Ten Questions with Cinema Of Ray

By Trudi Goldsmith

Vocalist and Guitarist Matt Jones kindly answered some questions about his band Cinema of Ray who made their electric debut performance at the Llanelli Music Scene Band of the Month Launch Night on 30th March 2013 at the Kilkenny Cat.

1. Can you introduce yourselves and tell us what everyone’s role in the band is?

We are a four-piece guitar pop band with Matt Jones on Guitar / Vocals ;Lee Shears: Bass / Vocals ; Nick Shears on Drums and Gruff Owen on Guitar.

2 Can you tell us how long the band have been together?

The band has been together since January 2013.

3 How would you describe your music ?

The music is guitar pop with elements of ‘classic’ British and American pop and rock, especially 70s power pop, British ‘pub rock’, New York mid-70s punk rock scene, and British late-70s new wave.

Our Musical influences include: Byrds; Big Star; Brisnley Schwarz; Stiff Records; Lou Reed; Nick Drake; Elvis Costello; Television; Postcard Records

4 Where do you get your influences for your song lyrics ?

Lyrically, influences would be (amongst many other) Ray Davies, Lou Reed, David Byrne, Elvis Costello

5 What makes you different from other bands?

It will be easier to answer what makes us different from other bands once we have played a few more gigs and released a couple of singles/albums. That’s a question best answered by the audience, anyway.

6 Have you entered the Llanelli 2013 Battle of the Bands competition which is scheduled for end of May 2013 with the Met Bar and Cadno Music ?

We didn’t enter Battle of the Bands.

7 What are the plans for the band for the rest of 2013 – eg gigs and recording etc ?

2013 will be spent writing, recording and performing live the songs which will appear on our first album ‘There Goes My Lonely Heart.’

8 Whats the best and worst thing about being in a band ?

The best thing about being in a band is working with people who get what you do and help you to make it better. The worst thing is working with people who don’t, and who make things worse.

9 Do you have any advice for people wanting to play in a band – e.g. the best way to find band members etc ?

The best advice is don’t work with bigheaded or egotistical people. Thom Yorke said the reason Radiohead are still together is because they don’t make records because they have to pay the mortgage but because making music still excites and compels them. That’s the only way to make exciting, compelling music.

10 Where can people find out more about the band and how to book you for gigs- eg website or facebook etc

We’ll publish news on our Facebook page soon, with lots of artwork, gig dates, recording news.

Photo by Emma Buckley https://www.facebook.com/ebphotographyllanelli?fref=ts taken at the Llanelli Music Scene Band of The Month Launch Night at the Kilkenny Cat 30/03/13

Cinema of Ray will be playing at the Masons Arms Llanelli on 24th May 2013 https://www.facebook.com/MasonsLlanelli?fref=ts

Check out Cinema of Ray’s new facebook page on https://www.facebook.com/CinemaOfRay