boyle (someone with no hope of getting a record deal normally) and signed her. Released her album knowing full well that her audience would be much older and more likely to pop to Asda / Tesco and buy the album full price rather than illegally downloading it. Must have made billions!

So you guys are playing the Hobbs fashion show in February, have they stipulated a dress code or can you come as you are?

We have had the fashion police set on us: we’re going to being strapped into hairdressing chairs and be told what’s going to happen to our hair and we are being booked into Garment Quarter in town to be dressed appropriately! 

Finally, what are your plans for 2016, realistically what would you be happy to have achieved by the end of the year?

We would like to have released new music – definitely an EP and potentially an album, along with music videos etc. Touring in Europe & the UK and making stronger connections in the industry.