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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Aquilo – New Band Up North #24 | Aquilo – New Band Up North #24 |
| (10 days later) | |
| When I first heard Aquilo's debut track, Calling Me, I immediately stopped what I was doing. I knew I was hearing something special, something significant. Beautiful, misty, dreamlike layers of electronic pop dapple over you like the sun glistening on a still, silent lake. Aquilo are creating a soundscape full of space and soul that would complement the sunrise perfectly. | When I first heard Aquilo's debut track, Calling Me, I immediately stopped what I was doing. I knew I was hearing something special, something significant. Beautiful, misty, dreamlike layers of electronic pop dapple over you like the sun glistening on a still, silent lake. Aquilo are creating a soundscape full of space and soul that would complement the sunrise perfectly. |
| It was an early weekend morning when Mary Anne Hobbs played the track on BBC 6Music. I suddenly felt calm, relaxed and in another place. It blew me away and I had to find out more about this double-act from the Lake District. | It was an early weekend morning when Mary Anne Hobbs played the track on BBC 6Music. I suddenly felt calm, relaxed and in another place. It blew me away and I had to find out more about this double-act from the Lake District. |
| Tom Higham, 22, and Ben Fletcher, 18, were originally the frontmen in rival bands in their hometown of Silverdale, not far from Lancaster. Higham was jumping around on stage making heavy metal while Fletcher was thrashing out melodic grunge rock. | Tom Higham, 22, and Ben Fletcher, 18, were originally the frontmen in rival bands in their hometown of Silverdale, not far from Lancaster. Higham was jumping around on stage making heavy metal while Fletcher was thrashing out melodic grunge rock. |
| Higham then started producing tracks solo – just him and his guitar. Fletcher, too, was beginning to get itchy feet and started putting songs on SoundCloud. Conveniently the pair are neighbours. So, after stumbling across Fletcher's music online Higham suddenly thought he could start making music with "that lad across the road". | Higham then started producing tracks solo – just him and his guitar. Fletcher, too, was beginning to get itchy feet and started putting songs on SoundCloud. Conveniently the pair are neighbours. So, after stumbling across Fletcher's music online Higham suddenly thought he could start making music with "that lad across the road". |
| After working away for a while they produced Calling Me, which got lots of attention in the blogosphere. They couldn't believe the reaction. People, quite rightly, started drawing comparisons to James Blake, Mount Kimbie and London Grammar. Aquilo did start with two other members but after a while decided to take the project forward as a duo. | After working away for a while they produced Calling Me, which got lots of attention in the blogosphere. They couldn't believe the reaction. People, quite rightly, started drawing comparisons to James Blake, Mount Kimbie and London Grammar. Aquilo did start with two other members but after a while decided to take the project forward as a duo. |
| Going from heavy metal and grunge to soft, calm electro-pop is quite a contrast. But listening to Aquilo you'd think they'd be doing this for a long time. The slick precision of the production is extremely impressive. It's sometimes a risk making music in your bedroom, often thinking you need to add more to a track than it needs, but Higham and Fletcher have got it just right. | Going from heavy metal and grunge to soft, calm electro-pop is quite a contrast. But listening to Aquilo you'd think they'd be doing this for a long time. The slick precision of the production is extremely impressive. It's sometimes a risk making music in your bedroom, often thinking you need to add more to a track than it needs, but Higham and Fletcher have got it just right. |
| When the track begins it's as if you're stepping into a church service, slowly pushing the door open, you're a little late so you quietly creep to your seat. Beautiful harmonies and hums gently fly up to the carved ceiling and soar through the air, returning eventually to wrap themselves around you. | When the track begins it's as if you're stepping into a church service, slowly pushing the door open, you're a little late so you quietly creep to your seat. Beautiful harmonies and hums gently fly up to the carved ceiling and soar through the air, returning eventually to wrap themselves around you. |
