Interview with the upcoming Southampton 4-piece
After seeing their spectacular live show at The Joiners I caught up with the sprightly 'Get Dexter', a new upcoming four piece, home and grown here in Southampton. The lads unlike most young indie bands seem not to be self consciously rock 'n roll, smoking some kind of flora and declaring themselves to be the beginning middle and end of music. Get Dexter produce an intoxicating musical cocktail that is timeless and thoughtful, you can't help being left with the impression that surely the band have been honing their craft for many years? It therefore may come as a surprise to learn that Get Dexter are currently studying for their GCSE's and are only at the tender age of 15!Already reviewers have compared them to top acts such as The Arctic Monkeys and Franz Ferdinand and even The Beatles. The eccentric quartet come in the forms of front man Charlie James (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Reece Davies (Drums and vox), Rob Franklin (lead guitar and vox) and not forgetting the pint sized dynamo Ben Clift (Base guitar and vox). Always providing an electric performance and a stage presence rivalling bands with twice as much experience, this band are sure to be massive this year.
AY: Hi Guys, nice to see all again, how did you enjoy the gig?
GD: (All) It was awesome! The audience were so good the atmosphere really was electric and everybody we asked had a good time, and a stage invasion is always great.
AY: I can imagine. So you guys seem to be springing up on gig listings all over Hampshire where did you come from?
GD: (Charlie) We all met at The Romsey School, where we all still go. I remember the whole thing was very rushed, it started out Ben and me being Introduced by our mutual friend Seb on the first day of year 7, so we had a bass player and a singer/guitarist, now all we needed was drummer. Ben had this friend called Richard that he knew played the drums so he introduced us. So we had our line up. Then of course, "You could have it all so much better" by Franz Ferdinand came out. So of course, I was like "shit man we need another singer/guitar player we need to sound like Franz" then I was introduced to Rob. One thing lead to another we kicked out Richard and got Reece on the drums the rest is history really"
AY: Well after viewing that brilliant performance I think a change in the line up has defiantly paid off. So I am curious where the name 'Get Dexter" came from?
GD: (Charlie) Our name doesn't really come from anywhere cool, so this question's always been a bit embarrassing. Like, some band are like "oh dude like, our band name was written in the stars" or the side of a boat or the bloody clouds. How we got our name was just a brief conversation between my uncle and me. "You got any band names?" …. "Get Dexter?" "Okay"
AY; (laughing) well that clears that up then, maybe you should credit your uncle for artistic input on your new EP?
GD: (Charlie) Oh I will never hear the end of it if a record label snapped us up!
AY: As we know you lot are all still in school doing your GCSE's how on earth do you manage to balance practice, gigs alongside your work?
GD: (Charlie) Well, I just had to write a Spanish essay that was late in, and do a page of Core Science GCSE just before this interview. School Is Inconvenient, but It's just one of those things, It's a drag at the moment, It's not long until we can leave now though, It's just about being patient. (Rob) Yeah it is Difficult to balance them, but I used the band website for my media coursework and we used our tracks for music compositions so it's swings and roundabouts a lot of the time.
AY: You lot must be a million miles and hour, would you say that school is the biggest obstacle for you as a band then?
GD: (Rob) Getting everyone together in one room is the most difficult. Predictable, yeah but practice is what a good band needs.
(Reece and Ben) And also I think it trying to get your music out there for it to be heard by absolutely everyone. There are only a tiny percentage of people who would make things happen with you, rather than just listen to your music.
(Charlie) For me it's writing. I write lots, but a majority of the time it's just little silly poems and stories and stuff, like Dr Zeus. It's either the guitar part, or lyrics that I struggle with, never both at the same time. You'd think I'd be able to piece something together, and I suppose that's what our songs are.
AY: So do you all write or is it down to one person?
GD: (Reece) Charlie writes most of the songs but we have our inputs here and there. I think as a band, we're all starting to become more open about our songs and what we could add to them to make them sound better. I've even started writing some material myself that could perhaps be played as a band.
AY: Your set list is very bouncy and gets people up dancing, but what would you say your music sounds like?
GD: (Benn) Ambient and relaxing (Reece) Orgasmic. (Laughing) (Charlie) Guitary. I don't really know how to describe it without being one of those guys you see on the telly going "YEAH DUDE WE SOUND JUST LIKE THE BEATLES". I think music wise; we focus mainly on good guitar riffs and memorable lyrics that people can chant along with.
AY: Well your songs are really refreshing; too many indie bands talk about love and girls instead of real life. Where do you find the inspiration for your songs?
GD: (Charlie) The inspiration doesn't really come from anywhere in particular to be honest. It's normally just little Ideas that end up being songs. Some of the songs are addressed to certain people, and some aren't really, the words just sound nice. I'd like to be able to write like Alex Turner, very story like, and witty.
AY: I can defiantly hear a likeness to Arctic Monkeys in your songs maybe one day soon you could be sharing a stage with them?
GD: (Charlie) I'd like to play with Alex Kapranos one day. He's got such good stage presence, like, the Arctic's are good and all, but they don't really move around on stage, whereas Alex K Is always dressed In some really cool suit, yet he still manages to dance well, that's crazy. I want to learn this little jump that he does. I can do it, but not with a guitar, maybe that one just comes down to strength and practice.
AY: So to date who have been the best bands you have supported or played with?
GD: (Ben) For me it has to be 'Kid's Cant Fly', they're really nice guys and they brought loads of people. (Rob) Yeah I agree the audience were really up for it especially on 'Late again!'
AY: Is that your guy's favourite song from your set list?
GD: (Reece) Yes defiantly my favourite, it's really energetic.
(Rob) I like 'New Perspective' because I have an actual planned solo rather than just improvising on the spot. But 'Overdressed' is one of our heavier ones, and it gives more range and diversity on the night.
(Charlie) As daft as it sounds, I really like playing our Instrumental "Scratch", because it gives me a break from having to sing. We don't normally play it now, it's quite an old one, but we pull it out of the hat sometimes, for us more than the crowd. They hate it.
AY: Hey its nice to see people enjoying their music and not just churning out label influenced crap that has no passion behind it.
(Silence then laughter)
AY: Sorry about that, don't worry I'm finished with my rant now. Have you had any label interest yet?
GD: (Reece) Well, as I sort out everything and invite some industry people down, I'm normally the one talking to the big shots after. We've had a few people who said we could go really far and they'll be in touch but we haven't had much response. We're not going to be jumping into anything fast without knowing what's going to happen to us anyway. (Rob) Yeah and we don't want to turn into Busted!
AY: (Laughing) That is a fair point! Well one last question what are your dreams and goals in terms of your musical careers?
GD: (All looking from one blank face to the other) (Reece) Well, like every other band on this god forsaken planet, we'd all love to make it in the music industry but there are a lot of good bands out there at the moment who still aren't signed and it makes you wonder. That doesn't make us give up hope though. We play, people enjoy it. That's the way we like it at the moment. (Charlie) If I could make a living out of It, I'd be happy. I'd like to play Glastonbury Festival at some point. That'd be amazing. It's weird, like, last time they showed the festival on telly, and Blur were playing. And I found it really funny to think that when they were 15/16 they can't have had any Idea that they'd be playing to that many people.
Well I look forward to seeing how these Soton lads music develops, if the music sounds like this at 15 imagine how good it will be at 20! Get Dexter's next play on Saturday March the 20th at The Cellars In Portsmouth supporting The Kabeedies. Catch these lads now and get a signed EP because in my opinion, that's going to be Ebay worthy in the next coming year.
By Oliver Test on Apr 30th 2010
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