EMQ’s With So Long, Space Girl
EMQ’s With So Long, Space Girl
Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview with UK Rock band, So Long, Space Girl. Huge thanks to their Drummer, Anina Barrett, for taking part.
What is your name, what do you play and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?
I’m Anina Barrett and I play drums for So Long, Space Girl! We Also have Paul Coppock on bass, AJ Willis vocals / guitar, and Rob Mauro on lead guitarist. The shell of the band was formed after years of failed bands, Paul and I put out an advert for a singer to join our acoustic project, AJ responded, and we had a few practices, he showed us some of his own material and it was just TOO good to just let it pass, so we elbowed the acoustic project for the time being to focus on the works of AJ
How did you come up with your band name?
So this is a direct quote from AJ “The band name is a misquote and comes from a 10 second Simpsons gag where they throw a fake parade. Lisa is on a makeshift float with a bucket on her head under the flimsy pretext of being an astronaut. As she passes by on her float waving to the crowd, Chief Wiggum wipes a tear from his eye and says, “Welcome back, Space Girl!”
What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?
We are from Oxford, UK!
What is your latest release?
Our latest album is called ‘Your Heroes Are All Dead’, we also released a single from the album called “Like A Bomb”.
Who have been your greatest influences?
I would have to say bands like Placebo – Green Day – My Chemical Romance.
What first got you into music?
I don’t really think there was a catalyst for me, it was something I just always wanted to do, even as young as four I was tapping things and seeing how I can manipulate sounds.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
Emily Haines from Metric, she is fantastic in all respects, songwriter musician and singer, so versatile!
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
Download but isn’t that the sort of thing any punk or metal band would say! (Laughs)
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
I don’t think I ever have, but if someone would like to give me my own recording studio I really wouldn’t complain.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
We love ya!
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Tough question, I guess John Lennon, he was just hitting his stride as his own person when he was murdered, would be interesting to see where he would have gone from there.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
I enjoy being in the position where I have an outlet for my creativity, when you have no band, it feels like suffocating when you are sitting on all these ideas and no way to express them. What do I hate? not enough funds to be able to record as often as I would like.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
It would be far easier for unsigned unknown bands to make some kind of impact, the industry is too geared toward “pretty” you know, the ones the fat cats and bigwigs can sell, the popular industry is mindless and vapid, not everyone is going to fit that ideal, and their contribution to music is no less valid so give them a damn chance!
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
Dookie by Green day
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
This is going to be from an entirely biased point of view but I grew up with CD’s ,don’t get me wrong here downloads and streaming are great but there was this excitement about picking up a physical copy of your favourite bands brand new release, with all the cover artwork and the lyric book and all that good stuff, it was just far more complete as an experience (the same can be said for vinyl and cassette of course).
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
Supporting Trash boat and Modern error at the Bully in Oxford.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
Astrophysicist, I have a major fascination with everything outer space, either that or meteorologist.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
Vera Farmiga – Billie Joe Armstrong – Jeremy Corbyn – Edward Snowden – Pete Burns (if he was still alive) I reckon the conversation would be very interesting.
What’s next for the band?
Gigs…and lots of them, sadly there’s a complete lack of venues after the lockdown, most are now out of business which is crippling for local music…and indeed music on the whole.
What social media/website links do you use to get your music out to people?
Time for a very British question now. As an alternative to the humble sandwich, is the correct name for a round piece of bread common in the UK either a Bap, a Barm (or Barm Cake), a Batch, a Bun, a Cob, a Muffin, a Roll or a Tea Cake?
A Bap.
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Yes, come check us out, follow our Insta for gig updates and general band-related news!
Disclaimer: This interview is solely the property of Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.