We really dug Dolphins debut album From Pickerel to Flipper when we reviewed it back in May. Full of power, anger and important issues it is one of the best releases by a new British band this year. That being the case we wanted to hear a bit more from them so we caught up with singer Haydn for a quick chat.
R13: How and when did the band get together?
Haydn Dolphins formed in Spring 2009. All three of us had played in bands in Bradford previously; we were friends before we started Dolphins. We all had the hunger to continue to make music, so it was a 'no-brainer' to form the band.
R13: What were your formative influences and what are you listening to now?
H I've collected almost 300 records by various bands, but if I were to name a few influences, I would say Godflesh, Kyuss, and Soundgarden amongst many others. I was actually listening to Metallica today.
R13: How much of a role does Bradford as a place have in shaping Dolphins sound/content?
H We were all born in Bradford and we have all seen it decline as we've grown up. The city's heritage was the wool trade, and that industry has moved overseas for cheaper production. Unemployment is high and there are areas of mass deprivation, but that's true of a lot of places these days. Part of our sound is born out of frustration, but there are positive aspects to Bradford, like Dolphins for example.
R13: There's seems to be plenty of anger toward society at large on tracks like Hard Times, Hard Lines coupled with shades of melancholy on Still Falls The Rain (Bradford). Do you consider Dolphins to be 'political' in any way?
H Lyrics are very important to us, and we've always wanted to contain a strong message in our music. Sometimes it's clear, other times it less obvious. Subjects like religion, politics and social awareness do get mentioned, because these are subjects that we're passionate about.
R13: Do you feel that Dolphins fit into part of a wider scene? Is there any crossover with the big hardcore scene in Leeds for example?
H Not really. We did put out a 10" split vinyl with three other Leeds bands, through Brew records, and we have done a few gigs in Leeds, but we don't consider ourselves to be a hardcore band. Dolphins are a heavy band, but there's more groove in what we do.
R13: What are the immediate and long-term plans for Dolphins? Is the DIY approach of self-releasing and managing the band important to you and set to continue?
H The immediate plan is to get the debut album From Pickerel To Flipper released on vinyl, which we will be releasing within the coming weeks. The long-term plan is to release our second studio album, which we are already halfway through writing and should be completed at the end of this year. As far as making records and managing the band is concerned, we are capable of doing this ourselves, so we will continue to do so.
R13: Do you think it's easier or harder for bands with heavier/leftfield sounds to be heard in the internet age with social media, bandcamp and the like?
H Looking back to when I was a kid in the 90's, bands would play gigs, and people would go because there was no other outlet, other than buying the record. Nowadays, people download the album for free and watch the band for free on youtube. So, it's harder for bands to make a living from music, but perhaps easier to get noticed due to social networking, largely through the internet.
There you have it then. The band's releases can be purchased over on their Bandcamp page now.