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Egyptian Blue on “A Dwelling Commodity”
The hotly tipped outfit’s long-awaited debut album lastly got here out final month
Nov 20, 2023
Meet Egyptian Blue, the Brighton-based outfit who’ve been tipped for greatness ever since debut EP Collateral landed in 2019. Initially fashioned across the center of the last decade of their hometown of Colchester by core members Andy Buss, Leith Ambrose and Luke Phelps. It wasn’t lengthy earlier than Egyptian Blue turned one of the crucial coveted new bands within the UK, culminating in tour help slots with Idles and Foals. Sadly, as with many artists, the Covid-19 pandemic halted their progress considerably which finally turned out to be a blessing. As Egyptian Blue went again to the drafting board, shifting away from the customary post-punk stylings that originally received them seen and as a substitute, drawing on a number of different concepts and inspirations.
The outcomes could be heard on A Dwelling Commodity, their long-awaited debut album which lastly got here out final month (October) on former Maccabee Felix White’s YALA! label. Having simply accomplished an in depth headline tour of the UK, Egyptian Blue hit the highway once more on the finish of this month for six reveals in France.
Within the meantime, Underneath the Radar sat down with singer, guitarist and co-songwriter Andy Buss to speak concerning the album, touring, and future plans for Egyptian Blue.
Dom Gourlay (Underneath The Radar): When did A Dwelling Commodity begin coming collectively?
Andy Buss: The writing course of occurred fairly a very long time in the past. The file deal was already in place earlier than Covid so we had the core base of the songs that we needed to be on the file fairly early on. It developed over time and we have been capable of develop our craft a bit bit so it’s taken on many alternative kinds ever since. I believe there’s been round thirty songs in whole that have been written for the file. I’ve distant reminiscences of me choosing eleven songs and considering that is the file, and none of them have ended up on the album! It’s been a protracted course of, extra about growing ourselves and growing the songs then understanding what’s going to be proper for an album.
That’s actually fascinating, particularly as a few of your earliest compositions “Nylon Wire” and “Include It” made it onto the album. Was that re-recorded for A Dwelling Commodity?
It was, primarily as a result of loads of the songs on these EPs (Collateral and Physique Of Itch) have been written then recorded straight after. I don’t suppose a track is absolutely developed till you begin touring with it, and it modified loads between then and now. We’d at all times supposed for a track like “Nylon Wire” to be on the album, however not the model that was on that EP three years in the past. We truly constructed the album round it. For me, the brand new recordings are so a lot better. They sound extra human.
What was the turning level, discovery or inspiration that proved to be the catalyst in that taking place?
It most likely sounds fairly cliched however I’d say the pandemic. All of our struggles turned actual and so they lived inside our properties at that time. Once I write, I focus very carefully on feelings that I’m feeling in my life and the pandemic had a very large impact on that. It matured the sound and the lyrics. I used to be excited about issues extra fastidiously and had extra time to suppose. So, I’d say that was a turning level. There have been a number of songs that have been a set off into that as nicely. When “Geisha” was written, it felt like a set off into a more moderen sound. We hadn’t been trying to search out a brand new sound, it simply got here naturally.
There’s so many bands who’ve mentioned related issues about their experiences through the pandemic, and I believe you’ll be able to hear it of their music. Virtually as if it gave you a chance to replicate, hone your songwriting then take it into totally different locations.
Oh, completely.
You’ve been collectively for the perfect a part of a decade and developed your sound organically over time. Do you suppose having that long-standing camaraderie from taking part in collectively all this time has been instrumental in that taking place?
Though we’ve technically been collectively for that lengthy, it doesn’t actually really feel like that. We’ve had line-up modifications and moved cities a few occasions. We’ve been in numerous scenes and written totally different sorts of music as nicely however achieved all of it beneath the identical title. So, I don’t know? It’s an fascinating one. We haven’t at all times labored in the identical means. We’re working very otherwise now to how we’ve achieved beforehand.
You’ve beforehand toured with and supported Foals, Idles and The Homicide Capital amongst others. Did you study and take something from these experiences which you’ve since put into apply with Egyptian Blue?
100%. The primary tour we ever did was with The Homicide Capital. As much as that time we’d solely performed reveals in Brighton and London. So, it gave us an perception into how the touring scenario is operated, significantly in relation to funding. Clearly we discovered one thing from that, and every time we’ve been on tour supporting somebody you get to see simply how skilled and nicely organised all the pieces is. You’re taking loads away from that. The largest one was once we went on tour with Foals. It’s a special realm, that sort of operation. They have been very supportive of us. They really mentioned they noticed themselves in us from their early days, so that they gave us plenty of recommendation on the way to tour and do issues correctly, which was all very useful.
We’ve already talked concerning the re-recorded variations of a few of your earlier songs on the brand new album, however in case you had the good thing about hindsight with anything that’s occurred because the band began, is there one thing you’d change or do otherwise?
I’d change some bar chords on one other of our older songs, “4 Is The Final 4”. I typically want they’d ring out a bit bit extra, so I’d change the time barely. However that’s the one factor I’d change other than the songs we’ve already achieved. I do know it sounds fairly menial.
However I assume it’s truly fairly necessary as that track may have taken on a complete new route if the time modifications have been totally different?
That’s true, even for one thing so trivial as a time change.
You’re signed to Felix White’s label YALA! Have they been supportive all through the time you’ve been working with them?
They’ve. There’s at all times a component of stress with issues like gross sales targets everytime you launch a file. However I really feel fairly comfy and assured in having the ability to hit all the pieces inside particular timeframes or no matter it’s the label ask of us. They’ve been actually supportive. They’re superb to work with and have an ideal group behind them, serving to us in each side of the music business. As a result of it’s so enterprise pushed and I’m not fully adept at it.
You’ve been based mostly in Brighton for some time now. Is the native scene fairly aggressive between bands?
It definitely was once once we have been a bit youthful. We’re good buddies with DITZ, and once we first moved right here we’d be what they’d achieved so continually desirous to up our sport to do the identical. It’s fairly good to have that wholesome, aggressive factor happening with your folks. However lately, I don’t actually trouble with that sort of factor. I’m solely centered on what we’re doing.
Are there another new artists you’d advocate for Underneath the Radar and its readers to take a look at?
There’s a band referred to as Doc from Manchester. They’re actually superb. There’s additionally our buddies Alphabet from London. They’re actually, actually nice. These are the 2 that instantly come to thoughts.
What recommendation would you give to a brand new band simply beginning out?
Attempt to rehearse as often as you’ll be able to. Attempt to rehearse almost day by day as a result of it makes such a distinction. Put the hassle in and you will notice the rewards come to you. I keep in mind a very long time in the past once we have been solely practising as soon as every week and it wasn’t being taken very critically. I went to see King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard and it was the tightest factor I’d ever seen. I used to be simply surprised by it. I mentioned to the boys afterwards we’ve to practise day by day to any extent further. So, that’s what I’d advise any band to do from the start, and likewise be sure you have a great group round you.
Egyptian Blue play the next dates in France later this month/early subsequent…
November twenty eighth – La Boule Noir, Paris
November twenty ninth – La Rodia, Besancon
November thirtieth – , L’Astrolabe, Orleans
December 1st – Rock College Barbey, Bordeaux
December 2nd – Le Temps Machine, Excursions
December third – L’Aeronef, Lille
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