ALL MUSIC MAGAZINE UK SPOTLIGHTS “THE VICES”

 

 

 

It’s that time again, when our man on the ground Desh Kapur Editor/Photographer All Music Magazine UK/Europe spotlights a bands or artists he thinks are going to have a big 2023 ; bands and artists we think you should check out to stay ahead of the curve

So welcome to The Vices

The Vices are a ‘garage pop band’ from the town of Groningen, The Netherlands.

Effectively a continuation of Ten Years Today (a band in which three out of four Vices members were active), The Vices were established in January 2019, making their stage début as the support-act for Yungblud, who didn’t hesitate and asked the band to open for him on a string of U.K. dates. Their début single, ‘So It Goes’, was released in February 2019.

In 2019 and 2020 the band released a string of singles and two EPs: Life Grows (2019) and Good Morning City, Now Let Me Sleep (2020). March 2021 saw the release of their début long player, Looking For Faces.

The Vices are Floris van Luijtelaar (vox. guitar), Jonathan Kruizenga (organ, guitar), Simon Bleeker (bass) and Mathijs Louwsma (drums).

FOR FANS OF THE STROKES, CAGE THE ELEPHANT AND THE GROWLERS

 

 

1 What is the story behind your name?

I think it was back in 2019, when I heard The Growlers frontman Brooks Nielsen sing about his Vices. The word ‘Vices’ immediately appealed to me. Back then we were already hanging out a lot and people often described us as this wild, loose, weird group of friends. To me that resonated with ‘Vices’ so we went for it. 

2 What first got you into music? or Who inspired you to make music?

All of our musical lives have a very different starting point. Jonathan (guitar/keys) started out playing classical piano because his mom plays too, Simon (bass) got introduced to his instrument and the music from the 60s because his father is a bass player with a huge record collection, and Mathew’s father took him to concerts and where he fell in love with the drums. For me (I am Floris, singer and guitar player by the way) my interest in music started in the car as a 4 year old. My father and I were driving down South to go to family and he would play all kinds of music. It started with old rock ‘n roll. Loved Little Richard man! In that car I felt the magic of music for the first time. I didn’t know what it was, but I knew that I wanted it.

3 How did you all meet?

Simon and I met in high school, first grade. We were 12. I was kissing a girl for the first time in my life and out of nowhere this hyperactive boy jumped up and started screaming while running around us. “AAH! THEY ARE KISSING!!” Somehow I loved it haha. Well, from there our friendship started. Jonathan and Simon met at football when they were like 8? And we all met Mathew at a drum audition for an earlier band. We were 17 I believe. He came in, killed it, and that was that. 

4 How would you describe the music that you typically create?

Britpop meets surfrock. As if Cage The Elephant and The Strokes had a threesome with The Growlers. If that would happen, I’d like to think that we would come out haha. 

5 What is your creative process like?

It differs. But most of the time it’s like fishing. I’m either playing guitar, or walking, or driving when out of nowhere an idea presents itself. It’s as if you catch an idea. At that moment the entire idea is there. It can be a melody, a rhythm, a feeling, but in that little melody, rhythm or feeling you can sense the entire song. Then I need to record it with my voice as quickly as possible, or run towards the nearest guitar. When this is done the band comes together and we try to reach out to that initial idea, or see if it maybe goes another way. Here everyone brings something to the table, everyone thinks very differently and has very different influences. This is great, chaotic, but great. In the end we bring out the best in each other!

 

 

6 If you could go open a show for any artist, who would it be?

Cage The Elephant for sure. Best band in the world right now! 

7 What is one message you would give to your fans?

So many things. Mainly I’d like to thank them for always being there and doing this together with us. It’s really like a family, we do it all together and we love it. 

8 What is the most useless talent you have?

I can jump over my own arm. 

9 Do you sing in the shower? What songs?

Hmmm, not really. Showers are for thinking. 

10 What would you be doing right now, if it wasn’t for your music career?

Still in high school? I don’t know if I could have finished high school without music. Music offered a way to release all my energy and this helped my ADHD brain to focus on school too. 

 

 

11 Where have you performed? What are your favourite and least favourite venues? Do you have any upcoming shows?

We have performed 65+ shows in 11 countries in the last year. Nothing But Thieves asked us to join them on the road. Loved touring with them. Played at some amazing venues throughout Europe such as the Dutch Ziggo Dome and Atelier in Luxembourg. But we also did our own headline tour through smaller venues. Loved Noch Besser Leben in Leipzig, Supersonic in Paris, Rock Café in Prague. It’s too much, haha! OEH also loved playing Beatpol with Cari Cari in Dresden. 

We’re releasing an album on March 17. The European tour for this album will be announced very very soon. Furthermore we’re doing our own festival called ViceFest in Berlin on March 8 and in London on March 18! 

12 What is your favourite song to perform?

At the moment, ‘For My Mind’! But it changes all the time…

13 Which famous musicians do you admire?

Dan Auerbach. He is amazing. Love some of his Black Keys albums, and his music with The Arcs just blows me away. And on top of that he is a great producer. Would love to make an album with him one day. 

14 What is the most trouble you’ve ever gotten into?

We’re the sweetest, non-problematic band on planet earth. Neeeeever got into trouble. 

15 What is the best advice you’ve been given?

Never change yourself. Always be you. This applies to soooo many things. When we supported bands like Kensington or Cari Cari we knew that there would be a different audience than we are used to. It can be tempting to change your set, change your ways and some people actually told us to do that. Fuck that! We’re at our best if we do things the way we want. Same counts for writing music. You can write music with a certain bigger crowd in mind, or with some other people that you would like to please, but it will always be shit if you write with an intention like that. Write and perform without any intention except for the fact that you love to do it at that moment. Do it for the love of music and do it your own way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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