Music Video Production - The Crookes (8)

Emailing

Email Sent:
Hey, This is Abbi, Amy and Loren. For our A Level Media project we need to make a music video for an unsigned act. We were wondering if we could use one of your tracks? We are intersted in using 'A Colliers Wife' if that would be possible? Our media teacher is concerned about copyright as you have released it through Rough Trade. One of our main concerns is that the work would have to be posted on Youtube to be marked, so we want to make sure that this is okay. Do we need to contact your management to confirm? Also, if we cannot use 'A Colliers Wife' is there any others we could use, such as 'Backtreet Lovers'? ThankyouAbbi, Loren and AmyHey

Reply:
Abbi,Thanks for using our tracks, you can use whichever one you want, Rough Trade only own the release not the songs themselves so we have all copyright of them which means we can allow whoever we want to use them. Any song is fine, do you need us to send any mp3s over? Let us know if you do,
Alex

We conducted our interview with The Crookes via Email. This was the only realistic way we could do it as the band are extremely busy at the moment touring.

What’s the origin of your band name?
Well it was mine (Alex) and Daniel's idea really, we lived in Crookes in our first year of university and opposite the road from our accomidation was a sign for 'Crookes' so we went from there really. It was a lazy name and we always meant to change it but I think the chance of a name change has gone now...

How did you come together as a group?
Me and Daniel first met in first year and then we met George and Russell through mutual friends and club nights etc and we went from there.

What genre of music do you consider your work to be?
Interesting question... I guess it would be wrong to call it anything else but pop. Although we're all inspired by a lot of different stuff, its always had a poppy element especially in the melodies.

How would you describe your band in 3 words?
Not Too Serious

What/who influences your musical style?
Erm.. 50's guitar pop like Buddy Holly/Little Richard, 60's motown/pop as in The Beatles, The Kinks and The Ronettes and modern stuff like Richard Hawley, Vampire Weekend and The Shins.

What inspires you?
Musically.. the above, and i guess as all English Literature students we're pretty inspired by different types of literature.

Who writes your songs and how does the writing process work?
Dan writes the lyrics and Alex writes a lot of the music, but it is a collaborative effort when it comes down to putting the song together whihc is arguablly the hardest part.

What are the main themes or topics that arise in your music?
Daniel uses a lot of literary references in the lyrics, the songs are often about fictional people who become the basis for a story. The songs are normally stories opposed to self-indulagent love songs.

How did you develop the unique look of the band?
We have a unique look?! Well if we do its down to having no money and shopping in the cheapest of shops.

Can you describe your gigs; visually and musically?
A lot of energy, lots of dancing, lots of head shaking. Musically, I'm not sure, I think a bit more full -on than many people would expect from a band that started as an acoustic band.

What key events have moulded the direction of the band?
Errr, there has been quite a few. Obviously meeting George was a massive step forward, but from there on in things like going to BBC Studios (Maida Vale) and Abbey Road really made us realise that we all wanted to play in the band as a serious thing.

How does a day in the life of ‘The Crookes’ unravel?
A fair few trips to Co-op, a heafty amount of caffiene, listening to records in the front room and practising in the basement for as long as we can without getting ricketts.

What is the storyline behind the song ‘A Colliers Wife’?
Its a story about a depressed housewife who needs to lament her feelings (I think)

What do you think are the most important aspects of a music video?
The editing, I think that even if the content of a video is a bit naff, the editing in line with the music is the most important thing.

Do your lyrics present reality or are they of a fictional nature?
A fictional nature, we all think that writing too many personal songs is a bit arrogant.

What are your aspirations for the future?Hopefully release an album, and just continue writing and touring really.

Any last words?
Apologies for the late response!