The Narrows From: Manchester, United Kingdom
Mancunian noir popsters The Narrows have taken time out from plotting to write a new chapter in the musical history books of Manchester and relegate Oasis to a mere footnote to chat to the Devil. Find out more about the geeky source for the band name, their love of Mutant Ninja Turtles and their unfinished opera based on a popular antipodean soap.
The Devil: Why The Narrows?
The Narrows: Initially it came from a pretty geeky source – it’s the ghettoised area of Gotham City in Batman mythology. Gotham has always seemed such an evocative place that ties in with the type of music we’re trying to make – dark, dangerous, always threatening to violently erupt. So thematically it just seemed perfect.
The Devil: What other names did you ponder before deciding it had to be The Narrows?
The Narrows: None, to be honest. We all agreed on it straight away. Which I know goes against the traditional hand-wringing that comes with choosing a band name. It just felt right. Would it be more interesting if I faked some possibilities? Okay – Sons of Priest, The Three Guys and Rebecca Black were our first choices.
The Devil: Who are the biggest influences in your life and on your music?
The Narrows: In no particular order – politics // conspiracy theories // Radiohead // 9/11 // Bjork // paranoia // Josh Homme // Serge Gainsbourg // The night // violence // film noir // Dario Argento // Moral outrage // Kraftwerk
The Devil: What was the first record you owned and what was the first record you ever bought with your own money?
The Narrows: At pretty much the same time I got bought 500 miles by The Proclaimers and T.U.R.T.L.E POWER by Partners in Kryme. I fucking loved The Turtles. I still know every word of the rap. We’re going to do a cover of it. That last sentence was a lie. The first record I bought with my own money was Sgt. Pepper – not even a lie. I was that cool. My second record however, is so uncool that I dare not speak its name. Swings and roundabouts.
The Devil: What makes The Narrows stand out from the millions of other bands across the world? What makes you unique?
The Narrows: The first thing is what we write about. We want to say something – whether it’s about what’s happening in the country as far as politics is concerned (POLL), a critique of US ‘interrogation’ methods (WATERBOARDING) or looking in detail at complex conspiracy theories (INITIALS MM). We’re not really interested in writing about generalities – we have a voice. Manchester Music recently said that, because of our distinctive sound, we have no contemporaries at the moment – which is just a really humbling thing for anyone to say. We’re not interested in being hip or cool or part of a scene – we just want to be us. And I think we’re kind of getting there.
The Devil: Which bands or artists on the current music scene make your spine tingle with the joy of living?
The Narrows: At the moment it’s a big mixture between what’s happening in our local music scene and on a bigger scale. So we’re listening to Arcade Fire, Asobi Seksu, PJ Harvey, Radiohead, Caribou, Battles and Sleigh Bells along with Mount Fabric, Vei, Borland, Ladycop, The Christophers, From The Kites of San Quentin, PVT and Loser Superhero.
The Devil: Favourite song?
Adam: Clampdown –The Clash
Dave: She’s Leaving Home – The Beatles
The Devil: Favourite book?
Phil: Remains of The Day – Kazuo IshiguruAdam: Catcher in the Rye – JD Salinger
Dave: Mr. Nice – Howard Marks
The Devil: Favourite Movie?
Phil: BladerunnerAdam: Rear Window
Dave: The Apartment
The Devil: Favourite word?
Phil: CircumlocutoryAdam: Shenanigans
Dave: Ambidextrous
The Devil: Tell me something that you've never told anyone before.
The Narrows: We once wrote a full musical about an actor from Neighbours called Dan Paris. It was called Dan Paris: The Musical. One act of it still remains. It was a work born of alcohol. We worked on it for about a year when we were 17.
The Devil: If you weren't in The Narrows how would you keep yourself occupied?
The Narrows: We would spend most of our time correcting the horrendous spelling and grammar that is so rife on social networking sites.
The Devil: If you were interviewing yourself what would your killer question be and how would you answer it?
Q: Do you believe in God?
A: Obviously not.
The Devil: Alternative vote or First Past The Post and why?
The Narrows: Got to go with Alternative vote, purely because it kind of eliminates the possibility of tactical voting and other such travesties of justice.
The Devil: Is there anything else you'd like to tell the Devil Has The Best Tuna readers?
The Narrows: Yes, 5 things. 1: Our new single INITIALS MM is released for free on April 4th on our bandcamp page. 2: Our debut EP – Through Constant Decay – is still available there. 3: Our album will be out later this year. 4: We are gigging everywhere we can. Come along. 5: Youse guys are the bestest. Ta for reading.
Go Try
Some of The Narrow's favourite Manchester bands...
Bastard Shit by borlandBitfuck by FromtheKitesofSanQuentin
The Christophers - Plans by The Christophers
and a non Mancunian favourite
06 Misericordia by LOSER SUPERHERO
Go Visit
The Narrows - Myspace : Facebook : Bandcamp : Soundcloud
Go View
The Narrows
Initials MM
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