So we yesterday we found that we're in SEEN magazine with an interview we'd entirely forgotten about doing! Exciting. Somehow we're before an interview with Franz Ferdinand, and a page about LORD Obama.

"ITS THOUGHT OVER POLITICS FOR BRISTOL'S ELITE. YOUNG AND SHAMELESS: WELCOME THE NATURALS.

HOW DID THE NAME COME ABOUT?
Harry came up with two names, 'The Naturals' and 'The Remedies'. It was decided that 'The Naturals' was the best, thus the name was born.

HOW DID YOU FIND YOUR GENRE?
Each member has their own individual music taste that is different from the others. For the first two years, The Naturals stuck to more Greenday and Bloc Party inspired rock, and then gradually developed their own style together.

DID YOU TAKE THINGS SERIOUSLY AS A BAND AT FIRST?
Rob seemed to have high hopes from the start, hoping that they'd get somewhere with their music. The others (having experienced their share of failed 'bands') sort of went along with it.

WHAT ARE MOST OF YOUR LYRICS BASED ON?
Rob likes singing about Dragons aparantly. On a more serious note, the lyrics are mostly based on personal thoughts as opposed to politics or more public issues. Thoughts and opinions that might not be appropriate to tell people in a conversation but the meanings are weaved into the lyrics so as still to get the message accross, although more subtly.

HAVE YOU HAD ANY BIG GIGS IN THE PAST?
Ashton Court festival and supporting One Night Only, This Will Destroy You, Noah And The Whale and Little Man Tate.

DO YOU GET NERVOUS BEFORE AND DURING PERFORMANCES?
It depends on the gig. Sometimes they just feel comfortable to go up on stage and do your thing, sometimes they stand on the steps not even wanting to walk on the stage. But in most cases, the adrenalin will eventually take over any nervousness anyway.

HAVE YOUR FRIENDSHIPS WITH EACH OTHER GROWN STRONGER THROUGH BEING BAND-MATES?
Definitely. Although some of them were friends from the start, they've grown a lot closer through being together in the band. They don't have any self-consciousness issues around each other.

"THE NATURALS - TIPS FOR SUCCESS"

MAKE FRIENDS WITH OTHER BANDS
By making friend with other bands, you build connections and can get involved in supporting and helping each other in the world of music. This can lead to some great oppertunities.

SOCIALISE AT GIGS
Don't just walking, play your stuff and walk back out again! Get to know the other bands, hang around until everone has played and if you can, meet new people. The best bands are the friendly ones!

GIG WHEREVER AND WHENEVER YOU CAN
Take any opportunity to gig, ask around any venue you can, even if there's almost no change of them accepting you, the more shows you can do the better you'll get (both in experience and popularity).

BE NICE TO YOUR PARENTS
Keep on their good side and they might give you lifts!

HAVE A WILD SINGER
Someone who will go crazy and bring the crowd with them.

PERFECT A FEW INSTEAD OF LEARN ALOT
Having lots of songs to play is good, but not so useful if you can't play them too well. The best way is to get just a few songs and perfect them so you can guaruntee an amazing performance, only then shold you work on making more.

CHOOSE YOUR BAND MEMBERS CAREFULLY
You're going to have to spend a lot of time together so make sure the people you choose to play with are going to be people you can get along with. You don't have to be great friends, but don't choose anyone who you can't stand being around.

EXPERIMENT
Never restrict yourselves. Even if you tend to stick to one genre, allow yourself to occasionally try new things.

DEDICATION
Even if you feel a bit ill or down, try to turn up to gigs and put on a good show. You might even find that you feel better from doing it. Rob played a show with a broken arm once...

DON'T SLAG OFF OTHER BANDS
We all know how easily rumours can get around and making yourself enemies isn't going to do you any favours. If there is a band that really bugs you, wait at least until you're in private before discussing it.

GET SOME MYSPACEAGE
You'll want people to hear your music and spread the word of your greatness, so make a band page for yourself at myspace. There are other sites you can promote yourself on, but myspace is extremely popular and used bu those making and seeking new music. Remember to promote your myspace site so people know where to find you."

