MCR Emerging | The Pretty Shapes
Who are The Pretty Shapes?
“4 piece rock-pop-blues band from Manchester with hip-hop and soul influences. We’re Sasha, Ryan, Benny and Kris and we launched earlier this year and it’s been a blast.”
Sum up your sound in 3 words
What are your main influences?
We all come from different musical backgrounds, which is why we have such a mixed sound. Ryan comes from a rock background, Benny loves Funk, Kris is into his Rock and Country acoustic stuff and Sasha used to gig around the Manchester Hip Hop scene, so we’ve essentially passed on our influences to each other and fused them together to get a little bit of everything in there.
Man United or Man City?
Sasha – ‘Who cares?’
Benny– ‘Eh?’
Ryan – ‘I’m from Ireland.’
Kris – United every time.
What do you love and hate most about the city?
Sasha – I love that its always buzzing, the music scene accommodates for everything from the completely alternative to mainstream and there’s always the feel of Manny Hip Hop floating in the air. Everywhere you look there’s musicians, I feel right at home.
Benny- I love the wide range of talented buskers that constantly surprise you with new music. However, I am more the countryside type so the city isn’t for me in terms of living but I do love the clubs and bars that make you feel very welcome during a gig.
Ryan – love the variety and I hate everyone trying to do a shit version of my accent.
Kris – I hate the pissing rain but this is home.
What’s your definition of good music?
Sasha – Something you can relate to, something that isn’t pretentious or shrouded with some completely irrelevant Marketing, just real music that makes you feel alive.
Benny – For me, good music is music that has taken skill to write rather than most of the chart music that parades around with the same old lyrics, melodies and artists. Obviously, it is to do with whatm makes you feel good as well but when certain artists get paid millions to essentially be a glamour model rather than a singer, it does get a bit silly.
Ryan – that’s a very difficult question.
Kris – Something that isn’t over produced, that’s not my kind of thing, and some nice classic country-style guitar.
Peace FM or Unity Radio?
Sasha- I didn’t really listen to radio then I got onto Unity simply because they played my shit so I tuned in, but then they got me hooked damn them.
Kris – No idea who either of them are.
Which Manchester act are you feeling the most at the moment?
Ryan – Sam Haine and the Blood Flames
Sasha – there’s loads of people who are waving the flag for good music in Manchester at the moment you can head down to gigs every night of the week and not be disappointed. The Paris Riots were great when I saw them last year and I’ve heard really great things are happening for them now but there’s loads of solo acts smashing it too. Basically anyone who’s making any kind of impact in Manchester right now deserves props because there’s some tough competition out there man I’m telling you.
Which is your favourite club in Manchester?
Sasha- I don’t really go clubbing, it’s all about the old man’s pubs like Gulliver’s, I just love the anything goes attitude. You could walk in the with your pj’s on and they wouldn’t flinch, it’s all about character there.
Benny – I’ve only just turned 18 so I really couldn’t tell you…anything with naked women.
Ryan – I’m more of a pub person, anywhere that serves Guinness.
Kris – Probably 5th Ave.
X Factor or The Voice?
Sasha – No thanks. Barely have time to watch TV let alone follow a series.
Ryan – I’d rather drink paint.
Kris – X Factor because at least it knows it’s a cop out show whereas The Voice pretends to be something it isn’t.
If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be, and why?
Sasha – M.I.A, my girl crush, she does everything, she’s just a powerhouse of a woman. Plus her music videos Bad Girls and Born Free were directed by Romain Gavras and he’s beyond unbelievable. I think I’d actually shave my hair and eyebrows off to work with him…not that it would be relevant at all.
Benny – I would love to jam with Onra, an excellent trip-hop producer. His beats are just incredible. I would also love to play with Caravan Palace, Mr Scruff, Tower of Power, Ugly Duckling, The Rolling Stones, Jamiriquai (I don’t know the spelling??), Beats Antique, Bob Dylan, and lots more. I like playing a lot of things so there’s a bit of a mix there.
Ryan – I would bring back Jeff Buckley from the dead because he’s a brilliant artist in every way. Robert Plant also just all round talent and an amazing voice.
Kris – Muse because they are my idol and Stu Hamm who is a fucking awesome bassist.
iPhone or Blackberry?
Death to the pair of ‘em I have neither, so team HTC thank you! Failing that, iPhone it is, because these Blackberry’s always seem to have some issue
2Pac or Biggie?
Benny – Nokia 3510i
Ryan – I’m a digitally cleansed
Kris – Blackberry
Sasha – Either would be better than my piece of shit…don’t get me started, I hate my phone.
Tell us a secret about yourself
Sasha – I hate it when people go anywhere near my bellybutton.
Benny – I can’t leave the house without my juggling balls and a beanie hat.
Kris – Im a massive geek, well that’s not really a secret but there you go.
Ryan – I have one nipple too many.
One thing you would like to do before you die?
Sasha – play the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury.
Benny – go travelling around Europe by foot… oh and make a giant swing.
Ryan – record an album of music that I actually love.
Kris – ride a Moto GP bike or a Formula one car, one or the other will do.
In the next five years what you would like to achieve?
Sasha – world tour.
Benny – being able to use the toilet by myself.
Ryan – an income, preferably from music.
Kris – just want to be successful in whatever we do.
What are The Pretty Shapes upto at the moment?
Recording our EP Tiger Pistol Shrimp slowly but surely, will be out by the end of this year…watch out!
Where do The Pretty Shapes live?
You can catch The Pretty Shapes at allaboutgoodmusic Live on Sunday 29th July 2012!
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MCR Emerging is a feature exclusive to allaboutgoodmusic.co.uk, spotlighting the best upcoming musical talent from Manchester.
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