Mama Scuba
By Dave SugdenDave Sugden asks about their new record label and forthcoming single release
I must admit, I'm being sort of rude. I'm sitting with the makers of one incredible single and I have one eye on the football on the television (therefore making the following few questions span a whole hour). Anyway, the band I'm sitting with is Mama Scuba and this is what they have to say, in amongst their occasional laughter at my style of questions...
This April Mama Scuba were sitting at number 24 in the national indie charts with "Snow". They were Steve Lamacq's "Unsigned Session Of the week" and had a number of highly complementary reviews in the national and local music press. Could things possibly get any better for the band or was this the highlight of your year?
The response from 'Snow' was great. Getting plenty of Radio 1 play and into the indie chart was an obvious highlight for us, but without wanting to sound arrogant it came as no surprise. We're always working for things to get better and we see 'Snow' as a stepping stone to something bigger.
It must have felt good to have such an enthusiastic reception to "Snow", which by the way I thought was absolutely fantastic, and your live show in general?
We love playing live and this hopefully comes across at our gigs. It's a great feeling to know that people have heard 'Snow' on national radio, made the effort to buy it and then come and see the songs played live.
Since that release, what have you been up to for the past six months? Since I last saw you live in May things seem to have been a little quiet on the publicity front.
Writing new songs, rehearsing, recording and basically getting ready for the release of our new single "Pouche". It's good to keep your head down for a while and concentrate on the publicity and promotion of the forthcoming single. It's important for us to get things right.
Talking of Pouche, this is on your own label Siamese ChinS Records? What inspired you to write it? Or phrased alternatively, what's it about?
Pouche is about the way people are treated for trying to do anything outside of the norm. People love you for being different once you're rich and famous, but before that you're considered some sort of freak!
Generally, songs are received differently by different people. Personally I think this is more alternative to your last release, but it does still retain that "pop" touch. How would you describe the EP?
Yeah [pause] It's funny how songs are received so differently [pause and a touch of laughing]. You think 'Pouche' is more alternative to 'Snow', but we actually held up the release of it for the exact opposite reason!
Hey, that's common. It's not rare that I'm completely wrong about something.
[pause]
I don't believe that. [a sly grin and a laugh follow] I guess we learnt to just get the songs out there and let people make up their own minds...
You're letting my views off lightly! Thanks. Anyway, back briefly to your label. What was the idea behind setting it up? Are you planning to release singles for anyone else, or is it just a "Mama Scuba affair"?
Siamese chinS is an outlet for Mama Scuba. We got a deal with one of the biggest distribution companies, Pinnacle, and our records are now easily available for people to buy and order all over the country.
I've noticed that what's different with your releases is that you don't say, "Available in Jumbo and Crash". You just say "The CD is available in any record shop anywhere around the country", which must be a benefit. But it leaves you in control too, doesn't it?
With the state of the music industry and seeing other bands struggling to get their records out then we're in quite a healthy position. We can release our music as we chose.
Just a Scuba label though?
Yeah [pause] Well, for the moment it will just be Mama Scuba releases, but in the future, who knows?
Although you have your own label, are you still looking to get signed or are you comfortable and happy knowing that you can do this "your own way"?
It's great "going it alone", but we can't let ourselves get comfortable.
[pause, a few drinks, and a bit of thought]
We've got to keep moving forward and if opportunities arise then we'll decide what to do as and when.
[a touch of laughter] Never say never!
Rumour has it you delayed the CD from mid-October to this month to coincide the release with your UK tour, including a CD launch bash at Joseph's Well. Are these true or is it just a fortunate coincidence?
[another laugh] There's so much planning that has to go into releasing a record that things like dates, gigs and CD launches can't be left to coincidence. It was all perfectly planned. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
Onto things to come. What about the future then, what's in the pipelines for the Scubas?
'Pouche' will take us up to Christmas when we will start working on our first album.
I'll look forward to the album, good luck with it. Ok then, one last plug ... when is the CD out and how do people get a copy of it?
Pouche is released on Monday 13th November. You can buy it in any shop and if not in stock you can order it with the following details: Mama Scuba; Pouche; Siamese chinS Records ScS002; distributed by Pinnacle.
Busy guys, so we called it a day now.
