What are your names?
Jai McCann, Josephine “Jojo” Hawley, Calum Doig, Elliot Johnson and Ross Stewart
What is the band’s name?
Post Ironic State
What is your genre of music?
I’d say we’re New Wave/Post Punk, but we’re not totally confined to any styles.
Give us a little bio about you.
Post Ironic State formed officially in January 2019 and we were then a 4 piece, consisting of myself, Jojo, Elliot and Ross and we played our first gig at Ivory Blacks in Glasgow. The band’s first gig as a completed outfit with Doig on guitar was in June this year at the Green Room in Perth. We are known for our eccentric and rhythmically melodic song-writing and style swathed in captivating synthesisers and deeply moving vocals delivered with a powerfully timid attitude, that draws comparisons to bands such as Joy Division and Interpol.
What made you go into music?
My parents brought me up listening to a lot of punk and new wave music from their teen years in the 80s so I always enjoyed that style. I never took up singing until high school when I was forced into the school choir because they didn’t have any basses, although I ended up really enjoying myself and continued singing in choirs until the formation of the band.
Are you a signed?
Yes, we’re signed to Vadana Records
You released your single ‘Revelation’, tell us more about the single.
The song itself is one of our earlier efforts, written when the band was still in it’s infancy. The lyrics were written in late 2017 and the melody followed in the next year.
What is the meaning behind the single?
I suppose it can be interpreted as not really ever feeling good enough, that people around you are doing much better than you are, just not being comfortable with who you are.
Describe the track in two words.
Dark and Reflective
What was the writing process like?
This is typically how we used to write songs before: I would write a set of lyrics and eventually we would jam out a song that fit one of the sets of lyrics I’d written. In this case, the band was just me and Jojo at the time, and she approached me with a melody she had written and I remember sitting up and going “I have words for that!” and before we knew it we had a song.
What was the recording process like?
It was probably the most intense regime anyone in the band had worked with. 3 days straight of recording and even writing in the studio. Most of the time was spent trying to perfect the synthesiser sounds. For one synth line, I think we used 9 different synth settings.
Who did you work with on the single?
We worked with Scotty Anderson at Magic Box in Dundee, he’s a fantastic producer.
Will we see a music video? If so what can we expect?
We have a video to accompany the music, but it’s not a music video persay
Will we see an EP or album and if so what can we expect?
We have no current plans for an EP, but we’re working up to an album in the next few years.
Do you have any shows coming up?
We have a tour in early 2020, our first confirmed date is Valentines Day, which we have another single release scheduled for.
If so where will you be heading?
We’re heading to Aberdeen, Dundee, Dunfermline, St Andrews, Edinburgh and Glasgow
What else can we expect in 2019/Early 2020?
We have a single due for release on Valentines Day, but we’ve now booked into a recording studio in late February for a release in early Spring.
Do you have any collaborations coming up with any upcoming artists?
We’re doing a joint headline tour with Fife’s Messed Up Youth, they were our good friends when we first started so we’re happy to join them around Scotland!
Would you be up for collaborations if other musicians wanted one with you? and who would they have to contact?
We would welcome a collaboration with another group or artist, they’d just need to fire us a message on Facebook or Instagram.
Do you play any instruments?
Although I’m not a keyboard player, I do make all the synth sounds, and I used to be the guitarist in the band before we recruited Doig, I wasn’t overly technical or skilled but some of our first songs were written by me, just noodling around on my guitar.
Who are your influences?
We’re often compared to Joy Division, which makes sense as they’re my personal favourite band, but I’d say we’re also heavily influenced by bands such as the Cure, Biffy Clyro and the Ninth Wave.
How do you get inspiration to write songs?
We don’t really set out to write anything, we’ll just be at a rehearsal and someone will play something and we might stop and go “that was cool” and we’ll work on it. I think that’s also why we don’t really have any two songs that sound the same.
Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
With how well we’ve done in just one year, I think in 5 years time we can see ourselves with an album out and perhaps playing all over the world.
When you’re not doing music, what do you do?
I myself am a bartender, Ross is a skilled rock climber, Doig works in hospitality, Jojo works in retail and Elliot is a producer.
What was the song you listened to most that influenced you to go more in to the music scene?
I’d say my turning point was hearing Joy Division’s Isolation, it was this really interesting song but just so simple. I’d never heard anything like it.
What’s the best advice you have ever been given?
I was talking to my cousin who runs a successful funk and soul record label, and he said to me “You can spend £500 on five alright sounding singles, or you can spend £500 on one great sounding one” and we go by that to this day.
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians not about the industry and just as an artist?
By all means, spend a tonne of money on all your gear and instruments, but if you spend nothing on promoting yourself, no one is going to ever notice you.
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
“Music is a community, not a competition”
Where in your hometown is a must go to visit?
I’m from a small village called Bannockburn, just on the edge of Stirling. We have a small pub here that’s been in the same family for generations. Home made food and a great selection of beers.
Your coming off tour;
1/ Where do you go first?
Straight to our own beds!
2/ Who do you see first?
I think we’re all happy to be isolated for just a bit.
3/What do you eat first?
Anything food that doesn’t start with “Fast”
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
“I have a pair of shoes I play drums in, I can’t play drums wearing any other pair” – Ross
“I can’t forget that I need to be pretty active on stage, if I’m just standing there it’s boring for everyone” – Jai
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
We’re on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube!
