Interview to Grame Elston...

1. How was SLIPSLIDE born?
 Since forming ASTRONAUT in 1997 I'd been working really hard and hadn't written any songs since the last EVA LUNA recordings in 1995. By around 2000 I'd started writing again, but ASTRONAUT was always based around Alex Eckfords music. So initially SLIPSLIDE was an outlet for these 'solo' songs.

2. It seemed to be your personal project, but you finally formed the band with 2 fellows also in ASTRONAUT and with Matthew Hawes, who also writes songs, so is SLIPSLIDE a solo project or a group?
 ASTRONAUT had decided to take a break after our album 'The Curse Of' in 2001 so I just 'stole' the group. Alex was tired of rehearsing and playing live, but we all wanted to carry on. Matthew had been playing live with ASTRONAUT so he came across with Brychan and Dave. SLIPSLIDE gradually evolved from a solo thing for me into a 'real' group.

3. How did you find Matthew Hawes?
 I've known Matthew since 1993, we met at University in Liverpool. I'd always known he was a good guitarist and songwriter, but was never sure if we could co-exist in a band. So far it's going OK! We've all been friends for a long time - I've known Dave since we were 11 years old, and Brychan almost as long as Matthew. Gradually the rehearsals get shorter as we spend longer in the pub before and afterwards, but it's good that we're such a close band.

4. Does it make sense the fact of two bands nearly with the same members, ASTRONAUT and SLIPSLIDE? do you find time for both bands?
 These days ASTRONAUT is more Alex's project, although we've never split up. We all may contribute to future ASTRONAUT recordings, but since we don't rehearse or play live it's not an issue.

5. How would you describe your sound to someone who has not ever heard your music?
 Jangly guitar 3 minute pop. Or sometimes 'you wouldn't like it'.

6. As almost no-one lives on music nowadays, what do you usually do in a normal day?
 I'm a sound engineer for TV and radio ads; Matthew works as a Film Researcher; Brychan works in Property and Dave is a high-flying advertising Art Director.

7. Which is that amazing record that you are listening to lately and can´t stop listening to it?
 For me, although it's not recent, 'Yours, mine and ours' by the PERNICE BROTHERS. Matthew says 'Computer world' by KRAFTWERK.

8. Do you prefer gigs or the studio? Have you played live a lot? do you like playing concerts?
 We do like playing live but we're lazy these days so don't play very often. Also the live scene for indie pop in the UK is almost completely dead, so it becomes a bit disheartening. I prefer being in the studio, but as I spend my working day behind a mixing desk it takes a lot of motivation to get recordings finished.

9. Which other bands from Matinee do you like most?
 THE LIBERTY SHIP, for obvious reasons, and I also still play the MELODIE GROUP album. But I find something to like in most of the bands.

10. How is your relationship with Matinee?
 Jimmy has such great enthusiasm for pop music. Matinee is a really inspiring label. If it wasn't for him, there's no way that 'The world can wait' would have been recorded let alone released.

11. How is going to be your second album? Are you also writing the most of the songs? I have to recognise that my 2 favourite songs from your debut album are the written ones by Matthew. Is he writing many songs in the new album? When will be the new album be out?
 The second album will be more noticeably a group effort. ‘The world can wait’ was mostly recorded by myself, and I acted as producer for the whole album. I think with greater involvement from everyone it'll be looser and more varied although I'm very proud of 'The world can wait'. Matthew will probably have four songs out of the ten - he's not terribly prolific although it's quality not quantity that counts... I'll still be producing and recording as I have to reign in his 'Bob Dylanisms'! Hopefully the album will come out next year sometime. As I said earlier - we're lazy!
 

 There you go Rafa. Thanks again for your interest. If ever you need a support band for Vacaciones in Spain just let us know!