This Winter Machine is a newcomer from the UK that has just released its debut album. Following the legacy of prog rock bands from the 70s & the 80s, the guys have released an amazing debut album. Grande Rock contacted the band’s bassist Peter Priestley so as to talk about the band and the debut release. Check the interview below…
Hi Peter, welcome to Grande Rock. First of all, do give us a brief bio of the band.
P: TWM formed around 9 months ago now after singer Al, put out an advert for like-minded musicians to form a writing collective. The rest as they say is history.
How did you come up with the name This Winter Machine initially?
P: The name came from Al. As I recall, he mentioned something about a daydream about a mechanical horse ploughing a 19th century field.
The band is comprised of musicians that have cooperated with well-known bands/artists in the past. How easy was it to avoid staying in the past and start something new & fresh from the beginning?
P: It has never really come up; we just got together and started writing music we all liked. It just poured from one cup into another’s and before we knew it, the whole album was written!
Which are the band’s main influences and how do you manage to blend together each member’s influences into This Winter Machine?
P: We come from very varied influences, but a few common threads would be, Rush, Genesis, Porcupine Tree, Opeth, Gary Numan, Ultravox and Marillion.
Did you have in mind to follow a specific music style or you just followed your minds & hearts when it came to the music you wanted to play?
P: Yeah, we believe our music should have no confines, other than it should be natural and not forced in any way.
How did your cooperation with Progressive Gears Records come about? Did you have in mind to release the album yourselves, if you didn’t find a good label deal?
P: PG tracked us down and we have enjoyed a good working relationship from the beginning.
Who is the “The Man Who Never Was”?
P: I think we have all know one from time to time.
Who created the cover artwork and how is it related with the album title, if it does so?
P: A Swiss Gentleman called Sandoor. A true visionary.
Can you give us a hint about each track?
P: Al wrote all the lyrics so you would need to speak to him for the true meanings but I like to think people can come to their own interpretations.
When and where did the recordings take place? Who mixed, mastered & produced the album? I really fancy the lush & clear sound of the album.
P: Two tracks were recorded at Moorcroft studios, the others were recorded at Czar Street Studio’s in Leeds. Al did all the production. Some very very late nights and spicy pizzas were involved!
Will there be any lyric or concept video out anytime soon?
P: We are looking into a video as we speak.
Have you planned any live shows as yet? I guess you’d like to give some live shows in the UK first and then in Europe, right?
P: Yes, we very much would like to road test the material. We have a few dates planned, so the production is now being planned.
How would you describe your band’s music style to someone that has never heard of your before?
P: Thoughtful is the term I hear a lot, so I’ll go with that!
Which are your expectations from your debut album and what do you wish to achieve with This Winter Machine over the next years?
P: Ultimately to be the best we can and just to progress.
It’s time for our “weird questions”!!! Do you believe that the best prog rock era was during the 70s? Why do bands draw inspiration from the bands of that time even today?
P: I think it was a very fertile time. Pop/Blues/Rock/Jazz/Classical music was all floating around and the bands of that era just added them to the melting pot.
Which are the best 3 Prog Rock albums according to you?
P: Wow, erm... For me: Genesis – “FoxTrot”, Pink Floyd – “Animals” and Marillion – “Seasons End”.
Fill in the phrase…“Prog Rock music wouldn’t have evolved the way it did, if it hadn’t been for…”
P: Nice Rugs!
If you could “erase”one thing from modern music, what would it be?
P: Shows like the X Factor. They make me itch.
What do you think of the “free downloading & the free streaming issue” of our time? Will that help music generally or not?
P: I think music is expression and is to be shared.
Top 3 sci-fi movies of any era?
P: I’m an 80s kid so “Aliens”, “Predator” and “RoboCop”.
Which is the record you wish you had written and why?
P: “Power Windows” by Rush. Just the most complete album I have heard.
Were you obliged to give just one album to extraterrestrials that would represent the whole human music, which album would it be and from which band/artist?
P: Either “Power Windows” or Bob Dylan’s “Blood on the Tracks”.
If you had the chance to travel in time…where would you choose to go? To the past or the future and why?
P: I would choose the past. Find out who Jack the Ripper was!
Where would you like to live… in Middle Earth, in the Seven Kingdoms or in a post-apocalyptic world like the one on “The Walking Dead”?
P: Oh Middle Earth for me!
Imagine that your girlfriend/wife is selling your whole album-collection just to buy an expensive ring for herself. How would you react?
