Ninjas in disguise...

Weird, wonderful and strangely enticing. Welcome to the world of Grasscut...


AlterntiveInformant: How did you both meet and how long have you both been involved with music?

Grasscut: Good day to you sir. Andrew is an award-nominated film composer and producer; Marcus is a classically trained keyboard player and double bassist. We met in Brighton where we both reside.

AlternativeInformant: Explain your sound.

Grassscut: As well as original vocals, we feature samples recorded on mobile phones or stolen from gramophones. We use live drums, or make beats from mouse-clicks and glitches, and instruments range from the cheapest Casio keyboard to antique harmoniums.

AlternativeInformant: Who are your influences?

Grasscut: Kraftwerk, Wordsworth, Public Enemy, Robert Wyatt, BBC Radiophonic Workshop, WG Sebald, Afrika Bambaata, Gavin Bryars, Devo, Blockhead, Brian Eno...

AlternativeInformant: What are your views on the music industry at the moment?

Grasscut: Seems as grotesque and beautiful as it has always been, but happily we find ourselves gathered into the bosom of the delightful Ninja Tune.

AlternativeInformant: Talk me through your debut album.

Grasscut: It’s an attempt to reflect life in contemporary England – a transcendental journey through the sublime and ridiculous.

AlternativeInformant: Do your songs have a message?

Grasscut: Most certainly: play up, play up and play the game.

AlternativeInformant: You’ve been on a number of stages, tell me which was your favourite crowd to perform to and why?

Grasscut: We’ve had some great gigs with people like Nathan Fake and at festivals including Loop and The Great Escape, but we’re really looking forward to our upcoming show with Plaid and Clark. The Big Chill too.

AlternativeInformant: How was it playing an audiovisual show at the Tate Britain?

Grasscut: Sharing a room with the paintings of JMW Turner was truly extraordinary. Obviously our visuals were better though.

AlternativeInformant: I was checking out your MySpace page and, you have a lot of influences. Who would you say influences you the most and why?

Grasscut: WG Sebald, a sadly deceased German author of compendious knowledge, who lived in Suffolk. His voices graces our debut single, High Down.

AlternativeInformant: Now, the name. How did you come up with Grasscut?

Grasscut: It represents the Englishness and the cut-up nature of our sound.

AlternativeInformant: I heard that the “Mona Lisa Curse” (scored by Andrew) won an award for Best Documentary at the Banff Film Festival. How was it to be involved with that?

Grasscut: Andrew’s been nominated for a BAFTA previously, and won other awards, but this was a very special film by director Mandy Chang – which, by the way, greatly upset Damien Hirst.

AlternativeInformant: Finally, what does the future hold for Grasscut?

Grasscut: In the short term, we have a session coming up on Xfm, gigs at Cargo, the ICA, Koko, The Big Chill, and Bloom festival. After the album is released in October, we will be heading to France, and hopefully further afield, as well as touring good ol’ blighty.

The Fleas- New things happening...

I've been away but Im bringing new things so please be patient! One new thing that the AlternativeInformant is doing is working with a new Indie/Folk band called The Fleas.
Been working on promoting them, organising gigs and basically trying to show people that REAL music is still here and all my readers know that the very best of REAL Alternative music is alive here!

So, I want you all to check out three very special and important links:

myspace.com/thefleasplease - The band's myspace page!

thefleasband.blogspot.com - The band's blog (which is in the process of being updated!)

memusic.metro.co.uk - Check out their music here and search for The Fleas and also look out for new tracks!

Finally, There will be more Interviews on here soon!

AlternativeInformant- For your Alternative music fix!

NY is bringing the UK back!

Soulful, skilled, talented and infectious is what you expect to hear when you hear Ny. A mix of Soul, Rn’B, Grime and Reggae Ny is diverse and definitely has the AlternativeInformant hooked! This is an artist to look out for!

AlternativeInformant: How long have you been involved in music?

Ny: I hated school and would book myself into music courses in the Camden area. I began doing talent shows and winning them at age 13 so a long time lol.

AlternativeInformant: What inspired you to get involved with music?

Ny:It was just something inside of me that glows and always has.

AlternativeInformant: Are there any artists that influence you and your music?

Ny: The biggest was Mariah Carey followed by Lauryn Hill, Whitney Houston but my parents played a lot of music at home and so im influenced by the music i grew up to, from Simone and Garfunkel,Blondie, The police, Shangralas,Shirelles to Beres Hammond,Jah cure,Peter tosh, Burning Spear to name a few.

AlternativeInformant: For those of you that haven't heard your music, how would you describe it?

Ny: A fusion of soul,reggae and pop with elements of grime. Im an honest writer and my style has alot to do with my writing.

AlternativeInformant: Where did the name NY come from?

Ny: Ny is short for Nyomi.

AlternativeInformant: Are there any artists that you'd like to work with in the future?

Ny: I'd love to work with Beres Hammond, Ryan Lesley,Dream,Damien Marley,The Fray Thats just a few.

AlternativeInformant: You've performed in front of large crowds before, what's the most enjoyable thing about performing in front of a large crowd?

Ny: Performing is my favourite thing as I can give my energy to my crowd and feed off thier energy. Its the best feeling in the world,the bigger the crowd the more confident I am and to me being able to captivate a live audience is a great skill in any field.

AlternativeInformant: Where are you from and does that influence your music?

Ny: Im a child of the world, from Earth (well just about) so im influenced by music from all over the world.

AlternativeInformant: Does your music have a message if so, what is that message?

Ny: Every song has a message I love to uplift and inspire but also share my experiences both positive and negative.

AlternativeInformant: What differentiates you from other Rn'B artists?

Ny: My work doesnt conform to any one genre. When you hear my voice you know it's Ny.

AlternativeInformant: I've heard that you worked with Ironik on a track called, "Stay with me" how was that?

Ny: Ironik's got a bright future and the live recording was a lot of fun, I am on other tracks on his album too.

AlternativeInformant: Finally what does the future hold for NY?

Ny: I am promoting my new track with Wookie called Falling again. I am about to do a mini US tour with The Count and Sinden. My first album is the thing to look out for!

Check out: http://www.myspace.com/nyofficial