Midnite City have to be one of the best live acts around at the moment so it must be doubly cutting for them that they won’t immediately be able to support their new album ‘Itch You Can’t Scratch’ when it hits on May 28th. We’ve already had the teaser single ‘Crawlin’ In The Dirt‘ which showcased a heavier sound to the band and there are two more singles to come before the album drops. This album, Rob Wylde tells us, is something that fans will love but a record that also tries a few new things. After a wonderful live debut in Australia back in March (which at the moment are the band’s most recent dates) we’re also wanting them back Downunder. For all that and more… read on. You can also check out the new single and Rob’s ‘5 albums for isolation’ on March’s Rockpit Podcast.
Rob: Hey buddy how you doing?
Mark: I’m great thanks mate, how’s things over there?
Rob: Not great, not great dude, it’s pretty bad over here to be honest with you. The good thing is they’ve got the vaccine and are starting to roll it out but it’ still pretty much in a full lockdown really. So it’s gonna be, I don’t know, maybe autumn before anything’s back to normal over here. How’s it over there?
Mark: We had one case that came out of hotel quarantine last week and they locked us down for five days. We got a taste of what it’s like in the rest of the world without the Covid.
Rob: (laughs and sighs)
Mark: It must be hell out there for people who make their living plying live music. You guys had so much lined up for the remainder of last year and this year, it must be heartbreaking mate. It must be a huge strain.
Rob: Yeah it’s just been awful this past year and the problem is that we still don’t know how long it’s gonna last. No one here has a clue, the UK it’s just been handled really badly. We’ve had about 110,000 deaths which is just ridiculous. I think we’re like the second worst country outside of the States.
Mark: That was what I read.
Rob: On the bright side the vaccination process is actually going really well, they’ve vaccinated about 11 million people. So there’s kind of a little glimmer of hope that by summer time the restrictions might be lifted, but in terms of actually playing shows and stuff we have a load of stuff from last year that kind went over to this year and also we’ve booked a tour for August just in case but whether it will happen or not, it’s very doubtful. We’ve also got a new booking agent with our new label and he’s basically saying “I’m not booking anything this year, but we’ll look at stuff for spring of next year” So that doesn’t leave you with that much hope, but I don’t know mate, I don’t think anybody really knows what the hell is going on. It’s just the worst time, it feels like it’s been going on forever. We’ve had a full year of this now and there’s no real end in sight.
Mark: It’s not good mate, and for a band that’s come along in leaps and bounds over the last few years and with a new album on the horizon the timing is impeccably shit!
Rob: (laughs) Yeah! (laughs) It couldn’t be worse! We were just getting into our stride with everything, it was really starting to take off then this happens! And that’s why we kinds thought let’s just push ahead and put the album out because we switched labels for this new album and at one point they were saying “why don’t we put it out next year?” but we couldn’t do that, as a band you have to be seen to be doing stuff, so we’ve done videos, we did the live stream just before Christmas and we’ve got a whole new fan group now called the Midnite Army. So we’re trying our best just to keep things going. Because if you just stop and don’t do anything, that’s it people forget about you.
Mark: I love what you’re doing and you’re right you have got to keep going, ignoring the fact that there’s no ‘live’ and building in other ways. Getting back to happier times though just before Covid hit we got to see you on your first Australian visit in Melbourne at the Melodic Rock Fest. A Festival its fair to say didn’t go entirely to plan but one at which for a lot of people Midnite City was their absolute highlight. People told me they couldn’t believe how good you were onstage, you converted a heap of people that day. Everyone is asking the impossible question – are you coming back?
Rob: Yeah, I’m hoping so. Like I said we’ve got a tour tentatively booked for August and we’ve actually got shows all over the summer in the UK and Europe, but I can’t see those going ahead. We’ve actually been talking to the Japanese promoter who brought us over to Japan last time and it’s very likely we’ll be going back, fingers crossed, at the end of this year or next year. And there has been talk of us doing some Australian stuff as well. So maybe Japan and then Australia would make sense. So I hope so. There has been talk, that I can’t say much about on the record, about maybe doing shows with a big 80’s band to do some stuff in Australia. So there’s plans in the works, it’s just up in the air as to when we can do them.
Mark: we’ll keep everything crossed mate. Solet’s turn to the first single from the new record – there’s a nice harder edge to it, though still those wonderful melodies. Great to see you mixing it up a bit. Is that harder edge going to be characteristic of the new record?
