Media Development Portfolio: Whatever Tomorrow Brings: Production Event Article

Whatever Tomorrow Brings are a Birmingham based alternative rock band who have been signed to the record label Melomania for a month now. They have previously performed at the likes of the 02 Academy and the HMV Institute.

The remarkably chilled out band members turn up to the interview forty minutes late in true rock ‘n’ roll style. Leading me on a twenty minute journey into Digbeth, drummer Andrew Swann (with girlfriend in tow) and bassist Jimmi Dann exude an extremely laid back attitude, travelling without any sense of navigation.

Twenty minutes later, we eventually reach our destination – the darkly lit corner pub, ‘The Moseley Arms', where indie rock music is blasting full volume, and a band are setting up in the corner. Here I meet lead singer Jamie Bradbury and guitarist Seamus Corrigan. We head outside into the beer garden, where Jamie and Seamus strike up a game of pool, and I join the other half of the band at the table to talk music and multiculturalism…

First, we cover the basics. When asked when the band first formed, the lads seem indecisive upon a precise date. This could be due to the fact the group have changed their format several times over the years. “We have juggled around with different members overtime but we now have a committed format,” Swann states. After many line-up changes, the band finally obtained a stable structure when Seamus joined in 2011.

In terms of who influences their music, the band confess they don’t fit in with what you’d normally describe as the classic White British band; describing their style as Americanised- ‘Foo Fighters meets Nickelback’.

What I wanted to know more about though, was why the band decided to shift genres- transferring from indie rock, which is where they initially started at the beginning, to the alternative rock style music they have since adopted. “It just wasn’t our scene…We realised our style had changed over time,” Swann says. “When Jimmi joined the band, it was during our pop punk stage, which was the worst stage we went through! Another reason we decided to move to rock was because this genre best suits Jamie’s voice.”

When asked about the genre of Brit pop in relation to multicultural music, the boys instantly show a division of opinion. Swann exhibits an instant passion for Oasis, a highly successful Brit pop band: “I love Brit pop as a music genre. Oasis are one of my favourite bands.” Jimmi also claimed to enjoy this genre- listening to artists like The Verve, Blur and Stereophonics.

The other half of the band however, demonstrate a strong dislike for Brit pop, preferring heavier rock. Seamus likes artists such as The Blackout, and Jamie listens to 100 Reasons, stating: “I’m much more into the rock genre.”

In terms of listening to music from other cultures, Swann claims to enjoy a bit of reggae music. The members instantly refer to Seamus as ‘enjoying folk music’ to which he replies “but I actually do!” and they all laugh (all members are White British, but Seamus is Irish).

With such a diversity of opinions in terms of music genres, I start to wonder how Whatever Tomorrow Brings function as a band, and what sort of music they produce. So I checked out some of their music via a YouTube video uploaded recently- a sneak preview of the band’s upcoming debut EP, including tasters of the songs ‘Always’ and ‘In Your Eyes’. I feel with its sultry, moody tones, ‘Always’ should be on the soundtrack of an American movie, containing deep and meaningful lyrics such as ‘You say that I’m in this heart forever, and if it’s meant to be then I’m sure that we’ll get back together’. The second track is equally as expressive, powerful and dramatic. To me, ‘In Your Eyes’ is an emotional, hard-hitting song with its direct lyrics and catchy chorus. Ultimately, both tracks are definitely reminiscent of American bands.