Bloxx

Uxbridge foursome Bloxx are a lucky bunch. Since forming in spring 2016, the guitar-pop newcomers have strutted their stuff on stage alongside The Wombats, Sundara Karma and Pale Waves. Not bad for a band who still worked in Wetherspoons mere months ago. Their biggest headline tour yet is coming up in October, so we got the low down from band-leader Fee, guitarist Taz, drummer Moz, and bassist Paul on what Bloxx are all about.

Hey Bloxx. How was your summer?

Our summer couldn’t have been better! We played so many festivals, it was amazing to see that many people singing along to our songs! I don’t think that’ll ever wear off on us, whenever we see people having a good time at our shows we just grin like idiots.

You’ve toured with Sundara Karma, Pale Waves, The Wombats… what’s been your favourite?
That’s such a difficult question. Wombats in terms of size and stage and excitement, but personally it was the Sundara tour because it was our first proper, proper tour where we were gone for more than a week playing loads of different shows. It was the first time we had great crowds, people jumping and pitting.

How did you all come to be in a band together?
I went to college with Taz and Moz, and I met Paul at work. I was writing stuff and wanted to play a gig with actual band mates instead of just doing it acoustic, so I asked the guys to help me out. After that we just wanted to carry on doing it. At our first ever gig we’d literally been together a couple of days and we hadn’t rehearsed or anything. It was at a greasy little pub near us called The Treaty. It’s my favourite place in the world. It was great – far too good for a first gig!

How did you go from playing your local to opening with The Wombats?

Our manager also manages The Wombats, he put us on those shows. It was a weird jump up, it happened really fast but in terms of milestones, it was the best. Maybe we deserve it, I don’t know! I think we do, in the least cocky way.

You played with them at London’s famous Ally Pally this year. What was that like?

It was a dream come true, from the soundcheck to the catering the whole day felt surreal! To be stood on that stage is magical enough but to play to all those wonderful people… our feet still haven’t touched the ground. Now we have to headline that beautiful building!

What can you tell us about Monday, your new single?

Monday is one of the first songs we’ve written that has loads of different parts, it has a more sinuous structure. It’s not that we find it hard to write intricate music, but it’s opened the door for us in the sense that we know we can come up with a song that has a pre-chorus or a hook for example. Making music is all about exploring, not staying within the box – there is no box! We’re quite open minded when it comes to writing. Whatever works, works.

Your debut EP is coming very soon. Did you approach it differently compared to how you’ve created singles?

Much more thought has gone into the creation of this music. With the singles it was almost like we wanted to see how far they could get, and now people actually like what we make, we have to stand up and say here we are, here is what we’re capable of. The songs on the EP each have their own taste and style so we’re excited to see what people think. Monday’s the heaviest track on there, let’s just say that.

It’s a big old tour you guys have got coming up. How are you preparing?

Relaxing and eating real meals! We need to be as alive as we humanly can be to tackle that beast. Not saying we’re veterans by any means, we’re still babies, but we’re slightly more seasoned in the touring world [than we used to be]. In all honesty, it’s more exciting than anything else, we’re all just waiting for when the van pulls up outside our houses at the unholiest hour in the morning.

You’re really only at the beginning of your careers. What have Bloxx got planned for the future?

We always have this conversation with each other but our answer is never really exactly the same. I guess, just big things, big shows, Australia, USA… An album is coming but we can’t say much for now! We’ve got this EP to drop in it’s entirety which is very exciting, and we just hope to be playing and writing a lot next year too. We want to be doing this for as long as we can. We’re in this for the long run.

Bloxx play The Waterfront Studio on Sunday 28th October with support from Vistas and New Scientists.

For more information and tickets, visit ueaticketbookings.co.uk