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Onions
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Article
written by Mary B
Feb 17, 2007.
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Onions are a trio from Manchester with lots of a-peel (had to get that in somewhere) They are James (lead/backing vocals/bass/synth/cowbell) Martin (lead/backing vocals/guitar) and Chris (lead/backing vocals/hitting things) They sing songs about subjects that their peers do not dare like Shaving foam. There are some outrageous claims in the following interview - including that Onions are one of the best bands to come out of Manchester since The Smiths. Read on...
SoundsXP: Why are you called Onions? Do you like to make people cry? (I bet you hear that all the time)
Martin: We are called Onions due to James' life time allergy problem.
Chris: We are called Onions to appeal to the vegetarian population as well.
James: And farmers.
Martin: And people who like to eat.
SoundsXP: On your website it says 'You haven’t danced until you’ve danced to a song about beards!' What type of dancing are we looking at here? The Robot? Breakdancing? Window wipers? Is there a beard waltz I need to know about?
James: It's a 4/4 waltz.
Martin: Four on the floor waltz.
Chris: You've gotta find the nearest person with a beard and staple strawberries to his face.
SoundsXP: You haven't been together that long - summer of 2005? - yet you sound established and confident. Do you feel confident about what you are doing music wise?
Chris: I’m confident that we're doing music.
Martin: Well me and Jim have known each other since we were about 14 and we started writing songs together then. They were obviously shit like a song we had about an elastic man.
James: I’d rather not dwell on that shit.
SoundsXP: Your songs have got a real 'feel good' factor to them. Are you happy chappies or miserable gits who find sanctuary in a happy tune?
Chris: Happy chappy, although that sounds a bit gay if you ask me.
Martin: Happy chappies all the way, dear!
SoundsXP: Your influences vary. I can hear 'Squeeze' in your music at times even though you do not list them. How important are influences to you? Do they 'shape' your music or simply inspire you?
James: Bit of both, is it not the same thing?
Chris: How can one do one thing and not do the other at the same time?
Martin: But yeah influences are important to us.
James: We wouldn't be able to tell the difference between good and bad music.
SoundsXP: You do sing songs about objects and topics that are ignored by the mainstream. Can I hope for one entirely dedicated to toothpaste? You've given me beards. Now will you give me teeth hygiene?
James and Martin at same time: No!
James: We've already covered bathroom activities with shaving.
SoundsXP: Who is responsible for the lyrics? In 'Look like a loser' you bring out some
classics like 'I dance with ants in my pants' Is it a joint effort? Do you all chip in or is there one single dominant lyricist?
Chris: We get our dad's to write the lyrics.
(Martin and james laugh)
Martin: Yeah, Chris' dad is a lyrical genius.
James: No, we're just joking. It’s actually Ice Cube from NWA.
SoundsXP: Why are you making music? How did you meet?
James: Because someone needs to. No one else is making music at the minute.
Martin: Cos it's ace. When we do gigs and people come up to us as soon as we've finished asking for cds, it's a good feeling and we know we're doing something right if that happens.
Martin: How did we meet?
Chris: Through a dating agency.
James: We met in girl guides.
Martin: Good times. Good times...
SoundsXP: What would be your fantasy gig to perform/watch?
James and Martin: Talking heads, Stop making sense.
(Chris and James take mick out of Martin who has Peter Frampton live
album)
James: Peter Frampton...
Chris: Playing in a pink leotard with his guitar upside down.
(They all laugh)
Chris: Gig to watch for me would be Marvin Gaye live in Montreaux.
Martin: Gig i'd like to play would be Glastonbury.
Chris: Yeah, same here.
James: I dunno. Good question. On the roof of Buckingham Palace like Brian May.
Don’t put that. Let me think about it.
SoundsXP: If you could cover one song what would it be?
Chris: Hmmmmmmmm...
*long pause*
Chris: 11/4 by Dave Brubeck.
James: A song that you COULD cover Chris. (haha)
Martin: Bring Back Leroy Brown by Queen.
James: 54 Cymru Beats by Aphex Twin.
(Chris, Martin and James start trying to spell and talk welsh)
Chris: Can I change my tune to 'Theme from Earnest Bourgine' by
Squarepusher?
Martin: OK then, I'll have Polkamatik by Vitalic if we're choosing
electronic tunes then.
SoundsXP: Why should Onions be in everybody's record collection? (your music, not the edible bulb, that would be messy)
Chris: Why shouldn't it?
James: They're one of the best Manchester bands since The Smiths.
Chris: Are we?
James: Yeah.
Chris: Alright.
James: Just to confirm it for ya. That might come out as arrogant in text, put it in a nice font.
Martin: We're probably gonna get some shit with that answer.
SoundsXP: There are 3 of you. Who would get the Gold, Silver and Bronze if you had an onion peeling competition? Who would cry/break first?
(James, Martin and Chris say 'Yeah there are' to 'there are 3 of you')
James: I would cry/break first.
Chris: I would win cos i'm the only one who cooks onions.
Martin: Silver for me then please.
SoundsXP: You are the first band who i'm interviewing since downloads became accepted as chart entries so I must ask you how you feel about it. Do you think that it's a good or bad thing? Have you given the matter much thought?
James: I think it's a good idea.
Chris: Really?
James: You need to know which tunes are being bought the most through whichever
medium.
Chris: It doesn't count because there's so many people who download music for free. It's good for us. It means we've got another way to sell our tunes. If you're gonna buy something you might as well pay 30p more and get the case.
James: That wasn't really the question though.
Chris: No.
(Martin and James laugh)
Chris: Well my arguments never relate to the question anyway.
Martin: I think it's a good idea but I’m always gonna buy the single especially if it's in a nice case or something new and different like 'Phantom Limb' by The Shins which had a different polaroid picture on the front of each case.
SoundsXP: I love 'If it ain't gonna happen now' Where are you going next? What are your hopes for the future?
Chris: Play Glastonbury unsigned.
James: World domination.
Martin: A nice little cottage in the dales.
Whether it be world domination or living in cottages I think that Onions shall be around for some time yet. Of course they would get a little step closer to the world domination hope if they sang a song about toothpaste but what do I know...
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