Pop-rockers The Hoosiers burst into the public consciousness in 2007 with their debut album The Trick to Life and a host of incessantly catchy pop songs such as Worried About Ray that still reside in our subconscious today.
When the band returned in 2010, they had made a departure from their self-branded odd-pop and a new album The Illusion of Safety.
Just a few short months on and the band this month announced their departure from their record label and now they’re self-releasing a re-packaged version of their last album.
Featuring four brand new tracks the album Bumpy Ride, is accompanied by a single release of the same name.
- Your new single, Bumpy Ride, is out now – are you pleased with its reception so far?
Yeah, it’s been well received. It’s our first independent single - and the beautiful people of the UK seem to have got onside.
- What’s the single about?
A Waltzer.
- You filmed the video in Vegas – how was that?
It was great fun. It was filmed over eight days travelling across America in the back of an RV. It was surprisingly cold. We nearly lost Martin to a particularly violent bout of shivering.
- Al and Irwin – you spend time in the states at the beginning of your career, was it good to go back?
It was great to see the old girl again. Although seeing as we were both expelled from America due to truancy (true story) we had to use false names. I was Albertini Martini and Irwin was Erwin Sparks (subtle).
- The album is your first since leaving Sony, how has the experience of putting it together differed?
It is a re-issue. So we added four new tracks, and a bonus DVD, which we recorded on our road trip to America. We have kept a lot of our marketing team.
So apart from now having to pay for our own haircuts and now having to iron our own pants it’s not too different. If sales don’t pick up I may have to fire my grape peeler, so please buy it.
- It contains a lot of the material from Illusion of Safety, were you unhappy with how the album turned out last time?
Illusion of Safety was and still is a great album - we just wanted to add something extra and help spread the word that it's released as there was little promotion the first time around.
- Why did you leave the record label – are you happier as an independent band?
Sadly at the same time of the release of Illusion of Safety, the ironically titled album, Sony made some wholesale changes of staff and we lost our main bed of support.
At that point it seemed to make sense to part ways. We hold no grudges - although I have thrown away all my Sony electrical goods.
- Your music changed quite dramatically between the first and second album even though your self-branded odd-pop proved successful, what caused the change in direction?
I think pop is an evolving beast - and we won’t be happy churning out the same album time and again. Hopefully we always write good songs.
- Martin, you used to be a fireman, how did you get into music?
The sound of burning wood
- How did you cope with going from a career like that to becoming famous?
Always getting ready in 90 seconds from waking up.
- What’s in the immediate future for The Hoosiers?
We are doing a 9 date tour starting on May the 19th and a mixed bag of festival appearances throughout the summer. Check thehoosiers.com for more info.
- Have the Hoosiers found their sound now or are we likely to see another change in direction?
There will always be a 'New' sound around the corner so we'll keep looking. It is all about keeping it fresh for ourselves to stay motivated and inspired.
- What has been your career highlight to date?
Playing the Isle of Wight festival on my birthday in 2008.
FemaleFirst Antonia Charlesworth