ARTIST INTERVIEW: WE'RE TALKING TO CEILING DEMONS ABOUT INSPIRATIONS, INDEPENDENT WORK, AND WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS!
We were recently introduced to the delights of Ceiling Demons, a British hip-hop group who are dedicated to releasing hard-hitting and emotional beats, wrapped up perfectly with a little alternative bow on top. What more could you possibly want from your hip-hop? After falling in their love with their latest single, Every Step Is Moving Me Up, we decided to grab the guys for a quick interview to find out exactly what the future holds for this budding group.
So you guys are relatively new on the music scene, but how long have you actually been working together?
We first came together in the summer of 2011 to record a tribute to a friend of ours who sadly passed away. I hadn't been making beats for very long at that point so it was very rough but I figured Psy and Dan would be up for it so I showed it to them and they jumped straight on it. It was sort of a one-off but we kept making new tracks here and there and in late December, 2012, we decided to release them as the Ceiling Demons EP. The reviews and features we got for it said good things and, by then, we had the foundations of our début album, Dual Sides, already in place so we chose to push on forward.
Now, pardon my ignorance on this one, but are you currently working with a record label or is all of your work independently distributed at the minute?
Everything we've done up to this point has been independent. It'd be nice to have a label to deal with the business side of it but it's also enjoyable having complete freedom over everything we do. Money can be a restraint, and we don't have a label to give us a big advance, but it's fun collaborating with artists on videos and artwork who do it completely for the love, and having limitations can often be beneficial as they have a tendency to force out bits of originality and creativity.
Are you hoping to take your music to a more mainstream market, or are you happy where you are right now?
We're really pleased with all the positive feedback we've had from our releases and gigs, but we're always looking to get our music heard by more people. There's a bit of a base for us in Yorkshire and the North-East and we'd like to build on that.
For those who haven't heard your music yet, what genre would you say you fall into?
In terms of form, our music would probably fall under the banner of alternative hip-hop. It relies heavily on the hip-hop standard of drums, samples and rap, but I think the choice and manipulation of samples and the flows and lyrical themes make it a bit different. I've never heard vocalists like Psy and Dan in any other music so it makes it hard to categorize, they've got an incredibly unique grasp on language.
It's a bit cliché but what inspires you with your music? Are you trying to send a certain message to people?
I wouldn't say that there's one specific message or purpose to the music. There are themes to it, like unity and desperation, and I suppose one or two tunes do send a clear message to people, but I think that most of it is kind of just blind expression.
Your album, which people can download by clicking here, is it the first of many? Surely, after producing such a top-notch first album, there will be another one on the horizon at some point.
Most certainly. We're playing with ideas for the next one already, and possibly a shorter release in the nearer future. For the moment, though, we're focusing on getting Dual Sides out there. It's taken us over a year to finally release so it's nice to enjoy just having it out.
Should we expect to see some live performances from you in the near future?
Definitely. We're looking to get touring the album in Spring and are in the process of finalising dates.
And, broadly speaking, what's next for you guys? New music? Public appearances? World domination?
Gigs are what we're focusing on at the moment, but musically there are a lot of options. We're always making music so we've got a lot of material to work with. At this point, we're trying to decide which direction to move in. Dual Sides was a lot of fun to make and we're all very proud with it, but it'd be pointless to recreate and milk it in further releases.
So there you have it, folks. There are big and brilliant things coming up for Ceiling Demons in the near future, and hopefully a few gigs along the way, so we'll keep you updated as new information is released from the band. Until then, don't forget to check out their album here.
Written by: Charlotte Barnes
Published: 29 January 2014
So you guys are relatively new on the music scene, but how long have you actually been working together?
We first came together in the summer of 2011 to record a tribute to a friend of ours who sadly passed away. I hadn't been making beats for very long at that point so it was very rough but I figured Psy and Dan would be up for it so I showed it to them and they jumped straight on it. It was sort of a one-off but we kept making new tracks here and there and in late December, 2012, we decided to release them as the Ceiling Demons EP. The reviews and features we got for it said good things and, by then, we had the foundations of our début album, Dual Sides, already in place so we chose to push on forward.
