Adam taylor

MUSIC MAN

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picture credits: Adam Tayloe

James Carroll talks about life in King Sloth

When you hear the word ‘emo’, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Scrawny guys with dyed black hair in the tightest pair of women’s jeans they could find in Primark? Or do you think of the shoe-gazing indie bands of the 90s whose name has been tarnished by ignorance and ill characterisation of their genres

seeing a revival, and I am more than glad to say that the real ‘emo’ genre is one of them.

My good friend James Carroll is no exception to this revival, playing a beautiful yet sorrow filled style of music in the vein of bands such as Cap’n Jazz, American Football and Sunny Day Real Estate with his own edgy

title? If it happens to be the former then it’s high time you broadened your horizons, we’re living in an age where all sorts of things are

twist thrown in the mix. Although his first EP under his eponymous moniker only came out in July this year, James is no stranger to the

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music man musical world, having a multitude of previous projects under his belt which were highly successful in his home town. Additionally he occasionally releases purely electronic tracks under the moniker ‘EyE’, for which a music video was developed only a few weeks ago.

I couldn’t even tell you when I first met James, but he’s been a close friend for a number of years now from when we both lived in Sunderland up North. We met up at Angelica on top of the Trinity centre where he was kind enough to give an interview speaking about his previous endeavours, how they’ve affected the work he makes today, and the future.

First off, tell us a little bit about yourself, just who is James Carroll?

“James Carroll.. James is a 19 year old student from Sunderland living in Leeds, performing songs under his own name. I used to play in a couple of bands (King Sloth, Liars Lie) back home, a bit of indie/alternative with a few Math Rock influences.”

How come you’re a solo act nowadays?

“Moving to uni had a big impact, as it was too hard to keep up, ended up being a bit too stressful.”

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Have any traits from your former bands managed to slither through into your solo work?

“Yes, my work in Liars Lie influenced the acoustic work I do now a lot, you could say it’s an electronic, more emotional extension of the band.

Working outside of a collective has produced more direct and honest music from me.”

How does it compare to your previous endeavours?

“It’s lonelier, but in a weird way more enjoyable, I don’t have to rely on anyone and for the most part works.”

How about your time in King Sloth, do you think that’s affected your work as a solo musician?

“It was more like a bit of fun to be honest, wasn’t anything serious, I was just drumming for them really. I wouldn’t say anything has really came from it but that’s not to say I didn’t enjoy it, it was fun.”

So, tell me about what you do now, you released your first solo EP in July, how did people respond?

“More than I expected, I managed to sell all of the copies at my launch which was a pleasant surprise!”

How does that compare to the sales from your time in King Sloth and

‘It’s high time you broadened your horizons’

Liars Lie? “We managed to get rid of most of the physical copies but I have to say it took a long time, definitely not in a single launch show. I feel like I was more determined with my solo record.

I bet that was pleasing! Is it a little early to ask when any new material will surface?

“I have a release planned for November time, there’s a few songs in the pipe line anyway. The new material is more stripped back, focusing more on the acoustic aspect rather than the electronic.”

That’s fast! Do you think there’ll be another release show for that with physical copies again?

“Could be, I’d have to have a good think about it, depending on who could play too.”

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