![\"image\"](\"http:\/\/img59.imageshack.us\/img59\/411\/violetlarge.jpg\" "\\"\\"")
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Since the turn of the year, Derbyshire sextet Violet<\/strong> have been a very busy bunch. Having started the year with a UK and European tour with A Lot Like Birds, the band recently started working on their\u00a0d\u00e9but\u00a0full-length whilst the coming weeks will see them back out on the road, first on a co-headline run with Now, Voyager before supporting Dance Gavin Dance in May.<\/p>\n Although 2013 sees them set for big things, it follows a\u00a0turbulent\u00a02012 which saw a line-up change with vocalist Jordan Samuel replacing\u00a0Jonny Nelson and keyboardist Tom Cotton also departing from the band. Nevertheless now with an album in the works and a wealth of UK shows\u00a0scheduled, expect to see Violet<\/strong> on the rise in the coming months.<\/p>\n We caught up with guitarist Sam Bass for a quick chat to find out how the line-up changes have affected the band, how the album is coming along and their forthcoming tour dates.<\/p>\n Already Heard: Hi. Can you introduce yourself and your role in Violet? <\/strong> AH: You have had a few line up changes recently – do you feel you are now the band you want to be?<\/strong> AH: How has the dynamics changed within the band; in terms of playing live and creating new songs?<\/strong> AH: You started recording this week for your first album on Small Town Records, how has it been getting back in the studio?<\/strong> AH:You have been with Small Town for a while now and have had a lot of opportunities because of it – reflecting back, how would you describe the whole experience so far?<\/strong> AH:How was your first European tour with A Lot Like Birds – are you looking forward to going back in April with Now, Voyager?<\/strong> AH:Has your extensive touring affected your live shows in any way?<\/strong> AH:I know Dance Gavin Dance are a big influence throughout the whole band – how does it feel to know you are touring with them in May?<\/strong> AH: What should we expect to hear on the new record? Any changes of direction or surprises?<\/strong> AH:You are also playing Takedown Festival this year, do you have any other plans to play any more festivals?<\/strong> AH:How do festivals weigh up against playing smaller shows?<\/strong> Violet<\/strong> begin their UK tour with Now, Voyager<\/strong> on 9th April.<\/p>\n April Violet<\/strong>\u00a0will also be on tour with\u00a0Dance Gavin Dance<\/strong>,\u00a0Closure In Moscow<\/strong>, and\u00a0Affiance<\/strong>\u00a0in May.<\/p>\n May<\/span> Violet<\/strong> links: Facebook<\/a>|Twitter<\/a><\/p>\n Words by Sean Reid<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Since the turn of the year, Derbyshire sextet Violet have been a very busy bunch. Having started the year with a UK and European tour with A Lot Like Birds, the band recently started working on their\u00a0d\u00e9but\u00a0full-length whilst the coming weeks will see them back out on the road, first on a co-headline run with […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[45,8181],"tags":[5878,150,7783,7701],"class_list":["post-29999","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-interviews","category-post","tag-interviews","tag-music","tag-small-town-records","tag-violet"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Sam Bass: I’m Sam, I play guitar in Violet.<\/em><\/p>\n
Sam: Yeah, we feel that we have definitely moved the band in the right direction. We are working towards the band we want to be, but there has never really been an aim, we just do our thing. <\/em><\/p>\n
Sam: Definitely for the better. We’ve really grown as a band recently and I think we’re writing the best music we’ve ever written.<\/em><\/p>\n
Sam: It’s been amazing, We’ve been sitting on these songs for a while now, so its been awesome giving life to them. I can’t express enough how proud we are of these songs. <\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Sam: We feel that Small Town were the first people to really believe in us and we feel very lucky to be in the position we are in. The last year or so has been, on the whole, an amazing experience. <\/em><\/p>\n
Sam: It definitely lived up to expectations. We all feel extremely lucky to have shared that experience with such a great bunch of guys. We’d hope to have the opportunity to play with them again in the future. Now, voyager seem like a great band, so we have high hopes for another awesome tour. <\/em><\/p>\n
Sam: I honestly think we’ve got better as a live band. You ache during the day and wish you hadnt gone so hard the night before, but we wouldnt change a thing. We love playing live and just give it our all every time.<\/em><\/p>\n
Sam: We are so excited for this tour. We’ve listened to them for years and its a real honour to play with a band that we are all fans of. <\/em><\/p>\n
Sam: I think it sounds like Violet. Maybe just a progression of what we have done in the past. We’ve kinda incorporated an R&B element through Jordan (Samuel – vocals,) but it feels natural. They are the most honest songs that we’ve ever written and I think that comes across. We’re just really excited for everyone to hear this album, its killing us. <\/em><\/p>\n
Sam: There’s a few being thrown around but we can’t make any promises yet. The focus at the minute is just to get the album moving forward and then we’ll go from there. <\/em><\/p>\n
Sam: Its just good to see friends that you may not have seen for a while. The fact that you are normally around for a full day just makes it an awesome experience. Its better than being stuck in a van for 10 hours on the same motorway. Crowds are always really enthusiastic at festivals, we love it.<\/em><\/p>\n
9 Camden Barfly, London
10 Roadmender 3, Northampton
11 Met Lounge, Peterborough
12 The Cookie Jar, Leceister\u00a0
13 The Vic Inn, Derby\u00a0
15 Space Bar, Newcastle<\/p>\n
7 Sub 89, Reading\u00a0<\/span>
8 The Peel, Kingston\u00a0<\/span>
9 The Haunt, Brighton\u00a0<\/span>
10 White Rabbit, Plymouth<\/span>
11 Takedown Festival, Southampton\u00a0<\/span>
12 Hobo\u2019s, Bridgend\u00a0<\/span>
13 The Vault, Rugby\u00a0<\/span>
14 NQ Live, Manchester<\/span>
16 The Classic Grand, Glasgow<\/span>
17 Rock City, Nottingham\u00a0<\/span>
18 The Garage, London\u00a0<\/span>
19 The Westcoast Bar, Margate<\/span><\/p>\n