When we first saw our current Band of the Month, Austin's STEREO IS A LIE, at SXSW in 2009 we loved their sound straight away. We then later found out that Glynn Wedgewood, front man for SIAL, is actually former member of past R13 favourites, IV Thieves, so we thought we would have a catch up and find out how he ended up in Texas from these parts and to find out more about his new band STEREO IS A LIE.
For those who have not been paying attention, STEREO IS A LIE releases their self titled debut album on 8th February and is available through the usual digital sources in the UK with the CD version available import only. Full details can be found at the bands website HERE.
R13: First of all, how did you end up in Austin?
GW: I used to play in a band from Nottingham called IV Thieves (formerly Nic Armstrong & The Thieves). The band's US label had an office in Austin, so we spent a bit of time here and wound up staying to record an album. By the time we had completed the album, all but one of the members were involved in relationships, so we decided to relocate to the land of Tex-Mex.
R13: Did you intend to remain a member of IV Thieves or did you know that those days would end?
GW: Sure, I felt like there was still a lot of work to be done with IV Thieves, but it just wasn't meant to be. Saying that though, I'd already written a bunch of material that I knew wouldn't work with that project, so I figured I start something new in addition.
R13: You must have had some fun times touring the world with IV Thieves, any stories you would like to share with us?
GW: We had countless fun times when we were touring, some of which I really can't talk about. I remember our tour manager letting off fireworks backstage after the very last show in the US we played with Oasis. That didn't go down too well with their crew, I thought it was pretty funny though.
R13: What are the other band members up to these days?
GW: Jonny has a new project on the go called Jonny 8Track, you might have heard him on a recent PSP commercial as it goes. Shane is playing in a band called Electric Touch and I've no idea what Nic is doing right now.
R13: You now have a new band, STEREO IS A LIE, how did that come to happen?
GW: I think we touched on it earlier, but basically towards the end of IV Thieves I'd started writing material that I didn't think would work in that project. So after everything imploded with that band I started looking around for people who might be interested in starting a new project with me and continued writing.
R13: Was it hard to convince Texans to join an English lad in creating a band?
GW: Not at all, I had a rag and some chloroform.
R13: Tell us more about the SIAL band members (eg past / current projects / stories)?
GW: I've known Justin for years, so when the time came to approach people to play in SIAL, he was the first person I called. I met Davy when we both briefly played in another band together, mrandmrsmays, by briefly I mean we only did one show! A friend in a local band suggested I give Danny a call, so I did and we all hit it off when we got in the practice room together. I met Marcus at a show just after he moved from Seattle, he used to play in Love Battery and Alta May up there. He loves football and that goes a long way in my book.
R13: From personal experience I know that the Austin people love their music but how are you finding the rest of Texas / USA taking to SIAL?
GW: It seems we're being pretty well received across the country, we're already getting airplay in San Francisco and Minneapolis. You're right when you say Austin people love their music though, the support down here has been amazing!
R13: Isn't most of Texas dominated by country music?
GW: It's true, country music is massive. Fortunately though there are a few pockets of resistance in the Lone Star State, Austin being one of them.
R13: You are signed to a new record label, Monolathe Recordings, we here are impressed that they are releasing your album not just in USA but in the UK too via the usual download sites, what can you tell us about Monolathe Recordings and as they already have dipped their toes in the UK market, are they looking for bands over here as well as there?
GW: Basically it's a brand new boutique label and SIAL has the honour of being the first artist to have a full length released on it. Having the album available in the UK was essential to SIAL, especially me having spent most of my life there. Fortunately Monolathe work with Nail/Allegro Distribution, so they had that covered. I've no doubt Monolathe will be working with bands from across the pond, in fact I know of two European bands the label is looking at right now.
R13: Towards the end of last year you popped over here and did a couple of low key acoustic sets, any plans to see a full SIAL tour of the UK any time?
GW: That's definitely something we're talking about, with a touch of luck it'll happen sometime after summer. I'm really looking forward to us all getting across the pond, for some in the band it'll be the first time and for others it's been too long.
R13: Your self titled debut album is released early February (as previously stated, both in the UK and USA), how would you describe it to someone who did not know SIAL?
GW: I have no idea and to be honest the second someone can do that accurately we'll probably start doing something else. Whenever I try to describe SIAL, I'll make one point and immediately realize I've left five out. Answers on a postcard please.
R13: How did you find the recording process in Austin compared to over here?
GW: Warmer. Seriously, if I had my way we'd only record during the winter months in Austin. I miss recording when it all gloomy and raining outside, you have to really work hard at getting in a dark mental place when it's 100 degrees for 8 months out of the year.
R13: Austin, for a small city (small on USA terms), has had quite a few bands break through in recent years but what bands do you think we should be checking out over there?
GW: Ringo Deathstarr, Dead Black Hearts, New Roman Times, The Strange Attractors, She Sir, The Astronaut Suit. They're all great Austin bands and definitely worth a gander.
R13: Glynn, thanks for your time. Good luck with the album, we think it is a belter and deserves great success. Hope to see you all over here soon, with a bottle or 2 of Shiner!
GW: You're too kind, thank you very much. Oh, get your drinking boots on, you're going to need them!
Our thanks to Glynn for taking the time to answer our questions and we can only keep our fingers crossed that the possible UK tour does happen soon!