Melophobia - Fear Of Music

Named after the 1979 Talking Heads album, Fear of Music are the latest bright young things from Manchester to embark on the magical mystery tour of musical enlightenment in a bid to fulfil their dreams of indie-rock stardom. Having signed to Sony BMG in 2005, the enthusiastic four-piece have just released their fourth EP, ‘We Are Not The Enemy’, and with their debut album due for release later in the year are ready to reap the rewards of years of hard work. And Gigwise couldn’t wait to catch up with them, to see for ourselves what all the fuss is about.

“It was never actually the plan to get a record deal or anything like that” explains Jo, “We just started with the intention of writing songs and playing together. When we started the band, the oldest of us was thirteen and we just wanted something that wasn’t full of shit. We did it to escape from things.” Michael continues: “It wasn’t like a means to an end or anything but once we realised that we had something pretty good then it made sense to do something with it.”

A lively four piece, it’s immediately obvious that friendship is the key to Fear of Music’s optimism and skill set. Vocalist Jo Rose first met drummer Chris Stanley at primary school and have remained firm friends ever since. Originally starting out as a three piece with Ali Esmaail on bass, it soon became apparent that something was missing from the group. And in 2004 salvation came in the form of guitarist Michael Ward. Although it’s not immediately clear if Michael is a fully fledged band member yet, as Ali cheekily tells us:“Michael’s still here on a trial basis. We’ve tried to shake him off but he won’t leave us alone.”
“I never actually joined the band I just turned up for rehearsals and never left” Chips in Michael.

The band’s growing reputation has been slow and steady over the years due in part to their youthfulness. Ali is still 16 and securing venues in which to play wasn’t always an easy task. But it’s never been a huge problem or bothered the band, who see age as more of an asset than an issue. And anyway, Ali’s confident exuberance always seems to stand them in good stead.

“It’s still gonna be a year until I can legally be in places like that anyway but I’m so cool and everyone likes me so much they just let me play at their club” Ali says in his thick manc drawl “When I rock up at a nightclub they’re like, shit I don’t care if he’s got no ID get this man a drink…but it’s usually water or orange juice.”

And once the music started and people began to listen, it wasn’t long before the unassuming group began to attract some well deserved attention as Michael remembers; “It all happened really slowly, it wasn’t an overnight thing. When we actually signed, Ali had already left school, I dropped out of university and Chris and Jo had to finish their A Levels. But it was really good that everything happened over a long period of time ‘cos there are a lot of bands that rush into it.” Jo pitches in: “If we had of rushed it we wouldn’t have made the record that we’re going to make next month so we don’t have any regrets about the way it worked out.”