INTERVIEW: Scars On 45
February is right around the corner, which means Scars On 45 are set to stroll through Minneapolis! This buzzin’ band from Yorkshire will be hanging out on Thursday, February 2 at the Varsity Theater with the talented Anya Marina. I recently had a pleasant chat with lead singer Danny Bemrose about tour, days off, and Breaking Bad. His thoughts are below.
You’re kicking off a brand new tour on January 25 in San Francisco. What are you most excited about at the start of a tour? What are your biggest fears?
The biggest fear is that no one turns up. In regard to what we look forward to and enjoy the most, it is meeting new people. We’re not one of these bands that do a gig and get to the next venue or city as quickly as possible. If people took time out of their day and spend hard earned money to watch us we want to spend as much time with them as possible. We want to have as many drinks as possible and we want to get to know them. That is always fun, it is always nice to see different people.
Do you have a favorite spot yet?
To be honest were relatively new to all of this. Every city has something to offer, even the outskirts of Montana. Every city has something unique, everyone has favorites, certain cities remind you of home, but every place offers something new. Literally.
Chop Shop/Atlantic labelmate Anya Marina will be joining you on February 2 in Minneapolis. Have you worked with her before? Can we expect any fun collaborations?
We’ve met Anya a few times. She is originally from San Diego and lives in Portland. Last Christmas we did a Chop Shop Christmas party at Alex’s house where she had a few acts perform. We were Anya’s backing band, so we spent a day learning her songs. That’s probably the most time we’ve spent together, but it will be a good show and we’re looking forward to it.
If you could tour with anyone in the world (living) who would it be?
At the moment, Adele is pretty high up there. She is something rather special. I mean, Coldplay, Death Cab For Cutie, The National, those kind of bands are the bands that are around at the moment and influence us. But if I were to pick it is probably Adele. I have to say the list is longer than my arm.
There are a plethora of bands out there struggling. Many are finding that there are different avenues of support available to continue (from sync placements to Kickstarter campaigns etc.). All that said, what does a “big break” mean to you?
I always think that there are a lot of different variations. A big break can come in many different forms. There is always a stigma about TV, commercials, etc. We were always aware of that stigma. Older artists that have been around a while might see it as selling out, but I’m thrilled. It’s having music heard by as many people as possible. TV and commercial is a way to enable us to do that; to reach as many people as possible. In this day and age it is difficult, not just in the music industry. It’s essential to get the music out there. We’re all for it. I think having music on TV shows has helped us. That CSI: New York sync enabled us to buy a computer and record an album and get it in the hands of Chop Shop. Those recordings we did are on the album. That was a big break for us. We’re certainly thankful for it.
What was the last thing you listened to?
We are all kind of about good melody, not a genre. Adele, really, is always just incredible. The National. I’m on a bit of an 80s and early 90s kick. But 21 by Adele was something special, she knocked it out of the park.
What is your idea of the perfect “day off”?
Probably wake up about 10 am, go for a run in the gym, and then go out for nice food with everyone and try to relax. When you spend 15 hours a day in a van driving from city to city a lot of people think it’s a non-stop party. The most exciting thing to do on a day off is have a few glasses of wine, a nice meal, and a nice bath.
What new book, cartoon, or TV show are you absolutely jazzed over right now?
Everyone in the band started watching Breaking Bad. We’re all hooked now, which is a bit of an issue. I’ve got quite an addictive personality. I have to clear my time for 4 days to watch the whole season. The last thing I did that with was Lost, which took over my life for about 4 years.
Final words?
It’s nice to come to Minneapolis. Every time we’ve been there we have a blast.
-Interview by Laura Yurich
February 2, 2012
7pm // 18+
Varsity Theater
