Harry Stafford and Marco Butcher On the Making Of “Rules of the House”
What was the creative process like for this particular "Rules of the House?"
Harry: As per usual Marco sent me the backing track via Wetransfer of his latest idea and while I normally add on a bit of instrumentation, maybe a bit of Organ or strings, but I was blown away by this track and indeed I was so utterly amazed by this track that it did not need anything from me apart from vocals. In fact, Marco nailed it down cold, with such economy and precision that it would have been a crime for me to add any more instruments, (which would have been completely superfluous anyway.)
This track is a really great example of Marco’s clarity in understanding the finer points of how guitars and drums form into a sonic concoction of trash, & soul power!
Marco: “Rules Of The House” came to me when I was walking in my backyard with my dog so I can’t really say that I was stricken by any type of super cool influence or .. I thought the riff was cool enough to spend time messing around it and after a few hours boom!
What was the initial spark or idea that led to the creation of "Rules of the House?"
Harry: I came up with the lyrics from the way Marco’s music invites you to explain something to the audience because of its cliff-edge chords. The inspiration came from a time when I remembered a sign, I once saw in a pub in the Welsh countryside which stated a set of Rules for the pub’ drinkers. Most of them were quite light-hearted but I could detect a little suggestion of malevolence in there, so I made a mental note of them. I think I put about five of them into the song and the others I made up from the spirit of the landlord’s original list. Certainly ‘campsite rules’ and ‘Get a round in’ were two of them. And my favourite ‘I don’t argue with idiots, the landlord is always right’.
Marco: For me, it was the idea of creating a soundtrack for this imaginary move that was playing in my head really! Something that could translate the urgency and desperation of whatever I was feeling at the time!
What did you enjoy most about making this track and your upcoming album?
Harry: This track is such a balls-to-the-floor stone rocker that, while it doesn’t necessarily reflect the Album as a whole it is such a powerful piece of drum and guitar work by Marco that it had to be on the album and a single to boot! We had a laugh making the video because as we cannot meet with any ease to film anything Marco sent some shots of him dancing in a lewd manner which just seemed to be breaking the rules somehow and were a must to creatively edit together with me shouting out the lyrics.
It’s the kind of song that I wish I’d written for my band inca babies who have been around since the 80s. It has a kind of Birthday party vibe, which is something I absolutely love.
When we decided to release the album back in January we had to decide on ten tracks (now eleven) out of a possible twenty, we agonised long and hard but it was actually quite a satisfying endeavour because we were unaware just how many great tracks we had and that if we kept this up there must surely be another album in a couple of years, but that we’ll probably have to choose ten out of a possible forty tracks by then. It was also a moment we both realised that we had had such a great time working together on these tracks, that had now effortlessly merged into the great album, that we spent at least an hour feeling very pleased with ourselves.
Marco: I really like the fact we left behind all that rock music school rules and jumped into this new world of freedom and ideas that could take us anywhere as far we both having a good time with so I guess I would say that the experimental part of it is my favorite thing.
What has been the most memorable experience or achievement in your music career so far?
Harry: I think the fact that we have two albums out that we are both really pleased with, and where we have stretched our musical interests to the limit in trying out various styles, instruments, and technology. In this way, it’s been a fresh approach to songwriting, whereby we have created a sound that goes beyond our ‘house style’ love of post-punk, trash blues!
We have toyed with Wah-wah guitar, Jazz Flute, Hammond organs, Trumpets and oboes, sequencers and drum machines, strings and Brass synthesizer sounds, which are areas of music that we would have normally found at odds with our punk rock sensibilities.
Marco: Been able to play and record with some of my favourite musicians all over the globe!
How do you balance creativity and commercial success in your music career?
Harry: We worry less about commercial success and more about getting the music to our loyal fans who mean the world to us. Also, it’s important not to repeat yourself and make the same album over and over again just because the music press may like that style. The creativity is what drives us forwards and we hope commercial success will follow.
Marco: I don't really! I try to not overthink music as much as possible, for me being able to play it and having fun with it is the paycheck already!
