What are your names?
Denis
What is the band name?
Imperial Leisure
What is your genre of music?
AltSka
Give us a little bio about you as a band and as individuals.
We’re band born out of School friendships, cut our teeth on the London toilet circuit for years then got on some awesome tours with that took us all over Europe. 3 albums down the road with over 1000 shows under our belts here we are!
How did you meet each other?
First met Scott (drummer) drunk in the park drinking under age! We hit it off and started a band, other members joined us along the way, some we stole from other bands!
Describe each other in one word.
Bandits
Are you a signed?
to our own label yes! but really it’s DIY type of thing, we’ve worked with a few labels over the years too.
You’ve just released your new track ‘Animal’ , tell us more about it
Well it’s kind of a love song, which is a first for us and an unusual thing for a ska type band to do. breaking new ground with this, love it.
tried to keep it happy sounding but with a bit of punk rock edge. People seem to like so job done.
What was the recording process like?
HARD really hard! it’s the hardest thing you’ll do as a musician in my view. Takes tons of concentration, lots of pressure to get things just right and then you got to do all that at the same time as 7 other guys! But to come out the studio with a result is a big feeling, and then to have your hard work apprenticed on air well, that’s the cherry on the cake.
Describe the track in three words.
Wild Love RAHHHHH
You guys also have a video for ‘Animal’, tell us more about the video process.
Like the track we tried to keep it fun so we packed our selves off to Secret Garden party Festival with all our gear and a paddle pool, filled the paddle with mud, had a a little wrestle and then played a gig, filmed the lot and the nest thing we know we have a wicked music video.
Can you tell us anything about a new EP or Album or will we have to wait and see?
Well there’s a few surprises, nothing to off the beaten track but tried to take a different approach with this next thing. We have guest vocals for the first time, introducing new instruments to the line up. But this could all change of course because we are yet to go into the studio! just demoing ideas atm.
You’re also playing Camden Rocks on June 3rd, how did that come about?
Well being from London originally, or name got around a fair bit, we played that Camden scene to death! I guess we just popped out the hat this year and got asked. Who knows how these mysterious bookers go about their sullied work!
What can we expect?
Well Imperial Leisure is 2nd band on at Electric Ballroom, which is pretty early, assuming people will still be sober at that point we’re gonna have to do something different to get people excited, which of course we fully intend! We’ll be brain storming some craziness to get ’em jumping in the coming weeks.
What is next for you all?
get back into the studio and get some bloody songs recorded, we have near on 50 demo tracks down, summer is gonna be about finalising this stuff, hopefully we’ll come out the other side with some bangers ready to play on tour later in the year.
Do you have any collaborations in the works?
yes we’ll be working with many acts, Cut Capers, Madapple Circus and many more, really looking forward to that.
Would you be up for collaborating with other bands or artists, if so how could they contact you?
of course just tell em to facebook us www.facebook.com/imperialleisure we manage our own facebook so it’s easy to chat.
Do you play any instruments?
In the band i am just on vocals, but we all dabble a bit in this and that, I also play guitar
Who are your influences?
many many too many to name! And who really knows what influences a man to take hold of a mic and break out ska infused rap punk music, but i do know i listen to as varied a musical palate as i can reasonably get. I think you can hear that in what we do, there’s rock influences, there’s ska and jazz. Lately I’ve been taking note of some of my mother’s old record collection, Mum’s of Nigerian roots, so she has a couple funny old records, sort of afro beat stuff, love it, don’t be surprised if i throw a bit of that in the next album.
How do you get inspiration to write songs?
no one get’s inspiration it comes to them, I just try to keep my mind open and be ready for that thing that clicks with my soul and makes some magic happen, like i’m sort of walking sponge, which if you’ve seen my hair isn’t too far from the truth! Also getting wasted on hot sunny beaches helps
Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
Mate i take my days as they come, we plan tours and albums up to about 1 year in advance and that’s as far as I go, I am all about the now, in a way I am not bothered about the future and therefore i can’t really see it clearly. I’d like to think my music career would have progressed but i quite like to get better at surfing to and possible finally get that girl who’s been messing me about for years!
When you’re not doing music, what do you do?
Lots of outdoors stuff whether that be on the streets, on buildings, on the beach, in the sea, on mountain. I’m slave to the sunshine so when off tour and not recording don’t be surprised to find me bumming around some hostel in Asia or Central America
Where would your dream venue to play in your hometown?
Brixton Academy, used to go there all the time as a youngster to watch bands, hopefully one day I get the chance to take the stage.
what would be your dream show to have your music played on?
The Muppet show
If you could collaborate with one UK Artists or Band who would it be?
Roots Manuva and BMTH
If you could collaborate with one US Artists or Band who would it be?
Rage Against the Machine and Mad Caddies
What was the song you listened to most that influenced you to go more in to the music scene?
Bullet in the Head by RATM
What’s the best advice you have ever been given?
do what you want, when you want, all the time
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians not about the industry and just as an artist?
have fun with the music don’t be a miserable shit
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
take it easy and if it’s easy, take it home
You get off a plane in your hometown,
1/ where is the first place you visit?
pub
2/ where is the first place you see
erm…the pub?
3/ where is the fist food place you go and what do you get
back to the pub again for a roast
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
my band, the words, the gear, the merch and to have a damn good time, in no particular order
