motel void

MOTEL VOID: You’ve just released your new EP, Be My Hospital. Can you walk us through the writing and recording process?

FIRST DAY OF SPRING: i go through stages of listening to a huge amount of music and not writing at all and then when that is over i will write a lot and don’t tend to listen to a lot of music. i guess i am immersed in what I’m doing after accumulating all the sounds i needed from being a listener. i work singularly at home and i demo in my design studio that i work from daily. if it sounds good i then take it to the band and the studio. i also work alone with my engineer in the studio.

MOTEL VOID: You’ve been involved in several musical projects—The Bellybuttons, Velvet Morning, Rocket Ship TV, Mr. Yolk… How have these experiences shaped the sound and direction of First Day Of Spring?

FIRST DAY OF SPRING: we are still understanding our sound fully but ultimately at this stage we are more open to writing unapologetically tuneful music instead of a certain thing. like for example, velvet morning was fully a psych band and the songs weren’t really songs but more like jams. this project has a focus.

MOTEL VOID: Your influences span a range of indie artists like Sparklehorse, Silver Jews, Modest Mouse, and Sonic Youth. Are there specific elements from these bands that you consciously incorporate into your music?

FIRST DAY OF SPRING: i suppose i like mark linkous’s distorted vocal and how he uses that in his recordings. it makes you feel like the song is a very intimate thing but then there is also a slight creepyness/eeriness to it. every influence is in there somewhere i suppose but ultimately it happens subconciously. you just make the sort of music you like and listen to.

MOTEL VOID: Since moving from Southend-on-Sea to London, how has the shift in environment influenced your music and creative process? Are there any local London venues that have become favorites for you to perform or visit?

FIRST DAY OF SPRING: i’ve always had a place for the shacklewell arms and the old blue last in my heart purely because of the memories. i rarely go to the windmill. the victoria and moth club are kind of a communal space when music is concerned so they are cool too. i don’t know. i’m usuallly playing if im there also so it’s kind of a wierd working relationship you have with venues.

MOTEL VOID: What are your plans for the rest of the year? Are there any upcoming shows?

FIRST DAY OF SPRING: we have 3 out of 5 songs tracked for our next e.p. i will be finishing that in the studio and then putting it out early next summer probably. yes we are playing at the ivy house september 17th then tea and oranges is southend on sea on november 16th. we also have another date to be confirmed in late october at the new cross inn.