Now, pardon my ignorance on this one, but are you currently working with a record label or is all of your work independently distributed at the minute?
Everything we've done up to this point has been independent. It'd be nice to have a label to deal with the business side of it but it's also enjoyable having complete freedom over everything we do. Money can be a restraint, and we don't have a label to give us a big advance, but it's fun collaborating with artists on videos and artwork who do it completely for the love, and having limitations can often be beneficial as they have a tendency to force out bits of originality and creativity.
Are you hoping to take your music to a more mainstream market, or are you happy where you are right now?
We're really pleased with all the positive feedback we've had from our releases and gigs, but we're always looking to get our music heard by more people. There's a bit of a base for us in Yorkshire and the North-East and we'd like to build on that.
For those who haven't heard your music yet, what genre would you say you fall into?
In terms of form, our music would probably fall under the banner of alternative hip-hop. It relies heavily on the hip-hop standard of drums, samples and rap, but I think the choice and manipulation of samples and the flows and lyrical themes make it a bit different. I've never heard vocalists like Psy and Dan in any other music so it makes it hard to categorize, they've got an incredibly unique grasp on language.
It's a bit cliché but what inspires you with your music? Are you trying to send a certain message to people?
I wouldn't say that there's one specific message or purpose to the music. There are themes to it, like unity and desperation, and I suppose one or two tunes do send a clear message to people, but I think that most of it is kind of just blind expression.
Your album, which people can download by clicking here, is it the first of many? Surely, after producing such a top-notch first album, there will be another one on the horizon at some point.
Most certainly. We're playing with ideas for the next one already, and possibly a shorter release in the nearer future. For the moment, though, we're focusing on getting Dual Sides out there. It's taken us over a year to finally release so it's nice to enjoy just having it out.
Should we expect to see some live performances from you in the near future?
Definitely. We're looking to get touring the album in Spring and are in the process of finalising dates.
And, broadly speaking, what's next for you guys? New music? Public appearances? World domination?
Gigs are what we're focusing on at the moment, but musically there are a lot of options. We're always making music so we've got a lot of material to work with. At this point, we're trying to decide which direction to move in. Dual Sides was a lot of fun to make and we're all very proud with it, but it'd be pointless to recreate and milk it in further releases.
So there you have it, folks. There are big and brilliant things coming up for Ceiling Demons in the near future, and hopefully a few gigs along the way, so we'll keep you updated as new information is released from the band. Until then, don't forget to check out their album here.
Written by: Charlotte Barnes
Published: 29 January 2014
AUTHOR INTERVIEW: HARRIET GRACE TALKS TO US ABOUT HER HIT NOVEL, CELLS!
Here at Mad Hatter Reviews we're always on the look out for new talent to talk to. So when SilverWood Books, the wonderful publishing company responsible for releasing Harriet's début novel, 'Cells', got in touch with us about reviewing the book, we simply had to grab Harriet for a chat about the project.
How would you categorise ‘Cells’ for prospective readers? Did you have a genre in mind when you wrote the novel?
I would categorise it as ‘contemporary’. I wanted it to be about characters and relationships. I picked people and a situation unlike my own and found I was writing about a modern dilemma, namely a career couple who leave having a baby so late they don’t manage to get pregnant even with IVF. The book is about how you move on from that, the women’s ambivalence about wanting a baby, her husband’s fears about Jon, the other character, and about what his wife will do, etc. It’s about the haves – Martha and Grant - and a have not – Jon - and who in the end has more. I wanted there to be humour underlying a serious and potentially heart-breaking subject.
The impossible question: who was this novel aimed at? We talk a lot about our ideal readers, I wonder whether you had any for ‘Cells’?
I did not aim the novel at any particular reader; it was more about exploring a subject and characters I was interested in. Since its publication I have found that women of all ages and a surprising lot of men have liked it. Below are two very different responses from a female and male reader:
Female reader who works in ‘development’ for the European Union
‘It’s so powerful in a way that triggers questions and thoughts about our ability to communicate, our intrinsic loneliness... Not any book triggers these feelings. It has to do with writing with the heart, really delving into the lives and psyche of the characters.’