So thats it then. Having remembered recording that interview, I've noticed that we've been altered/censored as appropriate, having spoken for at least ten minutes for each question and including some.... questionable anecdotes (interviewers beware). Still, been a long time since this has happened - a double page spread!

Ky xx

right then...i'm home.
it's been a fucking fantastic year! thanks to one and all who have helped us through what has admittedly been a difficult time during the past 12 months. we've been through exam troubles together, tours together, X factor finals together, and yet, here we still are, in one piece and just about alive.

constant gigs throughout September/October/November have kept us rejuvinated these past few months and we couldn't be happier with the music we're playing at the moment. looking forward to the coming months, we promise you new releases and more gigs than you can shake your A Level timetable at. we're ready.

this cheesey, sentimental blog wouldn't be complete without a thanks. so here we go, our 2008 was made infinitly easier by these people: Timothy Graham Wright, Matthew Booth, cLuMsY (still), Goodboy Promotions, Paper Box Promotions, Go Dutch, Kate Greswell, The Croft, Stu The Wizard, Farthing Wood and ANYONE who came to a show, bought some merch, said we were good, said we were shite, said they didn't get to the show in time to see us...

whatever, thanks a whole bundle. we're enjoying this so much. we'll back in the new year with a new EP and probably a few new issues we need to scream at you about. thanks if you've paid any attention.

love from Robin and the rest of the naturals (definitely a lot less hungover) xxx

that's possibly my favourite ever quote from anything...Homer admitting to be being addicted to rage...one of the funniest things i've ever seen...

"I'm a rage-a-holic! I'm addicted to rageahol!"

i'm sure there is no proper spelling for that word so now, that's how you spell rageahol. PROPS!

anyway, hi everyone...this can be our update for the end of the sunny solstice and can be the introduction into the winter months which we all face. will i be home in time for christmas? i don't know. will i ever know? maybe not?

anyway, we've got HELLA gigs between now and the end of the year as you may have guess...we're still looking for as many shows as possible in October (though bizarrely not during the half term) and any dates that anyone else may have...we will play your show if you ask us to. we're getting the momentum going again after what really has been a very slow year. on the subject of gigs, we're aiming to tour early next year (Feburary/March time) so send us anything you have on that front and we'll sort something out. tar.

MERCH! i know?! i never thought i'd see the day when i saw a complete stranger walking around Somerfield wearing clothing with the name of the band i was in on it but sure enough, there they were and they must've thought i suffered from a lazy eye cause, well, i'll admit, i didn't stop looking at them for a fair few moments. whoever you are/were...thanks for paying for one.
if you would like one...which you obviously do, then they're £8 and can be bought at shows or if you send us your address with £8 then we'll send you one.

THE THIRD EP! right, it's sooo nearly finished. we've heard the mixes and they sound awesome. after gigs in London and a few festivals etc, we've got enough money to pay for mastering and artwork and names are being delegated. we're super syked about these songs, despite the time it's taken to record, we're proud EVERY second of this EP. in terms of releasing it, we've got a few ideas up our sleeve which will hopefully make up for the time it's taken to put out. don't worry to the tens of people who care but it's nearly done :)

PLUG TIME!

THE LOCARNOS are on tour at the moment with The Displacements. i've never heard of them either. whatever, just go to a gig because if you do then the indie slipstream will carry these demi-gods off into the ether then they can allow us to milk them for fame and attention...all joking aside, they're new songs are great and they'll be more than happy to sit and chat with you whilst trying to flog you some quality products :)

