Q: Welcome back, No Ordinary Fish! It’s fantastic to have you with us again. Since our last conversation, a lot has happened in your musical journey. To kick things off, could you share some highlights or pivotal moments that have shaped your artistic path since our last interview?
A: 2024 was fab! We played loads of gigs on small and bigger stages and the new songs went down a treat with the audiences. We also changed our line-up significantly. Gary (bass) left to pursue career interests so Stu (drums) switched to bass guitar as it has always been his main instrument… which left a drummer-shaped hole in the band. People told us “You won’t find a drummer as you are an originals band, plus drummers are like rocking-horse poo around here”. WRONG! We had 10 applicants and shortlisted 5 drummers for audition, choosing Dean Young for his solid drumming with tasteful nuances as well as him being a genuine and cool guy (with an infectious smile!).
Q: Can you describe the musical style of No Ordinary Fish in three words?
A: Hmm, tricky! Not really as we are catchy, eclectic, sophisticated guitar pop rock. (Plus we’re upbeat, deep, accessible and intriguing.) So that’s 10 words – sorry!
Q: How do you stay connected with your fans, and what role do they play in shaping your musical journey?
A: We play carefully-chosen venues in the South West of England and post regularly on social media. We pay attention to what people tell us they like about our songs and we take this on board.
Q: You have just released your new single, ‘Beautiful Soul’. Is there a story behind it
A: This song was written by Debbie and is a reaction to the shallowness of many people looking and acting the same, the futile state of politics, and the changing state of the planet due to our continuing mistreatment of her. Many things on TV and social media seem to be shallow, vacuous and fashion-obsessed to the detriment of people’s humanity. “I don’t know but I’ve been told that everybody has a beautiful soul…” is the first line and the lyrics in the chorus express a call to action. Some of the loud/quiet bands of the 90s helped to shape the feel of this track after it was written on an acoustic guitar and jammed out as a rough demo prior to proper recording. The sound of the track also harks back to 70s bands with strong choruses such as Tom Petty, Queen and Fleetwood Mac and features a stunning guitar solo from Rich at the end. This is the first song released by “no ordinary fish” in over a year and represents an increased sense of catchiness with much deeper production such as guitar layering. The vocals solidly hit the mark, especially on the chorus. Since recording this track, the band have a line-up shift (Stu from drums to bass, and Dean is new on drums) so we are looking forward to releasing many more new songs in 2025.
Q: What is your favorite part from the song and why?
A: The contrast between the stripped-back acoustic intro and the powerful, rich chorus is striking, as is Rich’s guitar solo finale – it is a real earworm that keeps us awake at night (in a good way!)
Q: Can you walk us through the creative process of producing the song, “Beautiful Soul”
A: Debbie strummed the guitar riff in the garden and gradually fleshed out the lyrics while adding the bridge and chorus. We often write several songs simultaneously and take our time to shape them with the input of the other band members.
Q: What has been the most memorable concert or performance for No Ordinary Fish so far?
A: The Exeter Respect and Thorfest festivals were well attended and it was great to see so many complete strangers enjoying our music as well as our many friends and followers.
Q: Reflecting on your body of work, each song holding its unique significance, could you share a particular track that stands out to you personally? What makes that specific tune special, and why does it hold a place of pride in your musical journey?
A: I think you’d get a different answer from each of us to this question! We’re proud of all our songs and they each have something specific and memorable in our musical journey. That said, the most epic (given it’s 7 minutes long!) has to be Shadowlands from our second album, Adverse Camber.
Q: Exploring the diverse creative processes within the music industry is always fascinating. Could you provide insight into No Ordinary Fish’s unique approach to crafting music? From the initial spark of an idea to the finished song, how do you navigate the creative journey and bring its musical concepts to life?
A: So far none of our songs have been the result of a band jam! Usually, the idea is in someone’s head and this is the time to grab a phone and record the idea roughly before it flies away. Then the lyrics are developed before a rough demo is produced using our home equipment. Not too much polish is put on this – it’s just a case of getting the structure fleshed out before the other band members learn it and suggest improvements eg middle-8s, lyrical changes, the order of verses and choruses. We use Presonus Studio One, electronic drums, bass, guitars and vocal mics to lay these tracks down one at a time to give a rough demo. Once the final structure has been developed, we either record all of the final parts at home one at a time or hire a studio to record live, with vocals and guitar solos overdubbed afterwards. We produce ourselves but are lucky enough to have a talented mixer and a mastering engineer who polishes the final product ready for release.
Q: As we wrap up our conversation, looking ahead, what aspirations or dreams do you have for No Ordinary Fish, and what message would you like to share with your fans as they continue to accompany you on this musical journey?
A: We have a number of singles ready for release in 2025 and we’re super-excited to be sharing our new music with the world! We’re also looking forward to plenty of quality gigs this year as we played some crackers last year. The aim is to gig further afield outside the Exeter area and to keep on expanding our fanbase. Plus, of course, to continue writing new songs!