Male reader
‘Nobody was more surprised than I was. My usual fair is Bernard Cornwell, David Baldacci, Ian Rankin, Alistair MacLean, Isaac Asimov and the like. Not what you would call similar genres. However ‘Cells’ was a really good read. The imagery was amazing. I’d love to meet Black Plaits and I can really see Jon’s Dad standing in front of the fire with his hands in his pockets rattling his change and pontificating on the troubles of the world. A beautifully written book that kept me entranced.
Your website, which readers can access by clicking here, indicates that you have a flare for poetry, too! Do you have a preference between poetry and prose?
I have much more experience in prose writing and only over the last ten years have written poetry. A few years ago I was accepted on a residential poetry course with Carol Ann Duffy and Gillian Clarke (the national poet for Wales) which was inspiring. It made me realise how committed to poetry you need to be and how difficult it is to write and to know how much or little to write to make a poem. So, it’s not really about having a preference for writing prose or poetry, more that they come from different places in my head. With prose it feels like I have to find a story and people separate from myself; whereas with poetry it feels more about something I’m trying to work out for or about myself.
Might we see a full collection of poetry from yourself in the future?
I would like there to be a collection, perhaps accompanied with the occasional watercolour – if I could cope with that!
Are you working on a new novel at the minute?
I am!
When can readers expect to see this latest project hit the shelves?
In the next year or so! I’m a slow writer...
Harriet is a born and bred English writer who has spent her life occupying two roles: her career as a counsellor and her role as an author. After gaining an MA degree (with Distinction!) in Writing, from Sheffield Hallam, Harriet devoted more time to her writing, which eventually led to her work with SilverWood Books. 'Cells' is Harriet's début novel and you can find our review of this inspiring release in our Books & E-books section, here.
Written by: Charlotte Barnes
Published: 6 January 2014.
How would you categorise ‘Cells’ for prospective readers? Did you have a genre in mind when you wrote the novel?
I would categorise it as ‘contemporary’. I wanted it to be about characters and relationships. I picked people and a situation unlike my own and found I was writing about a modern dilemma, namely a career couple who leave having a baby so late they don’t manage to get pregnant even with IVF. The book is about how you move on from that, the women’s ambivalence about wanting a baby, her husband’s fears about Jon, the other character, and about what his wife will do, etc. It’s about the haves – Martha and Grant - and a have not – Jon - and who in the end has more. I wanted there to be humour underlying a serious and potentially heart-breaking subject.
The impossible question: who was this novel aimed at? We talk a lot about our ideal readers, I wonder whether you had any for ‘Cells’?
I did not aim the novel at any particular reader; it was more about exploring a subject and characters I was interested in. Since its publication I have found that women of all ages and a surprising lot of men have liked it. Below are two very different responses from a female and male reader:
Female reader who works in ‘development’ for the European Union
‘It’s so powerful in a way that triggers questions and thoughts about our ability to communicate, our intrinsic loneliness... Not any book triggers these feelings. It has to do with writing with the heart, really delving into the lives and psyche of the characters.’
Male reader
‘Nobody was more surprised than I was. My usual fair is Bernard Cornwell, David Baldacci, Ian Rankin, Alistair MacLean, Isaac Asimov and the like. Not what you would call similar genres. However ‘Cells’ was a really good read. The imagery was amazing. I’d love to meet Black Plaits and I can really see Jon’s Dad standing in front of the fire with his hands in his pockets rattling his change and pontificating on the troubles of the world. A beautifully written book that kept me entranced.
Your website, which readers can access by clicking here, indicates that you have a flare for poetry, too! Do you have a preference between poetry and prose?
