Features Upbringing: Shinies

Manchester’s Shinies have had a whirlwind past twelve months, from appearing on a handful of UK music blogs to releasing singles on Dirty Bingo Records, right up to that part where they kidnapped a Kids’ TV presenter and made the tabloid press seethe in anger. But before all this, they were just four guys hanging out in different quarters, and Neu thought it necessary to ask them about their cultural upbringing - the things that make them tick - from film to music to old fashioned good advice.

First film that made you cry?
Ric: remember crying to Disney’s Jungle Book out of pure fear of the tiger - I try not to mention his name. He was a horrible tiger. (ed: It was Scar.)
Tom: Has to be E.T for me ‘I’ll be right here…..’ still gets me now just thinking about it…
Adam: Cool Runnings.

First piece of music which you felt compelled to play for hours on end?
There were a few contenders, but we’ve picked out the best three that we all agreed upon:
1) Nirvana – Big Cheese
2) Eiffel 65 – Blue Da Ba Dee
3) Shaggy – It Wasn’t Me



Biggest literary hero:
Ric: George Perec, P.G. Wodehouse, J.M. Coetzee.
Tom: Kurt Vonnegut, Charles R Cross, Stewart Lee
Joe: Oscar Wilde
Adam: Antonin Artaud and Mystic Meg

Worst musical habit, writing or recording:
Breaking into a far-too-epic rendition of the Jurassic Park theme at any given time, or a cheeky funk-out.

Most underrated band still around today
Modern Blonde
Focus

CD Player by Modern Blonde

Worst gig you ever played
Ric busked to a load of commuters in London; it was about 8.30am whilst we were waiting for a lift…they weren’t having it.

Greatest site on the internet?
Ric: I like the ones with dancing fruit.

Best Youtube find
Ric: Focus doing ‘Hocus Pocus’ live on some American show in the 70’s, those crazy Dutch bastards sure can yodel.



Greatest piece of advice you’ve ever had
It’s all been pretty shit so far

And one final quote…?
‘First you get the jobs, then you get the khakis, then you get the chicks.’

Shinies’ new single ‘Ennui / Eighteen’ will be released on 22nd October via Dirty Bingo Records.