Start Listening To: The Daylight
Brighton based band The Daylight discuss recent releases, band origins and whether politics has a place in music.
You’ve worked in a few different projects over the years and also done a lot of solo work, how did The Daylight start?
Well I wanted to have a “band” of my own for years as I always imagined my songs having that full band sound but it never really took off. I then became friends with Theo & Alex through the years via their old projects (Richa & Good Guy Clarence) and they both weren’t in projects anymore and I just asked them if they wanted to be involved as I always admired their musicianship, although at first it was just me an Alex (drums) playing in her basement for a few months.
Which artists influenced you and The Daylight’s sound?
So many (chuckles): Turnover, Grizzly Bear, The National, The Cure, I could go on, but I’ll spare you the list.
Your last single ‘Ghosts’ was a really powerful track. Could you tell us a bit more about this track and it’s origins?
Well, it’s hard to pinpoint an exact feeling but Alex and I came up with it in her basement, back when The Daylight first began. I came up with the riff and Alex came up with a version of what are now the final drums. When we first played with Theo he took the song to a different level by creating the bass line I remember laughing so hard I couldn’t sing because of how perfect he made the song. The lyrics talk of dealing with grief I guess as I’ve lost way to many friends and family over the years way before their time.
Which of your own songs is your favourite and why?
“Hidden Love (A Depth I’ve Never Felt Before)” for me and Alex, “5 Years” or “LILO” for Theo. From a songwriters point of view “Hidden Love” & “5 years” are very personal, and I have no idea where they came from but they’re lyrically special to me.
What is your favourite part about being in The Daylight?
Erm... everything I guess? Writing songs that I have no idea how I’ve written them then showing them to the guys and watching them play parts they’ve written for them knowing they’ve put just as much into each song as I have and sharing the stage with my friends is a privilege. (Alex) writing music together and playing fun shows.
How has Corona-Virus affected The Daylight?
I mean, We’ve all just been apart really just like everyone else, getting the next single finished off, we recently did our first rehearsal which felt great to be honest, gigs were cancelled during lock down but, we’ll play again for sure.
How has it been adjusting to not being able to play gigs?
I guess we were/are still getting started so we weren’t “touring” or anything major like that so it’s not affected us as bad as others.
What are some of your favourite releases from this year?
Orlando Weeks - A Quickening
Nick Hakim - WTMMG
The Districts - You Know I’m Not Going Anywhere
Blake Mills - Mutable Set
Sinead O’Brien - “Strangers in Danger”.
What’s your opinion on Kanye West running for president? Do musicians have a place in politics?
(Theo) I think musicians can belong in politics as Kanye isn’t the furthest step away from trump even though he’s unhinged and Ronald Reagan was a B- movie actor before politics anyway (laughs). (Jacob) I think anyone has the right to be a politician, I mean we have people in power who literally make it up on the spot and outright lie to the public because they don’t know the answer, so it’s fair game in my opinion, I’m not sure Kanye is the right candidate overall but hey ho. (Alex) I would rather die than have Kim Kardashian as First Lady.
What can we expect from The Daylight later this year?
So we have a new single called: “The Echo” coming out in the near future and we’re working on recording this body of work we’ve accumulated so, more music. There is also a gig planned for September with: Hanya, but we don’t know if that’ll go ahead still or not yet. But hopefully more gigs too!
