Ives, a band from Manchester with members hailing from Sweden, Mexico, and the United Kingdom, debuted on the local scene in late 2019. They gained instant popularity with songs such as Coming Home and Better Than Me, and over the past two years they have evolved into a more mature version of what they were when they first started, culminating in their most recent release, Best Part of Me. Jesper Krieg (vocals), Jack Hayward (guitar), and Alejandro Urbina (bass) are planning to release their debut EP later in 2023.
Their new single, โCalling You Mine,โ was published on November 18, 2022, after a one-year hiatus from music production. With Jesper residing in Sweden and Ale and Jack residing in Manchester, it is rare for them to play or write in the same room. This song is the outcome of a week where they were all back together earlier this year. While the initial demo was recorded while theywere all present, the final version of the song was recorded in Sweden and Manchester. The tune was mixed and mastered by their very own Jack Hayward and Grant Berry, respectively. The song is about the hardships of a failed relationship and how we are sometimes almost too sluggish to call it quits. This is the first track from their upcoming self-titled EP. Check out the song and the exclusive interview below:
1. Can you tell us a bit about where you come from and how it all got started?
IVES: We all met at the RNCM in Manchester when we started studying there in 2019. The first project we had to do was form a band and play a half-hour set in a local venue after only a few weeks at the college. We got together as a group and played loads of covers at the gig, and we all clicked so well we decided to start writing our own stuff together, and weโre still doing it!ย ย
2. Who were your first and strongest musical influences and why the name โIVESโ?
IVES: Our halls in our first year of uni was exclusively musicians, so we were surrounded by a huge variety of music 24/7. As we all come from different parts of the world, we like to think our music is a culmination of our unique experiences with music growing up in the UK, Sweden and Mexico.ย
I wish there was a cool, deeply personal reason for the name, but itโs just that I went on holiday to St Ives, and I liked how it sounded!
3. For most artists, originality is first preceded by a phase of learning and, often, emulating others. What was this like for you? How would you describe your own development as an artist and music maker, and the transition towards your own style, which is known as INDIE?
IVES: As a band weโve always written our tunes music first, and on the computer โ never really been a band that spends all our time in the rehearsal room. This meant our focus became the production, so we soon got obsessed with bands like The1975, as theyโre an indie band with some serious production. We realised after a while we were writing songs that sounded a lot like whatever we were listening to at the time, so we decided to switch up our style to a rockier, guitar-focused sound. I think our new releases are definitely the most honest weโve been, and weโre moving in a direction towards being comfortable with our โsoundโ.
4. Whatโs your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles โ and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative, and entertainment?
IVES: I wouldnโt say our music is political, as our songs are mainly introspective and personal. However, I do think bands that comment on society are so important for young people trying to navigate it. We personally would love to explore topics outside of our personal experience in the future, so maybe itโll be a natural progression for the band?
5. Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it or are you expecting something more, or different in the future?
IVES:
As we mainly work remotely and are only ever in the same room a few times a year, the band for us is all about the process, going from an idea to a song anyone in the world can listen to. We release our music because we love working on the songs, so we hope other people can feel that when listening to us.
6. Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song? Do you usually start with a tune, a beat, or a narrative in your head? And do you collaborate with others in this process?
IVES:
Nowadays, we create the song structure first and make an instrumental demo. This is mainly so Jesper (vocals) can write the lyrics and melody over the top. Although once we have words the music around it nearly always changes in some way, as weโve now got a mood and a story to reflect. Weโve found this is the best way to write for us when weโre working remotely.
7. What has been the most difficult thing youโve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
IVES:
I think when Jesper moved back to Sweden during the first few months of the pandemic was tough for us to navigate. Weโd been very busy and consistent in our first six months as a band, and now our future was surely going to be different to what we thought it would be. Figuring out how the band was going to continue was a struggle for a while, but once we started working on new music over lockdown we were back in our groove. Everything takes a lot longer now, gone are the days of writing and producing a new song every day. But the time, I think, is spent a lot more wisely, and weโre writing more mature music because of it.
8. On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
IVES:
Our first gig was a highlight for us all. We played in a tiny local venue with about 80 capacity, however we filled the place, and everyone knew the words to the few songs we had at the time. This was actually the week before the first lockdown so weโre so grateful we managed to do it.
9. With social media having a heavy impact on our lives and the music business in general, how do you handle criticism, haters, and/or naysayers in general? Is it something you pay attention to, or simply ignore?
IVES: Everyone has an opinion, and not everyone is going to like what you put out โ there isnโt a band out there that everyone in the world likes. The thing for us is to not let it affect what we create, because as soon as we change our sound for people who donโt like our stuff, someone else will hate it! I think itโs important for artists to stay true to how they express themselves. In my opinion its when the best music gets made.
10. Do you think is it important for fans of your music to understand the real story and message driving each of your songs, or do you think everyone should be free to interpret your songs in their own personal way?
IVES: I believe music is supposed to be interpreted, itโs how people relate and connect to a song. However, I know that knowing what the song is about for the artist often helps me appreciate it even more. I think being sincere is just as important as writing about things that can connect people.
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