Winchester 7 & the Runners Interview
Q: Can you talk about your musical history and how Winchester 7 & the Runners formed?
A: Well, we come from a, sort of, closed society. We didn’t really know each other when we were there or, at least, I didn’t know them. Jack and Phil must have met up at some point.
You see, every so often someone got it in their head to go off and explore the outside world. The thing is, we had it pretty good there; but, I guess no one’s ever really satisfied.
Anyway, when all you know is one environment, I suppose that there can grow a fascination with experiencing an alternative and the stories of it seem to endlessly embellish.
So, Jack and Phil decided to pull a runner to check it out for themselves. The thing is, when that sort of thing happened, I was one of the ones who would be sent after them to convince them to return.
But, this time was different. When I caught up with them, Phil was playing this great bass line and Jack was holding down his kind of steady beat. I happened to have my electric ukulele with me and, though I’m sure I startled them, I decided to join in.
Soon, we agreed that we were better together in the world, so to speak, as opposed to returning to what we’d known. Since then, we’ve traveled all over the place taking in different cultures and their music while developing our own sound.
Q: How did you approach Catacomb Songs in terms of songwriting and creativity?
A: I think that it was with a bit of disappointment, actually. [laughs]
We released our last EP, Argos Holiday, around when we thought that the pandemic had begun to ebb when it actually decided to flow. With our touring plans scuttled, we set about writing and recording a new batch of songs from out of our home studios, working collaboratively via video conferencing.
Q: I was wondering how you would explain the themes and concepts on Catacomb Songs?
A: I think that Catacomb Songs ended up reflecting much of our state of minds given healthy doses of anxiety and optimism. We keyed into themes of expectation, longing, nostalgia, and remorse. I lost a good friend to alcoholism during it and wrote “Riding High Again” in his memory.
Q: What is your recording process like? And has it changed over the years?
A: Things typically start off with my coming up with a riff or chord progression on my ukulele though, sometimes, we begin playing to one of Phil’s bass lines. We then record some foundation tracks and, at that point, we’re lucky if we have a working title let alone any lyrics. But, it’s out of that process from which they come.
Q: Have you started playing shows or virtual shows?
A: We’ve done a few pop-up gigs now that we’re able to travel more easily again. However, we’ve also begun work on a follow-up release, so we’re trying to balance out the live gigs with studio time.
Q: What else should we know about your music?
A: Well, I call it indie ukulele rock as we’re very much an indie outfit and I like to rock out with my uke. I mean, traditional ukulele is fine and all, but what we’re doing isn’t what comes to mind when you think of the instrument.
Fortunately, that sound mixes well with Jack and Phil’s playing and leads us to a different kind of tone as a band. It’s not quite a uke and not quite a guitar, but you can tap your foot to it.
Q: Can you talk about your musical history and how Winchester 7 & the Runners formed?
A: Well, we come from a, sort of, closed society. We didn’t really know each other when we were there or, at least, I didn’t know them. Jack and Phil must have met up at some point.
You see, every so often someone got it in their head to go off and explore the outside world. The thing is, we had it pretty good there; but, I guess no one’s ever really satisfied.
Anyway, when all you know is one environment, I suppose that there can grow a fascination with experiencing an alternative and the stories of it seem to endlessly embellish.
So, Jack and Phil decided to pull a runner to check it out for themselves. The thing is, when that sort of thing happened, I was one of the ones who would be sent after them to convince them to return.
But, this time was different. When I caught up with them, Phil was playing this great bass line and Jack was holding down his kind of steady beat. I happened to have my electric ukulele with me and, though I’m sure I startled them, I decided to join in.
Soon, we agreed that we were better together in the world, so to speak, as opposed to returning to what we’d known. Since then, we’ve traveled all over the place taking in different cultures and their music while developing our own sound.
Q: How did you approach Catacomb Songs in terms of songwriting and creativity?
A: I think that it was with a bit of disappointment, actually. [laughs]
We released our last EP, Argos Holiday, around when we thought that the pandemic had begun to ebb when it actually decided to flow. With our touring plans scuttled, we set about writing and recording a new batch of songs from out of our home studios, working collaboratively via video conferencing.
Q: I was wondering how you would explain the themes and concepts on Catacomb Songs?
A: I think that Catacomb Songs ended up reflecting much of our state of minds given healthy doses of anxiety and optimism. We keyed into themes of expectation, longing, nostalgia, and remorse. I lost a good friend to alcoholism during it and wrote “Riding High Again” in his memory.
Q: What is your recording process like? And has it changed over the years?
A: Things typically start off with my coming up with a riff or chord progression on my ukulele though, sometimes, we begin playing to one of Phil’s bass lines. We then record some foundation tracks and, at that point, we’re lucky if we have a working title let alone any lyrics. But, it’s out of that process from which they come.
Q: Have you started playing shows or virtual shows?
A: We’ve done a few pop-up gigs now that we’re able to travel more easily again. However, we’ve also begun work on a follow-up release, so we’re trying to balance out the live gigs with studio time.
Q: What else should we know about your music?
A: Well, I call it indie ukulele rock as we’re very much an indie outfit and I like to rock out with my uke. I mean, traditional ukulele is fine and all, but what we’re doing isn’t what comes to mind when you think of the instrument.
Fortunately, that sound mixes well with Jack and Phil’s playing and leads us to a different kind of tone as a band. It’s not quite a uke and not quite a guitar, but you can tap your foot to it.