Fuck Yeah Music Stories: We know you are from Oxford, how and when did you start in music?
A Silent Film: The band formed in 2005, we used to rehearse in a wooded shed at the bottom of an orchard in a house Spencer and I were renting just outside Oxford. We had a cat called Pebbles, fairy lights and hammocks in the trees, we had wild parties and there were always people hanging around, sleeping over in tents or cooking on the BBQ. It was a very soulful and creative place.
A Silent Film: The band formed in 2005, we used to rehearse in a wooded shed at the bottom of an orchard in a house Spencer and I were renting just outside Oxford. We had a cat called Pebbles, fairy lights and hammocks in the trees, we had wild parties and there were always people hanging around, sleeping over in tents or cooking on the BBQ. It was a very soulful and creative place.
(Photo: Michelle Riendeau)
FYMS: As artists, which are your biggest dreams?
ASF: It's embarrassing to list them all but there are a few milestones that mean a lot to us personally like the approval of friends and family: sometimes they are the harshest critics and it hurts when they're right. I guess there a few more selfish dreams we have, like performing at the Royal Albert Hall in London or collaborating with artists we admire.
ASF: It's embarrassing to list them all but there are a few milestones that mean a lot to us personally like the approval of friends and family: sometimes they are the harshest critics and it hurts when they're right. I guess there a few more selfish dreams we have, like performing at the Royal Albert Hall in London or collaborating with artists we admire.
FYMS: Susana from Portugal asks “How’s the writing and recording of the new album going?”
ASF: Very well Susana, thank you. We've been hiding up in Arizona with mountain lions, snakes and cowboys. We've spent a long time on this album and it's going to be heavenly to play these songs out live for the first time.
ASF: Very well Susana, thank you. We've been hiding up in Arizona with mountain lions, snakes and cowboys. We've spent a long time on this album and it's going to be heavenly to play these songs out live for the first time.
FYMS: Amy from North Carolina emailed us “How has touring the US changed them?”
ASF: Amy, we were shocked how much touring the US changed us. We didn't have any crew or friends with us on our first major tour, we couldn't afford their flights and we didn't know anyone here so we simply hired a van and drove ourselves. It was one of the best experiences of my life so far, we drove through landscapes we had only read about, through thunder storms that were unimaginable and deserts that just went on for ever.
ASF: Amy, we were shocked how much touring the US changed us. We didn't have any crew or friends with us on our first major tour, we couldn't afford their flights and we didn't know anyone here so we simply hired a van and drove ourselves. It was one of the best experiences of my life so far, we drove through landscapes we had only read about, through thunder storms that were unimaginable and deserts that just went on for ever.
FYMS: Which are the artists that influence you the most?
ASF: There are too many to mention, we have an extremely broad taste throughout the band. Personally, right now I am listening to a mix of Bon Iver, John Grant and Bob Dylan.
ASF: There are too many to mention, we have an extremely broad taste throughout the band. Personally, right now I am listening to a mix of Bon Iver, John Grant and Bob Dylan.
FYMS: On the same basis as the last one, Lisa from Kansas City askes “who is the greatest drummer ever and why?” stating it wasn’t only for Spencer.
ASF: Spencer would say Roger Taylor from Queen and rightfully so! And also that guy on youtube, search for 'this drummer is at the wrong gig'.
ASF: Spencer would say Roger Taylor from Queen and rightfully so! And also that guy on youtube, search for 'this drummer is at the wrong gig'.
(This is the video Robert mentioned above)
FYMS: Your sonority is compared to bands like Keane, Coldplay and Snow Patrol. How do you feel to be compared with bands like those? Does it give you any encouragement in your career?
ASF: Sure, it's nice. I can hear parts of what we do in those bands but it's just the tip of the iceberg regarding where we see ourselves when we've been playing as long as those guys.
ASF: Sure, it's nice. I can hear parts of what we do in those bands but it's just the tip of the iceberg regarding where we see ourselves when we've been playing as long as those guys.
FYMS: Jane from Belgium emailed us a question. “Are you guys planning a European tour? If so when?”
ASF: Certainly Jane, as soon as the album is released in Europe we'll be making our way through Belgium. Will you take us out for waffles?
ASF: Certainly Jane, as soon as the album is released in Europe we'll be making our way through Belgium. Will you take us out for waffles?
FYMS: We know you love Portugal. Which are the best things you remember from this country?
ASF: The wonderful fans and friends we made there last year. It's a beautiful country and we cannot wait to get back.
ASF: The wonderful fans and friends we made there last year. It's a beautiful country and we cannot wait to get back.
(Photo: Brígida Brito - Guimarães, 2010)
FYMS: Which is your favorite from your new record? And from “The City That Sleeps”? Is there any particular reason?
