IMPORTANT NEWS!
People of the Republic, they are trying to silence us! Due to circumstances beyond our control the Melting Pot internet tv broadcast cannot be shown tonight. We have our suspicions as to what can only be described as sabotage, but rather than point fingers, we’ve bounced back with all the resilience of Britney Spears.
For new music and gigs listen to the podcast, for more on the inspiring band Numb, who you were going to watch, keep reading. And for the launch of the tv channel, stay tuned - the dream goes on people!
NUMB- the band say it stands for Never Underestimate Musical Belief, but it can also describe how the music industry makes them feel at the moment.
Their sound is intelligent Indie/Hip Hop and features fat beats, fat bass and great tunes. The band members’ musical style and backgrounds are all really different but put together it definitely works. They write about stuff everyone can relate to - life, love and the daily struggles - but they admit that, ultimately, the songs have a feel about them before the lyric process starts and sometimes the lyrics dictate themselves.
Ben and Steve originally met 10 years ago in a local band. Ben met Yas next at a gig he played with Steve and then shortly after, Leigh did a few tracks with them. They all followed different paths when Ben and Yas moved to London but rejoined about a year ago with the current lineup. Ben, Yas and Steve started to base the songs around the acoustic guitar, and Leigh returned to the scene to complete the line-up.
Since their reunion the band have spent an unhealthy amount of time together, writing, practising and gigging at every opportunity.
What are your roles in the band?
L/ I’m the MC/Rapper, but when it comes to music I give anything a go.
B/ I sing, play guitar and write hooks.
S/ I play bass and hopefully bring a quarter of the overall sound to the band.
Y/ I’m the backing vocalist but sometimes sing lead and probably more importantly general manager/promoter/booker of gigs and also write some lyrics and contribute fully to the production and creation.
What and who influence you?
L/ Everything from reggae, UK and US hip hop, Drum&Bass soul and funk to name some and artist like Capleton, Sweetie Ire, Bob Marley, Roots Manuva Rodney P, Gill Scott and Benjamin Zephaniah.
B/ Everything about music, life and love. Musical influences are Muddy Waters, Lightning Hopkins, Ella Fitzgerald, Bob Marley, The Police, Beatles, Stones, Black Crowes, UB40, The Band, Foo Fighters.
S/ Wide ranging from Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin to Ani Difranco and Jeff Buckley
Y/ Musically, for me there are no boundaries, I like all genres.
What are you aspirations for the future?
L/ Just keep doing what I’m doing for as long as people want to hear it. but if you listen to our track called Sunlight you know where I wanna be when I’m 60.
B/ To play a big stage at Glastonbury, travel with the band and just be as happy as I am today.
S/ Be happy.
Y/ I would like the music to be heard by more than just a few, and just to get something back for all the hard work we’ve put in over the years and do lots of travelling with Ben and our daughter.
What’s your personal style?
L/ UK underground urban head.
B/ I’m a Gemini so sometimes really laid back, good for a laugh, with a musical brain and generally happy, but sometimes a bit of nightmare and not so laid back!!
S/ I’m a tech head, I love anything technical. If it doesn’t work, I’ll find a way to make it work.
Y/ Highly motivated and sometimes tactless.
What qualities do you bring to the band?
L/ Over 10 years’ live MC experience and a ear for infusing samples into what we do. Also an ambition to succeed, that is an integral part of Numb.
B/ The songs usually start with me and the acoustic guitar, so that and a good sense of humour and also to make sure that we don’t take ourselves too seriously.
S/ Fat bass lines lots of live experience & recording knowledge.
Y/ A passion for music, I make sure the band don’t get themselves into trouble and protect their interest continuously.
What are the group dynamics like?
L/ We’re all very close and give each other unconditional support when it comes to our music or just life in general.
B/ Perfect. Best band I’ve been in so far. Everyone has their own roles and individual characters but are also just as determined as each other. We laugh a lot and spend so much time together that eventually you have to get on, and we get on well.
S/We work as a team, and that’s fortunate because it’s the only way to work.
Y/ We enjoy spending time together and even though we are all quite different with different musical tastes, we are completely 100% about Numb.
What’s the best thing about being in the band?
L/ The feeling of community you don’t get as a solo artist and, after all, music is something too share.
B/ The mix of styles is got to be the best thing. I love Leigh’s style and lyrics and we all just clicked from the start, or maybe just the family spirit.
S/ Our originality. It’s rare to find anything new musically that turns my head, the band and our songs make me feel that we have something special.
Y/ Being completely involved in creating music and just being part of a really tight group.
And the worst?
L/ I don’t tend to think of anything as truly bad just a chance to improve and grow.
B/ Mornings after gigs and breaking strings!
S/ The waiting before a gig and then the lull when it’s all over
Y/Faulty equipment.
Favourite memories?
L/ We have such a laugh that it’s hard to put your finger on any particular time, but meeting and working with Malcolm Toft recently has got to be up there.
B/ Oh, so many. Coming home together after good gigs, working with Malcolm Toft and supporting the John Butler Trio in front of 5000.
S/ When we found our style during the recording of Nightime.
Y/ Recently, working with the Melting Pot and Malcolm Toft and also playing at schools.
Tell us something unusual about yourself…
L/ Well I’ve never had Flu.
B/ I can juggle and walk on my hands.
S/ I’m a nightmare when it comes to cars, every one I have ever owned I have destroyed.
Y/ I run a valeting business with Ben in Exeter called Headturners, which basically funds the band, Leigh also works with us.
February 9th, 2007
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