Newcastle Jumpin Jack’s – 17/02/18
Now, this is a new venue for me, seeing a band for the first time. The venue is Jumpin Jack’s, a tiny venue above an awesome bar just a few minutes from the train station in Newcastle, so that’s an ideal situation for me. The band in question is Divide, whom I’ve been following for a few years now but been waiting to see for a very long time! I’ve seen them be on top of the world and after a few lineup changes and last year’s EP, ‘Embers’ they’re back to their best. I had a chance to catch up with them and see how their tour has been.
Jack: Hello everyone. So, you guys released ‘Embers’ back in November. Now you’ve had a chance to play those out and about on the road in the UK, how’s the reception been to them?
Divide: Surprisingly good. There have been some people singing the tracks back to us and we’ve been recording little videos for the tour as well which are available on social media.
Jack: And is there any favourites of yours you always love playing?
Divide: ‘Embers’, the title track which is a very energetic one. ‘Catalyst’ because some of the crowds have been singing that one back to us. We start off the set quite energetic then let the crowd rest for a track and then we smash it back up again. There’s always a middle ground we have. We have been thinking of a music video for ‘Embers’ as well, a pretty energetic one would be pretty cool to do. Maybe a live video from this tour.
Jack: Oooh, that’d be awesome, would I be able to get in on that?
Divide: You could be in it, we can make that happen, do the worm or a Frankenstein dance.
Jack: Nah I’d just end up doing making a fool of myself. But I could possibly see myself doing that.
Divide: We’re going to hold you to that.
Jack: Oh please don’t hold me to that. (Spoiler alert: I had to leave a few songs into Divide’s set for my train back to my place so I don’t know if they did call me out on that).
And also on the EP, is there anything not many people know about it?
Divide: Any secrets? We don’t have any hidden tracks on it but we’d love to bring a hidden track on it. I think Sink This City is probably the only love song I’ve ever written.
Jack: And working on the EP, you had the chance to work with Romesh Dodangoda, what helped make Embers what it was?
Divide: He knew exactly what to do. It was always a yes, he already knew what was happening because we sent him the demos and he didn’t change us, he just helped enhance us.
We reckon he could drink Dave under the table in Vodka, they both like that stuff.
Jack: And that answers my question on their favourite drinks.
Divide: Scott’s guilty pleasure is rose wine.
Jack: I’m not too fond of that.
Divide: Lambrini though, it’s cheap and cheerful and tastes good whereas rose wine you get more bang for your buck.
Jack: Going back to the being an unsigned band do you think that relieves the pressure if you weer on a label?
Divide: It doesn’t really make a difference at this point because we’ve never been on a label so we have control over what we do, so it makes it less stressful. We don’t want to play music we don’t enjoy. But if someone wanted to change us, we’d be like this isn’t right for us.
Jack: And funding the money was through Pledgemusic, would you say that’s the future for music?
Divide: No, it was an experience, we can say we’ve done it but we wouldn’t do it again. It was more trouble than it was worth because it’s about giving the special experience to fans because one of the things was an Origami jar, Scott gave hiss bass away, Nando’s with the band and handwritten lyrics sheet.
Jack: And when you guys aren’t eating or playing shows what do you do in your downtimes?
Divide: Work, work, work and reherse. If we didn’t have jobs we wouldn’t have the opportunity to do this. Most bands you listen to have two jobs, they pay their own way just like anyone else .
Jack: And after you wrap up the tour whats next?
Divide: We have a show in March with Holding Absence
Jack: And is the next goal an album?
Divide: We’d absoltuley love to do an album, we’d work toward it but realisticly it’s going to be a stream of singles. As long as we can do that and make time for ourselves, that would be really good for us to do.
Jack: And on touring ambitions where would you love to P-
Divide: Japan.
Jack: Two things, One. I know you’d say Japan, I knew you would. And two, I’m sorry for laughing so much there.
Divide: It’s okay. Liam is obsessed with it, he thinks he’s Japanese. But Nicole loves the food, loves fashion, it’s a dream. I love babymetal, to support them would be the dream.
Europe would be fun to play in the future, it would just cost a lot to get out there. Maybe one day.
Jack: And is there anything you want to say before we wrap things up?
Divide: Thanks for coming along, it’s been really fun
Jack: This is my first divide show as well, I’ve been looking forward to it for a long time now and I cant wait for you guys to come on.
Here is Divide’s latest video for ‘Catalyst’.