Winston's Zen

LETTING NEW ACTS INTRODUCE THEMSELVES

We were promised jetpacks you know. And flying cars. And robot helpers. I remember that episode of Tomorrows World and I don't know about you, but I want what I was promised.... 


Aided by probably the best band name since... well, maybe ever actually, We Were Promised Jetpacks are about to start eeking their way into the nations consiousness. But there's an awful lot more to this lot than just a quirky monicker. Signed to Fat Cat Records, The Glaswegian quartet are the latest Scots sensation being groomed by the same thouroughbred stables as Frightened Rabbit and The Twighlight Sad. Debut single Quiet Little Voices is a toe-tapping indie-pop monster, and We Were Promised Jetpacks look set to continue the resurgence of a Scottish scene currently as resplendent as it's been for many years.

Adam Thompson provides the A's:

What’s the least accurate description of your music that you’ve ever seen or heard in the media?
Someone wrote a review that said that we were from Stirling and that our music was as bland as our hometown, or something like that. We're not from Stirling. One of us goes to uni there and the reviewer had a good line that they wanted to get in, so made up that's where we're from. We're totally fine with people thinking we're awful, we just don't like when they deliberately get information wrong!

Set the record straight. How should journalists be describing We Were Promised Jetpacks?
An honest, hardworking, realistic and relatively young band.

What has being in We Were Promised Jetpacks given you that you wouldn’t otherwise have?

Snazzy Adidas trainers. We all got a free pair for doing an acoustic session for Adidas at sxsw! Honestly when we found out we were getting new free trainers before we got to Texas it was the thing we were most excited about. Not cause they were trainers but because it was free stuff.

If the band had a motto what would it be?
"It'll be alright." We decided that one a long time ago. We get depressed about our band sometimes and wonder what is the point but "It'll be alright" always pulls us through!

What’s a Jetpacks gig like?
Woah! Mayhem, cocaine, rock n roll, sweat, tears, blood, loads of topless people, flying pigs/tits. you know, the usual!

Describe the average Jetpacks fan.
They are usually a member of our family. Or our extended family.

Tell us how you got together with Fat Cat records – it’s a pretty cool label to be involved with.
I think they found us on MySpace through Frightened Rabbits top friends and then Frightened Rabbit told them we weren't shite and it happened from there. We like them a lot. They sign your band because they like you and believe in you. Sounds totally cheesy but they are dead nice.

I sneak a look through your mobile while you nip to the bar. What’s the most famous name I find in the phonebook?
Snodders.

When did they last call you and what for?
A few months ago to see if I was going to the ABC for saturday night club night.

Put your iPod / MP3 player on random. What are the first five tracks?
Ryan Adams - So Alive.
The Strokes - You only live once.
Belle and Sebastian - Piazza, New York Catcher.
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - Is This Love?
Port O'Brien - Fisherman's Son.

Tell us about the greatest album of all time.
According to Rolling Stone the greatest album of all time is Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by a band called The Beatles. It’s ok I suppose. 

And the best gig you ever saw.
Arcade Fire at Barrowlands was a lot of fun. I think that was the last gig I moshed at. Maybe that’s why I enjoyed it so much.

What was the last record that made you stop in your tracks?
Bon Iver. For Emma, Forever Ago.

And the last one that made wish you were deaf?
Nick Cave. The one where he sings about all the deaths and killings. I think it was called Murder Ballads. That was the last record I listened to all the way through and I was so bored.

Quiet Little Voices is released on April 27th through Fat Cat. Winston's Zen will bring you a review as soon as the video is ready. If you fancy some live action We Were Promised Jetpacks follow their appearance at this years Great Escape festival with a headline tour in June to coincide with the release of debut album These Four Walls. Check their MySpace for details.

You can try out a couple of MP3s for a limited time only below;

MP3 - We Were Promised Jetpacks - Moving Clocks Run Slow (demo)
MP3 - We Were Promised Jetpacks - Ships With Holes Will Sink (taken from an SWSX sampler)


Back soon,
Winston

We Were Promised Jetpacks links:
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