Babyshambles drummer and Roses Kings Castles lynchpin, Adam Ficek, tells Gigwise exactly why he's decided to release six demos, aptly dubbed 'Roses Kings Cassettes', via the fading format next week (March 30).
A question asked many times, well, firstly I like cassettes there's something about the hiss crackle & pop, similar to vinyl, that warms the cockles of my soul. Back in the old days when CD albums first surfaced cassettes were the only way to copy music and thus many tapes of recorded favourites made their around the bedrooms of the music heads of every boy and girl.
I remember giving and receiving many a tape of indie compilations of new music that excited me, it was a hip thing to give a young love a cassette of your favourite songs. Let us also not forget the beloved bootleg tape sellers of Camden town, selling their ware from a shifty suitcase, not being a London teen, these tapes were the only a wanabee indie hipster like me could hear Blur playing the forum.
Anyway so back to today, yes the beloved cassette. I have always wanted to see my music on a tape and here's my chance.
I'm lucky to have the control over my 'roses' to be able to do these hair brain schemes without having to hit a profit margin, so the question, 'why are you doing it on cassette?' can be answered, because I want to!
It's a joyous and privileged position I hold, but something not out of reach to most of you music makers out there.
I think these wobbly times in the music industry force all of us to be more creative with our art, it's now common place for many of us to be responsible for everything from writing and recording our songs, through to packaging and selling them. I used to hate flogging my own albums at shows and I still avoid it at all costs, I always thought it a little uncool, but it's getting easier as confidence grows. It's really the only way for bands to make an impact and get the physical music out there. So if you've got to do it yourself you might as well make it special and add some sparkle into the marketing of your songs...But we don't need gimmicks! I hear you shout.
Must dash, I need to find a place that still manufactures flexidiscs!
