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Wednesday 7 November 2007


Watch it.....Trash Fashion are here


My nose is dripping and I sound like I’ve had a sock rammed down my throat. Getting over a cold isn’t easy, especially whilst drinking a warm can of carling I bought from the over priced offie around the corner from Trash Fashions humble lair. Nonetheless I end up relaxed on the couch with the band inside. A band that doesn’t take things too seriously; it’s like sitting at home, drinking tea with some repairmen .

They don’t do things in small measures, I discover, as we chat lazily about their beginnings and the highs and lows of a struggling band.
‘We started in Birmingham and there’ve been a few members since we started, especially drummers. Bam Bam’s our like 20th in the band. We’ve only been going properly since Kbomb joined’ says Jet Mason, vocalist and one half of founding brotherhood Storm. ‘We’ve done most of the work ourselves. We’ve had to, but I guess you can nowadays. You’ve control over what you’re doing more, but we’re lucky to have the right people around us too.’

So how did the band come up with such an obscure yet direct name?
‘We got the name trash fashion and kept it because it’s so shit. It sums us up well really’ Laughs Jet, to the raucous laughter of everyone else in the room ‘The whole thing wasn’t supposed to be like trailer trash fashion, but just having fun and doing what you want. Not giving a fuck about fashion or trends.’

And the sound does the name proud. A fierce mix of growling hardcore, synth pop and cock rock are just a few of the elements that make up Trash fashion, known for their sloppy, loud and head thumping abrasiveness, epitomized in the infamous debut ‘It’s a Rave Dave’. But they’re due to release EP ‘Mom and Daddy’, and are keen to show that they’re more than just horn blowing, snotty, stripping ravers.
‘Basically, there’s five new tracks; mom and daddy, the original, is a departure from that whole ‘it’s a rave Dave’ thing’ tells Jet, ‘we love that track, but it wasn’t a fair signifier of what our band is actually about, so we needed to give this EP more.
It’s got a bit of everything; ‘Mom and Daddy’ is harder, ‘Give It Up’ is abit more indie and ‘You’re Dead’ goes much more rock, plus we’ve got the remixes at the end which obviously go on a more danceable path, so you can still go mental.’ Kbomb assures.
‘I think before we became a full band, we were OTT and our music just wasn’t coherent enough. We’re spending more time on songs nowadays. There’s someone to tell me ‘NO! That’s shit’ and keep the creative reigns on me, where there wasn’t before’ answers Jet when I ask if he’s had to dumb down.

These undiluted musical styles, the brightly coloured mismatched clothes and that single have hoisted the band into the nu-rave bracket.
‘I don’t really care’ pipes Jet when asked about their feelings towards it. ‘It’s not something we’ve considered either way; it’s just an umbrella term. I think it’s more about smashing the stereotyped image of bands and it’s more about lifestyle than music.’
‘If some kid says “hey I like your band and I’m into nu-rave”, I’m not going to be mad’ adds Kbomb, the bands American-European Bass player, ‘if someone likes our band then someone likes us.’

It’s not entirely surprising that a large quantity of these fans are kids, attracted to their excitingly vibrant, no holds barred attitude. ‘It’s always good that it’s the kids because when they get into you early then they’re yours for life y’know? Its great to have the influence, whereas older people already have their minds made up; they judge on their young musical experiences and it’s harder to gain their attention’ Jet jovially and enthusiastically explains.

And to top things off, the band landed a surprise support slot on Faithless’ tour, something that would surely be abit tame for these young punks to open up for…
‘We knew sister bliss through a friend of a friend when we first came to London. She came to a few shows and really enjoyed it’ smiles Jet. ‘Calvin Harris was to support but couldn’t make it so she asked us last minute’
‘As it was at the NIA, it was round the corner from us, so we managed to get loads of our mates in; it was so cool’ agrees Mason
‘It came from nowhere, we didn’t really have a plan’ concurs Jet, ‘but at the end people were coming over a saying “hey, that was great; who are you?” It was well scary.

With such a bright and queasily loud ethos, I end my chat by talking about their varying influences. Michael Jackson and have been cited; but what about Iron Maiden? What would they make of their dress sense?
‘That’s mainly from us, the brothers’ beams Mason, the guitarist and original member. ‘We actually sent Bruce Dickinson a couple of tracks to listen too.
Jet: He hasn’t played it yet, but we’re waiting. He’s got it though, id be interested to hear what he makes of it!
‘I think we’d have enough to say about their fashion sense’ chuckles Kbomb
‘Yeah, people in glasshouses shouldn’t throw stones’ snorts Jet, followed by eruptions of laughter around the room.











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