GO DUTCH have got new songs up and they're sounding more epic than ever. loving the guitar work there Noah you little minx. so yeah, have a hop on over and look at their work cause they've got the cahonees to make me use made up words to describe them...obviously praise indeed. Represent

cLuMsY have finished the highly anticipated "CHILDRENS TV THEMES MEDLY" (yep, it IS a 43 minute long mish mash of childrens shows from the 70s and yes it's the best thing ever written) and have it up for download at their website.
Their launching it on October 18th at Oppo Bar on Parkstreet in Bristol. it's free (i think...please verify that) and is fancy dress (you must appear as a character from one of the shows). Sadly the show is 18+ but if you dress up well enough, nobody will be able to tell. i'm mega bummed that i'll have to miss it because we're playing in Gloucestor (at the Guildhall...plug plug...) but do go along if you can because it will be amazing

finally, some of you may be aware of the ongoing campaign taking place in order ensure our friend Kamal Bakarkhan gets his student visa to be able to a) move back here and to b) be able to finish his A Levels.
this is more important than music or plugging other bands because this is someone's life in the hands of plutocratic fuckwits with half the decency of a rat. please visit THIS website in order to ensure that your name is down on the petition. thanks

right, i'm off to watch the simpsons

rob out xxx

hello loves and not loves! lovers and love-weres (those where the ones we loved but then gave up on). so back we go! back to that blasted hell hole of a studio to attempt to finish that putrid puss bucket of a record which we worked out has taken the best part of an entire year. that's 3 months per song! so yeah, basically, if it's not good, it's because we ended up losing our minds about midway through the process and gave up on the music and resorted to slapping each other...

still, many happy things are a-happening. all the songs hadn't been brushed away like some proverbial dust pile under some proverbial rug and Stu/God/Element Wizard our masterwork of an engineer was back at the helm making everything sound amazing. seriously though, things sound huge and that's not the obese, heart failure huge neither. no no...

lunch times could be found to consist of positive Playstation encouragement...

Felix had a little accident...

and then we got back on with mixing our record. here are some pictures for you guffaw at, battle with, trade with your friends and collect in the soon to be released collectors sticker book available from all good news agents:

 

then the end of the day came...Ky had been misbehaving all day long. we took action...

all in all we had a finally fantastic time and as always left the studio feeling pleased yet slightly violated by our own hands...
cheers Stu...you elemental wizarding legend you...

cheers then. love those naturals xxx

hello old friend. it has been a while has it not. i've been awfully busy since the last time we spoke. hopefully it's been productive but perhaps you'll think otherwise, never the less, irrespective of whether or not you care, this is the formal update of goings on in our humble little music band as of late.

obviously, we're all very excited and restless about our new CD being released. alas, these bloody things cost money which we've been scrounging and borrowing and begging for and doing all sorts of un-savoury things to obtain the means to pay for it. now, in typical Naturals fashion (that is the fashion of being slow and long winded and ultimately disorganised) we're booking up the time to be present at the mixing and general pampering of what will be "THE THIRD EP". we too will wait with baited breath. will it ever be complete? i don't know. do you know?

still, considering there are usually only two major avenues of activity in a musical collective - one being the slow and stately develpment of recorded songs and the other being the live, un-altered and somewhat cack handed method of playing live, after what feels like a very over blown absence, we have decided to get our arses into gear and book more gigs than we've had in a while. some of these are in Bristol, some are in Glasonbury, some are in Plymouth (one with the mighty/holy/generally un-stoppable THIS WILL DESTOY YOU) and others are in other places. if you are a promoter/music person and wish to allow us to book yet more gigs anywhere then don't hesitate to get in contact. hopeful tours in Sept/Oct/Nov time and early 2009 are also being explored. g'waaan. help some brothers out.

also, something i always like to do is big up some of our favourite partners in musical crime. so here is my act of shameless plugging:

. firstly, on a rather sad note, our bros from other mo's (?!) SCIENTIST THE ORANGE PIP are playing their last ever gig with guitar wizardist Jon Millichip on Friday August 15th at the awesome WHITE RABBIT in PLYMOUTH. since Jon is a bit of a god, you should all free up that day and head down and have a dance to their ecclectic mix of what must be some of the greatest music i have ever heard. seriously, this is not one to miss. we love you Jon :)

. second, let's alll hear it for THE LOCARNOS who are currently out on the open road after blowing the collective minds of audiences at both GLASONBURY and LATTITUDE FESTIVALS and from the looks fo things are growing in popularity day by day. then again, the stains they left on my bathroom floor the other night doesn't over compensate for the fact that they are, all four of them, filthy lovers. still, go and say hello to them on their adventures across the UK.

