Neu You Animals

What’s the best way of finding out lots and lots about a new artist in quite a short period of time? Just ask them lots of questions really quickly.

We put our quickfire Q&A to You Animals frontman Ryan, who will not only be touring with The Xcerts in a few weeks time (click here for dates and tickets), but releasing debut album ‘Crimes, Creeps & Thrills’ on 25th April.

Why did you, personally, join/start the band?
Because it looked liked the most fun thing to do in the world ever. I think the very first thing was probably either hearing ‘Six’ by Mansun or watching Bill and Teds Excellent Adventure when I was 10. Thinking about it I’ve probably based a lot of my life choices on that film. That and attention seeking.

Where did you all meet?
Me and Stu worked in the same local pub in Derby. We found the key to the jukebox and filled it with our record collections on the sly and I guess the others must have just been drawn to it like moths to a bad (good) 90’s Britpop flame.

What’s the best thing about being a band in Derby?
It’s such a small city so when we started out the fact that touring bands were playing here less and less kinda gave us a kick up the arse to get out and play elsewhere I guess. The two main recording studios are really good (we recorded our album at Snug Recording Co) and there are a couple of great promoters that try hard to bring good shows in and it’s a pretty good base for us touring and getting away ‘cause being right in the middle of the country, nowhere is that far away. There are lots of good bands and lovely people to play shows and hang out with too!

What has been your favourite moment as a band?
Playing The Great Escape Festival DiS stage with Sky Larkin, Johnny Foreigner and Idlewild was pretty amazing. I love those bands and it was steaming red hot and right on Brighton beach and the crowd was great. Ace day.

When you first started to get into music, who was your favourite musician?
Prince, first because of the songs then when I found out that he wrote, played and produced pretty much everything and it blew my little brains. Then Crispin Hunt the singer from The Longpigs after seeing him on Top of the Pops in a skirt singing ‘She Said’.

Name one album that would appear in your Top Five of all time (so far).
Desaparecidos - ‘Read Music/Speak Spanish’, cause I’m listening to it right now for the first time in ages and it’s so so good.

If you had to learn a new instrument, what would you choose?
Drums deffo! I can do it a LITTLE bit and I love it. I look ridiculous when I play though.

What’s your favourite ‘being in a band’ perk?
I never tell people I’m in a band because they instantly think you’re gonna be a knobbed (I understand why) I reckon just the prolonging of it still being acceptable to have fun with your best mates all the time is enough.

Where would you most like to be right now?
Deffo on tour but deffo somewhere hot and dusty. MEXICO.

What would your superpower be?
It’s pretty standard but Invisibility without doubt. I’m such a nosey shit and I could find out loads of stuff and I could steal loads of cash from banks and buy whatever I wanted. Gossiping and stealing. Hmmmm, I’ve kinda got that nailed already.

What’s your most unappealing habit?
I’ve heard I’m pretty unreliable, messy and annoying.

Who would you most like to go on a huge world tour with?
ANYONE! The Flaming Lips would be good though. Their shows wouldn’t ever get boring and I’d try and get a go in that big ball thing and run over the crowd AND I reckon Wayne Coyne would look after me like a stand in dad when I get burnt out after months of touring. I reckon he’d give me green tea and calming talks when I freak out and get panic attacks. I’ve either read or thought that before.

Are there any parts of being in a band you’d leave out if you could?
Not much really. Getting up for work at 7.30am after an hours sleep still feeling messy after doing a show in like Plymouth or somewhere miles away, driving through the night and getting back at 6am is always pretty heavy on the soul at the time.

Would you ever go solo?
Nah, it looks too lonely.

What was the last album / single you bought?
Maps and Atlases - ‘Perch Patchwork’, from the merch dude at their show in Nottingham, he was fun.

What is your music-purchasing format of choice?
Just whatever comes up really, I’m not too fussy. Mainly downloads I guess. Very rarely CDs anymore, but I buy records and t-shirts at shows quite a lot if I like the design and artwork just cause they’re nice looking things to have around.

Recommend us a new band.
A band from Derby called Crash of Rhinos. Their debut album is just about to come out and it’s bloody incredible. Various members were in a band called The Little Explorer prior this band who I also loved.

Where would you like to be this time next year?
In Berlin recording ‘The Difficult Second Album’, or on that huge world tour with The Flaming Lips you were on about.

Describe your debut album in three words.
Goodbye Credit Rating.

What’s next on the cards for You Animals?
We’re touring with The Xcerts and Brontide in April which we’re mega excited about, then the record is out April 25th so just doing as many shows and festivals as possible around that and over summer. I’m itching to get back into the studio at some point soon to demo all the new songs we’ve been writing too.

You Animals - What A Shame, Lorraine / Halfway To Heartbreak by thisisfakediy