ELECTRO-ROCK TRIO ‘CENTRE EXCUSE’ AND I CHAT ALL ABOUT THEIR NEW SINGLE ‘THANK YOU (FOR MOVING ON), WHO THEY WORKED WITH AND THE VIDEO PROCESS, GIVE IT A READ RIGHT HERE!

 

What  are your names?
Teddy Lewis, Alex Rush, James Caine

 

What is the bands name.
Centre Excuse

 

How did you come up with the name?

Teddy and Alex were in English during Secondary School around the ages of 13 in 2008 when Teddy was in a bad patch with handing in homework on time. Teddy went to explain to the teacher why he didn’t have the homework with him and she responded with “Oh Teddy, what’s the centre of your excuse this time?”. For some reason we thought that sounded strange/interesting and it stuck with us ever since.

 

What is your genre of music?
Electronic Rock which we tentatively call ‘Electrock’…we’re hoping it’ll stick in years to come.

 

Give us a little bio about you.
Adrenaline fueled live performances combined with danceable rhythms, intricate layers of synths, raging guitars and infuriatingly catchy lyrics have become the hallmark of Centre Excuse, a UK 3-piece emanating from England’s smallest county, Rutland. Their original sound, crafted through fusing their own unique style with the excitement of the 80’s new wave movement and the raw energy of rock, has seen them in the vanguard of an emerging breed of underground electronic artists.”

 

What made you go in to music?
It’s always been our passion since we first picked up instruments around the ages of 10 and we knew growing up that being in a band was what we wanted to do. We developed our tastes, being brought into the age of new music discovery online maturing and we grew our own sound from there.

 

Are you a signed?
We are self-funded and do it all ourselves through our own independent label ‘New Motion Records’.

 

Your new release ‘ Thank You (For Moving On)  has dropped tell us more about it.
It’s a high energy track showing off the more vibrant side of Centre Excuse that will be featuring on our debut album ‘Please Don’t Cry Those Tears’.

 

What is the meaning behind the release.
‘Thank You’ is an upbeat celebration of the love, energy and support from those people who against all odds, manage to ‘Move You Up’ when you’re feeling at your lowest.

 

 

Describe the track in two words.
Positive, Energetic

 

What was the writing process like?
This was a more detailed process because I knew we wanted to have a song in our Arsenal that could shine some light to the positive influences in our lives as opposed to the darker side of our catalogue. 

 

What was the recording process like?
A lot of back and forth between Teddy working daily in the studio tracking the song with the guys bringing their feedback to maximise its potential for the final master.

 

Who did you work with on the track with?
Just the band, Teddy producing.

You also released the video, what was the making and planning like for the video?
We always do our videos ourselves and this one along with many others before with Aga Slobodzian behind the camera. We created the idea, find the locations, borrowed a vintage car from a friend, all the actors are our friends to give the video the extra good vibes. The most difficult part was when we shot the snow scenes in Poland, we couldn’t find any helium for the balloons and tried using bicarbonate soda with vinegar to make them float…that didn’t work so we had to cheat it and make it look like they were floating, while filming as a small crew in the middle of snowy fields in – degree celsius conditions, just wearing shirts, no jackets. We apparently have no thoughts for our health! Then we came back to the UK to shoot the rest, and as with any CE video, we shot it in the freezing cold on a very tight schedule.

 

Watch the video here

https://youtu.be/nj1yya-3Xqo

 

Will we see an EP or Album?
Yes, very soon

 

If so what can we expect and when?
Our debut album ‘Please Don’t Cry Those Tears’ releases everywhere on June 17th!

 

Do you have any shows coming up or a tour in planning?
Yes, 2 shows and a potential tour in the works.

 

If so where will you be heading?
1. May 9th we have a headline show at the Islington in London.
2. We then play at the Electrowerkz in London for Synth Wave Live 3 Festival on June 22nd 

 

What else can we expect in 2019?

Another new Music Video and single from the album is in the schedule for release prior to the album launch

Do you have any collaborations coming up with any up coming artists?
We’re launching ‘Thank You (For Moving Me Up) – The Remixes Vol .1 & .2’ EP’s featuring remixes of the single by darwinmcd, Rezzonator, INЯUSH, In Tendō, LorD and Master, Nude Sound System

 

 

 

Would you be up for collaborations if other musicians wanted one with you? and who would they have to contact?
Reach out to us by direct messaging our social pages (FB, Instagram) and we’ll get back to you

 

Do you play any instruments?
Teddy sings, plays guitar, bass guitar, keyboard and produces
Alex plays keyboards, drums and does some singing
James sings, plays guitar, bass guitar and keyboards 

Who are your influences?
Any one from Depeche mode to Smashing Pumpkins to Blink 182 to Slipknot. A huge range.

 

How do you get inspiration to write songs?
Mainly from life events, where we currently are emotionally, sometimes fictional ideas too.

 

Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
The dream is to be selling out arenas and headlining Reading Festival within that time, we’re doing everything we can on our side to make that happen.

 

When you’re not doing music, what do you do?
Currently trying to juggle working for a living, health, friends and family. 

 

What was the song you listened to most that influenced you to go more into the music scene?
We couldn’t pin it all on song but more watching bands videos back in the day, their live videos on YouTube and Blink 182’s documentaries or Depeche Mode’s 101 tour video.

 

What’s the best advice you have ever been given?
“If you did drum ‘n’ bass, you’d be huge” – drunk fan at our gig.

 

What advice would you give to aspiring musicians not about the industry and  just as an artist?
You’ve got to think outside the box in the modern day, there’s a lot of noise out there you need to cut above and just uploading your music online most of the time isn’t going to be enough to get people hearing your music, not on the scale to make it a career. We’re constantly working on this ourselves.

 

What quote or saying do you always stick by?
We haven’t currently got one but we’re open to suggestions. But our mantra is positive thinking and being in a constant cycle of development in ourselves as a band.

 

Where in your hometown is a must go to visit?
The cricket club for a good ale and the one village shop Barbara’s for some of our childhood favourite sweets. Rutland Water is beautiful too for a day out, a pleasure to grow up around.

 

You’re coming off tour;

1/ Where do you go first?
Home

2/ Who do you see first?
Family and friends

3/What do you eat first?
Alex – Veggies for some vitamins or spag bol (spaghetti bolognese)
Teddy – Veggie Fajitas or Fish & Chips
James – Couscous and a Rhubarb Yoghurt

 

When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
In-ear monitors or you’re doomed, Instruments, Water, Phones for content, fans…  

 

Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
– ‘Centre Excuse’ / FB , Twitter , Instagram on all platforms
– Teddy (Twitter + Instagram)
– Alex – (Twitter + Instagram)
– James –  (Twitter + Instagram)

Comments (1):

  1. Anis Ahmed

    June 5, 2020 at 10:04 pm

    Brilliant band – saw them live at Electrowerx. Super live set

    Reply

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