. lastly, massive props to our boys in THE WINCHELL RIOTS who will be hitting the road in October/November and will hopefully be releasing a new single i do hope. if it's the song i think it is, then prepare to literally be blown out your house/car/bus when you listen to it for the first time because it is an inuncredible song.

right, that's quite enough arse tounging for now i think. take care of eachother and keep watching the skis. i mean skies...

lotsoflovefromrobinfromthenaturals

i thought of writing kippers cause they popped up in my book this morning and the word has been with me ever since.

so then, here we are, the final documentation of us recording "THE THIRD EP"...yes, that was me trying to do a Reuben and do a "THE THIRD ALBUM" but it's not an album so there you are. no videos this time i'm afraid cause all these came from Harry's shite camera and i don't know how to "transmogrify" the files to become video files. or something. any suggestions.

anyway, we recorded vocals and handclaps and stuff. here are the pictures:

ok, so i lied, there is a video. this is me writing lyrics and Felix throwing his shoes at Kyran. yeah. this'll be good.

thanks for paying attention guys. the EP will be out soon and you can buy it for like, i dunno, some money.

bye. robin xxx

don't worry, there weren't any capers in the studio...although, Felix did buy a massive jar of pickles. not sure what became of them. i think he took them home. anyway, this weekend we went to record (hopefully for the last time) our next EP cause we're actually shit and havent been able to do it right the last two odd times. lame.
so anyway, off we went (that is harry, Felix and me) to meet Ky at the studio already setting up due to me causing everyone else being late cause I lost my shoes. silly thing. so anyway, there we were, we said a happy hello to the amazing Stu (our wonderful engineer, he did The Anticipation EP) and proceeded to track some drums in between bouts of FIFA 2000.

we found a bass amp in the end (thanks Stu) and proceeded to track some drums and some bass. i got all arty with the drum kit and took this up close and personal account of a cymbol stand. cue interested "ooooh's"

we managed to finish all drums and all bass for all the songs we're doing. but, since we're procrastinating losers, we were too tired and proceeded to stay up too late at Harry's and resorted to the age old game of "Anatomy Based Humor Game!":

Day Two and it's all sounding good. with rythmn section sounding nice after a morning of over dubs and celebrations, on came the guitars and out came the vast amount of swearing and ballsing up takes. Kilkeel took me around an hour to track and after around the same amount of time, Harry was finally satisfied with one layer of guitar on "Brew Us A Potion". we then proceeded to rush through the other 5 or so layers of "post rock glory" until we were happy. and boy were we happy. this sounds quite big. Stu even smiled:

then lunch. we've been shopping and gorging off of the finest quisine from Iceland over the weekend. honestly though, 3 square meals for £1 each. flapping bargin! mind you, we'll all be shitting copious amounts in a few days so yeah, double edged sword to be fair. then back to the guitars and more sitting around and chin stroking and agreeing with what sounds good and what doesn't. I got inspired by Harry's playing and decided to capture Stu in all his beauticious glory

our best friend Matt came to visit and we tracked the last two guitar parts...

... before having to pack away with all instrumentation completed and a hearty dose of Pro Evo being played. vocals and further larks to come. stay tuned. bye now. Robin xxx

HUZZAAHHH!!!

We are pleased to announce that you can now buy our music from 7digital Indiestore, for just 77p a track! So please click the link below to view our page!

Also it would be widely appreciated if you could click the link below to give us a chance to support Feeder at their gig in Bristol! Would really help us out a lot and doesn't invlove you having to fill in any details, just a simple left-click will do the trick!

We are also no longer recording in Nottingham, but instead somewhere much closer to home and to our hearts: SOA Studios in Bristol, the birthplace of The Anticipation EP!

