How did The Mink come together as a band, and what brought you all together musically?
Tommy: We came together because of the fear of what would happen if we didn’t.
Rob: A shared love of ‘Flute Rock’.
Tommy: You could call it that, yes.
Your sound blends jazz, psychedelia, and hooky vocals. How did you arrive at this eclectic mix of genres?
Rob: We lure the audience in with psych rock in order to achieve our real aim of tricking them into listening to elevator flute music.
What do you think sets The Mink apart from other psychedelic or jazz-influenced bands?
Tommy: Often it’s just a decent pair of trousers. That and we’ve got a Flute Wizard [Rob] - that’s got to count for something.
How do you approach balancing improvisation with structure in your songs, especially given your jazz influences?
Tommy: It’s a very fine line. Once we embarked upon an improvised jam that lasted weeks before we realised what was happening. The rehearsal room bill was massive, we’ve only just recovered financially.
How important is spontaneity to your sound, and how do you capture that in the studio and live performances?
Sam: Spontaneity is very important. We try to capture it usually by stun gun or net and make it play music.
Tommy: Imagine a high speed chase between a cowboy and some livestock.
What inspires you to push the boundaries of traditional songwriting?
Tommy: Whatever happens to be bubbling up from underneath the Earth’s mantle any time the five of us are together.
Do you approach each live show differently, or do you aim for a consistent performance style?
Tommy: We are huge advocates of consistency.
Rob: We are consistently sleepy.
What’s the most memorable live performance you’ve had so far, and why did it stand out?
Tommy: Once, three members of the band had a ‘spiritual emergency’ during soundcheck.
Fortunately, Sam and myself [the only two left] had access to a garage, so spent the proceeding three hours cobbling together fully automated versions of our bandmates. The results were phenomenal.
How did supporting acts like MADMADMAD, Karma Sheen, and Flat Party influence your live performances or your music in general?
Tommy: We had the crushing realisation we would never be anyone but ourselves.
What’s your songwriting process like as a collective? Do you all contribute equally, or do certain members take the lead?
Rob: Tommy brings the wacky ideas usually, Sam adds some disco riffs, Brad adds his tasteful guitar, then we wake up Miles and he hits stuff.
What role does visual imagery or atmosphere play in your music? Do you consider it when crafting your live performances?
Tommy: We have just commissioned a designer from our home town of Norwich to make kilts for us all. I’m half Scottish so it just feels right, man.
How do you decide when a song is "finished" given your blend of improvisation and structured songwriting?
Tommy: When all five of us have executed our signature move on it and it’s staggering into the corner of the ring.
If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?
Rob: Walter Wanderley.
Tommy: Walter Wanderley.
Sam: Walter Wanderley.
How does the East Anglia music scene influence your music, and how have you found your place within it?
Tommy: Ah East Anglia. There is something in the water there.
Sam: Dysentery, mostly.
What are some of the challenges you’ve faced as a relatively new band, and how have you overcome them?
Sam: The main challenge has been mainly insomnia and digestive issues.
What’s your favourite part of creating music: the writing process, recording, or performing live?
Tommy: You can’t beat a good gig. Losing your voice. Getting drenched in Pravha. Having your nearest and dearest not being able to look you in the eye afterwards. Tremendous.
What do you hope audiences take away from your music, whether they’re listening at home or seeing you live?
Sam: We would love them to take away a T-shirt.
Are there any unexpected influences or inspirations that play a role in shaping your music?
Tommy: The last set of lyrics I wrote came in the early hours of the morning after the recent US election. I found myself in Leicester Square, surrounded by commuters and really needing the toilet, staring into a fountain. I found this was a rich environment for songwriting.
What’s next for The Mink? Are there any exciting releases or tours we should be looking out for?
Tommy: You know that song by Maroon 5 called ‘This Summer’s Gonna Hurt Like a Motherf****r? Sort of that vibe for the next six to seven years.
Sam: Oh and a tour in February. Maybe some singles too.
By the REAL Editorial Team | November 26, 2024