P: Very badly… ha ha ha!
Finally, we’ve come to the end Peter. Thx for talking to Grande Rock. Say anything you feel like saying before we close. Take care dude!
P: Tick Tock…
P: TWM formed around 9 months ago now after singer Al, put out an advert for like-minded musicians to form a writing collective. The rest as they say is history.
How did you come up with the name This Winter Machine initially?
P: The name came from Al. As I recall, he mentioned something about a daydream about a mechanical horse ploughing a 19th century field.
The band is comprised of musicians that have cooperated with well-known bands/artists in the past. How easy was it to avoid staying in the past and start something new & fresh from the beginning?
P: It has never really come up; we just got together and started writing music we all liked. It just poured from one cup into another’s and before we knew it, the whole album was written!
Which are the band’s main influences and how do you manage to blend together each member’s influences into This Winter Machine?
P: We come from very varied influences, but a few common threads would be, Rush, Genesis, Porcupine Tree, Opeth, Gary Numan, Ultravox and Marillion.
Did you have in mind to follow a specific music style or you just followed your minds & hearts when it came to the music you wanted to play?
P: Yeah, we believe our music should have no confines, other than it should be natural and not forced in any way.
How did your cooperation with Progressive Gears Records come about? Did you have in mind to release the album yourselves, if you didn’t find a good label deal?
P: PG tracked us down and we have enjoyed a good working relationship from the beginning.
Who is the “The Man Who Never Was”?
P: I think we have all know one from time to time.
Who created the cover artwork and how is it related with the album title, if it does so?
P: A Swiss Gentleman called Sandoor. A true visionary.
Can you give us a hint about each track?
P: Al wrote all the lyrics so you would need to speak to him for the true meanings but I like to think people can come to their own interpretations.
When and where did the recordings take place? Who mixed, mastered & produced the album? I really fancy the lush & clear sound of the album.
P: Two tracks were recorded at Moorcroft studios, the others were recorded at Czar Street Studio’s in Leeds. Al did all the production. Some very very late nights and spicy pizzas were involved!
Will there be any lyric or concept video out anytime soon?
P: We are looking into a video as we speak.
Have you planned any live shows as yet? I guess you’d like to give some live shows in the UK first and then in Europe, right?
P: Yes, we very much would like to road test the material. We have a few dates planned, so the production is now being planned.
How would you describe your band’s music style to someone that has never heard of your before?
P: Thoughtful is the term I hear a lot, so I’ll go with that!
Which are your expectations from your debut album and what do you wish to achieve with This Winter Machine over the next years?
P: Ultimately to be the best we can and just to progress.
It’s time for our “weird questions”!!! Do you believe that the best prog rock era was during the 70s? Why do bands draw inspiration from the bands of that time even today?
P: I think it was a very fertile time. Pop/Blues/Rock/Jazz/Classical music was all floating around and the bands of that era just added them to the melting pot.
Which are the best 3 Prog Rock albums according to you?
P: Wow, erm... For me: Genesis – “FoxTrot”, Pink Floyd – “Animals” and Marillion – “Seasons End”.
Fill in the phrase…“Prog Rock music wouldn’t have evolved the way it did, if it hadn’t been for…”
P: Nice Rugs!
If you could “erase”one thing from modern music, what would it be?
P: Shows like the X Factor. They make me itch.
What do you think of the “free downloading & the free streaming issue” of our time? Will that help music generally or not?
P: I think music is expression and is to be shared.
Top 3 sci-fi movies of any era?
P: I’m an 80s kid so “Aliens”, “Predator” and “RoboCop”.
Which is the record you wish you had written and why?
P: “Power Windows” by Rush. Just the most complete album I have heard.
Were you obliged to give just one album to extraterrestrials that would represent the whole human music, which album would it be and from which band/artist?
P: Either “Power Windows” or Bob Dylan’s “Blood on the Tracks”.
If you had the chance to travel in time…where would you choose to go? To the past or the future and why?
P: I would choose the past. Find out who Jack the Ripper was!
Where would you like to live… in Middle Earth, in the Seven Kingdoms or in a post-apocalyptic world like the one on “The Walking Dead”?
P: Oh Middle Earth for me!
Imagine that your girlfriend/wife is selling your whole album-collection just to buy an expensive ring for herself. How would you react?
P: Very badly… ha ha ha!
Finally, we’ve come to the end Peter. Thx for talking to Grande Rock. Say anything you feel like saying before we close. Take care dude!
P: Tick Tock…