INTERVIEW: Ryan Ellis of The Vryll Society discusses debut album ‘Course Of The Satellite’

INTERVIEW: Ryan Ellis of The Vryll Society discusses debut album 'Course Of The Satellite' 1

Liverpool psychedelic rockers The Vryll Society have released their much-anticipated debut album Course Of The Satellite via Deltasonic Records. Developed organically over several months in the band’s rehearsal rooms and the esteemed Parr Street Studios, Course Of The Satellite is a majestic leap into space rock, trip-hop and psychedelia that spins off into a myriad of different directions of glowing melodies, intimate moods and gloriously uplifting choruses. Mark Millar catches up with Ryan Ellis to talk about the record. 

INTERVIEW: Ryan Ellis of The Vryll Society discusses debut album 'Course Of The Satellite'

Your debut album Course Of The Satellite has just been released after previously releasing a string of excellent singles and an EP. Are you glad the album is finally out?

Yes, its great I am glad people can hear it.

Why were some of the earlier singles such as ‘Deep Blue Skies’ not included on the album?

Before we went into the record, we had about fifteen songs that were all contenders and then we just narrowed it down. Three of the songs were kind of the same style, and another two were too far away sounding so we picked eleven that were all shades and colours. We had three singles and another eight tracks that are all completely different and on their own.

Did you go into the recording with any preconceived ideas how it would sound and what you wanted to write about?

We have always known what sound we want to go for and what direction to take the recording so once we decided what songs we agreed to go on the album it was just a case of going in and putting them down. We knew all the sounds we wanted.

Was it an enjoyable experience recording the new album?

Yeah, I love recording its one of my favourite parts about it all – I love being in the studio it’s a lot of fun.

What is the band’s songwriting process?

The songs are always written and arranged before we go into the studio, but when we go in, we might put a little melody on a guitar solo or tweak some parts but nothing too major. Once that’s all done we will start adding on the synths and percussion.

My favourite track on the album is ‘Soft Glue’ which track off the new album means the most to you?

A few people have said that to be fair. I love Soft Glue as well and Course of the Satellite its one of my favourites and Inner Life – I love all of it I’m thrilled and proud of it.

Who produced the record?

Tom Longworth and Joe Fearon produced it. Joe has been working with us for about seven years – he was Alan Wills (Founder of Deltasonic Records) best friend they knew each other for a long time. And we started working with Tom for about three or four years. We have got an excellent team – with them it just clicked. They are all into the same things and on the same level where we want to take the music – it just works perfectly.

What would you like people to take away from listening to the album?

For me, I would like it to be one of those albums that stick in your head. Its an excellent record from start to finish and I think people will class it as one.

The great thing I find about The Vryll Society is the music always takes the listener on a musical journey you never know what way the music is going to go.

That’s it, and that’s what we try and go for. We make music that first of all we love ourselves and we think we can get other people on board with whether its the mad type tunes, the slow ones or the pop singles. We try and cater for all of it.

It’s wind down time after a show. How do you unwind or recharge?

To be honest its normally straight back into the van and have whatever beer and food is left over from the rider and go to the next city. If we are staying in a city, we might go for a drink or two, but most of the time we go back to the hotel and chill out.

What are you most grateful for about being able to be a musician every day?

Playing music with your mates every day is pretty cool and if you have an album coming out followed by a tour its very exciting. It is nice getting to go around the country and playing in cities where you wouldn’t ever go on your own. Its a lovely feeling turning up on a town playing to a room full of people who have paid to come and see you – its quite mad but its a pleasant feeling all round so I’m grateful for that.

What changes about how you work together as a band from tour to tour? Do you have set rituals or superstitions that are now integrated into your routines?

We just get locked in the practice room for two weeks prior and bang the set out all the time and make sure all the ins and outs are perfect. There are not any special rituals or anything.

Do you have a record that you always return to?

I’ve been listening to Simon and Garfunkel in the past week it been beautiful weather for listening to them, but I don’t really have a go-to record.

What new music have you been listening to recently that you could recommend?

The newest stuff I’ve been listening to is DJ stuff – like lots of disco edits on Soundcloud. Me and Ben both DJ on the weekends – we don’t play music from bands it is more like disco and house and soul music.

Do you think that kind of sound will seep into future music from The Vryll Society?

Yeah, it is being brought in slowly. We are trying to get a bit more of an electronic and House sound with more percussion and dance beats.

The Vryll Society live Dates:

09 Oct – Bristol Exchange, Bristol
10 Oct – Heartbreakers, Southampton
11 Oct – The Lexington, London
12 Oct – The Actress and Bishop, Birmingham
16 Oct – Soup Kitchen, Manchester
17 Oct – King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut, Glasgow
18 Oct – Brudenell Social Club (Community Room), Leeds
19 Oct – Liverpool 02 Academy 2, Liverpool

‘Course Of The Satellite’ Tracklist

1. Course Of The Satellite
2. A Perfect Rhythm
3. Glows and Spheres
4. Tears We Cry
5. When The Air Is Hot
6. The Light At The Edge
7. Shadow Of a wave
8. Soft Glue
9. Inner Life
10. Give In To Me

The Vryll Society is Michael Ellis, Ryan Ellis, Lewis McGuinness, Benjamin Robinson, Lloyd Shearer

Xsnoize Author
Mark Millar is the founder of XS Noize and looks after the daily running of the website as well as hosting interviews for the weekly XS Noize Podcast. Mark's favourite album is Achtung Baby by U2.

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*