Glasgow’s Dead Pony are bursting into 2020 with just buckets and buckets of style. In ‘Everything Is Easy’, they’ve an instant favourite – a hugely boppable, highly addictive tune that’s “a take on how simple childhood experiences can be soured as you grow older,” frontwoman Anna Shields explains. “We tried to capture that feeling of betrayal you feel as a young, naïve child when you find out Santa isn’t real.” It sounds miserable, but it’s actually the most energising song we’ve heard all week. Give it a listen below, and find out more about the newcomers straight from the band themselves.
Introduce yourselves – who are you all, and where did you meet? Have you known each other long?
Blair: Anna and I met about five years ago and started playing and writing music, we met Aidan and Liam from being in the same music scene in Glasgow about two years ago, and it’s all sort of stemmed from there.
Liam: I recall meeting Anna and Blair and immediately just feeling comfortable around them, which was noticeable when we started playing together. Things glued together well, and from there, I feel things have gotten stronger and stronger.
Aidan: The first time I met Anna and Blair was at in Stereo like three years ago at a gig we were both playing, at and I remember chatting away to Blair in the green room and funnily enough about four weeks later I think Celtic won the treble and I was absolutely wrecked on the train home and said alright to Blair and he didn’t remember me haha.
Dead Pony is a bit of a bleak name?
Blair: That depends on your opinion of Ponies.
What’s been the highlight of your time in the band so far?
Anna: Our last gig before lockdown in a sold out Galvanisers SWG3 with The Dunts. That was so surreal and so special as it was one of the last large gatherings in Scotland before lockdown.
Blair: Probably getting to play at TRNSMT in 2019, getting a mental crowd reaction and then spending the rest of the day getting free beers and hanging about the festival with our pals.
Liam: I’ve got to agree with Anna on this one, the galvanisers show with The Dunts was certainly up there. It’s always a pleasure playing on such a big stage. Lots of room for activities.
Aidan: Curveball, but mine is probably when we played Tenement Trail. I think it was our first or second time in the priory, but the energy was good and the rest of the day was quality.
Tell us about your new song, ‘Everything Is Easy’ – what’s it about? Where did it come from?
Anna: ‘Everything is Easy’ is a song about how childhood experiences can be ruined when you become an adult. We tried to capture and express that sinking feeling you felt when you realised that Santa wasn’t real or that your ears don’t produce £1 coins – your granda’ just had the coin hidden in his palm the whole time. Blair and I came up with the idea after discussing the ridiculous things that we used to believe as children and how that simple magic and wonder evaporates as you grow older.
Is it representative of the band’s general vibe?
Blair: It’s probably a bit more light and fun, but it definitely sounds like a Dead Pony song.
Anna: It does probably stand out a bit more in our set, but it’s a good song to play live because it injects some fun and colour into the set and it’s just a good song to have a good boogie to.
Are you guys creative in non-musical ways too?
Anna: I think that all musicians probably do have quite creative brains. I am definitely more of a creative, and I have a huge love for art. When I’m not writing music, I love to paint and draw. I often design merch and logos for Dead Pony, so it’s good that I can incorporate both of my talents and passions in the band. I also do a lot of sewing, and I design and make some of my clothes.
What do you do for fun? Do you have any self-isolation-friendly hobbies?
Blair: Intense ab workouts and binge drinking on zoom calls with my friends, lots of quiz nights.
Anna: I’ve been working out or doing Yoga every day. I have been going on long walks and spending a lot of time with my family. Zoom calls with friends and just trying to connect with my friends and family as much as possible.
Liam: For fun, I’ve been cycling like a nutter, trying to keep active every day y’ know. In terms of isolation hobbies, I’ve been fooling around with baked goods more often than usual. Pizzas, breads, muffins etc. My latest creation was an oblong-shaped pizza.
Aidan: I’ve just been playing the PS4.
Has the current lockdown impacted many of your plans?
Anna: It has yes. Just like everyone we’ve had to put a pause on a lot of things and we’ve had to reschedule gigs and delay releases etc. as we adjust to the “new” way of living. We are lucky that we had a bunch of songs recorded and ready to release so it’s comforting to know that we can still put out music and hopefully cheer people up while all of this is going on.
What’s the first thing you’re going to do once the restrictions have been lifted?
Anna: I’m going to hug my friends tight and tell them that I love them. I’m going to go to my favourite restaurant and order all of my favourite things from the menu. I can’t wait to go to a public swimming pool or a sweaty legs bums n tums class again.
Aidan: Wouldn’t mind a Taco Bell and going to a rehearsal room. I’ve almost forgotten what it feels like to play an actual drum kit.
Blair: Hug my family, spend a lot of time away from my flatmates and go for a big boozy game of pool with all my friends.
Liam: I reckon I’ll probably hail a cab to a local chicken shack and chow down on some chicken wings, followed by a trip to a local alehouse. The cravings are strong. Try and tick all the activities we’re currently being deprived of off the list in one day.
What are you working on at the mo, do you have ‘stuff’ coming up?
Blair: We have singles coming out pretty solidly for the rest of the year!! We’ve been lucky enough to have LAB Records come on board with us, and we are very excited to release our new music with them. Apart from that, we have literally loads of demos sitting ready to be worked on, video shoots and other fun stuff for the rest of the year. Some gigs would also be great, haha.
