we caught with the guys to find out more:
Powerful UK two-piece COMMON TONGUE have just dropped their stomping new single, Done.
How and when did the band form?
The band formed as lockdown rules were lifted in spring 2021. After having drinks (in line with the social distance guidelines at the time!) we were chatting about music. We half knew each other and played something, but with a little help from our girlfriends at about 2am Sunday night (Monday morning) we booked a rehearsal room for a few hours later on the Monday night. We woke up fuzzy headed and messaged each other, we decided to go through with it. We said we were mates anyway. If it’s awkward and we hate it we can leave. If it’s not then let’s go! Luckily it was the latter.
When and how did the band really start gelling and solidifying?
After a few months of sporadically going to rehearsal spaces, we tried to get some extra band members. Initially we were looking to find a bass player that could sing. But that didn’t happen! We had a few people come to see about joining, but no one was quite the right fit. In the end Matt practiced his singing in the car on his commute/in the shower at rehearsal and we carried on as a two-piece. It also gave him the perfect opportunity to continue to buy many many guitar pedals whilst he “crafted his sound”. A process that is ongoing and rife, does he have a pedal buying problem……. only time will tell, but the guitar tone is huge.
Who are your musical influences?
A whole range from more rock based artists that we sound like to a whole host of other genres. Matt W would cite the drummer from the hives as a real inspiration in terms of pure, clean power and performance. Matt T has a whole variety of guitarist inspirations and takes Muse and an inspiration. But also, less conventional inspirations like Jeff Wayne’s War Of the World’s.
Where did the name of the band come from?
Common Tongue – the common voice of the normal man. Writing songs about day to day life, annoyance with unjust situations and politics. Love, loss, heartbreak. Celebration and have a beer with a mate, that turning into one too many. Just a general look on modern society and what is going on in the world.
How far back does your history with each other (the band members) extend?
Strangely we actually both grew up in Chatham in Kent. We went to different schools but played hockey at the same club. As kids we were never close friends but knew of each other and played in teams together. Fast forward nearly 10 years and we found ourselves living in Portsmouth, we’d both ended up down here for various reasons (uni, relationships, work) and overheard each other talking about being “from Chatham” after a conversation the friendship grew. Again years after that we got into the music things (thanks to COVID and our partners) and CT began from that.
In your opinion, how is your band different from all the other bands out there?
We make a lot of noise for two-blokes! It is always noted how full our sound is and not just noise, but musicality and quality. We managed to create a sound that sounds like it’s from a 3 or 4 piece, but just from two people. We record as we play and don’t use any extra samples. Just tight driven drums and a full meaty guitar tone.
If a deaf person were to ask you to describe the sound of your music, how would you describe it?
Powerful. You can really feel the bass (ironic without a bass player) but we use the fact we are just two to drive our music forward. Riff-heavy rock with drums that accompany the guitar perfectly to drive forward the music and allow you to feel the music as well as hear it.
Where can we find your social media sites?
+ There are no comments
Add yours