Order Of Voices:
Leigh Oates – Vocals,
Ash Homar – Guitars,
Stefan Blackwood – Guitars, Ian Gaunt – Bass,
Aynsley Dickinson - Drums

I have to say, I love this band and have wanted to get an interview sorted with them ever since hearing their remarkable self titled debut album!

Sonic Shocks: Firstly, what an incredible Self Titled album you have written and produced. How long did you spend constructing and arranging the material?

Stef: Thanks! It did take us a while, but that was mostly down to the level of perfection we wanted in every detail! Me, Ash and Ian started putting the first few pieces together in August 2008, we went into the studio in Feb 2009 and completed it in September 2009.

Leigh: From vocal point of view we spent a long time on the melodies, refining them, I think it was good to work with the guys on things as at the time we were all finding our common ground which was cool, I’d bring all melodies to the table and we’d have a listening session and tweak the odd thing, then I’d go away and write the final lyrics.

Sonic Shocks: Obviously, you have had HUGE positive media supported. Was this something you expected and what was your response?

Leigh: Reaction has been great! We didn’t expect anything really, we hoped of course!

We’re all really happy with the album and I think if you are it helps you live with bad reviews – we haven’t had any though so I guess we’ve hit a chord with lots of people! That’s a great feeling.

Ian: It’s been such a good response, ‘a flawless campaign’ to quote the PR guys, I’m really happy with the reviews we’ve been getting too.

Sonic Shocks: It’s worth mentioning that the sound you have adopted is outside of the template, static music bouncing around at the moment. Was that a conscious decision to be more unique?

Aynsley: Not a conscious decision at all. We just made music that we would buy and listen to ourselves. It was that simple really. There’s too many bands out there with the ‘current’ haircut and clothes but have forgot to attach it to music that will not only sound good today but hopefully sound good in years to come.

Sonic Shocks: Do you feel that this style of music needs revitalising more so?

Aynsley: Hopefully people who like good music as opposed to the latest trend will like this style of music. I think it’s always been there to some extent.

Ian: This band potentially has a much wider audience than the other bands I’ve played in, and so I hope enough people get to hear it, it’s getting the word out that’s our real hurdle.

Sonic Shocks: Personally, I love to know about the instruments and effects that bands use to create their sound. Am I right in thinking you have a 7-string bass? What else are you guys rocking equipment wise?

Ian: Haha! Well spotted! I’ve played 6 strings for the last 15 years or so, and moved to 7 strings in the past year or so, thinking that the added string and a bit of alt-tuning would help widen my range. It works a treat. OoV isn’t as technical or as fast as the bands I’ve been known to play with, and it’s a challenge now to strip back the bass but still have a full presence within the music. I find this music needs breathing room, and I’m very pleased with the result. Some people who see OoV may say I don’t need all those strings, but if a pianist did a concert and played mostly high jolly stuff, would you expect him to cut his favourite piano in half ? I have 3 custom built 7 strings (one fretless) and mostly use Ampeg amps and cabs.

Aynsley: I use Premier Drums, Roland electronics, various snares and Zildjian cymbals. I'm a gear junkie!

Ash: I’m currently using Mesa/Boogie amps, TC Electronic effects and Gibson guitars. I’ve never been happier with my sound.

Stef: I’m using Mesa/Boogie, Marshall, TC Electronic rack gear and PRS Guitars. All of our sounds were written in the studio, the challenge was then recreating it for live work.

Sonic Shocks: Vocally, I have to say, Leigh is one of the finest upcoming vocalists I have ever heard. Did he stumble into the role, or is he a trained guru of singing?

Leigh: Thanks so much for the kind words! I’m completely self taught and I’m always striving to improve, I try to do what’s right for the music and luckily playing in OoV gives me plenty of scope for being creative with the vocals.

Aynsley: Leigh is being too modest here. I taught him everything he knows.

Sonic Shocks: Are any of you so-called trained musicians?

Leigh: I once had trumpet lessons!

Aynsley: Self taught

Ian: Just listened to songs and tried to reproduce them.

Ash: I had lessons when I was younger but that’s about it. I had a few really cool teachers and I wouldn’t be the player I am now in terms of style and influence.

Stef: I suppose I’m the odd one out! I was classically trained for about 7 years.

Sonic Shocks: I dislike asking 'who are your influences', because I feel you are unique enough to stand alone. However, I am currently digging the work of the likes of Tool and Porcupine Tree; do they have a place in your music collections?

Leigh: Tool are one of my favourite bands and Aenima is one of my favourite albums!

Aynsley: I’ve loved Tool since Opiate came out! I also love Porcupine Tree. I think Steven Wilson is a genius and Gavin Harrison is one of the best drummers in the world.

Ian: My tastes are fairly eclectic and I’ve no idea who I might play like. Steve Harris (Maiden) was the initial inspiration for getting a bass, so probably attribute the finger playing to him, or John Myung (Dream Theater).

Ash: Tool are a favourite of mine too. I’ve not been listening to Porcupine Tree for anywhere near as long but I love the albums I do have!!

Stef: I do enjoy a bit of Tool, probably the best live band I’ve seen! Aynsley put me on to Porcupine Tree quite recently. I’m just going through their back catalogue at the moment.

