Andy Crofts

Name?
Andy Crofts

Where are you from?
Northampton

Describe your style in three words?
No fashion sense.

You can spend an hour with anyone from history - who would it be and why?
Maybe Michael Jackson. I'd love to talk to him off the record in a little English pub about his memories in the Jackson 5 and what records he really loved and stories about recording the Off The Wall album etc. Away from all the rubbish that sadly overshadowed him in his later years.  

Another you? Any other career that would have appealed?
As some of you may know I have always loved photography. The first time I picked a real camera up I was in love. My mind connected as soon as I look through that lens and it feels natural to me. I've never been professional but I have a good eye so I imagine if it wasn't music I was doing it would certainly be photography or something creative. 

Which sub-cultures have had an enduring effect on you?
Well I tend to borrow bits from every era these days such as new wave, punk and psych but when I was younger I was a strict Mod. I connected with everything about it. The clothes, music, scooters and the way of life. I felt a bit lost as a kid and an only child and discovering all this made me part of something. It was my taste in music that led me there and it wasn't until I met like minded people that I realised I was one. Now I tend to take some of that and change it around a bit. I don't really think about it. It just happens.

If you could make a record with anyone from history?
I'm kinda lucky as Paul Weller would have been on my list of people but I can safely say I've done that now.  I think it would have to be David Bowie purely because I wouldn't be able to predict where he would want to go or what he would do with our song. 

How important are indie venues for British music?
So important! They are the grass roots of every band and where all of us musicians learn how to play and work a crowd. Everything is being squashed by the big machine so it's important to keep these indie venues alive. They are vital and especially for young bands starting out. One major way to help this is to go and watch live and local bands. Turn off your tv and support live music!

What’s the best gig you have ever been to?
For some reason, I can't think. One gig that sticks with me is The Coral at Glastonbury. I can't even remember what year. It's not really a proper gig I know but I recall them opening with Simon Diamond and it was just brilliant. I love that band and very influential to me. 

What music did you listen to growing up?
I listened to a lot of soul music growing up as my mum had some cool records laying around. I loved The Jackson 5 and couldn't get enough of The Beatles but one person who stuck with me and I was obsessed with was Buddy Holly. He was the first musician I discovered myself and I used to listen to my cassette and vinyl constantly.  In my class at school when I was about 8 we were all given a rock n roll record each that I think they got a bill load cheap somewhere. It had The Big Bopper, Richie Valance, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Buddy Holly, Bill Haley and more. So I guess rock and roll was the thing that properly woke me up to music. My teacher will never know the lasting effect that record had on me.

Andy Crofts is the singer, songwriter and guitarist for the sixties inspired, Northampton based indie band, The Moons. 

He is also an ever-present member of Paul Weller’s band, playing keyboards for all the live shows and collaborating in the studio recordings.