THE MICRODANCE (UK): The Noise Pop/Rock masters of Hackney
The Microdance is an Alternative Rock / Shoegaze band from Hacknet, UK.
Their Bandcamp page states:
TMD is band conceived with a vision to encapsulate the most exciting elements of alternative music, all under the bonnet of one super-charged vehicle.
TMD’s music has been described as a quickening blend of shoegaze, alt rock, new wave, dream pop, psychedelia and heavy metal. But the truth is that there is no stylistic limit to their capabilities.
The lead vocalist, Alex Keevil, described the band's music very well in a 2014 interview to FourCulture
I’ve always wanted TMD to be a vehicle by which we can create an exciting blend all the parts we find exciting about alternative music under one banner. I may come from the school of aggressive alt rock, shoegaze or whatever, but I’m listening to ‘Ring’ by the Connells as I write this. I love that album so much. So while people often write that a blend of bands like the Pumpkins, The Cure, Fleetwood Mac, MBV, Deftones, The Joy Formidable, etc. constitutes our core sound, the influences are actually a bit more comprehensive — some emotional, some sonic. Sometimes we just want to convey an attitude, and that transcends genre. It’s possible to project the power of heavy metal , the imperious attitude of Phil Anselmo, without chugging, distorted riffs. Some of the best pop music does exactly that.
The current line-up is:
Alex Keevill: Guitars, Synth & Vocals.
Andy Davis: Guitars.
John Ganner: Drums.
Diletta Gari: Bass & Vocals.
Their music work to date is:
2019: Gloom², single; Sad Hearts in Hell, EP; Hippo Highway!, EP; Lovesick Kisses, EP
2016: 3am Fuck 'em Blues, mini album
2015: New Waves of Hope, album
2014: Signed (by TMD) THE MICRODANCE, 'Moopy Moop' & THE ADORING HEIRS 'DEEP RED'. Split 7"
2013: Yo Yo @ 26 !; Moopy Moop/Skulduggery, double single
2012: Enemies of Love:Goodbye Lily Laser/Don't.Stop.Love
2011: Get Dark, EP
2009: Yo Yo at 26
2008: Her Ride To The Star, EP
2002: Foundlings - a collection of unreleased, forgotten but much loved songs
2001: Slinky - Alex demo with Sam Sever and James Davies
You can find their latest work on Somewherecold Records.
What is your music about?
Love, hate, pride, shame, regret, contentment. Everything and its antonym!
What are your goals as an artist artistically/commercially?
To know my audience. Everyone is paying for plays and social media engagement. As Dostoevsky said: “Above all, don't lie to yourself. The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love.”
Who would you want as a dream producer, and why?
Flood. Because he manages to bring bands into an entirely new sonic universe without forsaking what made them special in the first place. U2, Nine Inch Nails, Smashing Pumpkins all took huge, ambitiously creative leaps under him. He’s fearless – for example, he’s not afraid to have a band who rely heavily on engineering chops to achieve their studio sound record live. His stamp is engraved in the work he does – the Pains of Being Pure at Heart album record ‘Belong’ has so many of his tiny touches all over it that in my mind bring it up from an average to decent work to a lovely album.
What are you trying to avoid as a band?
Stagnation and deterioration.
Explain your songwriting process.
Schizophrenic
Why do you make the music you make? Is it in you? Is it your environment?
Both
Describe your palette of sound.
Every colour has its artistic purpose. Even brown can do a job!
If you could guest on someone else’s album , who would it be and why? What would you play?
I’d love to play some guitar solos for Woods of Desolation. The production on their stuff is strange, -lo-fi, almost claustrophobic but it really works with the music which is heavy and fantastically beautiful. I’d like to add some colour to the monochrome with some crazy, super affected guitars!
What musical skills would you like to acquire or get better at?
Just to learn a few more instruments. I started playing piano in 2015 but a combination of anomalous life circumstances and mental health issues almost halted that. I can write on piano and play some half decent five chord covers, but I’m not slamming the Chopin yet!
Is there a band that if they didn’t exist you wouldn’t be making the music you make?
Smashing Pumpkins. Siamese Dream literally changed my life. From thereon, the band expanded their repertoire so much that I started to believe that it is possible to cover every facet of alternative rock while maintaining the same level of quality. And that quality, to me, was formidable: from huge, sprawling album tracks to strange b-sides (sometimes six to each single – six songs would be a substantial album these days!) – alt rock, shoegaze, new wave, jangle pop, country tinged stuff, heavy metal, it’s all there and within 10 seconds, you know it’s a Billy Corgan song. Up until 2000, I though every single one of their 100 or so released songs were perfect.
I still believe in quantity as well as quality, that’s why you’ll always get a b-side to a TMD single or at least an hour’s run time to a TMD album. I’ve just got to find a way to put more music out.
