What are your full names?
Jamie Davies, Mathew Brougham, Michael Kountis, Ryan Lewis & Richard Smith
What is the band’s name?
The Hummingbirds
Whats the reason behind the band’s name?
Jay’s first guitar was an ‘Epiphone Hummingbird’ He was looking for the name, and it was just in front of him at the time, and we settled on that.
How old are you?
Average age of 24
What is your genre of music?
Acoustic/Pop mainly with a Liverpool inspired americana twang to it
Give us a little Bio of the band and you guys individually/
We have all known each other for years, playing in various bands around Liverpool since we were 14/15 (many of us playing different roles than we do now) Jay and Matty were writing songs together for a few months before Mic and Rich joined and we were later joined by Ryan on the Bass. We’ve been writing songs since the beginning, some good, some bad. All of us knew each other from School/living in the same street/college.
How long have you been doing music?
I’d say for the best part of 8-10 years each one of us, we all used to jam together when we were in our early teens, but didn’t actually make it a ‘thing’ ‘till we were 19/20
What made you go in to music?
I think it was just wanting to copy our idols from when we were such a young age, thats why everyone gets into music I guess, but we just decided to stick with it and write our own stuff and we’ve managed to get this far off the back of it.
Are you a signed?
We are signed via a Publishing Company (Just Music), Distribution Company (Absolute Records) and a record label (Gladstone Recording Co)
What instruments do you play?
Between us, quite a mix, we have two acoustic guitars in the band, an electric guitar, bass guitar and drums, but Michael and Rich both play the Piano and have done on recordings, as well as other weird small instruments in bits and pieces of our album, Rich is our drummer, he also plays guitar and bass, and Michael our guitarist also plays Drums and Bass, so we’re never short of people throwing ideas around in the writing sessions.
Who are your influences?
That changes a lot for each band member, I’d say a general consensus was a bit of The Eagles, mixed with some Johnny Cash inspired guitar, The Hollies, The Beatles & John Mayer.
When will your new material be out?
We have a Single/EP out November 6th, That’s ‘Out Of The Rain’ It comes with two other tracks ‘Home’ and ‘Awaiting Your Call’ and will be out on iTunes, Amazon, Apple music and Spotify (and any other upstanding streaming and download service)
Will you be doing any gigs ?
Of course, we always try and keep busy with gigging! There are two in London, 14th October and 8th December. As well as a show in St Helens the 16th October, Chester 13th November, and a big Liverpool show on the 28th November (not one to miss)
Where did the inspiration for the new single ‘Out of The Rain’?
It was born out of boredom on the van on the way to a gig in Stockton on Tees and also it came from a situation that one us was going through at the time. There was an issue with a relationship that just wouldn’t end, and that’s where the main chorus hook of ‘I thought I told you to leave’ came from, the rest came quickly, seeing as we were living it, it just flowed out of us, we had a phone demo complete by the time we arrived (2.5 hours later) I also fondly remember the date, it was the 21st December 2012 (the day the world was supposed to end)
How do you get inspiration to write songs?
Most of the time, the music will come first, and that can just be inspired by what we listen to at the time, stylistically and also sonically. Then we will sit down and say ‘Okay does this sound like a sad song or a happy song?’ then we go from there, usually we pick a subject with a few of us in a room and just take it from there, most of the time it’s about love, and lack thereof, just because 5 lads are going to have their share of relationship issues. It’s also something we can really jump deep into when we write.
Where do you see yourself in 2-5 Years?
We hope to be writing music for the people who want it! As for the people who don’t want it.. we hope they hear us every time they switch the radio on and eventually come around.
When you’re not making music, what do you do?
Replying to emails mostly. That has become such a big part of the life, it’s almost like a desk job with all the work you have to put in behind the scenes, but it is rewarding. We can’t afford our own PA yet.
If you could collaborate with one UK Artist who would it be?
That’s a really good question, I never really like many collaborations I hear, they always sound really forced (unless it’s the golden age of the 80’s when you had collaborations galore – Macca/MJ – Macca/Stevie wonder – So basically Paul McCartney and everyone…) But I guess it would be good to do an on stage collaboration with someone… to be joined/join Paul McCartney on stage would be a dream for any of us. I think to say you’ve played with a Beatle is a big achievement, especially being from Liverpool. (If Kanye get’s to do it, why can’t we?)
If you could collaborate with one USA Artist who would it be?
Would love to do an on stage collaboration with John Mayer (for me personally – Mic)
Where is your dream venue or festival to perform in UK?
Glastonbury would be a dream festival to play, The John Peel tent has an amazing atmosphere, the venue would have to be selling out the Royal Albert Hall, but the Roundhouse is a beautiful venue as well!
Where is your dream venue or festival to perform in USA?
Dream festival in the US would be the Eaux Claire festival in Wisconsin, I wen’t last year and it was in such an amazing setting, the bands were all great and the sun was out the whole time (not like English festivals) Dream venue would be the Ed Sullivan theatre in New York, so many great artists have performed and been televised there throughout the years.
What was the song you listened to most that influenced you to go more in to the music scene?
When I was younger my Mum used to spoon feed me The Beatles every time we went out in the car, I remember that Hello Goodbye and Ticket To Ride were my favourite songs on the CD and it made me want to get Piano lessons, which she kindly got me, that was my introduction to music. (could be worse)
What was the first song you wrote?
As The Hummingbirds, the first song we properly wrote together was a song called ‘Talking Of Tomorrow’ which has actually managed to make it onto the album!
What’s the best advice you have ever been given?
Wear suits. You look like a gang of scruffs.
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians?
Practice, and just write what you love, it’s not about trying to fill a gap in the market, you should write what you feel comfortable performing and you should make sure you perfect your craft (that’s what will set you above the competition)
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
I don’t think any of us follow a quote, or a motto, but we could quote the whole series of Phoenix Nights after a few drinks.
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
INSTRUMENTS < very important. Our suits. a Plec (we always seem to forget this one) Hair Spray (it doesn’t stick itself up) and the sound guys name (you always need to make sure you are polite and call him by his name, and you SHOULD get a good sound and hopefully he will remember you for next time)
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
Yes, If you Google us you can find all sorts on there. The main ones are:
Website – www.wearethehummingbirds.com
Facebook www.facebook.com/wearethehummingbirdsuk
Twitter – @Thehummingbirds
Instagram @Thehummingbirds
