Since previously featuring as Band of the Week on our Myspace site, Tripwires have been busy building themselves a reputation for being a highly promising unsigned act. This, in turn, has resulted in them being asked to grace the BBC Introducing stage at this year’s Reading Festival • an invitation made all the more poignant as the band hail from Reading. After hearing the good news, we here at R13 thought we’d have a catch up with the young quartet and share in their pre-festival excitement. Adam Venton chats to Tripwires frontman Rhys Edwards.
R13: So Rhys, fill us in on everything that has happened with the band since we featured you as Band of the Week…
Rhys: Since being featured as Band of the Week we have released two songs, one being part of a split four-track EP with three other bands, with the other being a digital download single. We have played a few city festivals like dot-to-dot in Bristol and Great Escape Festival in Brighton, as well as quite a few of our own gigs up and down the M4 corridor! Luckily for us the two songs we released have picked up quite a bit of national radio play, which has helped spread the word thanks to people like Huw Stephens and Steve Lamacq.
R13: How did the singles you released via iTunes sell? Did you pick up any positive radio play?
Rhys:We haven’t been told any figures yet • I think we will receive a sales report in September. On the surface it appears that we have sold quite a few, as one of the labels who released one of the songs told us that they have been surprised with how many sales have come from abroad, which was nice to hear.
R13: Have you received any record label interest as yet? If so can you divulge who?
Rhys:Off the back of the songs we have released we have had some interest, but it’s important that we keep our concentration and focus on writing rather than thinking about things like that too much. Unfortunately a lot of bands seem to get caught up in the ‘industry’ side of things instead of doing what bands should do best; writing decent songs.
R13: You must be really pleased to be playing the BBC Introducing stage at Reading and Leeds. How did that come about?
Rhys:We are definitely looking forward to it, as Reading Festival has always been a special thing for us through growing up/living in Reading. We are also looking forward to Leeds as we have always wanted go there at some point. With regards to getting on the bill, our song ‘Kings and Queens’ was played on the BBC Introducing shows on Radio One and 6Music, which probably helped us in being chosen. For us, the whole BBC Introducing thing has been a great way of getting more people to know about us and our music.
R13: How are you going to prepare for the weekend?
Rhys:Although it’s a big gig for us we have tried to treat it like every other gig we do, as doing that makes us feel most comfortable • although having said that, we have found ourselves rehearsing more often!
R13: Aside from playing yourselves, what/who are you most looking forward to hearing/seeing over the weekend?
Rhys: Rage Against the Machine are the big ones for us, we never thought we would get to see them live so we’re very excited about them. We are also looking forward to seeing White Lies, Mystery Jets and the legend that is Frank Turner.
R13: Are you planning to play, or visit as fans, any other festivals this summer?
Rhys: We would have loved to have gone to Latitude as the bill was amazing, but missed out on that one. Wouldn’t mind going to Bestival in the Isle of White as we’ve heard a lot of good things about it.
R13: Are there plans afoot for a debut full-length album or EP as yet? If so, when can we expect it?
Rhys: We are looking to release a four-track EP in October and are aiming to sell the EP ourselves through our own website and at gigs, all with handmade artwork etc. We are also looking at taking one of these tracks and either release it as a full single or maybe a free download - not quite sure yet!
R13: Aside from festivals, what’s in store for Tripwires in the next few months?
Rhys: We are playing quite a few gigs in September and are doing a mini tour with a few bands in October, which most likely will promote the EP we will be releasing.
We highly recommend catching Tripwires on the BBC Introducing stage at both Reading and Leeds!