Formerly known as Little Thief, Oswald Slain’s sound is a rich tapestry woven from the threads of classic Americana, echoing the timeless vibes of Neil Young and The Band, whilst infusing it with the gritty, energetic rock essence familiar from their previous works. Anchored by the driving rhythms and fuzzy guitars, their music offers both reflective depth and an irresistible groove, promising music that resonates with both heart and soul.
With their debut album, BUCKY, out now, we took some time to hear from Oswald Slain. Read below to learn more about Oswald Slain, the story behind BUCKY, and what’s to come.
Hi! Let’s start with how did the band’s name come about?
We had been racking our brains for while about it and nothing seemed to really click. We were quite honestly in band name groundhog day hell and our options were pretty bad. At one point, we were going to be called “Drugs With Grandad,” although I quite like that one to be honest. Grease Factory was also being banded about but no…we were sitting in the Ill Repute in Bristol and it was on an old newspaper cutting framed on the wall. We thought it sounded fun, so just kinda went with it.
What city are you all from, and where are you all based now?
Rhii is from Blackwood in Wales and I am from Winchester. We’ve been living in Bristol for the last 10 years.
How and when did the band form?
We formed 2 years ago after we kinda re-formed from our old band Little Thief. We’ve been playing music together for ages in various different projects.
How would you all describe your band’s sound to readers who may not be familiar with you all?
It has some traces of americana with an indie twist. I love old 70’s song writing but it’s fun to kinda bring it up to date lyrically and have some really big rocky moments sonically.
Who are some of your group’s main musical influences?
Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Steely Dan, Father John Misty, iggy Pop, Steely Dan, The band.
What’s one of the proudest moments of your band’s music career so far?
I think getting this first album out was a huge moment for us. It was an insane amount of commitment, focus and sacrifice to get everything to work and come together.
What would you all say are the greatest lessons that you’ve all learned so far?
That graphic design and video making is basically the most important thing you could get good at if you want to be in this game. A few kind words can be enough to push someone towards their goals and that people come first.
Now onto BUCKY. What inspired this album?
Previous to making the record, I’d been in strange place, post lock down, quite unhappy a lot of the time, making this album was a cathartic humorous experience of shaking that all out and having something to focus on, grow and push forward with.
What is the overall theme of BUCKY?
Happiness.
What was the creative process like when making BUCKY?
It was really refreshing. I’d kinda write a couple of ideas in the morning then show them to the guys. We’d pick one then just kinda put it down. Warts and all. The vocals were done with the drums in the same small room on a £70 dynamic. Ryan (who took the lead role in production) would add some bits, I’d put some guitars on, Rhii put some vocals and we’d have it all cooking.
It was quick, cheap, and really, really, really fun.
How long did it take to complete BUCKY?
Ten days.
Is there a specific song on BUCKY that speaks to you all the most? If so, what is it called, and what is it about?
I like ’em all. I have a soft spot for “Happiness is Overrated.” It’s about how great things can come from feeling everything and how sometimes there is a certain peace in being a miserable bag of shit.
What message or messages do you all hope fans take away from BUCKY and your band’s music in general?
If it can be a friend to people on rough days, that’d make me very happy indeed… Life is a tragedy and that is the greatest comedy of all.
What’s next for you all? Are you all working on any upcoming projects, or do you all have any upcoming shows that we should be on the lookout for?
Our album launch is on the 6th of November in Bristol. We’re making another record at the beginning of January. We are going to the States in March, and I really, really want to book a little tour through Europe. I did it with another band called Wolfgang Valbraun (who is incredible by the way) and just can’t get enough of how well they treat artists over there. I mean you get fed…like delicious food…it’s unreal.
Where can we follow you all on social media?
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/oswaldslain
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/3IuKVSchn2kbstTS72MMIV
Before you go, let’s ask you something off topic. What is your favorite food?
Spaghetti Bolognese.
Thank you for the great interview; wish you much continued success!
