Meet Bristol's Indie pop rock quartet Ead Wood comprised of Ed Soles (vocals, guitar), Pete Woollaston (lead guitar), Chris Howarth (bass), and Dave Weir (drums).
They have already been featured in influential publications such as DIY, Clash Magazine, and The Line of Best Fit and played the likes of Glastonbury Festival in 2019.
They released their first 4-track EP Beige Dreams in 2018 followed by singles ‘Plum Cake’ and ‘Skin’ in 2019.
Latest track ‘Deep Blue’ was taken from their upcoming five-track EP “Songs In The Quay of Sea”. It again shows their fascination with nature and the ocean’s grandiose power. It's a soothing track mirroring the otherwise hectic 21st-century world:
“ ‘Deep blue’, began when I found an old Lorenzo Reed Organ in my parent’s garage, it was my mom’s from when she was a child. Enamoured by the old folky sound of the instrument which instantly evoked the feelings of old sea shanties and traditional folk song, I decided it was time to try my hand at my own shanty-inspired song. Written during the lockdown, the song represents my yearning to be beside the sea once more and describes how I’m drawn to and captivated by the ocean.” says frontman Ed Soles
Please give our readers a little intro of you who are/Sum up your band for us in a few words.
Why hey readers, we are Bristol indie pop rockers Ead Wood.
Have you always been interested in music? Was there a particular song/performance that made you say “Woah! I wanna do that”?
My first gig was Yes back in 2004 on their 35th anniversary tour, I was almost certainly the youngest person in the audience and the whole event blew me away. They had huge blow up stage props designed by Roger Dean that made the band look the where performing on another planet. I vividly remember the dude sat next to me, I thought he looked like Lenny from the Simpsons and he didn’t open his eyes for the whole gig, he was just so in the zone. The gig was such a sensory overload and I found it completely mesmerising, after that I was pretty much hooked.
When you create music, what is your personal purpose or goal?
I find creating music very cathartic, its such a great way to express yourself. I love how different people interpret songs in such varied ways. It truly is a language with no boundaries.
Let's talk about the latest single 'Deep Blue' - What was the process for writing and producing it? What was it inspired by?
I was helping my parents clean out their garage, when I came across an old Lorenzo Reed Organ that was my mums when she was a kid. I was enamoured by the old folky sound of the instrument which instantly evoked the feelings of old sea shanties and traditional folk songs. We needed one more song to finish our forthcoming sea themed EP so I decided it was time to try my hand at my own shanty-inspired song. Written during the lockdown, the song represents my yearning to be beside the sea once more and describes how I’m drawn to and captivated by the ocean.
You're stating that you are fascinated by nature and the ocean’s grandiose power – can you please elaborate where this deep interest comes from? Do you think it balances your life?
I've always been drawn to the sea. I never really know why but one dip in the ocean and all your worries go away. I find being beside the sea so calming, it puts me in a mild meditative state. Maybe it’s something to do with looking out over a boundless landscape. So yeh, it defiantly helps me switch off and relax.
We can all agree that the pandemic has been very challenging for the music industry and the artists – what effects did it have on your band? How did you stay motivated through all of this?
We actually had an EU tour booked with Bristol buds Langkamer that was cancelled in the first week of the original lockdown, that was pretty gutting. We also had three studio sessions in London cancelled over the course of the year, this meant it took 18 months from start to finish to record for our forthcoming EP. However during all of this we decided to just focus on writing. We’ve managed to get about 20 new tunes in the books and have some sessions booked to start recording what will hopefully be our debut album. So this is all very exciting.
If you could be eternally stuck in one year's/decade's music scene, which would it be?
Its always a close call between the 70’s and 90’s but I think for me it has to be early 70’s. I find that I mainly listen to music from the 70’s. Around 73’ and 74’ are pretty solid years, and I seem to be constantly finding new albums I’ve never herd of that are near enough perfect. Crying, Laughing, Loving, Lying by Labi Siffre Is a recent find that I can’t get enough of, such a jam!
What is the best/worst advice you ever received??
Simultaneously the best and worst advice I’ve ever had is to listen to Shaggy and Sting’s collab album 44/876 , it is truly life changing. For the better or worse, who knows….
If we were to look at the artists you are listening to, who would be on your playlist.
Neil Young, Bill Callahan / Smog, Jim Croce, Arthur Russell, Katy Kirby, Labi Siffre, Devendra Banhart, Randy Newman and Hiss Golden Messenger.
For us outsiders – what would you recommend to do on a visit to Bristol?
Come to an Ead Wood Gig. Pizza at Bertha’s. Pint with cats at the Bag of Nails. If biking is your thing hit up the mountain bike trails around Ashton court, I’ll see you there !