Interview By John Cooper
LUM: Hi Guys, firstly thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions for Listen Up Manchester. We recently stumbled across you playing in Urmston on a sunny Sunday afternoon and thought for a group of 5 young guys you sounded pretty tight and worth checking out further, so tell us a bit about yourselves & how you got together?
ER: Educated Risk are, Adam Maxwell on vocals, Ben Squires on lead guitar, Jack Abbott on Rhythm guitar, Ben Kirkland on Bass guitar and Mike Wilcock and Drums. We are 14/15yrs old and we first got together at school in Knutsford though we all come from different areas (Urmston, Sale, Altrincham, Hale and Knutsford). We were 13 at the time and used to meet in the band room to jam together. We were then asked to take part in the local schools Battle of the Bands, which we won and that is where it all started.
LUM: Just from checking out your facebook page it looks like you have played a fair few local events, festivals and gigs already. How do you find playing live infront of an audience?
ER: At first we found it quite daunting but after doing a few gigs we got used to playing live in front of an audience and now think it’s awesome.
LUM: What has been your favourite gig you’ve played?
ER: We don’t have a favourite however, Sale Beer Festival, The Manchester Roadhouse and FABFEST have been the most enjoyable to do.
LUM: Hows your gig calendar looking for the remainder of 2015 – have you got many lined up at the moment?
ER: We have a lot gigs lined up throughout the summer. A Wedding, A Birthday and we are appearing at a big Charity event to raise money for The Alex Hulme Foundation. We have been asked back to FABFEST and many other festivals as well.
LUM: How would you describe the sound of Educated Risk?
ER: We are a Rock Band with Indie influences but are trying to create our own individual and recognisable sound.
LUM: Who are your favourite bands and what bands would you say you most aspire to be like?
ER: Our favourite bands and bands we aspire to be like are Catfish and the Bottlemen, Green day and Royal Blood.
LUM: Are there any other up and coming band like yourselves who you admire?
ER: No not really
LUM: Last year you went into the studio and recorded your first professional recording “Back to Yours”, how did you find the recording process?
ER: We found it quite easy as we all knew what we were doing and were prepared. We were pleased with the end result.
LUM: “Back to Yours” was picked up and played on Real Radio XS – how did it feel to hear yourselves on the radio?
ER: It felt really good, it felt like we had made progress because we were getting played on the radio to a wider audience. We played Sale Beer Festival a couple of weeks later and a few guys came over to tell us they had turned up to see us play live after hearing us on Real XS.
LUM: Have you recorded any further songs? Are you working towards a debut album?
ER: No, we were going to record our second single “Phazes” but the producer couldn’t make it. However, we are planning to go into the studio and record this and our third single “Keep Moving” in a few weeks time.
LUM: How do you write your songs – is it a collective effort or does one of you in particular write most of your songs? What’s your approach to writing a new song.
ER: There is usually a basic idea given by one of us and we build on that idea for the song at band practice everySaturday. Each one of us writes the music for our own instruments and collectively work it out whilst jamming.
LUM: Tell us what you hope & would like to happen for Educated Risk over the next 12 months?
ER: We have two new songs waiting to be recorded and few more that we are working on and are hoping to release our first E.P by the end of the year.
Here at Listen Up Manchester we wish you success and hope to be hearing much more from you guys over the next few years.
Thanks,
LUM