By Charisma Charisma here with the guys from The Motherland United Kingdom, Circle of One. The band is made up of four crazy guys. Two of which share the mic and lead guitar, Julian and Richie, followed up by my new heartthrob SUV on bass and Mikey on drums. Charisma: How’s it going guys? SUV: Fucking shit hot Bute, it’ll be even better when we get our Welsh backsides out to the good old US. Charisma: You are known for your melodious and fierce tunes. Do you consider yourselves a rock and roll band? And who are your influences? Jul: Indeed we do consider ourselves a rock and roll band, but our influences and music encapsulate alternative and progressive sounds. Some of our favorite bands include Muse, Queen, Velvet Revolver, Audioslave, The Police, Avenged Sevenfold, AC/DC, Coldplay, Jellyfish, U2, Iron Maiden and Queens of The Stone Age and many more. So you can see that we’re across the board influence-wise. Charisma: Tell the readers about The Loud Minority album? Jul: Well, The Loud Minority is a six track EP/Mini album that we released last year. It’s a fucking rip roaring ride through rock and alternative music. It’s a good introduction for anyone wanting to hear the band but in no way representative of where we’re heading. The new material is a little more progressive and intricate (samples/keys, etc.), while still retaining that rock and roll sensibility. Charisma: Have you come up with any new tunes since your album release? Jul: Yeah, we’ve come up with loads of new tracks. We have well over a new album’s worth of new material and an acoustic EP in the bag. Looking to get these tracks out before the end of 2008. We are also recording three new tracks this month. Charisma: Do you have a record label? We have a deal in Japan with a label called TKO, and our debut album should be out there at the end of the autumn. In the UK we had an EP out through Copro Records which sold well in Britain and branched out slightly into Europe, and we are talking to labels with regards to licensing or singing up for the new album. We are also looking towards your lovely country, we’ve had quite a bit of airplay in the States and are looking for inroads there as we speak. Charisma: Julian and Richie, you share the same last name. Are you brothers or cousins? Rich: Both! Momma was a bad lady… Charisma: (laughing) When did you form your band? Jul: We got together around three years ago, with me and Rich jamming acoustically. The band then developed from there, first with Mike and SUV. Charisma: Who writes lyrics for your tunes? Jul: I write 80% to 90%, with the other guys suggesting the odd word in the studio when I’m laying down the vocals. Rich: And I write the other 10% of the lyrical content, dear, usually on the tracks I sing. Charisma: What are your shows like? And, how do your fans react? Mikey: We try to make our shows fun, intense and musically tight. We always give it 110% and try to put on some kind of show however small or large the venue may be. As for our fans, they both love to see us perform! Charisma: (giggles) So Mikey, is it true that drummers get banged the most? Mikey: I’M TOO BUSY GETTING BANGED TO NOTICE! Jul: He used to do well before he turned into a simian (old band drum monkey joke)… Rich: Monkey no understand! Charisma: Oh my, that was funny. Mr. Bassist SUV. What does ‘SUV’ stand for exactly? SUV: When I was a kid, all my friends thought I looked like Donald Sutherland in the movie “Kelly’s Heroes.” That later got abbreviated to SUV and the rest, as they say, is history. Charisma: Other than your music, what do you guys do for fun? Jul: I myself prefer to watch Steven Berkoff adaptation of Checkov, I find its content absolutely riveting! As is dry white Cider and ladies Torso’s… Especially My Ladies! Rich: I spend my time watching re-runs of Fantasy Island in the raw while eating cheese strings and reading books cross-dressing. SUV: Cheap booze, ugly birds, weight training and visits to the clinic. Mikey: What’s fun? Does it cost money? Charisma: Seems as if nothing is for free these days. Julian, tell me about your tattooed arm? Jul: I started getting tattooed when I was 18. I had the mermaid inked on my right arm and developed it with tribal work over the years. I’ve also got two on my left arm including a Celtic Sun. And I’ll be having some more artwork done as soon as I can! Besides myself, SUV has a lot of Celtic work on his right arm and Rich has one on each shoulder including the Led Zeppelin Swan Song logo. Charisma: Very cool. Richie and Mikey, why bald dudes? Like no hair! Rich: ‘Cos it makes me the bald SEX Warrior, yah! Mikey: I’m far too manly to have hair! Besides, bald is the new rock and roll! Charisma: (giggling) What are your rehearsals normally like? Jul: Fucking intense but humorous affairs. Usually we’re either rehearsing various versions of the set for shows, which is rocking by the way, or we are writing new stuff, which can be intense and brooding or economical and rather swift! But it’s always a good laugh; we just continuously take the piss. Charisma: (trying to keep a straight face) How do you rate your performance ability? Jul: On the right night 100 out of a fucking 100! It all depends on the crowd, the rig and stage size. But barring technical problems, we always go out to give 100% live. Charisma: Let’s talk about the United Kingdom. Exactly what part are you guys from? Mikey: We are from Wales, which is one of four countries that make up the British Isles. Wales is down to the left and towards the bottom of the map. Shaped like a geezer! SUV: We are from Gwent, which is not too far from the city of Cardiff. Rich: But we have the same weather as Seattle! Charisma: Rainy weather sucks. What does the “F” word mean in your country? Jul: Just like the US, I suppose… “For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge” is one meaning, just as is FUCK OFF, which could be construed like “get out of my face!” Or, fuck off, which could be interpreted as “get out of here” or “I don’t believe it!” And then you have plain ol’ fuck. Which can mean many things including “no way” or can be used when you injure yourself. So it’s a universal substitute for many words! Charisma: CWRW (cu-roo) How about some? Jul: Indeed Larger or Cider! Wine is a current favorite. SUV: Larger or any booze including Jack & Coke. Rich: Larger/Magners and fine wine, dear. Mikey: Beer. Plain and simple. Charisma: Sounds like it’s drinking time. So there you go Buzzbin Readers. Another Mouthful from Charisma with Circle of One. Cheers!