And finally, a big thanks to everyone who came and saw us in Plymouth last night at the White Rabbit for GBP's 2year anniversary! It was great to be back down there and we all had a lot of fun! We also have a number of gigs coming up in Bristol, so would be great to see some of you there!

APRIL
16th BRISTOL The Cooler (16+)  www.bristolticketshop.co.uk
23rd BRISTOL SWS Bristol Fringe @ The Cooler (16+) www.gigantic.com   
MAY
3rd BRISTOL The Croft 'all dayer' (16+) www.bristolticketshop.co.uk

Let us know if you can come!!!!!!

Lots of love,
Your Naturals xxxxxxx

so soon after the previous "blog attack!!!"...i apologize. i clearly have to much time on my hands. or rather, you have too much time on YOUR hands for paying so much close attention. well, due to such a factor, i salute you!

anyway, away from my obligatry lengthy beginning to a blog, here’s what’s been goings on.
 we’ve found out that we’ll be actually going somewhere secret (shhhh) to record again cause last time, we fucked up bad. too much halo and too much jazz is to blame. bloody jazz... still, we’re all very excited and we’ll be giving eachother a "right going over" in the studio as we try not to smear our money across the proverbial toilet that is; "technicality". basically, we’re going to try our drandest not to screw this one up :)

secondleeee. gigs galore this april. please do come and see us play as we’ve really been on the quiet side thus far into 2008. our sodding GCSEGETMETHEFUCKRIGHTOUTOFHERES’s and ALEVELMAKETHEMSTOP’s start in Maytime so we’re getting as much time in for gigging as we can before the summer. we’re going to try and book a tour after they’ve finished to make it all up to you.

thirdleeee. other various bands are doing stuff that YOU should be aware of:
SCIENTIST THE ORANGE PIP are steadily (deffinately less steadily than us) gearing up to play many a gig, one of which with the mighty OCEANSIZE, and also to release some new material. be a dear and show them the love and respect that you owe them. love you scientist the orange pip.
   also, those LOCARNOS are unleashing their merry summer time pop on the world to help blow away those darstadly winter time blues. that song "Give It To Me Straight" has already become engraved onto my cornia, so be another dear, and buy that single. make them famous. theyre better than "does it offend me? yes it does, now fuck off." love you the locarnos
   Harry (y’know, broody, silent guitarist in our band) has been doing some drawings that some friends of ours called GO DUTCH decided to use to decorate some flyers of theirs, which advertise some gigs that theyre doing soon. go on...go and see what all the fuss is about by checking out their myspace and attending these shows. phew. all these band’s deets (check me out) can be found in our top list of friends.

buy the YOUTHMOVIES album.

cheers then. robin xxx

hello you. how's it all going over there? really? i heard about that... well yes, this will be brief because i'm exhausted but a hello hello hello none the less.

thanks to all who made it out to our first Bristolianism gig this year (?!) and clapped us on our back again and again and those who caught me when i fell off the stage (how embarassing!) and those who wooped and cheered and sang! i could even hear the singing. thanks a lot then. thanks also to Farthing Wood and The Go Pogs for making such marvellous stage sharererers...despite searching for more (ab)formalities to list here, i'm pretty sure we all had a nice night. special thanks to Farthing Wood for making an amazing EP. check it out.

we've got a few gigs on the up and coming before the bedrock of drear and sullen sigh orientatated exams begin. one or two in Bristol which will be relished over extensively but we're also pleased to be returning to PLYMOUTH and exceedingly pleased to say that we're off to GLASTONBURY for the first time. with cLuMsY too! not to be missed. (i should mention, we're not playing the coveted festival...in case that is the link you made) anyway, if you can find it in your warm and loving hearts to pay extortionist prices to see us flail and carp infront of you for thirty minutes then please do come down and have a nice time with us : )

furthermore, new songs are being written cause we're bored of the old ones. you might be too. in such case, you'll thank us in the long run. no word yet on the release of any new material. sorry

say hi to everyone for me. much love from robin xxx