01Profile
A Menace Beach Photo
Menace Beach
Musician — Leeds
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
Ryan Needham, Leeds
Describe your style in three words?
Same Clothes Daily.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Can’t rest on a best one ever but seeing Traams at Southsea Festival is up there. They were drunk and angry and totally locked in and played everything really fast but really well. It was chaotic and felt really alive.
If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
The Modern Lovers, because they made one of my favourite albums ever and there isn’t much-recorded footage of them. Hendrix at one of his first shows in New York, being at the side of that stage would just be unreal.
Which Subcultures have influenced you?
I guess it falls into Punk, but discovering the No Wave thing has helped me learn to embrace dissonance.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Patti Smith, I really like the way she thinks and writes. Lots of questions to ask. Seems like she’d be nice.
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
Brudenell Social Club in Leeds. It's just consistently the best vibe of anywhere I’ve been, and it’s home. Also shout out to Amsterdam Paradiso. It's a huge beautiful gothic church and we played the first Menace Beach show outside of the UK there.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Around the start of this band it was probably Bob Pollard, Guided By Voices. If you watch the ‘Watch Me Jumpstart’ documentary then you’ll immediately understand why. Discovering GBV made me ditch everything I thought was right or expected about approaching music. A real year zero moment.
Leeds no-wave duo Menace Beach (Liza Violet and Ryan Needham) have just released their latest album 'Black Rainbow'. The album contains songs featuring Brix Smith of The Fall, and Brix and the Extricated. With the new record, Menace Beach continue to explore their unique aesthetic, venturing further into a colourful world of analogue synths and static drenched electronic euphoria.
02Playlist
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
Pass the Dutchie - 'Musical Youth'
I had this on 7” vinyl at the age of 6 because I loved the kids on the cover and begged my mum to get it for me. I don’t think either of us got the weed reference initially.
A song that defines the teenage you?
All Seeing I - '1st Man In Space'
Fav song from the first CDR’d album I owned. I got my friend to copy it for me but I ended up buying it eventually cause I really wanted the weird sleeve.
One record you would keep forever?
Easy, The Modern Lovers - 'The Modern Lovers'
My current ‘favourite ever album’.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
"Someone left the cake out in the rain
I don't think that I can take it
Cause it took so long to bake it
And I'll never have that recipe again."
Jimmy Webb - 'Macarthur Park'
It's all in the delivery
A song you wished you had written?
Cate Le Bon - 'Are You With Me Now'
I think this is just perfect.
Best song to turn up loud?
St Vincent - 'Chloe In The Afternoon'
I love the production, especially the way the bass hits when it's loud.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
Martika - 'Toy Soldiers'
Just an '80s one-hit wonder I think. It's amazing.
The song to get you straight on the dance floor?
The Fall - 'Kicker Conspiracy'
I wouldn’t call it dancing really.
Best song to end an all-nighter?
Focus - 'Hocus Pocus'
Absolute banger with Yodelling.
Any new bands you are into at the moment?
Drahla - 'Twelve Divisions Of The Day'
I guess they’re not that new but they’re from Leeds and are great and really good people.
Tallsaint - 'I’m A Woman (After All)'
She’s put two tracks out so far and they’re both awesome and her live show is really great.
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
Ryan Needham, Leeds
Describe your style in three words?
Same Clothes Daily.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
Can’t rest on a best one ever but seeing Traams at Southsea Festival is up there. They were drunk and angry and totally locked in and played everything really fast but really well. It was chaotic and felt really alive.
If you could be on the line up with any two bands in history?
The Modern Lovers, because they made one of my favourite albums ever and there isn’t much-recorded footage of them. Hendrix at one of his first shows in New York, being at the side of that stage would just be unreal.
Which Subcultures have influenced you?
I guess it falls into Punk, but discovering the No Wave thing has helped me learn to embrace dissonance.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Patti Smith, I really like the way she thinks and writes. Lots of questions to ask. Seems like she’d be nice.
Of all the venues you’ve played, which is your favourite?
Brudenell Social Club in Leeds. It's just consistently the best vibe of anywhere I’ve been, and it’s home. Also shout out to Amsterdam Paradiso. It's a huge beautiful gothic church and we played the first Menace Beach show outside of the UK there.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Around the start of this band it was probably Bob Pollard, Guided By Voices. If you watch the ‘Watch Me Jumpstart’ documentary then you’ll immediately understand why. Discovering GBV made me ditch everything I thought was right or expected about approaching music. A real year zero moment.
Leeds no-wave duo Menace Beach (Liza Violet and Ryan Needham) have just released their latest album 'Black Rainbow'. The album contains songs featuring Brix Smith of The Fall, and Brix and the Extricated. With the new record, Menace Beach continue to explore their unique aesthetic, venturing further into a colourful world of analogue synths and static drenched electronic euphoria.
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
Pass the Dutchie - 'Musical Youth'
I had this on 7” vinyl at the age of 6 because I loved the kids on the cover and begged my mum to get it for me. I don’t think either of us got the weed reference initially.
A song that defines the teenage you?
All Seeing I - '1st Man In Space'
Fav song from the first CDR’d album I owned. I got my friend to copy it for me but I ended up buying it eventually cause I really wanted the weird sleeve.
One record you would keep forever?
Easy, The Modern Lovers - 'The Modern Lovers'
My current ‘favourite ever album’.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
"Someone left the cake out in the rain
I don't think that I can take it
Cause it took so long to bake it
And I'll never have that recipe again."
Jimmy Webb - 'Macarthur Park'
It's all in the delivery
A song you wished you had written?
Cate Le Bon - 'Are You With Me Now'
I think this is just perfect.
Best song to turn up loud?
St Vincent - 'Chloe In The Afternoon'
I love the production, especially the way the bass hits when it's loud.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
Martika - 'Toy Soldiers'
Just an '80s one-hit wonder I think. It's amazing.
The song to get you straight on the dance floor?
The Fall - 'Kicker Conspiracy'
I wouldn’t call it dancing really.
Best song to end an all-nighter?
Focus - 'Hocus Pocus'
Absolute banger with Yodelling.
Any new bands you are into at the moment?
Drahla - 'Twelve Divisions Of The Day'
I guess they’re not that new but they’re from Leeds and are great and really good people.
Tallsaint - 'I’m A Woman (After All)'
She’s put two tracks out so far and they’re both awesome and her live show is really great.
Menace Beach - 'Satellite' (Official Audio)
Menace Beach - 'Lowtalkin' | Dot To Dot Festival 2015