I have much more experience in prose writing and only over the last ten years have written poetry. A few years ago I was accepted on a residential poetry course with Carol Ann Duffy and Gillian Clarke (the national poet for Wales) which was inspiring. It made me realise how committed to poetry you need to be and how difficult it is to write and to know how much or little to write to make a poem. So, it’s not really about having a preference for writing prose or poetry, more that they come from different places in my head. With prose it feels like I have to find a story and people separate from myself; whereas with poetry it feels more about something I’m trying to work out for or about myself.
Might we see a full collection of poetry from yourself in the future?
I would like there to be a collection, perhaps accompanied with the occasional watercolour – if I could cope with that!
Are you working on a new novel at the minute?
I am!
When can readers expect to see this latest project hit the shelves?
In the next year or so! I’m a slow writer...
Harriet is a born and bred English writer who has spent her life occupying two roles: her career as a counsellor and her role as an author. After gaining an MA degree (with Distinction!) in Writing, from Sheffield Hallam, Harriet devoted more time to her writing, which eventually led to her work with SilverWood Books. 'Cells' is Harriet's début novel and you can find our review of this inspiring release in our Books & E-books section, here.
Written by: Charlotte Barnes
Published: 6 January 2014.
AUTHOR INTERVIEW: GARRETT ROBINSON CHATS WITH US ABOUT LITERARY PROJECTS, PAST AND PRESENT
Garrett Robinson, an independent author with multiple publications to his name, is based in the USA where he is currently working on a series of Young Adult releases with co-writer Z. C. Bolger. With an ever-growing back catalogue of literature behind him, ranging from telepathy gone wrong to teenage serial killers, it’s no real surprise that Robinson is making such a name for himself in the world of indie authors. So, after doing some digging around (and stalking him a little on Instagram) we finally tracked him down for an interview…
So it seems you have an impressive amount of publications out there! Is there anything new that you're working on at the minute?
Thanks for that! My current project is a series called Realm Keepers, co-written with Z. C. Bolger. It's a YA fantasy story written in a serialized format. The first several episodes are already available, and the first full volume (Midrealm) comes out on September 24th. We plan on publishing a new volume every three months until the series is done. Since the series will be six books long, that means we'll be cranking on it for just under another year and a half—and in that time we have to deliver more than 1.2 million words! Whoo!
For people who are unfamiliar with your work, how would you describe your preferred writing genre/style?
Well, for one thing, I want to mention that I usually write for adults. Nearly all of my work is sci fi/fantasy, but I've only started doing YA since I started writing with Z. C. Bolger. Everything else I've published is NOT for kids. I considered publishing my YA titles under a pen name, but I already had such a fledgling following with my real name that I didn't think I could devote the time to trying to maintain two.
But with that caveat aside, I like writing high-action genre stories. My stuff is generally pretty fast-paced. I really love good dialogue. But mostly I like for people to have fun in my stories. There are scenes written to make you cry, but I'm no George R. R. Martin. There's a bittersweetness to finishing a book, a regret that the adventure is over and now you have to move on with your real life. But aside from that, I don't like finishing books and feeling sad, depressed or wondering if there's any point in life. *cough-cough-redwedding-cough*
I know most authors have a target audience in mind when they create a book, or at least an idea of who their readers will be. How do you picture your readers?
I picture my readers as total nerds, like me, of pretty much whatever age (though like I said, I wouldn't give my earlier stuff to young people). I write books that I would love to read, and I am a card-carrying nerd with my tattoo in Elvish and my collection of Star Wars shirt. So my books tend to have a lot of in-jokes and easter eggs that only other people like me would spot, but if they spot them, it makes the book that much better. (Don't worry, you'll still enjoy them if you're not a nerd).
So most of my protagonists are nerds. Sally from Touch is an internet and TV junkie. Cliff from Non Zombie is a WoW addict and LARPer. Nikki from Hit Girls plays lots of video games.
