Steadily making a name for themselves on the touring circuit, four-piece band Airship are beginning to take off. Kippa Brand tracks down Elliott and Marcus from the Manchester-bred outfit…Hey guys, great to be able to chat with you. Firstly, how did you guys all meet, and why did you decide to start a band?

Marcus: Why hello, great to be able to chat with you also. The story as to how we came together is one of a spectacular journey, which I will not bore you with at this moment in time. However, to cut a long story short – we all met around the Manchester area and started Airship around three years ago. I suppose the reason we started the band was because none of us were particularly ready for university or full-time jobs. We wanted escapism. We wanted to make music and were willing to do anything to enable for this to happen. And still are!

Elliott: I started the band about 6 years ago and we went through several incarnations before becoming Airship. I don’t remember why I started a band I just did and would never not be in one now, it was a calling.

M: We’ve been up, down and all around the UK quite a few times now and our adventures are only just beginning. At this point in our lives all we want to do is what truly makes us happy and will continue to do so until we end up mental or something.

What do you find inspires your music? I find myself listening to This Is Hell on your MySpace page and think it’s unique and I can’t find anything similar out there.

E: Everything inspires our music it can come from anywhere.

M: It’s always very difficult pinpointing specific things in life which inspires us as people and the music we create. Purely because there are so many things which play a part in it. Whether it be bands, people, nature, dreams, girlfriends, families, emotions…who knows! It’s always interesting reading what people think about our band and what they extract from it. It seems that people tend to hear a lot of Mew, Pavement and My Bloody Valentine influencing heavily in our songs, but to be honest that was never an intention.

M: Of course it inspires us to do greater things and it definitely is a way to flex our creative side, as you say. The more recognition the better, we want our music to reach as many people as possible. And for those people to follow us on our journey album by album.

Quite a few people on music blogs are talking about Algebra, and there’s quite a big appreciation for it. Why do you think that is?

E: I think a lot of people can relate to that song, you can explore yourself within it.

When can we expect another EP or even your debut album?

E: We have another EP/ single coming out at the end of March/ April. In the meantime we’re working on our debut LP; we have started the process of recording it but are in no rush, it has to be right.

As you grow you’ll obviously get more fame, do you think you’ll be bitten by the piracy bug?

E: Everyone will be bitten by the piracy bug. It’s a double edged sword as far as I’m concerned. It’s great for bands starting out; people can hear your music without it being forced down their throats by marketing. On the other hand it makes it harder for bands to survive in the long-run.

How instrumental to your work do you think the Internet has been? And how much will be in the future?

E: The Internet is the future. I don’t feel it’s been really instrumental to our work; it’s more a way to bring your music to an audience quickly on your own terms which is good.

Are you guys in contact with some of the other up and comings too like Delphic, Bombay Bicycle Club or The Answering Machine?

M: Yeah they’re good friends of ours. As are Dutch Uncles and Young British Artists. I’ve never met the Bombay crew. Cool band though, I loved The Boy I Used To Be EP but haven’t really kept up with them beyond that release. But they’re all great bands consisting of genuine, talented people. I would love to say there’s a massive rivalry between us all and we’ve all be arrested for fighting but that obviously isn’t the case! Yet.

E: You always bump into each other in various places, Manchester isn’t a massive place it’s always nice to have a catch up as we all have mutual respect for each other. The Answering Machine practice two doors down from us and we get on well with them they’re great guys.

The BBC had a say on one of your sets and said that you were a lot more mature than most other indie bands that you might be compared with; do you think that’s true?

M: Hmmmm I don’t know really. We’re all very level-headed guys and tend to approach situations with maturity when necessary, but deep down we’re all just big kids. Our music may well be that of a mature nature when compared to other bands, but that’s just the way we are.

E: Could be, I don’t feel mature but we’ve been playing for a while now. We’ve grown as a band a lot, I think we’re really starting to explore the music we make lyrically and musically, rather than pumping catchy indie tunes we did when we we’re younger. We now strive for depth and weight to our songs. It’s been a natural process.

And Finally, what’s next for you guys? And is there anything we should know of?

E: We’re releasing a single/ EP at the end of March, then we tour the country and hopefully some others in time for the summer festivals. Then you can expect the album to drop beginning of next year if all goes to plan. Maybe earlier.

Thanks for your time guys, and good luck for the future.

For more check MySpace.com/airshiptheband

Tags: Airship, Indie, Interviews