From time to time, one of our contributors will recommend an artist/band they think deserves to be brought to your attention. No record labels, PR companies, bands or band’s management will ever have made these recommendations. It is simply one music fan putting their taste on the line in the hope of sharing good music. The questions are intended to give just a basic introduction to possibly your new favourite artist/band.
So without further ado, let’s crack on with another introduction, in which Silent Radio’s Lucy Brown recommends MOUNT FUJI for your audible delectation.
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Who are ya?
We’re Mount Fuji, four longtime friends from Birmingham. A lot of people call us mathrock, and we do like experimenting with sounds and time signatures, but there’s a progressive, poppy edge to our sound that we think makes it accessible to anyone who isn’t into mixing music and algebra.
Where are you from?
Er, Birmingham. Should have read this question before we answered the last one… Oz (bass) lived in Australia for a bit (obviously – his real name’s Richard. Fan fact!) None of us have been to Japan, despite our name. Ad (guitar) went to Pakistan once (for some reason this feels too important to leave out) and he’s also a quarter Polish (the good quarter).
How long have you been doing what you’re doing now?
We’ve been Mount Fuji for about a year, but have played together in bands for the best part of ten years with various line-ups.
Is being a musician your full time job?
We wish! Two of us work at universities, one at a comedy club and one does clinical research. This is how we raise the money we sink into being in a band.
How would you explain your sound to someone’s 90 year old grandmother?
“Do you like Michael Ball? Great – we’re like him, but much faster, sweatier, more technical and way louder. We’re also nothing like Michael Ball.” Alternatively, it’s like Johnny Mathis chasing Rock Hudson.
Are there any obvious influences in your music?
We find the great thing about the make-up of our band is each member has different tastes, and we embrace that as a way to experiment with new ideas. There are bands we all agree on that brought us together (Rx Bandits, QOTSA, The Mars Volta, Reuben, Blakfish), but our songs are all born out of live jamming so we each get to stamp our different influences on our music in a pretty organic way. I guess at the moment we’re into bands like Adebisi Shank, Tera Melos, Fang Island, Maps & Atlases – stuff like that. Generally, the reason we play the style of music we do is because we’re bored with generically structured A-to-B style music. It’s more fun to be weird.
Are there any not so obvious influences in your music?
Conquistadors are a huge influence on us, along with Pink Floyd. Also, in no particular order… The Beach Boys, ELO, anything with jazz, Cat Stevens, Daughters, Queen, The Beatles, Refused, Mariachi El Bronx, King Crimson, Nirvana, Misfits, Dewey Cox, Bill Conti, Supergrass, The Frogs, Cornelius, The Who, Cake, Ben Folds, The Fall of Troy, Muse, SikTh… the list is endless.
Apart from yourself of course, what other band/artist would you recommend our readers check out?
Delta Sleep, Bad Grammar, Tales, Cast Spells, Rega, Luke Bryan.
Best place for people to find out what you are up to?
Facebook.com/mountfujimusic, @mountfujimusic, soundcloud.com/mountfujimusic, mountfujimusic.tumblr.com… or come check us out at A Carefully Planned Festival #3. We’re playing Kraak on Saturday at 8pm!
Anything to declare?
No.