ASF: There's an old song called 'Anastasia' that's been kicking around for a while but we just nailed it for this record. Can't name a favourite off TCTS, we'll fall back in love with that record when we start playing live again next year.
ASF: There's an old song called 'Anastasia' that's been kicking around for a while but we just nailed it for this record. Can't name a favourite off TCTS, we'll fall back in love with that record when we start playing live again next year.
FYMS: A Silent Film has some live experiences. Do you have any rituals before having a show?
ASF: Change your shoes and socks and clean your teeth. Hygiene is key to a good performance.
ASF: Change your shoes and socks and clean your teeth. Hygiene is key to a good performance.
FYMS: Eric from Wisconsin tweet us this “If you could play a show anywhere in the world, where would it be?”
ASF: Beneath the Aurora Borealis, in the snow, somewhere cold. And obviously Wisconsin, Eric.
ASF: Beneath the Aurora Borealis, in the snow, somewhere cold. And obviously Wisconsin, Eric.
FYMS: With similar questions, two fans ask you “Which is the best experience from your US tour? And how has that changed you?”
ASF: We ended up doing a four day residency in Las Vegas, two shows a night on the casino floor. We were competing with the razz and dazzle of Vegas which made us raise our game. Definitely a unique series of shows.
ASF: We ended up doing a four day residency in Las Vegas, two shows a night on the casino floor. We were competing with the razz and dazzle of Vegas which made us raise our game. Definitely a unique series of shows.
FYMS: Which is the craziest thing that ever happened to you?
ASF: Winning in-studio performance of the year on Sirius XM in New York, runners up were Brandon Flowers and The Black Keys, two bands I truly admire.
ASF: Winning in-studio performance of the year on Sirius XM in New York, runners up were Brandon Flowers and The Black Keys, two bands I truly admire.
FYMS: Once your album is released, which are the next steps to take?
ASF: Total non-stop touring and writing the third album.
ASF: Total non-stop touring and writing the third album.
FYMS: Amy from North Carolina sent us the sweetest email – telling us how she had met you, last April, on your Chapel Hill in NC show. She asks “Could Robert describe his lyric writing process?”
ASF: Hi Amy, I remember meeting you. My lyric writing process begins intensely personally. I love to tell stories in songs but I try never to write literally. I believe lyrics should be interpreted and felt, not always easily understood.
ASF: Hi Amy, I remember meeting you. My lyric writing process begins intensely personally. I love to tell stories in songs but I try never to write literally. I believe lyrics should be interpreted and felt, not always easily understood.
(Photo: Anton Coene)
FYMS: If you didn’t belong to the music world, where would you imagine yourselves at?
ASF: I'm always drawn to creativity and expression, in Brooklyn some guys were playing out a scene from Shakespeare's Romeo Juliet on the subway. I'd like to think I would find a way to be creative no matter what life throws at us.
ASF: I'm always drawn to creativity and expression, in Brooklyn some guys were playing out a scene from Shakespeare's Romeo Juliet on the subway. I'd like to think I would find a way to be creative no matter what life throws at us.
FYMS: Susana from Portugal asks “What are you thankful for?”
ASF: Every single person that ever picked up an ASF album or came to our shows.
ASF: Every single person that ever picked up an ASF album or came to our shows.
FYMS: We know you have a great relationship with your fans. Which was the most awkward and the best moment you had?
ASF: I hate it when we come back to a city and cannot remember someone's name, on the other hand I get a real kick out of remembering someone's name.
ASF: I hate it when we come back to a city and cannot remember someone's name, on the other hand I get a real kick out of remembering someone's name.
FYMS: Complete these sentences...
a) One Day...
ASF: ... we will write a song that will be played at either someones wedding or at someone's funeral.
b) The best thing people can say about me...
ASF: ... I'm punctual
a) One Day...
ASF: ... we will write a song that will be played at either someones wedding or at someone's funeral.
b) The best thing people can say about me...
ASF: ... I'm punctual
c) And the worst...
ASF: ... I'm impatient
d) In ten years...
ASF: … we'll all be ten years wiser
ASF: ... I'm impatient
d) In ten years...
ASF: … we'll all be ten years wiser
FYMS: What would you tell to FYMS readers?
ASF: Thanks for reading, let's catch up and get a coffee soon.
Special thanks to Robert and A Silent Film, their manager, credited photographers - Brígida Brito, Anton Coene and Michelle Riendeau - and the owner of the video excerpt above, Susana.
ASF: Thanks for reading, let's catch up and get a coffee soon.
Special thanks to Robert and A Silent Film, their manager, credited photographers - Brígida Brito, Anton Coene and Michelle Riendeau - and the owner of the video excerpt above, Susana.
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