Ambassadors of the weird, the strange and the socially unconventional, The Bohemian Embassy (UK) don’t just write edgy catchy rock indie pop tunes, they also live it, breathe it, drink it and take it.
This 5 piece band have a sound that is addictive and a live set that needs to be seen to be believed.
We have just finished recording our new album, the first one with the new band line up. We are so happy with it and can’t wait to get it out. We have no exact release date yet but it looks like February will be the physical launch. We will be pushing the new songs in the live set from now however so can’t wait to find out what people think of them!
Hi there, how are you and what are you up to today?
Great thank you, loving life, today is very special as it’s our last day in the studio putting the finishing touches on our next album, very excited.
To those not familiar with you, how would you describe your sound?
There are a lot of sounds going on at once, Alt Rock, Punk, we had a review saying we were “skiffle core with a screw loose” which seems to sum us up, There is a gypsy folk vibe going on somewhere as well,
There is also an eclectic soulful tribal chemistry between us all, not sure what’s going to be thrown out of the mix next. Intense is a word we hear a lot from our live shows.
What are the 5 albums and artists that have influenced you the most?
Ben Angel (vocals & guitar) “The Beatles – either Sgt Peppers or Revolver, I can’t say which, I have listened to these albums more than any other. Every song is so varied yet always remains their own, ”
Luke Cradock (vocals & bass) ” Steely Dan – The Royal Scam, Pretty much all I listened to when I started learning bass”
William Jefferies (vocals & guitar) “Frank Zappa – Apostrophe, if you have a listen the whole album seems like it’s revolved around the drums in an odd way seems like one big fill”
Louis Lanfear (Drums) “The Who Live at Leeds , I was completely transfixed by the drumming when I was young. It was the first time I’d every really noticed drums. Then when I saw the live at isle of white footage, I thought all drummers played and performed like Kieth Moon.”
Jade Morris – Violin. “Pink Floyd – Dark side of the Moon, it was the first album I improvised along with and made me want to join a rock band”
What other artists do you really like at the moment and why?
In no particular order, The Eels, T.R Clemmett, Darondo, Gil Scott Heron, Rodrigues The Sugar Man, amazing song writers
Radiohead always so re inventive, Janelle Monroe, Ike & Turner, Sly & The Family Stone, James Brown, such amazing performers with the tightest bands. Dirty Projectors, St Vincent, , Lana Del Ray, Flobots all doing really interesting music in their own way,
The Velvet Underground, Hendrix, Harry Nilsson, Tame Impala, Volcano Choir, Bowie’s new album, Captain Beefheart and his magic band & George Harrison, we could go on forever!
What are some of the key pieces of gear you use to write your tracks?
Key Peices in the studio has to be the SSL 4056 E Series Desk, Urei 1176LN, DBX 160 Compressors, we used a vintage 1964 Ludwig kit for the drums. EMT Plate, Lexicon 480L Plugins – Crystallizer, Waves SSL, Massey TD5
Guitar wise we use a Epiphone 335 Sheartons, Rumble kat, Jumbo EJ200 Acoustics, fender Telecasters and Duo Sonics.
Amp wise we use a 1980s Marshall Bluesbreaker, a real old Vox Transistor and a Trace Elliot for bass.
Pedal wise, we use a lot of Electro Harmonix, POGs, Hot Tubes, Black Finger, Maxon, Sans Amp, Boss, Maxon, Line 6 Delay Mods.
What’s the best gig you have ever done and why?
Best gig? We can’t decide, each one seems to be better than the last. The best part about playing live is having the audience singing our songs along with us and going as crazy as we do, Komedia was a great one. Dublin Castle, Camden Barfly, Moles, The Nest all have amazing crowds that really get into the music. Spain had the weather but again so many to choose from as we have been very lucky so far.
What’s the worst gig you have ever done and why?
We have never had a truly bad gig, loads of difficult ones but we have always learnt something with each show so it’s all about taking any positive from any tricky situation. We have had the usual guitar breakdowns and things like that, it all seems okay as you as you don’t panic.
What are your thoughts on the following music genres?
Classical
We have all shared a love of the walker brothers , in particular the electrician, it’s like classical merging with pop songwriting, all sides and emotions dark and light classical and popular songwriting combined, inspiring. George delaru, Shostakovich, intense stuff, mendellsohn, Bach, Olafur Arnalds, incredible modern composer, classical stands alone and within every other genre which almost seems impossible and I guess why it has stood the test of time.
Blues
Guitar influences must all stem from the Blues originators, it’s amazing to hear guitars and vocals of such an early era, the birth of so much style and influence.
Soul
We all have really happy memories of being played loads of soul records as kids, Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Jackie Wilson, to name a few, defiantly shaped our sound in many ways.
Hip-Hop
Biggy, Dre, Beatnuts, Wu – tang, not experts by any means but definitely like some bits n bobs and grew up listening to these guys among others. The production on 2001 was amazing!
Folk
Not sure if all these artists would fall under the folk genre but, Peter Broderick, Jono Mcleary, Asaf Avidan, Roby Lakatos, Crooked fiddle band, really love what all these guys are doing.
Dubstep
It’s difficult to pin point, like all genres this is very varied but we do like lots of similar sounds such as electronic dance music, Junior Boys, Magnetic Man, Daft Punk, Chemical brothers, Prodigy.
Trap
Wikipedia defines Trap music as “Trap music is a music genre that originated in the early 2000s from Southern hip hop and crunk in the Southern United States. It is typified by its lyrical content and trademark sound, which incorporates 808 sub-bass kick drums, double-time, triple-time and other faster time division hi-hats, layered synthesizers, and “cinematic” strings. What does it all mean???
