01Profile
A Blue Bendy Photo
Blue Bendy
Musicians — London
03Interview
Photo by Rhiannon Harper
Name, where are you from?
JN: We’re Blue Bendy (Arthur Nolan (Vocals), Joe Nash (Guitar), Harrison Charles (Guitar), Olivia Morgan (Keys & Vocals), Sam Wilson (Bass) and Oscar Tebbutt (Drums)), based around New Cross in London, as individual members we’re far-flung. Scunthorpe, Warrington, Guildford, Devon and Woodbridge.
Describe your style in three words?
AN: Do not crease.
OM: Still The Same.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
AN: Battles, two weeks ago at the Brudenell. I can recall it well.
JN: Probably LCD Soundsystem at Primavera Sound 2016, the setlist, performance and being on holiday with lots of friends made it perfect.
OM: Maybe Pond at End of the Road. I was like 17 and it was the first festival I went to with my friends instead of my mum. Everyone was really overexcited so it was pretty memorable.
If you could be on the line up with any two artists in history?
AN: Murlo and The Housemartins. They can spin.
JN: Maybe R.E.M for me. Imagine a festival where R.E.M were headlining.
Which subcultures have influenced you?
JN: I get obsessively deep into genres and their subcultures after hearing certain songs that don’t sound like anything I’ve heard before. I got dead into shoegaze at like 17 after hearing 'Drive It All Over Me' by My Bloody Valentine, and way too into krautrock after hearing 'Lila Engel' by NEU.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
AN: Bottomless brunch with Stephen Merritt.
Of all the venues you’ve been to or played, which is your favourite?
JN: We played the Crescent Community venue in York not so long ago, the whole set up was great, really friendly staff and punters and it sounded great.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
AN: Ivor Cutler, whatever happened to being a humorist?
JN: For me, it’s Trish Keenan from Broadcast, her ear for samples and sounds as well as her lyrics and composition was second to none.
OM: I’m listening to lots of Actress at the moment, the synth sounds are really intense
02Playlist
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
AN: My dad tells a story I may or may not have misremembered; of me playing 'Dot Dash' by Wire all night on the millennium.
A song that defines the teenage you?
AN: 'FloriDada' by Animal Collective.
One record you would keep forever?
JN: My copy of 'Loveless' by My Bloody Valentine, it lives in a heavy-duty plastic sleeve and will be my future family heirloom.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
AN: “I touched you on the arm,
You were so warm”
From 'Janine' by Arthur Russell.
The song that would get you straight on the dance floor?
OM: The song on the opening credits of The Blob (1958) by Frank Carmichael.
A song you wished you had written?
AN: 'Happy Hour' by The House Martins.
Best song to turn up loud?
JN: 'Something For Joey' by Mercury Rev.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
OM: Probably something like 'Into Dust' by Bladee. Maybe people would expect that? I don’t know.
Best song to end an all-nighter on?
AN: 'Clock' by Plaid.
OM: 'Best Days' by Blur.
Any new music you are listening to right now?
AN: No one you don’t know already. Everyone we know in London is making uncompromising music; not least Jean Penne and Legss.
JN: I really love the new Vanishing Twin album, I’d say we share a big crossover of influences with them. GLOWS keeps bringing out consistently great singles too.
OM: My friend showed me Helena Celle recently and I’m really loving it – again just loads of obscure synth sounds. Also, Keg are really great live and really excited to hear more from them.
03Interview
Photo by Rhiannon Harper
Name, where are you from?
JN: We’re Blue Bendy (Arthur Nolan (Vocals), Joe Nash (Guitar), Harrison Charles (Guitar), Olivia Morgan (Keys & Vocals), Sam Wilson (Bass) and Oscar Tebbutt (Drums)), based around New Cross in London, as individual members we’re far-flung. Scunthorpe, Warrington, Guildford, Devon and Woodbridge.
Describe your style in three words?
AN: Do not crease.
OM: Still The Same.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
AN: Battles, two weeks ago at the Brudenell. I can recall it well.
JN: Probably LCD Soundsystem at Primavera Sound 2016, the setlist, performance and being on holiday with lots of friends made it perfect.
OM: Maybe Pond at End of the Road. I was like 17 and it was the first festival I went to with my friends instead of my mum. Everyone was really overexcited so it was pretty memorable.
If you could be on the line up with any two artists in history?
AN: Murlo and The Housemartins. They can spin.
JN: Maybe R.E.M for me. Imagine a festival where R.E.M were headlining.
Which subcultures have influenced you?
JN: I get obsessively deep into genres and their subcultures after hearing certain songs that don’t sound like anything I’ve heard before. I got dead into shoegaze at like 17 after hearing 'Drive It All Over Me' by My Bloody Valentine, and way too into krautrock after hearing 'Lila Engel' by NEU.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
AN: Bottomless brunch with Stephen Merritt.
Of all the venues you’ve been to or played, which is your favourite?
JN: We played the Crescent Community venue in York not so long ago, the whole set up was great, really friendly staff and punters and it sounded great.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
AN: Ivor Cutler, whatever happened to being a humorist?
JN: For me, it’s Trish Keenan from Broadcast, her ear for samples and sounds as well as her lyrics and composition was second to none.
OM: I’m listening to lots of Actress at the moment, the synth sounds are really intense
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
AN: My dad tells a story I may or may not have misremembered; of me playing 'Dot Dash' by Wire all night on the millennium.
A song that defines the teenage you?
AN: 'FloriDada' by Animal Collective.
One record you would keep forever?
JN: My copy of 'Loveless' by My Bloody Valentine, it lives in a heavy-duty plastic sleeve and will be my future family heirloom.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
AN: “I touched you on the arm,
You were so warm”
From 'Janine' by Arthur Russell.
The song that would get you straight on the dance floor?
OM: The song on the opening credits of The Blob (1958) by Frank Carmichael.
A song you wished you had written?
AN: 'Happy Hour' by The House Martins.
Best song to turn up loud?
JN: 'Something For Joey' by Mercury Rev.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
OM: Probably something like 'Into Dust' by Bladee. Maybe people would expect that? I don’t know.
Best song to end an all-nighter on?
AN: 'Clock' by Plaid.
OM: 'Best Days' by Blur.
Any new music you are listening to right now?
AN: No one you don’t know already. Everyone we know in London is making uncompromising music; not least Jean Penne and Legss.
JN: I really love the new Vanishing Twin album, I’d say we share a big crossover of influences with them. GLOWS keeps bringing out consistently great singles too.
OM: My friend showed me Helena Celle recently and I’m really loving it – again just loads of obscure synth sounds. Also, Keg are really great live and really excited to hear more from them.