Interview with The Now

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

Shane: There’s only so much regurgitated pop music you can listen to before you start looking for something that you can relate to. That’s basically what got us all into music, the need to actually feel something as much as “I'm a Barbie girl, in a Barbie world” pulls on your heart strings! I’m not sure what else we’d be doing - to be honest we can’t imagine an existence that doesn’t involve the band. I think if you can then being in a band isn’t for you!

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

Shane: Listening to music is a huge part of all our lifestyles. Especially up and coming bands, bands that are a few runs up the ladder in front of us too as it gives us the inspiration to push on. Outside of music we have a passion for football and sport in general. We also like listening to podcasts and reading the odd Hemingway piece!

How long has your band been around?

Shane: The band has been around for actually quite a while but with a few people coming and going. I only really see the band as the band it is now of being around for 2-3 years old. Obviously The Now has been around longer but it’s a separate entity now than its early beginnings.

Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?

Callum: Shane and I are from the Swansea Wales area and Jay and Will are from Merthyr Tydfil way. I suppose it’s all one big working class area, all our towns are shitholes so I guess it’s influenced us to get the fuck out of there!

How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?

Jay: The Now is actually an acronym for all our middle names…Will Thomas Harold Scott, Jay Edward Nigel Evans, Shane Owen O’Callaghan, Callum Willard Bromage.   

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

Shane & Callum: It has to be the Isle of Wight festival. The gig was great but what made it memorable was turning up, getting the gear out of the van and realising Jay left his bass guitar in Merthyr…the biggest gig of our lives and our bassist didn’t have a bass!

Luckily our mates were playing too so we managed to borrow theirs! Cheers Matty!

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

Will: I have always wanted to play Cardiff International Arena - it’s not the biggest place but for some reason it’s on my bucket list!

Shane: The best venue so far was the Swansea Arena gig. Playing on its opening in my home town was just unreal…luckily Jay remembered his bass for this gig!

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

Will: The Smiths, Joy Division , Vengaboys and The Now

Callum: Just us and Motley Crue - fuck everyone else!

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger self?

Shane: Enjoy it and don’t take everything serious! The idea of “making it” is bullshit too. You should be in a band for the experience and to take the opportunities it throws at you!

There’s so many bands out there, just make sure you say “Yes” to doing anything that will help to get your name out there!

If you could go back in time and give yourselves advice, what would it be?

Shane: It’s a long, long process, don't expect to be driving a Bentley and building a swimming pool in your back garden after a year or two!

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?

Will: ‘Holy’ for me. It was the first song that I had the most input into after joining the band and brings back memories of the start of this journey!

Shane: I’ve always thought out new single ‘Live & Die’ would be the one song that could break the band - so let’s see if I’m right and be sure to check it out

Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?

Shane: I love playing ‘Friendly Fire’. It gives me the chance to not play my guitar and be a frontman. Luckily enough it’s the one that gets requested the most too so maybe I’ll throw my guitar in the bin!  

What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?

Shane and Will: It’s a very organic process. We lock ourselves away, sit in a circle, hold hands and pray to the gods of music to bless us with the gift of song, and just like that they fall from the sky into our laps. Other times we just bring ideas and let it transition naturally into a song but we prefer to hold hands!

What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?

Shane: It’s basically a commentary on what happens in life. I find it quite cathartic to sing about lived experiences and I don’t think that’ll change. Maybe that’s why bands who move to LA and marry supermodels end up turning to shit because who can relate to the harsh realities of life of someone who lives in a mansion?

Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?

Jay: Always…honestly all the time! When you’re as close as us it just gets forgotten about and then turns into a joke a few hours/days later!

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

Shane: We are just going to try and be as ubiquitous as possible. Obviously the biggest thing that’s happening in the not so distant future is our debut album ‘Too Hot To Handle’ coming out March 1st 2024! It’s on St David’s Day so hopefully they’ll allow us to overshadow our patron saint for just this one time! Be sure to follow us anywhere via our socials and website:

https://www.thenowuk.com/