PINT SIZE HERO: SELF SUSTENANCE…

James Taylor Photog

STR asked singer/lead guitarist Chris Howley from Pint Size Hero to fill us in with exactly what they've been up to and when their next release might be...?

It's August 2012, and our main goal this summer is recording a new EP. As a break from time in the studio we’re venturing out to play some city dates – these are proving important in remembering why we're here…

The studio is an exciting place to be...the rush of hearing an idea go from conception to the finished article is a great feeling, and we’re privileged to work with some good people along the way. As much as we love recording, rehearsing for shows gets us back to what it was like when we started out.

Practice sessions consist of blasting out tracks, working out new ideas, but also a lot of catching up and general hanging out. I play music with Carl and Jamie because i appreciate them as people, interesting musicians, and close friends. If we ended it tomorrow i'd almost certainly play alone because the idea of forming a band with people out of necessity doesn't do it for me.

When soullessly promoting yourself/your band and fighting for every last bit of attention in the social media, it's easy to forget why you actually started doing what you're doing. It's easy to fall blindly into the trap of seeing your band as a product that needs brutal promotion and whose success is measured by media features and exposure. In reality for a band like ours to last it would not be enough to have these things alone, although it certainly is nice when people appreciate and say positive things about you. The key for us is that being in a room playing our instruments together is like putting on a pair of shoes that may be old, battered (and sometimes slightly smelly), but critically never fail to feel great and comfortable.

2012 so far has been an exciting year, we've been featured on NME.com, we've had some great reviews for our last album, and we've developed good relationships with new fans, promoters and industry contacts. I'd liken the feeling at the moment to being at a crossroads; on one hand things may continue to grow at this pace with increasing fans, PSH awareness and new opportunities, and on the other hand we may enjoy the level we're currently at; playing shows and making our own records in our studio. The opportunity to spread our music ever further and wider is our primary goal, but I'm able to feel comfort in our current existence because of the rewards i get from playing music with my 2 friends. You've got to do it because you love doing it, and if you're lucky, with hard graft, the rest will follow, but if it doesn't then you're no lesser a musician/artist because you didn't get success.

Knowing this, and coming to terms with this, is to arrive at a place of calm serenity, where i think great music & stress-free fun can be had. Watch this space…


Howley