What are your names?
Hi, my name is Matthew Pop. And this is Stevie Seaweeds.
What is the bands name?
LUV DOT GOV
How did you come up with the band’s name?
I can’t really recall, but it had a lot more to do with love and symmetry rather than politics.
What is your genre of music?
Alt-Rock, Power-Pop
Give us a little bio about you as a band.
I think we began working together on songs in the summer of 2016. I (Matthew) met our producer, Graeme Young, at the end of that year, in Edinburgh. We made our 1st album there and toured the UK the following year shortly after our debut. SG “Seanski” Egan plays the bass, and Patrick Fischer joined on keyboards, and we seem to have a revolving-door of 2nd guitarists at the moment.
What made you go into music?
I think it’s a passion you gotta be born with.
Who are your influences?
Oh the list is really endless. Everything from the Beach Boys and ELO to Elliott Smith and Teenage Fanclub.
Are you signed?
We do not have any corporate representation at the moment.
You are set to release your new album ‘The Good Times Are Over’, tell us more about the album.
It’s a pretty good snapshot of 2020. I wrote a lot of it during lockdown. Though a lot of other songs were written during 2017-2019, also quite turbulent times in the states. Sonically, i think we got a little more experimental which was a lot of fun.
What is the meaning behind the album?
I suppose it’s sort of an anthem for End Times.
What was the writing and recording process like?
The writing process is always the same. I write and usually demo everything, then I send it over to Seaweeds and he has ideas and arrangements and parts of his own. Then things really start to come to life. Recording this time around was definitely interesting, because it was done from everyone’s little quarantine corner of the world and all the tracks were sent to our producer in Edinburgh. It was a really interesting way to build these songs and piece everything together, never actually being in the same room with one another.
Describe each track in two words.
1. Sooo over
2. News cycle
3. Under pressure
4. Auld Reekie
5. Suicide Note
6. Covid lockdown
7. Sorry Sarah!
8. Quarantine blues
9. Stalker Song
10. Golden shame
11. Please clap…
Who did you work with on the album?
Seaweeds played the drums and he tracked those in Brooklyn, NY with Phil Duke at DukeSound. Seaweeds also sings harmonies and did quite a few important guitar bits on this record. I sing and play guitar, synths, bass and piano. Vid Gobac (UK) played piano too. MollyMcGivern (CAN) played violins, Sana Beidaghi (Istanbul) played cello. Our own boys added tracks too. And of course the legendary Graeme Young pieced the whole thing together and made it sound quite epic.
Will we see a Music Video for any of the tracks and if so what can we expect?
Definitely check out the LUV DOT GOV youtube for our music videos. They are quite interesting. As far as anything new, Covid sort of ruined those plans so far.
Will we see any live shows coming up with the album release coming soon and if so where will you be heading?
Covid pending, there will be a 2022 UK tour.
What else can we expect in 2021?
Probably a lot of cold weather and a lot of drinking
Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
Hopefully, permanently based in Scotland.
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
Find what you love and let it kill you…
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
Capo, Whisky, Set Lists, a tuner for Seanski, and more Whisky.
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
Follow us on Instagram!