| The electronic, steady, reflective beat kicks in and Higham's smooth vocals soothe your soul and the beat gets louder and stronger, meeting a guitar that's being quietly plucked in the background. There's a lot of angst and emotion in the song. They both remember it not taking very long to come up with it but working on the production side of things for a while until it was perfect. | The electronic, steady, reflective beat kicks in and Higham's smooth vocals soothe your soul and the beat gets louder and stronger, meeting a guitar that's being quietly plucked in the background. There's a lot of angst and emotion in the song. They both remember it not taking very long to come up with it but working on the production side of things for a while until it was perfect. |
| They cite London Grammar as a fairly impressionable influence. Higham says he was "blown away" after hearing Hey Now and think their sound is beautiful. What Aquilo modestly don't realise is their sound is up there with London Grammar too. | They cite London Grammar as a fairly impressionable influence. Higham says he was "blown away" after hearing Hey Now and think their sound is beautiful. What Aquilo modestly don't realise is their sound is up there with London Grammar too. |
| They also achieve space and scale like James Blake. For Aquilo it's about finding one beautiful sound that they can repeat, loop and build on. For Calling Me they remember saying: "Let's skip the verse for now and build a massive chorus and see what we can do with that. We can be there for hours looping it over and over and only a tiny bit changes but it works that way." | They also achieve space and scale like James Blake. For Aquilo it's about finding one beautiful sound that they can repeat, loop and build on. For Calling Me they remember saying: "Let's skip the verse for now and build a massive chorus and see what we can do with that. We can be there for hours looping it over and over and only a tiny bit changes but it works that way." |
| The production process seems to be one of experimentation, feeling around on the piano or the guitar to see what sounds good and then working on the lyrics to go with it. Starting off with a fairly simple idea is key to their success. The pair can then sit adding layers and textures to their beautiful sound. Higham did music production at university but he got more out of "sitting in his room until 4 o'clock in the morning, making all these weird new crazy sounds" than his course. | The production process seems to be one of experimentation, feeling around on the piano or the guitar to see what sounds good and then working on the lyrics to go with it. Starting off with a fairly simple idea is key to their success. The pair can then sit adding layers and textures to their beautiful sound. Higham did music production at university but he got more out of "sitting in his room until 4 o'clock in the morning, making all these weird new crazy sounds" than his course. |
| Fletcher felt a sense of relief when he stopped making loud and intense music: "When we started doing this I just loved it instantly. You can just write calm music. I like being able to come away from a screaming amp and chill out." After years of gigging in his band Fletcher thinks the live aspect to Aquilo will be very important. | Fletcher felt a sense of relief when he stopped making loud and intense music: "When we started doing this I just loved it instantly. You can just write calm music. I like being able to come away from a screaming amp and chill out." After years of gigging in his band Fletcher thinks the live aspect to Aquilo will be very important. |
| They haven't done any live gigs yet and that's something they'll be working away on over the next few months as well as producing a 5-track EP. Fletcher explains: "We just want to get our heads down, take our time and get it right." | They haven't done any live gigs yet and that's something they'll be working away on over the next few months as well as producing a 5-track EP. Fletcher explains: "We just want to get our heads down, take our time and get it right." |
| Luckily for them they have that luxury. After chatting to them I have confidence that however long it takes, when they're ready they'll have us captivated, listening and staring up at the stage in awe. | Luckily for them they have that luxury. After chatting to them I have confidence that however long it takes, when they're ready they'll have us captivated, listening and staring up at the stage in awe. |
| • Emily Brinnand is a freelance journalist, radio presenter and producer. You can follow her on Twitter @EmilyBrinnand. If you're in a northern band, Emily wants to hear from you so please Tweet her links to your music | • Emily Brinnand is a freelance journalist, radio presenter and producer. You can follow her on Twitter @EmilyBrinnand. If you're in a northern band, Emily wants to hear from you so please Tweet her links to your music |
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