KEYSIDE CHAT ABOUT THEIR NEW RECORD AND “BANDS WITH A GOOD, MODERN SOUND”
INTERVIEW | KEYSIDE by Morgan Hermiston
This week I had a chat with Keyside‘s drummer Oisín McAvoy and guitarist Ben Cassidy. On 7th August, the four-piece’s debut self-titled album will be released. The twelve-track record sees an intertwining of Keyside’s journey to-date. We spoke about this forthcoming debut album, as well as who inspired their identity as musicians, and all things festival season. Forming Keyside alongside McAvoy and Cassidy is bassist Max Gibson, and singer-songwriter Dani-Lee Parker.
Debut Album and Songwriting Approaches
Keyside are releasing their debut album on 7th August. I started off this interview by asking them about this, specifically the singles already released. I asked them what made them compile all of these tracks now. “I think, obviously, Dan, the songwriter, it comes from a place of social documentary“. Ben continued, “it was quite cohesive from beginning to finish, if you know what I mean. It’s like a concept [album] really, without telling you it’s a concept album“.
I then asked them if their approach to writing music has changed throughout more recent releases compared to the likes of their 2023 singles. “We’ve got a bit better at it as we’ve gone on…each Keyside song seems to have a distinct [sound]. When Dan brings a new tune into the practice room, you know within a couple of seconds of listening whether it’s going to be a Keyside tune or not. And then it comes from jamming it out“.
In-Store Tour
To celebrate the release of the album Keyside are going on an in-store tour. This starts on 6th August in Bury and ends on the 14th in Edinburgh. I asked them if there are any places on that tour that they’ve never been to, or played before. “We haven’t played in Bury before. But I think we’ve played everywhere else. We’re looking forward to all of them, to be honest. I think they’ll all be really good; it’ll be a nice experience to meet everyone“.
We also chatted about if the more intimate gigs were a preference of theirs. “We enjoy every time we go on the road. We always go to the merch desk after. We love going to the merch desk after gigs and then just speaking to loads of fans. We’ve actually probably made mates with quite a few fans up and down the country from where I’ve been just with them for so long. It’s good getting to know them because without them, really, you wouldn’t be turning up in places like Bury or going all the way up to Edinburgh to promote the album“.
You can buy tickets to their in-store gigs, as well as all future shows here.
Inspirational Identities
Keyside are supporting Ocean Colour Scene in Wakefield on 29th August, as well as Jamie Webster in Newcastle on 19th September. The latter artist is one you can hear a lot of inspiration from in Keyside’s work, especially in the aforementioned social documentary style. We spoke about other artists that they draw influence from.
“For me, as the guitar player of the band, I look at bands who like to, instead of making it all about the guitar over vocal melody…I like to take inspiration from bands who support the vocals. Songs like ‘There She Goes‘ by The La’s, where it’s a simple riff, but you could probably sing it now if I asked you to“. We laughed about how I couldn’t do that because I don’t possess nearly enough talent to do that, “me neither that’s why I play guitar“. Ben continued, “Probably for me, bands like The La’s, The Coral, The Smiths, we love Blossoms. We like loads of new bands as well like The Royston Club, you know bands with a good modern sound“.
Dream Support Slots and Musical Manifestations
Off the back of talking about supporting the likes of Jamie Webster, I asked Ben and Oisín to do a little manifesting of who they’d love to support if they had the opportunity to do so. “Well I’d love to support Oasis“, Ben said with Oisín saying, “probably like Fontaines [D.C.] maybe. We’ve been quite lucky, we’ve already supported Blossoms and Royston, who we look up to anyway“.
They “stumbled across Jake Bugg at a festival, there’s too many to pick from…The Vaccines and stuff like that. But yeah, we have supported quite a few people we look up to anyway“. I said they didn’t have to do much manifesting after all, seeing as they’ve done a lot already. Ben said, “could we manifest Lee Mavers [The La’s] to come back?“
Biggest Headline Show & Dream Venues
On Saturday 12th December, Keyside will take on their biggest headline gig to-date in Liverpool’s Mountford Hall. Tickets are on sale for this, you can find these here. I asked them what everyone can expect to see, and what they’d say to convince people to pick up the remaining tickets. “It’ll be the biggest show we’ve ever done, production wise. If you’re ever going to see us, that’s probably one of the best places to come, because it’s a hometown show. In terms of shows we’ve done, like our own headline shows…you don’t want to miss that!“
Speaking of headline shows, I wanted to know which venues they’d love to headline if they had the chance. “We’ve already played in February, but the Barrowlands in Glasgow was great…always wanted to play there, and then luckily we got the chance with The Academic in February“. Ben also said, “Do you know Red Rocks [Amphitheatre] in America? I’d love to headline there“.
Festivals
Over the past weekend, Keyside played Tramlines and Truck Festival, and they’re playing Kendal Calling on 31st July too. I asked if there was anyone at these festivals they’d love to go and see. “For Tramlines, Blossoms, we’ve already seen them but it’s always great seeing them. We saw them in Neighbourhood [Festival] as well when they headlined that, and that was good“. They added, “I want to see Rick Astley, mate, I love him“.
Even though I could predict the answer, I also asked them both which festival they’d love to play. “We could probably say this at the same time. Three, two, one…Glastonbury“.
Designing Their Own Festival
My final question to Ben and Oisín saw them putting together their own festival lineups. “Oasis,” Ben began, “Oasis headline, Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, and Liam [Gallagher]“. I asked if they’d put Keyside on the lineup too, “yeah, you’d have to“. We spoke about how artists I’ve asked that same question to either forget to put themselves on the lineup, or choose acts that are no longer with us. “If it was going to be like that,” Ben said, “I’d love to put The Doors on a festival, or Jim Morrison on his own“.
Keyside’s self-titled debut record comes out on 7th August, but you can pre-order this here to give the lads the best chance at the album charting. You can also buy tickets to their biggest ever headline show on 12th December at Mountford Hall here.