Realm Keepers is probably the best example of this (or worst, depending on your opinion). I'm actually guilty of more than a little wish fulfillment there. The series is about six mismatched high school kids who start going to a magical universe every time they sleep, where they become these heroic wizards who have to stop an evil warlord from reaching Earth and conquering it. And one of these high school kids is a kid named Calvin, and he's me. He's just me in a thirteen-year-old body (he's thirteen in high school because he skipped grades because he's a hyper-genius). So everyone else is freaking out because they have lives on Earth and lives in Midrealm, but Calvin just thinks it's the best thing ever. And he speaks with wizards and knights and stuff and he'll say these things like, "Oh, a wizard in grey. Don't worry, everyone, he's a good guy."
Needless to say, Calvin pretty immediately became a fan favorite.
The tricky questions for writers everywhere! Where do you find your inspiration?
I've been asked this before, and I know a writer is supposed to scrunch up their face and pontificate for a moment. Or maybe wave a hand and spout some airy words about the Muse or a higher power.
The truth is, I don't have trouble getting inspired. I think that any idea, no matter how stupid, can be turned into a story. I learned that lesson from two friends of mine, fellow indie authors, who were talking on their podcast one day and sort of accidentally came up with the idea for a book called Unicorn Western. It is EXACTLY what it sounds like. And it's amazing. So after that, how can you think it's hard to come up with ideas?
It doesn't happen the same way every time. I'll hear something or watch something that sparks an idea. I'll develop it for a bit, and if it gets my blood going, I write it. If it doesn't, I don't. My first book, was just a random thought one day: "You know, if someone really did develop telepathy as a teenager, depending on what their life was like, they'd probably grow up to be really messed up." And so that became my first book, Touch, about a woman named Sally who got powers at fifteen and couldn't deal with suddenly learning everybody's secrets, so she grew up to become a recluse. Non Zombie happened because I heard a British guy leave a voice mail on my favorite podcast suggesting they write a book about a zombie who regains his humanity. The hosts said they didn't want to do it, so I found the guy's contact info, wrote him an email to double-check for permission, and wrote it. Hit Girls was another random thought: "Fifteen-year-old psychotic serial killer!" That was it. The rest of the story developed from there.
Realm Keepers is the first project that has REALLY gotten my blood going, which is why we just decided to go all-out and write the entire series at once, nonstop.
The world, your life, generates more ideas for stories than you will ever have the time to write. Take an idea, no matter how stupid, and try to develop it. Flesh it out a bit. If it chaps your brisket, roll with it.
And finally, when can we expect a new release from you?
The finale of the first Realm Keepers book comes out Tuesday, September 17th, and the full volume, Midrealm, is available a week after that on the 24th. At that point you can pre-order the second book, Wyrmspire, which releases on December 17th.
You can find more information on Garrett Robinson, and keep up to date with his current projects, by heading over to his personal website, which you can access here. Alternatively, if what you’ve read here is enough to wet your literary whistle - it’s certainly intrigued us! - then you can head over to his Amazon page, by clicking here, and check out the impressive range of titles that he has available to download now.
Written by: Charlotte Barnes
Published: 15 September 2013
So it seems you have an impressive amount of publications out there! Is there anything new that you're working on at the minute?
Thanks for that! My current project is a series called Realm Keepers, co-written with Z. C. Bolger. It's a YA fantasy story written in a serialized format. The first several episodes are already available, and the first full volume (Midrealm) comes out on September 24th. We plan on publishing a new volume every three months until the series is done. Since the series will be six books long, that means we'll be cranking on it for just under another year and a half—and in that time we have to deliver more than 1.2 million words! Whoo!
For people who are unfamiliar with your work, how would you describe your preferred writing genre/style?
Well, for one thing, I want to mention that I usually write for adults. Nearly all of my work is sci fi/fantasy, but I've only started doing YA since I started writing with Z. C. Bolger. Everything else I've published is NOT for kids. I considered publishing my YA titles under a pen name, but I already had such a fledgling following with my real name that I didn't think I could devote the time to trying to maintain two.
But with that caveat aside, I like writing high-action genre stories. My stuff is generally pretty fast-paced. I really love good dialogue. But mostly I like for people to have fun in my stories. There are scenes written to make you cry, but I'm no George R. R. Martin. There's a bittersweetness to finishing a book, a regret that the adventure is over and now you have to move on with your real life. But aside from that, I don't like finishing books and feeling sad, depressed or wondering if there's any point in life. *cough-cough-redwedding-cough*
I know most authors have a target audience in mind when they create a book, or at least an idea of who their readers will be. How do you picture your readers?
