Welcome the feature where we ask musicians or bands five really tough questions about music! Today I speak to Oswald Slain who are starting their tour on the 17th this week to promote their first EP! I caught up with them to ask them some tough music questions.

What is the hardest lyric you have ever had to write and why?

The hardest lyric… That’s an interesting question and one that is really hard to answer. I’ve been writing lyrics for songs since I was 12, I’m 33 now so that’s a lot of Lyrics and 90% of them are terrible! I normally find if the lyric is hard to write it tends not to be very good. I’m a real sucker for an underdog and have a terrible habit of banging my head against the proverbial wall of bad songs. Songs that take ages to write, are overthought and generally don’t resonate with other people or are just a bit s***.

The good ones tend to take 30 min – an hour are really fun, easy to write and just kind of happen. Lyric wise the hardest lines to write are the bad ones that are over calculated, vaguely clever with little charm and no charisma. The hardest lyric is impossible to say but a lot of the songs on the upcoming album are incredibly honest and vulnerable. I don’t really paint myself in a great light and I think being prepared to not come across in a good way can be hard.

What is the weirdest gift or compliment a fan has given you?

I have had no gifts but would love some weird gifts one day. People often say I sound like Sting and we’ve been compared to Maroon 5 quite a few times before which I find baffling. The weird compliments tend to be backhanded and although they may be meant well feel a little insulting. I think it’s kind of funny though and just appreciate the attention. Rhii gets a lot of weird ones for being a female on the drums from middle aged men. Normally along the lines of ‘wow you are actually good’. You can see they are trying to be nice but are accidentally just being incredibly insulting.

Who is the best band or musician you have had the pleasure to share the stage with?

We once played on the same stage as Barry from Eastenders. He brought the house down. F******* love that guy.

What one of your songs has been the most difficult to rehearse for a live audience?

To be honest, all these songs are very easy to play. We’ve long moved on from technical numbers and are much happier just playing what feels good. We’ve got one song called ‘Until Next Time’ that’s just acoustic and xylophone which we haven’t played live yet as it feels scary to strip it right down in a show where you want everyone to have a good time.  Maybe we need to start being less afraid.  

Dream Collaboration and why ?

Dream collaboration… Tyler the Creator… just cos he is out there and I reckon it would get weird.

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