INTERVIEW WITH LOUIS JAMES
MELODY LANE: Can you tell us where the name DIRTY THRILLS comes from? Who's the founder of the band and where are you from?
LOUIS JAMES: Dirty Thrills came from days of slinging names about the place! We came up with a few corkers actually but then Louis said... Dirty....... hmmmm Dirty Thrills! yea thatll do and it stuck. I (louis james singer) was in a bit of a rut, my old band was doing great but it wasnt what i was hungry for. I wanted to push my boundaries as a singer and as a writer. Rock ‘n’ Roll has always been a part of me so it was a clear choice to start this band. I messaged Steve (drums) he was more than game, we got our heads together and soon decided to bring in our mutual pal Jack Fawdry (guitar) into the melting pot. Aaron came along a year later after our original bassist had other plans. We are all from different walks of life, stretching from London to Liverpool.
MELODY LANE: Which (bands) are/have been your main musical inspirations?
LOUIS JAMES: This is an easy one, we pull our influences from all over the show really, obviously we have lots of old skool influences, from Led Zeppelin to Queens Of The Stone Age. Other influences include, The Black Keys, Jack White, Rival Sons and so on. But we strive, as most bands do to have our own identity.
MELODY LANE: The line-up of the band is the same from the beginning or have you had changes. The members in tour will be the same that played in the studio?
LOUIS JAMES: As mentioned before, there has only been one line up change, So really what you see now is the Original Dirty Thrills, We hadn’t done much before then. Once we had the final piece of the puzzle we were away.
MELODY LANE: List 3 songs, from the DIRTY THRILLS discography (including new album), that can define the sound of the band … 3 songs that can help our readers to know DIRTY THRILLS at the best.
LOUIS JAMES: Well I guess starting with our crowd favourite 'No Resolve' it oozes bluesy sex and swagger very brooding and mature for a bunch of scallywags. I know for a fact each member would have a different list, as we all have different tastes, which i believe helps the writing develop. For me the other two would have to be... Our Latest single 'Law Man' Its in your face fast paced cut ya nads off rock n roll, it pushes us all musically which we dig!!
MELODY LANE: Tell us something about the creative process of your music. Is there a main composer or we can talk about a team work? The songs come from ideas of a single member and then the band works on these ideas in the studio jamming together, or your songs are written in the studio and all the members compose together?
LOUIS JAMES: We All focus on our instrument initially, but we then rehearse the tracks together and add or take away ideas that we like or dislike. I (louis james singer) tend to write lyrics and melody as does jack (guitar) and he will write riffs as do I at times, then we will go into the studio and put it all together arrange it and hopefully come out with a great tune!
MELODY LANE: What are going to be the differences between your first full-length “DIRTY THRILLS” and the new one “HEAVY LIVING”? After time, are you totally satisfied with your choices about sound and the writing of your first album?
LOUIS JAMES: Very satisfied yep! We have come a long way in such a short space of time, We've grown as musicians and developed an understanding of each others likes and dislikes! that does'nt mean we don't argue the toss with each other at times! but what bands dont eh!? What you will hear with our new Album Heavy Living is us really taking it that next step. It’s meaty it’s mean and once you've heard it you are gonna want another taste baby.
MELODY LANE: Will you tour in Europe in the next future? Will you play here in Italy in the next months?
LOUIS JAMES: Oh for sure! we love playing around Europe and I think Europe Digs us too! we always fill venues and get a great response! and we havent even toured the new stuff yet! We will be back in no time!
MELODY LANE: Could you tell us two bands, from the actual scene, you’d like to tour with?... And why these bands?
LOUIS JAMES: Guns ‘n’ Roses, I think we would warm the crowd up pretty well for them, both high energy with killer riffs and ball breaking vocals. The other probably Aerosmith and for the same reasons! I think we could learn a lot from both those bands!
MELODY LANE: What has been your biggest achievement to date and what do you want to achieve in the near future?
LOUIS JAMES: We supported the Scorpions Last december in Dijon, it was our first Arena 10 thousand people! What a thrill what a rush! Take us back! Also this album is up there on the achievement board and getting signed to our amazing label Frontiers Music!
MELODY LANE: In the end…A message from you to all MELODY LANE readers.
LOUIS JAMES: Check out Heavy Living By Dirty Thrills Out on the 15th of September Under Frontiers Music. We cant wait to be back in Italy ! Peace