Rob: Not really, it’s a little bit harder and a little bit edgier in places but it’s kinda weird – what we decided to do with the first single is, and the record label wanted a say in the single choices, because it’s not the obvious single because most of the album has that Pop Metal Melodic kinda sound, but I guess the single is a little tougher – a little more Skid Row-ish. The label thought it would be a good idea to do something a little different to catch people’s attention. So there are a couple of songs like that on the album, a couple of edgier, heavier songs; but there’s still a ton of classic Midnite City songs on the album as well. You now the really Poppy, Good-time Rock songs. There’s a couple of big Power Ballads of course. But I think this time the album is a little more diverse, and we’ve tried a few more different things this time around. But if you love the first two albums, you’ll absolutely love this album – it’s like the best of the first two and then we’ve added something a little extra to the mix. It’s definitely our best, and we have another couple of singles coming out before the album hits in May. We’re actually shooting a video for the next one which is gonna be a song called ’Atomic’, (laughs) which of course is quite tricky in these times but we think we’ve worked it out – we’re shooting this Saturday and it’s out March 5th I think.
Mark: I shall look forward to that.
Rob: And the third single is out the beginning of May just before the album comes out.
Mark: I know you started the album back in February before we saw you down here, when was it all done and dusted, mixed and mastered?
Rob: It’s been a weird time really, we actually stated recording, and it’s hard as at the moment every day and every week kind of blends into one (laughs)!
Mark: (laughs)
Rob: I think I’m right in saying we started recording this time last year, so you’re right. And we were actually making really good progress before we came out to Australia in March. I think by then we had three songs completely recorded, done and dusted and the plan was to play Australia and then we had a Festival the weekend after we got back from Australia but that got cancelled, so the plan was then to just plough on with the album, so we purposely didn’t have any shows booked for April and May of last year so we could finish it. The plan was to finish it around June time and then to release it around September or October. But then of course everything happened and so even the way we recorded this time was completely different. Usually myself and Pete work really close together in his studio- but this time around literally the whole album was recorded in 5 different studios. So none of us actually got together to do any of the recording – it was all done separately and put together that way. So that obviously took a little more time because there was definitely a couple of months over summer where we couldn’t really do that much which kinda delayed everything but the around the end of the summer – July and August they lifted the restrictions a little in the UK as things started to get better – so we cracked on with it then. So I think we had it all finished around about October, November time. So it’s been a long wait and we switched labels so we had new contracts to look over and that took a while. So it’s been a long process and we are all really looking forward to finally getting it out! (laughs) And because of all those obstacles I think this has been a much harder album to complete and records, whereas the others have been a lot easier to do.
Mark: It was interesting to hear that Covid radically changed the way you put things together, take us through the process, I imagined that you would maybe put together a demo and then share it with the guys and then everyone would have their input? Is that how it works?
Rob: Yeah what I’ll do is I’ll do some rough demos in the studio lay down the drums, bass and keys and do a rough demo, usually how we do it is to work on three songs at a time – so I’ll work on the first three that I pick and do the demos, share them with the guys and then Pete will re-do the drums and start putting it all together, and then we’ll file-share – do all our parts at home and then send them to Pete and he’ll put them together like that. But in the past I’d go round to Pete’s studio and we’ll work together side-by-side on the whole album really, whereas this time it was a lot of face-timing and emailing! (laughs) But we got it done!
Mark: And you have had some other projects on the go too, keeping you busy during lockdown?
Rob: Yeah, I’ve got a few things. I actually did the project with Darren Phillips, an Australian guy, – singing a Paul Stanley solo track from ‘89 that was never released. I think he wrote it, and a few others back in ’89 for a solo album that never materialised but all the demos are on YouTube so Darren thought it would be a cool idea to cover one of those songs along with other guys from various bands. That was a nice little studio project. So I did that and also a Kiss cover on the CD. So I think I’ll be doing some more stuff with him, just singing on stuff –he’s got some ideas. I’ve also been doing a little bit of writing for the third Nitrate album which is with a friend of mine here in Nottingham – I’ve co-written a couple of songs on that album. So kinda doing bits and bobs you know and I’m always writing songs, and being home a lot makes you open to doing different things. I’m trying to keep as busy as I can really.
Mark: But not diversifying further? We’re not going to be seeing you on YouTube doing a few cooking videos or anything like that?
Rob: (laughing) Absolutely not! Thank God my girlfriend can cook, I’m just the worst cook. So that will never happen thankfully! I think I’ll just stick to music as I’m pretty bad at everything else!
Mark: And you’re pretty damn good at that mate as I’ve known for many a year. I can’t with for the album which hopefully should be with me pretty soon. Is there anything else you can tell us about the album? You’ve given us the name of the next single – anything else you can reveal.
Rob: Yeah. As I said the next single is a song called ‘Atomic’ which is so Def Leppard it’s ridiculous! (laughs) There’s no getting away from the Def Leppard influence on the next one, it really probably is the biggest sounding song we’ve ever put out – the production on it is just crazy! We did this whole solo section and then afterwards we did assort of Hysteria thing were we kinda like had backwards vocals going on and we have a drum machine halfway through it, it’s just this massive sounding song! So we’re really excited for people to hear that one. And then the third single is actually gonna be a song called ‘They Only Come Out at Night’ which is again a very different kind of song for us – it almost sounds like it could be on the ‘Lost Boys’ soundtrack or something like that. It’s a really neat song that really doesn’t sound like anything else we’ve done before and that will be the third single. And I think there will be a fourth single once the album comes out.
