Thirteen Senses

Thirteen Senses is an alternative rock band that formed in Cornwall, England. 

 

“We started the band in 2001 and played small pub gigs locally,” lead singer and guitarist Will South said. “We recorded a number of demos and our break came after we sent one out to some record companies, who were kind enough to offer us a deal.”

 

Since its start, the band’s music has been continuing to be known, featuring on shows such as Grey's Anatomy and Bones.

 

“It gave us a platform to deliver our music to the American audience,” South said. “Our albums have never been given a proper release over there, so it’s great to have the music out there in this way.”

 

For Thirteen Senses, music is like a piece of art and expression of oneself.

 

“It’s a desire to create and express ourselves,” South said. “I think any artist, whether you’re a painter, poet or musician, must have a mysterious force behind them that needs to be expressed in a different form. As a band, when we are all together creating a new piece of music, it’s where we feel most comfortable.”

 

The band’s recent album, “Crystal Sounds,” was self-produced after being on a major recording label.

 

“It marked a slight change in direction and gave us a new injection of energy,” South said. “We started writing it as soon as the second album, Campaign, came to an end. Most of the songs were actually written and demoed by the beginning of 2008. The album wasn’t completed until the end of 2009 before finally being released the next year. We recorded most of it in our own studio.”

 

Thirteen Senses’ biggest success has been continuing its career.

 

“Our biggest success is that we’re still here making music,” South said. “We’re just in the process of finishing album four, so our future will, at the moment, involve getting that released and heard by as many people as possible.”

 

The band has been grateful for its fans support and hopes to release its next album soon.

 

“Just a big thank you for listening and supporting us,” South said. “That’s all really and we can’t wait for you to hear the new tracks, which hopefully won’t be too long a wait.”

 

  

 Where are you from originally and how did you get your start in music?

We are all originally from Cornwall in the south west of England. It's quite a magical part of the world, full of beaches and rugged coastlines. We started the band in 2001 and played small pub gigs locally. We recorded a number of demos and our break came after we sent one out to some record companies who were kind enough to offer us a deal.

How and when did you find the members of your band and what do they play?

We have Bren on drums, Adam on bass, Tom on lead guitar and myself as singer/piano/guitar. I've known Adam since school and we were the first to conceive the idea of forming a band. Whilst at college we were introduced to Tom via a mutual friend and through Tom we met Bren. We all gelled naturally as friends and musicians which is probably why we're still together now.

Who are some of your influences? Have you been able to contact or play with them?

The Beatles, Mike Oldfield, Mercury Rev, Grandaddy, Radiohead, R.E.M, Sigur Ros it goes on, but these bands always seem to spring to mind first when asked that question. Sadly we haven't yet played with any of these bands and it’s not looking likely... at least not for the Beatles, Grandaddy and now R.E.M.

How did you come up with the name Thirteen Senses?

It’s the song title of a very, very old song i wrote. We chose because it sounded far less awful than our previous name.

How has the band changed since it formed?

Musically it has always been a progression. I think each album of ours has a different sound and feel to the previous one, drawing in from different influences each time which is important. I suppose the answer to the question is that we're constantly changing.

What has been the driving force to your music?

It’s a desire to create and express ourselves. I think any artist, whether you're a painter, poet or musician, must have a mysterious force behind them that needs to be expressed in a different form. As a band, when we are all together creating a new piece of music, it’s where we feel most comfortable.

How do you come up with the songs you write?

It tends to start with a piano, then some red wine and if the emotion is in the right place something good will happen. The better songs really write themselves, something else takes over, like being in 'the zone'.

 

After the release of your second album, “Contact,” what was it like to produce an album like “Crystal Sounds?”

Crystal Sounds was our first self produced album and for us it marked a slight change in direction and gave us a new injection of energy. The album was also our first release after leaving Mercury Records, so in a way it was much like how we did it when we first started. Just the four of us in a room getting creative. The only people who could cast judgement on what we were recording was ourselves and that in itself influences the end result. One which we were very happy with.

What is the story behind “Crystal Sounds” and how did you come about its recording process?

We started writing it as soon as the second album campaign came to an end. That was in 2007 and it became a long drawn out process. Most of the songs were actually written and demoed by the beginning of 2008 but with each of us drifting off into our own individual projects, the album wasn't completed until the end of 2009 before finally being released the next year. We recorded most of it in our own studio which we've built up over the years. Tom is our technical wizard when it comes to recording which makes the process quite smooth.

What has been your favorite song to perform and why?

Although it’s not a favourite song of mine to listen to, Into The Fire has become such a popular song of our fans, it’s hard not to enjoy playing it live. We always know it's going to have a great reaction and it’s easy for everyone to sing along to. It’s such a simple song but it delivers a powerful message that connects with people.

What was it like to be asked to have your music featured in shows like Bones and Grey’s Anatomy?

I think especially with those shows, it gave us a platform to deliver our music to the American audience. Our albums have never been given a proper release over there so we've never done any promotion or touring so it’s great to have the music out there in this way.

Where have you been able to perform and what is your favorite venue?

Favourite venue is Shepherds Bush Empire in London. It manages to be very grand yet also very intimate. We've been lucky enough to play at some great festivals like Glastonbury, some strange venues in places like China, massive venues in Russia, not to mention the numerous venues in the UK 'toilet circuit'.

 

What has been the band’s biggest success and what do you hope to do in the future?

Our biggest success is that we're still here making music. We're just in the process of finishing album 4 so our future will, at the moment, involve getting that released and heard by as many people as possible.

What would you like to say to your current and future fans?

Just a big thank you for listening and supporting us. That's all really and we can’t wait for you to hear the new tracks, which hopefully won't be too long a wait.