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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| New Band Up North: Joe Banfi | New Band Up North: Joe Banfi |
| (30 days later) | |
| Stark, primitive, tribal howls and groans crash into you, like massive waves on the cliff's edge. A few moments ago you were looking up at the dark night sky waiting for this storm to burst. The gentle ebb and flow of the waves were beautiful and quiet. You're shocked at this sudden change in the weather. But you're not scared. | Stark, primitive, tribal howls and groans crash into you, like massive waves on the cliff's edge. A few moments ago you were looking up at the dark night sky waiting for this storm to burst. The gentle ebb and flow of the waves were beautiful and quiet. You're shocked at this sudden change in the weather. But you're not scared. |
| For me, Joe Banfi's sound is like a storm. Dark clouds gather, the rain begins, shortly followed by thunder and lightning and heavy downpour. His subtle, thought-provoking whispers suddenly become thunderous projections of raw emotion. It's folk meets grunge – and the two are a flawless combination. | For me, Joe Banfi's sound is like a storm. Dark clouds gather, the rain begins, shortly followed by thunder and lightning and heavy downpour. His subtle, thought-provoking whispers suddenly become thunderous projections of raw emotion. It's folk meets grunge – and the two are a flawless combination. |
| After leaving a band to go solo, Joe Banfi spent a few months in Cornwall playing at open mic nights. Soon enough the Chester-born troubador was heading back up north to study philosophy at the University of Sheffield (he lived on my road in second year too!). | After leaving a band to go solo, Joe Banfi spent a few months in Cornwall playing at open mic nights. Soon enough the Chester-born troubador was heading back up north to study philosophy at the University of Sheffield (he lived on my road in second year too!). |
| It was in Sheffield that he really discovered his sound and was back on stage playing to anyone who'd listen. But was playing at open mic nights difficult? "The reaction depended on the venue," says Banfi. At some places "everyone listened and I loved it," but others "were horribly noisy and inattentive." | It was in Sheffield that he really discovered his sound and was back on stage playing to anyone who'd listen. But was playing at open mic nights difficult? "The reaction depended on the venue," says Banfi. At some places "everyone listened and I loved it," but others "were horribly noisy and inattentive." |
| Thinking back to those nights must be a nice thing for Joe to do. He's now signed to Communion, his favourite label, enjoying radio play from the likes of Amazing Radio, XFM, Radio One and 6Music. And Paul Lester added him to the New band of the day clan last month. | Thinking back to those nights must be a nice thing for Joe to do. He's now signed to Communion, his favourite label, enjoying radio play from the likes of Amazing Radio, XFM, Radio One and 6Music. And Paul Lester added him to the New band of the day clan last month. |
| After recording a demo and catching Communion's attention, Joe spent a year developing his sound before making his first EP Guts and Bones. Now he's touring his second EP, Nomads, with Bear's Den and will be on a headline tour through March. Nomads is the storm I'm talking about. It's full of soaring sounds. | After recording a demo and catching Communion's attention, Joe spent a year developing his sound before making his first EP Guts and Bones. Now he's touring his second EP, Nomads, with Bear's Den and will be on a headline tour through March. Nomads is the storm I'm talking about. It's full of soaring sounds. |
| While putting the record together Joe was listening to a lot of Mongolian music, as well as the album 10,000 Days by Tool. So how do these mighty songs begin? "It just starts with one idea – usually a lyric or guitar riff, then I just try to create a song that excites me in some way. The music I'm listening to at the time of writing a song will always massively influence that song." | While putting the record together Joe was listening to a lot of Mongolian music, as well as the album 10,000 Days by Tool. So how do these mighty songs begin? "It just starts with one idea – usually a lyric or guitar riff, then I just try to create a song that excites me in some way. The music I'm listening to at the time of writing a song will always massively influence that song." |
| Taking inspiration from Deftones, Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush, Nirvana and Nick Drake, it's no surprise Banfi's vocals have dark undertones of Kurt Cobain in the heavy parts of his music and echoes of Nick Drake during the delicate moments. "Arrogance aside, my sound is uniquely primitive: I use the extreme differences in my influences to create dynamic extremes that usually accentuate a particular story or feeling that I'm trying to put down." | Taking inspiration from Deftones, Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush, Nirvana and Nick Drake, it's no surprise Banfi's vocals have dark undertones of Kurt Cobain in the heavy parts of his music and echoes of Nick Drake during the delicate moments. "Arrogance aside, my sound is uniquely primitive: I use the extreme differences in my influences to create dynamic extremes that usually accentuate a particular story or feeling that I'm trying to put down." |
| Joe studied philosophy at university – and got a first too! It's clear from what he told me that he wants to make music that delves into the deeper questions of life. His songs aren't autobiographical in their lyrics. We hear fictional narratives. The words don't have a linear meaning. They seem to offer two or more thoughts to interpret. The Nomads EP kicks off with the moody, dark title track and ends with Oarsmen, equally as dramatic. | Joe studied philosophy at university – and got a first too! It's clear from what he told me that he wants to make music that delves into the deeper questions of life. His songs aren't autobiographical in their lyrics. We hear fictional narratives. The words don't have a linear meaning. They seem to offer two or more thoughts to interpret. The Nomads EP kicks off with the moody, dark title track and ends with Oarsmen, equally as dramatic. |
| Two thirds of the way in the song explodes with electric guitars, grungier vocals and loud drums that you could rock your head back and forth to. Sandwiched between them are the softer sounds of Family and Olive Green. The former haunts you with its wallowing chorus and the painful cries of Banfi evoke a sense of nostalgia. The latter is even more stripped back. It's beautiful. The steady and delicate plucking of guitar strings reminds me of José González. He explains that he's always trying to create a feeling of "immediacy" in his music. | Two thirds of the way in the song explodes with electric guitars, grungier vocals and loud drums that you could rock your head back and forth to. Sandwiched between them are the softer sounds of Family and Olive Green. The former haunts you with its wallowing chorus and the painful cries of Banfi evoke a sense of nostalgia. The latter is even more stripped back. It's beautiful. The steady and delicate plucking of guitar strings reminds me of José González. He explains that he's always trying to create a feeling of "immediacy" in his music. |
| If Banfi can produce something as powerful and wonderful as Guts and Bones then Nomads, he's surely set for big things. He'll be using Nomads as a reference point for his debut album as he's "really happy with how it turned out". The debut is steadily "evolving" and it's his aim is to release the best first album he can possibly create. | If Banfi can produce something as powerful and wonderful as Guts and Bones then Nomads, he's surely set for big things. He'll be using Nomads as a reference point for his debut album as he's "really happy with how it turned out". The debut is steadily "evolving" and it's his aim is to release the best first album he can possibly create. |
| With all this said Banfi did admit he "hated playing the guitar" when he first started. But thankfully he stuck at it. | With all this said Banfi did admit he "hated playing the guitar" when he first started. But thankfully he stuck at it. |
| • Joe Banfi is on tour in March. For full details visit joebanfi.bandcamp.com. | • Joe Banfi is on tour in March. For full details visit joebanfi.bandcamp.com. |
| Emily Brinnand is a freelance journalist, radio presenter and producer. You can listen to her show Mixtape every Tuesday evening at 6pm on Sheffield Live! 93.2FM or follow her on Twitter @EmilyBrinnand | Emily Brinnand is a freelance journalist, radio presenter and producer. You can listen to her show Mixtape every Tuesday evening at 6pm on Sheffield Live! 93.2FM or follow her on Twitter @EmilyBrinnand |
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