Mark: If it’s as huge as you’re making it sound I’ll expect seven singles like Hysteria itself!
Rob: (laughs) Well it’s kinda cool because when we were all actually talking about the singles we all kinda had our favourites even before the record label got involved. So it’s kinda a good sign that there were at least seven singles being talked about. With most bands there’s the obvious single and that it but for us with this one there were so many that were in contention. I think what we wanted to do as well is show the range, rather than release three songs that all have the same kind of sound we picked ’Crawling’ because it’s heavier, ‘Atomic’ because it’s this huge commercial monster, ‘Night’ because it’s so different for us and the fourth single which I think we’re still a little undecided on, but that’s gonna be your classic ‘Give Me Love’ type Midnite City song. So it’s all planned out and like I said it’s gonna be our best album to date. We’re still doing our thing, it’s still Midnite City and it’s still a Hair Metal album but at the same time we’ve added a few more ingredients to it so it’s not getting stale. I think it’s important to keep moving forward with what you’re doing and evolving but still staying true to your sound. We’re all really proud of this album and we can’t wait for people to hear it.
Mark: I saw that meme the other day where an old guy has his grandson on his knee and the old guy is saying “My 2020 tour dates have just been put back another year” and the kids says “Get over it Grandad that was 60 years ago!”
Rob: (laughs) I really hope that’s not the case! We are all trying to stay as positive as we can so let’s hope it’s all behind us soon. We had such a great time when we came over to Australia as you know, and we can’t wait to come out again. I don’t think we actually were prepared for the reaction that we got really. We were all kind of taken aback at how much everyone seemed to be into the band, you know.
Mark: It must be amazing to come to another country, and I always remember Danny Vaughn telling me about Tyketto’s first UK shows when all of the audience was singing their songs back to them, and that’s exactly what happened to you in Melbourne – everyone in that front row knew the words to those songs, maybe even better than me!
Rob: Yeah, It was crazy, you know we were there a few days before we played so we kinda went out there and mingled a bit as you know at some of the bars and stuff, and we ended up meeting some of the people who came to the shows. But the response was phenomenal! But I think what we do when we get upon stage plays a part – we’re not the kind of band that walks on stage and just stands there! It’s as much a visual thing as it is the music, and I think that’s what a lot of bands forget. Obviously it’s important to have great songs and play well and sing well but it’s just as important to entertain the audience and give them something to watch too!
Mark: You’re right there mate I remember seeing Nirvana once and it seemed like only the drummer had any energy. As you know the music that we both love was a spectacle, it was an event and that’s what we miss. I’d love to see you guys put out a video some day because that needs to be captured properly, though of course there’s nothing like live!
Rob: Yeah, I think that might happen at some point, yeah.
Mark: So what’s been keeping you going, plenty of us are resorting to music, some of us have family around, I’ve been doing a lot of interviews so nothing new there the! But what’s helping you keep sane through the lockdown?
Rob: It’s been tough because I’ve not actually seen my family for like five months. My mum and dad are getting on, they’re quite old now and it’s hard. In the middle of last year I almost kind of had a meltdown where I thought I couldn’t take it anymore, but I’ve just kept keeping going. Christmas was hard, we couldn’t see anyone at Christmas, so I was just sitting at home with the girlfriend and that was it, and then we rolled into this year and I just thought, well look – this is how it is, there’s nothing we can do about it we’ve just gotta try and get on with it and almost try and will time on to get this over. But what I’ve been doing is running – I run a lot so I’ve been doing that a lot, and going out on very long walks – 7, 8-mile walks in the countryside just to get out of the house and clear the head. Then there’s been the music, but I’ve actually found that lockdown has sort of killed my creativity because when you’re literally not interacting with anybody and you’ve not seen anybody and you’re not really doing anything – whenever I write songs I don’t just sit down and pluck songs from the air – all the songs I’ve written are about people or things that have happened. They’re all kind of very autobiographical really, so when you’re not actually doing any of those things, it’s been… it’s kinda killed my creativity a little bit. I’ve been writing a few things, but compared to normal not as much. So keeping fit has worked for me, but the only other thing I’ve been doing really is watching a lot of Netflix! (laughs)
Mark: (laughs) all of us can relate to that!
Rob: Thank god for Netflix!
Mark: It’s always great to catch up, hopefully next time we speak will be very soon and in person and Covid free! Stay safe!
Rob: Thanks mate, great talking to you Mark as always. Hopefully we’ll see each other one day in the not too distant future!
Mark: well it must be my round so I’ll get you one in!
Rob: (laughs) Sounds good. Thanks mate.
Rob and The Rockpit March 2020
