1.The First Song I Wrote
[Laughs] It was a song called ‘Lenolly’ – you know, like John Lennon and Buddy Holly. I was a massive fan of both as a kid, especially John Lennon, and it was kind of like a cheesy ode. The chords were solid but the lyrics could have maybe done with another draft!
2.The Last Song I Released
Technically ‘Billie’s Gonna Die Young’ from our new album Scoundrels was the last song I wrote. I say that because we farted around with the glorious outro section for ages trying to get the length right, and funnily enough it’s probably my favourite from the record, but maybe I’ve just talked myself into that as well. I don’t know.
3.Songwriting Secrets
No real secrets unfortunately, other than if you’re spending hours trying to finish something, it’s probably not that good! It’s a great habit to put the initial idea down straight away, be it on an iPhone dictaphone, or whatever you use to get the raw idea down, and try and nail as much as you can on the spot. Even if it’s just the basic structure and vibe, you can go a long way to not have to come back to a vibe or an idea that’s not there anymore. Every sunset looks different the next day.
4.The Song That Makes Me Proud
Impossible to answer, because I’m always proud just to finish the damn things! I guess ‘Sold Me’ off our Twenty Four Seven album was a good moment because it really was just the one that came the most purely. I felt at the time it was the best song I’d ever written. Two rotating chords, a simple melody and lyrics that all came in about ten minutes makes for luxurious conditions! I remember turning the lights off in the rehearsal room and making the guys ‘feel’ their way through it for the dynamic shifts. They probably thought I was a knob, but it was a good experiment and not something we’ve tried since.
5.The Song That Changed My Life
I think ‘Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds’ was one of the first Beatles songs I ever heard, and it was probably the one from a really young age that really shifted the poles for me. I was probably about ten at the time and it came on the radio in Dad’s car. He was trying to talk to me but I was just transfixed with this song. Every turn was better than the last. It just dragged me by the scruff and gave me the whole tour of the Beatles garden in one hit. I love them. Their music puts the sun back in the window every time.
Dallas Crane’sScoundrels is out now through Rocket, and they appear atThe Bald Faced Stag on Sunday May 22.
