By: Caitlin Carter
November 10th, 2023
UK, Leeds singer-songwriter Chris Catalyst released his latest solo album Mad in England on October 6th, 2023. Within the first two weeks of the album's release, the eleven-track wonder managed to make its way to #30 on the UK Official Album Chart, as well as #13 on the Independent Album Chart, and #2 on the Independent Breakers Chart, all of which are massive feats for an independent musician who fully relies on the support of their fans for funding and success. Chris is currently on tour with goth-rock band, Sisters of Mercy, and joined Hype the Sound via email to discuss his latest album, touring, and being an independent musician.
Describe the creative process for Mad in England. Where did the idea come about?
"I just write songs! When I get a few songs together, they find a form and theme eventually. I love the concept of an album; a homogenous group of songs that tell a story, they plant a flag of where you're at at that particular point. As soon as I thought of the title, it made me laugh, which is always a good sign. And I realized a bunch of the songs were about being pissed off with the general state of the UK (and the world) today, politically, socially and culturally. How can you not be?!"
You have said this was the album you always wanted to create, why now? What has stopped you before from creating what you have described as “your most extravagant” album yet?
"A mixture of money, time, skill, and, above all, confidence. I feel much more confident in my ability to write and put this kind of stuff together now. Also, every album I write and record is supposed to be better than the last one. Otherwise, what's the point? I'm always trying to better what I've done before. In terms of the songwriting and the sonics. I suppose I'm in a bit of a competition with myself in that regard."
The description of Mad in England is quoted as saying the album is “an eclectic and colorful journey through Chris’ record collection and imagination”. What artists would you say are the core inspiration for this album?
"That's always a difficult question to answer because I have so many influences. Music has been my one big passion throughout my life and I love so much of it, it's given me the best life I could have possibly imagined. And as such, everything that I love has been in some way inspirational. I suppose more directly I could say that this album has a bit of Supergrass, The Kinks, The Beatles, Tears For Fears, Blur... just really great three-dimensional guitar-led pop and rock music."
What track are you most excited for people to hear?
"Honestly I am just hoping people listen to it as a whole 'thing', a homogenous bunch of songs written with love and care and a healthy dose of spite."
For Mad in England, you are listed for all instrumentals aside from drums and additional keys on "I’d Rather Be Anywhere". Which was your favorite to play for this album?
"Which song? Maybe "Stop", which was a bit of a departure for me. Which instrument? The bass is usually my favorite. I generally record that after the wash of guitars that I like to stack up, and then putting the bass part around it is the thing that brings it all together. It scratches a particular itch that I feel when I solve a puzzle or cook a really nice dinner."
The artwork for the cover is lovely!
"My wonderful pal Rich Jones designed it - he is a real visionary when it comes to this stuff, in a way that I absolutely am not. He gets what I am trying to do before I even know what it is."
When would you say your want to become a musician started?
"I just wanted to write songs. For as long as I can remember, I've had little wiggly tunes going round in my head, I always assumed everyone else did too. My mum likes to remind me that when I was 3 I wrote my first song, about my sister's rabbit biting me. (I'm still a bit scared of rabbits). I suppose I was about 12 when I realized that playing a guitar would help me bring those wiggly tunes to life."
You have been really busy this year joining Ugly Kid Joe on tour and then Sisters of Mercy shortly after. How was it getting to work with those bands again?
"It's always great being with the Ugly Kid Joe guys again, they're such a laid-back group of people who are a joy to hang around with. Playing gigs and touring is my favorite thing to do, enjoying the community of music and touring and seeing nice faces enjoying themselves every night (and getting to show off a bit in the process). The Sisters is a very different animal but no less enjoyable. It's a real family, which I was part of for about 15 years. So going back was a bit like seeing family that you've not seen for a few years at a wedding, or something. But more boozy."
Is there a favorite place you have visited while on tour either this year or all time?
"I love being anywhere, but have real affection for Japan, having been fortunate to play there a few times. It's a really wonderful place that always leaves me feeling a bit better about humanity. Otherwise, everywhere has its good bits. I like going home, as well."
Over the years you have been involved with a wide variety of acts from mariachi to metal, fronted your own bands, and created albums that are polar opposites from each other (i.e., Robochrist vs. Kaleidoscopes). What would you say is the one thing that sticks out the most to you so far from your music career?
"Actually someone else answered this for me the other day. I think that the people who I am lucky enough to have support my music enjoy my authenticity. I do what I do because I love it - music is my favorite thing - I go to a few gigs a week when I am home, I never lost that love for it. I'm not a businessman, I'm not part of the corporate world or agenda, I don't like that stuff at all. It's not a home for me, and I think it's probably not a home for the people who support what I do either. It's such a cliche, but I just do what I do and I'm fortunate enough that a few other people seem to enjoy that."
What advice do you have for your fellow independent/underground bands and artists?
"The best piece of advice I ever got was from Simon from the Kaiser Chiefs, a brilliant Leeds band who also never lost sight of their aim and stuck to their guns in their own way. He said that the most important thing he had learned was that nobody cares more about your band or your music than YOURSELF. So never lose sight of that....On a more practical level - just go out and DO it. Find yourself a community, find yourself a family and you'll never look back."
What’s next?
"It's difficult to answer because things have a habit of changing, but I've some gigs with Ugly Kid Joe next year and some plans for a bunch of solo band gigs as well. I'm really keen to write and record another Eureka Machines album but it has to fit around everyone's lives, which is not always straightforward (I include myself in that, too). But I've also got a little passion project I'm just finishing up. I've recorded a bunch of covers of some of my favorite songs and am going to put them out piecemeal throughout 2024. I don't even really know why, yet. Like I say, my approach is very un-businesslike - I tend to just follow my nose and see what I fancy doing, then work out why later. It's served me reasonably well so far."
Thank you so much Chris!
Be sure to also check out Chris' newest music video for his single "Stop", released on November 8th! Mad in England is available on all streaming platforms and for digital purchase at Bandcamp, as well as physical copies available on Chris' website. Links to Chris' website and Bandcamp page are below.
Link to Chris' website: https://www.chriscatalyst.com/
Link to Chris' Bandcamp: https://chriscatalyst.bandcamp.com/
Comments