Getting to know... Graceland

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Purveyors of fuzz-pop fun, Norwich four-piece Graceland - Rosie Arnold (guitar, organ and vocals), Ellie Jones (guitar and vocals), Maxie Gedge (drums), and Stevie Gedge (bass) - have just dropped their new single, 'Flyway'.

When did you first realise you wanted to make music?

Maxie: We have three huge early inspirations in common: The Distillers / Be Your Own Pet / Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Watching the women of the Norwich music scene made us want to be in bands.

Stevie: I don’t think it was ever really a decision we made, it just kind of happened that way.

What was the music scene like in the area you grew up in?

Maxie: The best. It still is. The record label that we run together, Gravy Records, was named after one of the greatest Norwich bands, Le Tetsuo. Norwich is insular and small and flat which means that the creative communities are really rich... and weird.

Stevie: It was always the thing that drove us to be better. Everyone is so competitive but in a good way - it makes us happy when good things happen to Norwich acts. It’s also very incestuous.

How did you guys get together? Had you played in other bands beforehand?

Maxie: Yes, lots of bands. Lots of parties. Lots of shared houses. We are best friends and we knew our musical destiny was/is together. We stopped beating around the bush and started working out some riffs.

Stevie: Yeah, it’s strange to think now that we weren’t all in a band together before.

What’s been the highlight of your time as a musician so far?

Maxie: Our times at Sick Room studios in Norfolk writing, swimming and drinking beer.

Stevie: Amen. Headlining Norwich Arts Centre is one of my proudest things too - we haven’t done that with Graceland yet.

Are you creative in non-musical ways too?

Maxie: Yes - Rosie is a genius photographer and producer. Stevie runs a banging blog and is the most prolific person in the world. Ellie designs props for American crime dramas and takes the beautiful photographs that you can see on our releases. Maxie creates sonic art and queer dance parties.

What do you do for fun?

Maxie: Drink beer and dance.

Stevie: Eat pizza.

Who do you think is the most exciting band or musician around right now?

Maxie: St Vincent.

Stevie: The Big Moon (have their tee on right now).

What are you working on right now?

Maxie: More ideas about space/Sebald/the sea. A video on the Norfolk coast, and our new single 'Flyway', out on 1st September on Label Fandango.

Stevie: This Q&A.

Finally - tell us a secret about yourselves?

Maxie: No secrets, only facts: Stevie recently swam the solent.

Stevie: Maxie’s car is called Party Boy.

Graceland’s single ‘Flyway’ is out now. They play a launch party at The Lexington, London on 22nd September.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width="2/3"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/3"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

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