‘FROM LEIPZIG TO MANCHESTER’ SHELTER BOY UNLEASHES NEW ALBUM | INTERVIEW
SHELTER BOY PAYS HOMAGE TO 00’S UK INDIE SCENE WITH SOPHOMORE RELEASE ‘MERCYLAND’
The German artist who sounds more British than most Brits; Shelter Boy follows up his 2021 debut album ‘Failure Familiar’ with the 00’s indie inspired sophomore effort ‘MERCYLAND‘. Sparking upbeat comparisons to King Krule and Mac DeMarco, Shelter Boy extends his inventive indie-pop spirit to a more personal and introspective collection of songs with his second album, ‘MERCYLAND’ which is out NOW via Scruff of the Neck Records.
Joining us on its hugely anticipated release date (26/04/2024), Shelter Boy’s Simon Graupner talks about the new album and shares how he found his way from Germany’s Leipzig to Manchester label Scruff of The Neck.
Northern Exposure (NE) – Welcome Shelter Boy, aka Simon Graupner…
Shelter Boy (SB) – I think it’s the opposite way, Simon Graupner aka Shelter Boy (laughs)
NE – Of course! But you like to go by Shelly?
SB – It’s all fine with me.
NE – So Shelly, Shelter Boy…You released your second album today (26/04/24) ‘MERCYLAND‘ via Scruff of The Neck records here in the UK….Congratulations! How are you feeling?
SB – Thank you very much. I’m a bit tired, we had a record release party in Berlin yesterday which was amazing. We had a little party after that, so I’m a bit tired but I’m feeling really good.
NE – So how would you describe the album to somebody who hasn’t heard your music before?
SB – I tried to create, or at least get a lot of influence from, the bands that I listened to in my late teens. So like 2000’s indie bands like Phoenix or MGMT, Arctic Monkey’s, The Strokes – a lot like that. Bombay Bicycle Club, they were a pretty big influence. I tried to have like a capsule that takes me back in that time.
NE – Your first album was out back in 2021, so how long has this project been in the works?
SB – I think writing the record started in the same year that the first album came out but it took quite a long time. The next time I make a record, I’m bringing it out a bit earlier. When you have an entire year of a release plan for a record it’s very long. So I’m really glad that its finally out.
NE – You talked a bit about going back to a different time period in your life for this album and one of the tracks on there reflects the music of that era. Tell me about ‘Jamie T’?
SB – Everybody in the UK knows who Jamie T is but in Germany it’s a bit different, same with bands like The Stone Roses. When I was really young, there wasn’t anybody really listening to that music and I don’t know where I got it from, but when I was in like the 8th grade I had the first Jamie T record, Panic Prevention on my mp3 player and it was quite a “hard” album for being that young. But I always remember being on the bus from school listening to that album and it helped me through a lot of my teens. So I wanted to honour Jamie T on there.
NE – In the past your music has been likened to the likes of King Krule, but how would you describe your music? Who would you say are your main influences? Particularly in this new album?
SB – Well, it differs from time to time. Like I’m a huge fan of hip hop music but for this record there’s a lot of Bombay Bicycle Club. For me it was always like The Beatles and Oasis and all of that, but with this record I feel I stepped away from a lot of the ‘brit-pop’ kind of thing. I think that sound on MERCYLAND is much more my own sound. That’s how it feels.
NE – Is that the sort of direction that you see yourself going? Or do you want to keep it fresh and mix things up a bit?
SB – I think, well I hope, that there’s always new inspiration coming from other artists because I don’t want to be stuck in one direction. I think music is the most interesting when you make your mind up for new things; so getting new influences in your music rather than just the usual stuff. I think I would just sound completely boring if I just sounded like Oasis and I ripped that shit off.
NE – (laughs) You want to be you and you want be unique and have your own style. It’s good to hear influences in music because we all have them, but for me listening, it was fresh.
SB – Cool, cool. Thank you (laughs)
NE – Let’s address this though – you are German?
SB – Yes.
NE – So how did you end up bringing your music to the UK in the first place?
SB – I grew up listening to so much British music, like, all of it. I always had a fascination for all the UK culture. From football to clothes and music so when Mark (Lippmann) from Scruff of the Neck asked me to release my music via his label…Like when I was 16 years old I never imagined having a label from Manchester or even go there so it was a very easy decision to go down that path.
NE – How did Mark find your music then?
SB – I think via the label I released my first album through? I think they were mates and he got on my music. I think that’s how.
NE – Have you toured much in the UK?
SB – So we’ve played shows with like Bilk, supporting them, just as a two piece with two acoustic guitars. Then we played Y Not last year which was the first time we played with the full band which was a whole different experience than just being there with an acoustic set. But it gets very expensive to come over, right? But we’ll be back this year.
NE – That was going to be my next question, so are you coming back to play some shows over here?
SB – We’re playing Y Not Festival on the Scruff of the Neck stage. It’s a good slot, around 8.30pm. Then we will be playing the Great Escape Festival which is in May.
NE – Is there anybody on the Y Not line-up that you are looking forward to seeing?
SB – Well, I mean Jamie T is playing on the same day as me…
NE – Do you think you could get him to come down and watch your set?
SB – (laughs) Yeah, that would be sick, but I don’t know if that would happen?
NE – You might clash?
SB – Yeah maybe. Also, Declan McKenna is playing. I love Declan McKenna. And the next day it’s Noel Gallagher…
NE – It’s a great line-up. You won’t struggle to find something to go see.
NE – So you were in Berlin last night and you’re in Lepzit tonight…
SB – which is the town where I live
NE – Aww wow, is it?
SB – yeah, so my family will be there for the show so I think it will be quite emotional.
NE – Will it be another late night, party night do you think?
SB – Yep (laughs) again. Same as last night…
NE – You’ve got to celebrate though, you don’t release an album every day!
SB – right? (laughs)
NE – What other summer plans do you have then?
SB – I think we’re going to play some but not that many festivals this year. We’ve got some festivals in Germany and then we go on tour in October which I’m really looking forward to. It’s only Germany, Austria and Switzerland but I take every gig I get because I love playing live.
NE – I’ll wrap things up by asking what your favourite track on the album is?
SB – It’s always different but when we rehearsed for the shows it was pretty crazy because I write everything on my own and I record everything on my own so with some tracks it was the first time I heard it with a band. Then we played ‘Weird Life’ and I just love that track. I think that’s my favourite off the album.
Shelter Boy will return to the UK stage this year with appearances at The Great Escape in Brighton (15-18th May) and Y Not Festival in August (2nd-4th) already announced.
In October, the show hits the road in Germany, Austria and Switzerland – tickets here.
MERCYLAND is OUT NOW via Scruff of The Neck Records – BUY HERE
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