Sonic Shocks: It is refreshing to hear tracks which exceed the three minute mark. Do you find that writing a more lengthy piece of music is easier? more freedom?

Aynsley: I think it all depends on the moment when we’re jamming new ideas. Some songs just ‘feel’ like they should go to certain places whereas others need to resolve and be shorter.

Ian: I think Ash, Stef and I made a conscious effort at the start to keep the songs shorter than we usually wrote, some of which got very silly, however for this project we decided to let the song say what it had to say, and then end. Although saying that, I don’t think I’ve heard many songs that go under the three minute mark!

Sonic Shocks:  I don't know if you are aware, but I find your album perfect driving music. I'm sure this wasn't your intention! Are you fans of radio or CD's when travelling in your own cars?

Leigh: I listen to CDs pretty much all the time! So much good music to listen to and so little time! The UK has only a handful of good radio stations in my opinion so I rarely listen.

Ian: I do a lot of driving, and I listen to the album a lot. The songs really did take their own life in the studio, and pretty much dictated to us which order they wanted to come in. The album is in the order we wrote them essentially, in fact the last two tracks were done there and then. I think this natural flow of moods is what makes it so good to drive to.

Ash: As soon as I wake up I pretty much know what type of listening day it is. When I’m driving around I have a definite idea of what I want to listen to when I get in the car so I don’t tend to listen to the radio. Think I’d need a mind reading station!

Sonic Shocks: On that note, what are your views on the current music industry? and the way 'fame' is injected in to soulless, borderline average beings?

Leigh: The industry is an odd one, good music isn’t always rewarded with good backing which is ultimately how it should be! We could all name bands that are fantastic but never really ‘made it’ and conversely I’m sure we could all name bands that have no real talent at all but have been pushed to the masses and loved…very strange. All we can do is concentrate on being the best we can and hopefully get some reward for it.

Ian: The best we can hope for really these days is to be able to continue to write the music we like, and have enough people liking to enable us to continue.

Sonic Shocks: Is it right that you have decided to test the water with reviews and feedback before committing to tours?

Leigh: Yeah we just wanted to make the bands profile as big as we can before touring, hopefully this will guarantee more faces at the shows! We love playing live though and will be soon.

Ash: I can’t wait to get out there and put the music across to the people we meet. As it happens, the feedback has been that good that we’re all really excited about the reactions we might see when we make it out there. Sooner the better!

Sonic Shocks: What is the plan of attack when Order of Voices grace the tarmac of the open road?

Leigh: We’re in the planning stages for touring with OoV later in the year, we’re going out to Europe and we’ll also be doing some UK shows, all very exciting!

Sonic Shocks:cSURELY, you are absolutely festival material?!

Leigh: Hope so! We’d like to do as many of the big euro festivals as we can in 2011 for sure.

Ash: I like to think that the music lends itself better to bigger venues where we’d be given chance to really hit it home in terms of impact and dynamic. Roll on 2011!

Sonic Shocks: I must comment on how fantastic your album artwork is, who is the designer and what was the concept behind it?

Ian: An artist from the US, Fernando Medina was brought in for the art-work. The concepts were drafted between us, and then Fernando worked on a few pieces. We bounced ideas about for a few weeks until we had got a rough design, then Fernando came back a few weeks later with the awesome cover-art that you see on the album. The deeper musings (on the human condition) of the tracks are all in there somewhere, but we feel it’s perfect for getting people to challenge their own perceptions about what it, and the songs might mean.

Sonic Shocks: Do you plan on releasing merchandise to coincide with this art?

Leigh: We do indeed; we’ll have t-shirts, posters and stickers available soon.

Sonic Shocks: With a new video out for 'Reaching Down', why did you choose this particular track to release?

Ian: It’s the one we had most ‘initial’ responses about on the net. There’s a lot of dynamic in this song and people suggested when we announced filming, that this one would be the one they wanted to see most.

Sonic Shocks: Finally, a band who have kept a simple concept for a music video without having some difficult to follow storyline and flashes of a band! Who was behind the video?

Ian: We just wanted to play and have people see what to expect should they want to come to a show at some point. We wanted to keep it that simple; too many videos now need that theatrical or comedic edge to them to take your focus off the disappointing backing track!

Sonic Shocks: Is your aim to remain independent throughout your musical careers?

Leigh: We’d love to be able to keep a certain degree of control over the music and how the band is portrayed but ultimately we need the backing of someone bigger than ourselves so if the right offer came our way we’d certainly be interested!

Sonic Shocks: What is the plan for Order of Voices over the next 12 months?

Leigh: To tour the album to as many places as possible and write album number two! All with the backing of a generous record company! J

Aynsley: I agree with Leigh! Tour with some cool bands and get signed!

Sonic Shocks: Do you have any last words for the readers?

Leigh: Thanks for the great support, hope to see you on the road later in the year! Check outOrder Of Voices and MySpace for all the latest OoV news!

Sonic Shocks would like to thank all the members of Order Of Voices who took time to answer a questions in such detail and with such punctuality. Check this band out, for they are the future of new music!