"All About The Album" - If you'd like to feature your band/album, email: urban

13 STARS: "Way Dju"

13 STARS? Southern/Classic rock with hints of blues, funk and a dash of country. They're from The U.K. though and their album is recorded at First Avenue Studios in Newcastle!? Does it have anything to do with Dire Straits? Perhaps not? maybe? Their singer's got one helluva whiskey voice though and their influences speaks about various acts such as Neil Young, Led Zep, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers,  Free,  Lynyrd Skynyrd, Deep Purple mk3; Trapeze, Bruce Springsteen, to name but a few. Find out more about the album, "Way Dju", here's their lead vocalist/guitarist:  Matt "Hoss" Thompson...

How has the reaction to your latest CD been?

The fans? reactions to the third album have been overwhelmingly positive. We have been working towards an out and out Rock album for some time, so it's been a natural progression. We also road tested the material extensively (something we continue to do) and this helps to gauge how a crowd reacts to a song and also helps the songs to develop in a very organic manner.

How long did this CD take to make from start to finish, recording-wise?

The album took around 25 hours to record and around 15 hours to mix/master.

What kind of 'sound', production wise, did you have in the back of your mind, prior to entering the studio?

We wanted to represent the live sound as much as we could whilst adding bits where needed for extra colour.

What kind of input did the producer have during the process?

We produced the record with Dave Curle at First avenue. It was a collaborative process, mostly inspired by our mutual love of albums from the 60's and 70's. There were lots of times where a player or band or song was referenced for a particular sound.

And are you pleased with the final outcome? (sound - production wise)

Yeah the record sounds great and pretty damn close to our live sound.

Did the producer (you) use any (weird) experimental miking and/or recording techniques?

We used some techniques employed by Jimmy Page, like a mic in the back of
the amp and room mics for ambient sound to give things a natural panoramic vibe. We employed the Glyn Johns/John Bonham technique for the drums with a few special modifications, drum sound doesn't get any better than Bonham! Mostly it was pretty old school, get the valves cooking and play for your life!

How did you go on about capturing your 'live sound' in the studio, or perhaps you didn't

We recorded each song live, a couple of overdubs and they were basically
done unless we were adding extra instruments or the like. The Hammond on King made of Glass and loving fix was an example of this. Jax was in charge of the Leslie switch whilst Hoss played and worked the drawbars. We loved the mojo of Damn the Torpedos by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and liked that live, spontaneous vibe.

Please inform us about your favourite songs and lyrical highlights and why?

Hmm standout songs for us would be Nuthin more to say, a song about finding out your mates girlfriend is a total bitch. Mr blue, because we wrote it about 6 months before recording it, released it three months after recording it and now 6 months on from that the lyrics are still fresh and true. Brave Sir Traline was an experiment in combing ideas from Robert Brownings "Childe Roland to the dark tower came" with mental illness and despair. King made of glass is about the effects of the economic depression and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. The king made of glass in the title refers to a French king who came to believe he was made of glass and would shatter if anyone touched him. We thought that was a great example of the fragility of being formerly powerful but now laid low by illness and circumstance.

Any overall theme of mood that you're trying to capture while writing songs?

We had an idea that the album should be like strolling through a fair ground or a small town. Kind of like the opening crane shot in the film "touch of Evil". As you went around a corner someone would be busking, you walk in a bar and a band are playing etc. We didn't stick to it too obediently though.

Did the record company interfere with anything on your "sound" and songs?

Sadly we're not signed so no.

Are there any 'crazy' behind the scenes anecdotes from these sessions that you can share with us?

There were large quantities of coffee, whiskey, cigarettes and licorice. It got as wild as "This song needs a piano is it miced up?....... Can it be?" Although Hoss did get to play an old pedal harmonium on Jersey Irish girl, which was a bizarre experience.

How would you describe the sound of your new CD to any potential new fan? 

Southern/Classic rock with hints of blues, funk and a dash of country..

Who are your influences and heroes? (music-wise)

Led Zeppelin, Neil Young, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers; Free, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Deep Purple mk3; Trapeze; the Byrds; Queen, The Rolling Stones; the Raconteurs; the Beach Boys; Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, The Faces to
name but a few.

If there's anything you'd like to add, say, please do:

Please spread the word about St. Prostitute. We need all the support we can get.... Cheers!!
Matt "Hoss" Thompson/ 13 STARS

Interview by: Urban "Wally" Wallstrom,
Photos from the band's websites   http://www.13stars.co.uk  http://www.facebook.com/page 
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