Super 8s are on a roll

PATIENCE is a virtue – even in the ever-changing, always turning world of music.

Super 8 Cynics are definitely a band who have been biding their time, locked in studios writing and recording, waiting to unleash their recently recorded album on an industry seemingly more and more devoid of innovation and originality.

At the helm of this five-piece is former St Theodore’s pupil Ady Hall (pictured below) whose passion for all things music is now being channelled into a project as exciting as it is filled with potential.

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“In 2008 I had finished drumming in a band that had run its course and I decided that I wanted to go and do something for myself,” he said. “I started recording demos at homes but when you’re going to other musicians and saying they’re your songs, people are just not that interested. So I decided to go to a producer and record the songs in the hope that that would help attract people for a band.

“I did three tracks and then started interviewing musicians. It took quite a long time but when we got together as a five at our first rehearsal it just worked straight away.”

Super 8 Cynics comprises Ady (vocals), Neal McCarthy (guitar), Mike Healey (synthesizers), Jack Ellis (bass guitar) and Paul Barlow (drums) and together, referencing influences and drawing from past experiences, they have created a sound which Ady describes as “dark anthemic pop with meat on the bones”.

“We just thought let’s do something that we can put everything into instead of putting out something half-baked. Pretend we’ve already been signed and go about things as a signed band would do.

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“We found the money to start recording the album and although I had to borrow half of it, which I’m still paying back, I see it as an investment. We wanted to do it right with no excuses – make a great album and then learn how to play it live. The album, which is self-titled, took around a year to complete mainly because of budget constraints. Although it should have taken two months I think doing it this way helped us, as the album evolved as it went along.”

The lengthy recording time meant it was a few months before the band actually played a live gig together, something they are more than making up for now.

“While recording we didn’t go out and play any gigs we just focused on writing and recording,” revealed Ady. “When we finished the album we rehearsed solidly for about five months and played our first gig in January. Since then we’ve played all over – Manchester, Liverpool, London, Bolton and Preston and we also had a really good night at The Grand in Clitheroe a few months back.

“We’re now involved with an independent label called Laboratory Project who helped us get on a compilation CD called ‘Tastemasters 2’. We played at FAC251 in Manchester as part of the launch event and that was definitely one of the biggest gigs we have played to date.”

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Ady started playing guitar when he was just 10, which then led to the piano and eventually the drums.

Music is very much his life especially after giving up his job to concentrate solely on it.

“Around five or six years ago I quit my day job, started in the functions band Funtime Frankies and also started producing bands. It all helps to pay the bills and means I can do what I really want to do.

“When you start working in the music industry though the hardest part is not the actual work but getting the work and being able to sustain it.”

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Getting their band noticed is also something Ady feels brings with it its own set of challenges especially with so many other good bands out there all trying to make a name for themselves.

“Music is definitely the easiest bit. Promotion is the tough bit. Something like Myspace, people respond to it differently now. When it first came out and you asked someone to take a look at your band they were a lot more receptive. Now I think people feel as if bands are spamming them so we’re trying to think of different ways to get ourselves noticed without annoying people.

“We shot our first video in April and that was a great experience. Through some people we know we were actually able to get into old Odeon cinema in Preston which has been closed for 20 years and, I think, was about to be demolished. Again it’s something that helps us with our online presence.”

So what does the next few months hold for Super 8 Cynics?

“We’re probably going to release the album independently,” said Ady. “We don’t want to leave it too long and it become old and stale so there is a cut off point, which will probably be by the end of the year. We’ll look at planning a tour then to coincide with that.

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“We have put in a lot of effort but we’ve also had a lot of help from people as well. We are doing well at the minute and we just want to keep that momentum building.

“We do it because we love music and we want to carry it on.”

To keep on top of all things Super 8 Cynics make sure you check out www.super8cynics.com. The compilation album “Tastemastaers 2” featuring the band’s track “Hollywood Lied” is also now available online and at selected record stores.

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