Stiff Cats
The Stiff Cats are:
Richard Amor - guitar
Emily Johnstone - Vox
Matan Neushtan - Drums
Pablo Rojas - Bass
Richard and Emily had a band together in England, working with Phil Johnstone, who previously worked with Robert Plant for eight years. Matan and Pablo have been playing in Barcelona together for the last four years and have a distinct bond that makes the rhythm section tighter.
They come from diverse parts of the world - Richard and Emily are from England, Matan is from Israel and Pablo is from Panama. This diversifies their sound - which is united by a love of rock and psychedelia. They’ve only been playing together for a short time but are looking forward to recording a new EP in September in a studio on the beach just north of Barcelona.
Emily took the time to answer my crazy questions. Here are her responses:
1. When did you first start singing?
Before I could walk. My father was a musician and all aspects of life were centred around listening, playing and singing music.
2. What was the first song you recall singing?
Surfer Girl by The Beach Boys.
3. Who are your musical inspirations?
I have an eclectic taste - Neil Young, Jackson Browne, Townes Van Zandt, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd Joni Mitchell, Carole King (to name a few). These days - Amy Winehouse, Oasis, The White Stripes, The Dead Weather, The Felice Brothers, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Libertines and The Fat White Family.
4. What genre of music do you listen to today?
Rock music.
5. What embarrassing songs might I find on your MP3 player?
That depends… what is embarrassing? All I know is that you most certainly will never find a track by Ellie Goulding or Katy Perry.
6. Where would you most like to perform?
I want to tour the States… and hop over to Argentina and Chile.
7. If you weren't singing, what would you be doing?
I’d be a florist.
8. What instruments do you play?
Piano and guitar.
10. If you could dabble in another genre of music, what would it be?
I like Folk (don’t tell Richard - guitarist). I also love show tunes… Cabaret with Liza Minelli being my all time favourite musical.
11. What other talents do you have?
I like cooking and gardening…
12. What is your favorite song to belt out at the bar/in the car/for karaoke?
Back to Black by Amy Winehouse.
13. If you could sing a duet with any musician, living or dead, who would it be?
Lias of The Fat White Family.
14. What is the hardest thing about being in the music business?
In Barcelona there aren’t enough venues where you can play loud music - as soon as we get a big enough stage then people can find out about us….
Everything takes so long… I lack the patience.
15. What has been the best advice you have ever been given?
I remember reading in John Lennon’s ‘Skywriting by Word of Mouth’ that bands get so caught up in the idea of ‘making it’ that they forget to enjoy the ride…. and that struck me as being very true… Right now we are loving the band in Barcelona- jamming, writing and just hanging out under the sun.
Please give the Stiff Cats a like and a follow on their social media, it would greatly be appreciated!
https://www.facebook.com/STIFFCATS
https://twitter.com/stiffcats
https://soundcloud.com/stiff-cats
https://www.tumblr.com/blog/stiffcats
Thank you, Emily, for taking the time to share your band and music with us!
Electric Velvet - takes it's name from the hippie cult classic 'The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test
https://youtu.be/6OLnjN8sQOk
What does tomorrow bring?
Tune in to find out!
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