Listen Here: Virals

Listen Here: Virals

25 January, 2012
by: Domzig

It's a kind of magic...

Living proof of the old adage that you can never keep a good person down, Virals is the brand new project of Worcester native Shaun Hencher, a guy known to a generation of Drowned in Sound readers as the lead singer of post hardcore legends Murder of Rosa Luxembourg and more recently Lovvers.

Sort of like a Midland version of Wavves or early Blank Dogs insofar as it’s fundamentally a one-man indie-band with Shaun writing, singing and playing all of the instruments (except drums), Virals debut double A-side comes out on Sexbeat next Monday. So far we’ve only heard ‘Magic Happens’ but if the rest of his stuff is half as good as this Sonic Youth-meets-Beach Boys banger, then we’re expecting to be seeing quite a bit of more of him in the coming months.

Anyway, since he’s been out of the game so long, I thought it would be a good idea to call him and see what he’s been up to. Here’s what he has to say for himself...



Hi! What have you been up to since Lovvers?

Shaun: What, personally?

I was thinking more musically...

Well, as you may remember, Lovvers played its last show, but I just carried on writing songs, not necessarily for anything, but just because I like writing songs and playing my guitar. I didn’t have anyone to play with, as I live in Worcester, so I borrowed an 8-track so I could record them without having to get a group of people together and starting a band.

I was working at a pub and I showed the songs to the guy who owns it. He really liked one of them, so he offered to record them properly in the studio he had upstairs. Apart from the drums I did everything else. That’s pretty much all I’ve been doing.

How many songs have you got now?

I’m up to 20 now. The original object is to get them all recorded, but it’s a slow process. The guy owns a pub and has a kid, so we have to work around that really, but it’s been fun – working a crap job and recording a few nights a week.

Is it right to say Virals is a lot more chilled out than your previous bands?

I don’t know really. It’s been a different process from any of the other band I’ve been in. There was no standing in a room trying to get an idea of what it’s going to be like, but with this I just had some songs with no conception of playing them out live or anything, so they sort of have a different vibe.

I also think it’s good to push yourself really. I mean, I could have just started a crust band in Worcester, but I’d hardly be improving my musicianship. I wanted to make something that was a bit more varied than I was used to – not to say that there isn’t any faster songs, people have only heard the two put out on Sexbeat so far.

Your music does sound a lot less pissed off nowadays

Ha ha. Maybe I’ve chilled out a bit, I don’t know. I was never that pissed off in Lovvers, it’s just that the music is pretty raucous and that might come across as angry.

I’m definitely taking a different approach to Virals than I did with Lovvers. Whereas with Lovvers we were trying to knock down a wall and almost say to people “you will LIKE our band” by basically playing as many shows as possible, with this I only really take it as far as people want it. It’s like if people like the record, I’ll record some more, and if people want me to play shows, I’ll play them. It’s a lot less stressful.

Oh, so are there any plans to take Virals on the road?

I’d like to, but I haven’t got any plans to play any gigs really. I never envisioned Virals as a gigging band, more of an umbrella for my stuff on the internet. I’m not against playing a gig, but I’d have to make sure there was some demand for it.

So we’re not going to be seeing you with an acoustic guitar and a loop pedal any time soon?

Oh no way! If I was going to do a show it would be with a band, it would be pretty naff me just standing there strumming away and singing.

How far do you want to take Virals then?

I think you've probably got the idea by now that there are no real plans for it. I’d love to go on tour and that sort of stuff, but I’m not sure how realistic that is. It all depends on supply and demand, and hopefully someone will pick up on it and push it. Fingers crossed you’ll see me headlining Reading Festival and playing Jools Holland in the near future.

Ha ha, would you do the jam section at the beginning?

I’d suggest the jam! I’d make everyone play some heavy Deep Purple riff or something. No, I’d like to be on Jools Holland, I think my mum would really like that...

Magic Happens/Comes the Night is out from January 30th on Sexbeat.
http://virals.bandcamp.com/

Domzig