I picture my readers as total nerds, like me, of pretty much whatever age (though like I said, I wouldn't give my earlier stuff to young people). I write books that I would love to read, and I am a card-carrying nerd with my tattoo in Elvish and my collection of Star Wars shirt. So my books tend to have a lot of in-jokes and easter eggs that only other people like me would spot, but if they spot them, it makes the book that much better. (Don't worry, you'll still enjoy them if you're not a nerd).
So most of my protagonists are nerds. Sally from Touch is an internet and TV junkie. Cliff from Non Zombie is a WoW addict and LARPer. Nikki from Hit Girls plays lots of video games.
Realm Keepers is probably the best example of this (or worst, depending on your opinion). I'm actually guilty of more than a little wish fulfillment there. The series is about six mismatched high school kids who start going to a magical universe every time they sleep, where they become these heroic wizards who have to stop an evil warlord from reaching Earth and conquering it. And one of these high school kids is a kid named Calvin, and he's me. He's just me in a thirteen-year-old body (he's thirteen in high school because he skipped grades because he's a hyper-genius). So everyone else is freaking out because they have lives on Earth and lives in Midrealm, but Calvin just thinks it's the best thing ever. And he speaks with wizards and knights and stuff and he'll say these things like, "Oh, a wizard in grey. Don't worry, everyone, he's a good guy."
Needless to say, Calvin pretty immediately became a fan favorite.
The tricky questions for writers everywhere! Where do you find your inspiration?
I've been asked this before, and I know a writer is supposed to scrunch up their face and pontificate for a moment. Or maybe wave a hand and spout some airy words about the Muse or a higher power.
The truth is, I don't have trouble getting inspired. I think that any idea, no matter how stupid, can be turned into a story. I learned that lesson from two friends of mine, fellow indie authors, who were talking on their podcast one day and sort of accidentally came up with the idea for a book called Unicorn Western. It is EXACTLY what it sounds like. And it's amazing. So after that, how can you think it's hard to come up with ideas?
It doesn't happen the same way every time. I'll hear something or watch something that sparks an idea. I'll develop it for a bit, and if it gets my blood going, I write it. If it doesn't, I don't. My first book, was just a random thought one day: "You know, if someone really did develop telepathy as a teenager, depending on what their life was like, they'd probably grow up to be really messed up." And so that became my first book, Touch, about a woman named Sally who got powers at fifteen and couldn't deal with suddenly learning everybody's secrets, so she grew up to become a recluse. Non Zombie happened because I heard a British guy leave a voice mail on my favorite podcast suggesting they write a book about a zombie who regains his humanity. The hosts said they didn't want to do it, so I found the guy's contact info, wrote him an email to double-check for permission, and wrote it. Hit Girls was another random thought: "Fifteen-year-old psychotic serial killer!" That was it. The rest of the story developed from there.
Realm Keepers is the first project that has REALLY gotten my blood going, which is why we just decided to go all-out and write the entire series at once, nonstop.
The world, your life, generates more ideas for stories than you will ever have the time to write. Take an idea, no matter how stupid, and try to develop it. Flesh it out a bit. If it chaps your brisket, roll with it.
And finally, when can we expect a new release from you?
The finale of the first Realm Keepers book comes out Tuesday, September 17th, and the full volume, Midrealm, is available a week after that on the 24th. At that point you can pre-order the second book, Wyrmspire, which releases on December 17th.
You can find more information on Garrett Robinson, and keep up to date with his current projects, by heading over to his personal website, which you can access here. Alternatively, if what you’ve read here is enough to wet your literary whistle - it’s certainly intrigued us! - then you can head over to his Amazon page, by clicking here, and check out the impressive range of titles that he has available to download now.
Written by: Charlotte Barnes
Published: 15 September 2013
