Posted on April 27, 2009 - by Mark Zonda
Hi-Life Companion
When I get to think to the pure essence of indie music, few names are ready to jump on my mind. One of them is “Hi-Life Companion”, from Bristol, challenging themself with songwriting and goodtimes. “Time Tables” getting to be one of the most beloved indie-hits, here we are sharing some chats with Sir Jonathan Troy.
Mark Zonda: How did you decided to start a band?
Jonathan: Well I was fed up with playing the drums in another band, Airport Girl, and wanted to write and sing more. I wanted to play again with my brother too and I decided to get together a group of friends to make a musical collective that people could dip in and out of.
Mark Zonda: “Time Table” is such a marvellous song. How did you came up with it? Is the song hinting to math or travels, and what’s the strange sound you can hear in the middle of the song? It sounds like something half-a-way between a glockenspiel and a harpsichord. Considering the choirs a brilliant beachboyesque song. Bravi!
Jonathan: It’s a maths song – about not being very good at maths. I wanted it to be part Belle and Sebastian, part Beach Boys and part Status Quo. It’s a glockenspiel solo played by Melissa in the middle bit. Live, I like to quiz other members of the band on their times table…
Mark Zonda: Is your album for Plastilina out? What will it sound like?
Jonathan: It should be out hopefully June/July time, and we’ll be playing a few shows to promote it. It’s a bit of all sorts – upbeat guitar tracks with handclaps, some acoustic romantic songs, plenty of harmonies. I don’t think any of the songs sound the same, we work really hard to write different things all the time and not repeat ourselves. It’s a pop album basically.
Mark Zonda: LOL! Will you come to Italy too?
Jonathan: I don’t see why not! In the summer we’re ding a few UK shows but I know some of the band are keen to play abroad in places like Spain where there seem to be quite a few people who like us, and Italy sunds like great fun too!
Mark Zonda: Were songs like “Night Comes Down” influenced by Sweden Pop and what’s your impression on that scene?
Jonathan: No, not really, I’d say more by late-Eighties REM in the case of Night Comes Down. I wanted to write a song for night music. But we like Swedish pop – our keyboard player John loves Loney, Dear, and our drummer Mark is into all kinds of Swedish bands. I love the Peter Von Poehl album.
Mark Zonda: How the hell did you end to sponsor Bristol Rovers? Which are your favourite football teams?
Jonathan: Our keyboard player John is a huge Rovers fan. We sponsor the away kit of their striker Jo Kuffour. We’ve been in the football programmes and played at half-time, that kind of thing. But it’s mainly John who lives and breathes Bristol Rovers.
Mark Zonda: Talkin’ bout Bristolz, ever heard of Ruby Studio?
Jonathan: Yes, I know quite a few local Bristol bands use Ruby, so it’s a name we’re familiar with. Our record was recorded largely at home and mixed by Rob Price from Airport Girl – for our second album we might use a different studio and go for an even bigger sound. But we wanted this album to feel homegrown, live and direct.
Hi-Life Companion- “Jenny & Bill”
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Indie music at its most. And not only! A year has passed since this project started, and I must say that I'm prouder than ever having been persuaded to begin this adventure made by music and words.
Some friends who collaborated to this magazine has gone, some has come. You're welcome as well to find out opinion, sounds, and new musical discoveries and - if you're interested - collaborate as well.
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