MY EXTRAORDINARY INTERVIEW
Words: Katie Wright

Anthony Thompson, Joe Anderson, Martin Corkhill and Paul Dewhurst are My Extraordinary, a band from Newcastle. After playing a good number of gigs, including supporting My Passion (who featured on February’s Kerrang Tour) they’ve decided it’s time to step up a level in the music industry. I caught up with the band to find out how they plan to become successful.

My Extraordinary are playing at the O2 Academy Newcastle on April 9th.

Listen to ‘As Soon As’.
www.myspace.com/myextraordinary

How did the band originally form and when?

Anthony: I got together in 2007 with two lads but it wasn’t really working so one of the lads was replaced with Martin, then we replaced the other with Joe and Dewey (Paul) and it evolved from that and th when My Extraordinary really started.

Why did you decide to replace them?

Martin: We didn’t really get on, when it came down to it, it was going to be between Anth or them so obviously, we had to replace them. They’re good lads but it wasn’t right.
Anthony: They’ve got their own band now so it’s alright.

What’s changed since you got together in 2007?

Martin: When we started we were still learning to be honest so as a band, we’ve only been preforming properly for the last year. We started off as a pop-punk band, just doing Blink 182 covers, but now we’re more comerical rock.
Anthony: It’s really starting to pick up quite a lot. Over the years, the whole process has become a lot quicker; we’re recording and writing a lot quicker than we were.

Have you always wanted a career in music or do you want to do other jobs?

Martin: I produce dance music and drum and bass, I did a remix for a DJ to use in a club which was pretty cool.
Anthony: He’s really good at it, which helps us out as band a lot I think. It’s really weird because he does remixes of songs that are for people who dont enjoy rock, so if they saw it was Martin who was producing the music they’d be shocked.
Martin: I’m getting victimised on the bus by the people playing my music. So weird.

Whats the best thing about being involved in the music industry, especially at such a young age?

Martin: Working in the music industry means you’ve always got something to work towards, but I think we could only have a real answer for that if we were really famous.
Joe: The best thing for me is when we’ve just recorded a new song, I love being in the studio and it’s proper exciting letting people listen to the songs for the first time.
Martin: Yeah I like that, I like the comments that people give you when they first hear your music. It’s good to know that people appreciate what we’ve worked really hard on. It’s satisfying and makes me want to keep going.

What have you managed to achieve so far that you’re particuarly proud of?

Martin: Yeah, I think if we asked ourselves that question two months down the line it would be the EP.
Anthony: The gigs, like supporting My Passion at the O2 Academy.

Influences behind the bands sound?

Anthony: Biffy Clyro, 30 Seconds to Mars. We dont really follow set trends though, because even though their our own influences I think what we write is more of a ballad
Joe: Not like Meatloaf or anything though.
Anthony: No, not like that, but they are especially compared to the quicker songs we’ve been writing for the Ep which we decided to go for to prove that we can write a variety of songs.
Martin: I dont think we could become successful as a band if we’re trying to be somebody else though, we can have our influences but we dont want to be like them, we have to be ourselves.
Joe: I think using influences like Twin Atlantic and Biffy Clyro is important for us because they use their own accents in their sound and that is something we’re keen to do because the geordie accent is distinctive thing to have in our songs. There’s loads of bands who try to cover the accent or come across as trying to be american so I think Ants accent is a nice twist.
Anthony: If you listen to the instrumentals you might think we’re going to be an american styled rock band, but on the new EP we’re ourselves I dont think we’re trying to be anyone else.

Who are your individual influences?

Martin: Taylor Hawkin and  Atom Willard Angels and Airwaves
Joe: Funeral for a Friend, Alexisonfire, bands who can produce really good riffs.
Anthony: My favourite bands are, Youmeatsix, Twin Atlantic, Biffy Clyro, 30 Seconds To Mars, Paramore but I do get highly influenced by pop music because of how catchy it is.
Paul: Guitar lead bands, bands like Motley Crue.

What do you consider when writing your music?

Martin: We went away from the pop-punk scene because it’s all pretty much been done and we’ve heard it all before.
Anthony: I dont want to write a song thats like something that’s already out there, so the main thing is to just try and keep it original and a bit different from everything else. What happens more than anything else, i’ll come up with something and take it to martin and we’ll work on it together and then Joe and Dewy (Paul) will contribute and it seems to work pretty well.

What are you plans for 2010?

Martin: Write as much new material as possible and try and get it out there, try and get as many new fans as we can.
Anthony: Finish the EP as well. But what I really want to do in 2010 is play shows as much as possible. I think what’s been stopping us playing more shows than we have, is we’re always wanting to write better songs to perform, but I think once we’ve got the EP completed and out there, we can have structure to our shows and definate songs to play.
Joe: I’m excited for 2010, I think this year will be about majorly improving as a band so I can’t wait for that.

Tell me about the new Ep.

Martin: We’re recording it at Newcastle College. There’s going to be 5 tracks with an interlude, we’re recording it at the moment. When it’s finished it’s definately not going to be expensive because it’s not about making a huge profit, to be honest I feel that if we make our money back but get so many more fans, that’ll be more than satisfying.
Joe: I’d rather have a few packed out shows than money though.
Anthony: It should be released in the summer, we’re going to record bonus songs which will be free to download after the EP.

How would you describe the songs?

Anthony: The first song, we haven’t named yet, is in a similar genre to 30 Seconds to Mars. The second song is called Thirteen, martin wrote all the instruments for that one, it’s got an awesome key change at the end.
Joe: The third song, we haven’t named either but it’s one of those songs which is like an upbeat party song, it’s got good and memorable riffs and hooks.
Anthony: The Thirds a really tidy song. The fourth I like, it’s apparently a reminder of One Republic. The last song is called Alaska, it’s got the heaviest break and heaviest riff for our band, it’s got a good hook that hopefully everyone will be singing. The bonus tracks which will be available to download are, an acoustic version of Alaska and two songs from our Myspace including As Soon As which we decided to re-record.

How are you promoting the band and the EP?

Anthony: Mostly at gigs. In April we’re playing a gig at the Academy and we’re giving out free t-shirts and disks of the songs from our myspace.

Finally, who would you most like to tour with?

Anthony: Susan Boyle!
Joe: A massive and wicked band like Deaf Havana.
Anthony: Bands like We Are The Ocean who could pack out the Academy 2 would be so good.
Joe: Lady Gaga!