Interview | Trapped In Kansas
Ayr’s Trapped In Kansas are one of a kind. They are math rockers with the power of a hurricane and the wisdom of a poet and they have already comfortably put themselves into all the existing lists on best and up-and-coming Scottish bands.
A wee listen to the few tracks they have released will dissipate any doubt that you might still have, and after you’ve done so, since there still isn’t an album from the four-piece, read ahead as I ask the lads a few questions and get ready for what’s to come.
Argos Barks: Hello Trapped In Kansas, could you introduce yourselves?
Trapped In Kansas: Hi, we’re Trapped in Kansas, we’re a Scottish four peice math band we formed in Ayr. Finn Le Marinel does vocals and guitar, Christopher Ward plays bass and vocals, Gregor Fair plays guitar and Iain Symes plays drums.
AB: How would you describe the music you make?
TIK: Well people like to call our music ‘Math Rock’ which is fine by us.
AB: Before we go any further, please tell us why are you called Trapped In Kansas. Why not Trapped In Ayrshire?
TIK: The name comes about from a conversation about the worst place to ever be stuck, is was agreed the answer was Kansas, as it’s just endless fields of corn, we decided to call ourselves ‘we are trapped in kansas’ which we eventually shortened to just ‘Trapped in Kansas’
AB: With still no album released, you’re already on many’s list as one of the top bands in Scotland. How does that feel?
TIK: Weird, very weird…we’re a very modest band, so i doubt we’ve ever considered ourselves as one of the top bands in Scotland. Just reading that is quite a compliment, I think we just take everything as it comes, everything has moved so fast with the band that it takes alot of time for the things we’ve done to sink in.
AB: What is the achievement (TIK related) you’re most proud of?
TIK: I think the festivals we’ve done have all been special, T in the Park was a highlight from last year. This year, we’ve been very lucky, we played in Marseille in June on the beach as the sun was setting to a very large crowd, that was quite special……everytime we play a gig now and you hear the audience singing the words back to you, there is nothing like that!
AB: A dream that you are working to accomplish?
TIK: I’d say releasing an album would be next on our list and probally do a full UK tour.
AB: As far as Scottish venues go, where was the best gig you’ve played and where was the worst?
TIK: I love the Captain’s Rest and Nice and Sleazy’s in Glasgow, have always been favourites of our’s, also the Tunnels in Aberdeen is a nice wee place, i’d say we’ve probally played our best gigs there.
AB: You’ve recently released a split vynil with Yahweh on the Gerry Loves Records label. What was that like?
TIK: That was great, we met two of the nicest guys we’ve worked with in Andy and Paddy from Gerry Loves, very supportive and it was just a great experiance doing that release with them, people should definatly go check out their site www.gerrylovesrecords.com
AB: What are you currently working on?
TIK: We’re currently working on some new tracks for an album or EP, we have three new songs that we’re playing in our set and test out on the road, so far we’ve been quite happy with the response!
AB: Finn Le Marinnel, TIK’s frontman, is now also working as a solo artist. How is that going and why go solo?
TIK: Great, Finn writes alot of music andsome of it just wasn’t suitable to be used in Trapped in Kansas, so rather than let the tracks go to waste, he gets out there with his acoustic and has an outlet for these other songs, it’s great. He’s had a lot of good support for people like Vic Galloway and Jim Gellatly.
AB: What are you all listening at the moment?
TIK: We listen to a lot of mathy music and dischord or punky stuff, we’re also partial to pop aswell, in France we made a wee band playlist featuring acts like Jason DeRulo, Chiddy Bang, Tini Tempah and Lady Gaga! Definitely not our usual listenings but as you can see, we do listen to a wide range of music!
AB: Last but not least, please tell us who is responsible for your hairdos.
TIK: Our hairdressers? I don’t think we’ve got anything too wacky going on with our hair, do we??
Many thanks to Trapped In Kansas and their management!
