A Chat with Chncer (20.05.2020)
Beginning their musical career by playing in cover bands during their teens, the lads from Chncer decided to take a moment and express themselves in a more original fashion. Born from the need for self-expression, UK-based James Devitt (lead vocals and guitar), Jordan Wilkinson (bass and backing vocals) and Tom Malkin (drums) developed Chncer. The band recently released their new single ‘Put The Sun In My Hand’ and we had a chance to chat with Tom (TM), Jordan (JW) and James (JD) about it. Here’s what the boys had to say:
OSR: How did you come about the name Chncer? Was it a simple or difficult decision?
C: We were trying to thinking a name for ages and then James was at work one day and he did something wrong and someone called him a chancer. Eureka moment or what?
OSR: Why did you enter the music industry?
C: We want to write songs that people have a genuine connection with. We think it’s one of the best things about being alive and we want to be a part of it.
OSR: What can you tell us about your new track ‘Put The Sun In My Hand’?
C: Lyrically and musically, the song is definitely based around the theme of personal reflection and responsibility. What problems are actually caused by yourself and what are you gonna do about it? What do you need to move forward? Maybe failing is better than never knowing. Either give yourself the power to illuminate why you aren’t happy or die never knowing who you are.
OSR: What was the writing and recording processes like?
C: Dave Anson from Glass Sound Studios has the patience of a saint and was incredibly helpful throughout the whole process. He is incredibly helpful without being intimidating and we would recommend Glass Sound Studios to anybody. Most of the ideas came whilst in the studio and the atmosphere while recording was instrumental to that.
OSR: It’s almost impossible to film music videos during the pandemic, but could we see a ‘homemade’ music video for ‘Put The Sun In My Hand’?
C: *laughs* Well, we do have a lot of unused footage of us just being absolute idiots. Sometimes I think we wanna have our own sketch show more than actually be in a band. We secretly just want to be comedy writers, so watch this space.
OSR: What do you feel makes you unique?
C: We strive to be as authentic as possible. No front. What you see is exactly what you get. I think as time goes on and that becomes more central to who we are that’s what makes us unique.
OSR: What do you want people to take away from your music?
C: I guess that we want to move people. Make people maybe realise something about themselves or give them ideas that they can connect to. We’re just getting started, but we wanna make music that people genuinely love. A Chncer tattoo is a definite goal.
OSR: Were any of you involved in music before Chncer?
C: Yeah! We were all in a covers band that did the whole Arctic Monkeys, Courteeners thing. Think indie covers in a working-class town and you could probably write the setlist yourself. We got so sick of it. It’s one of the reasons we started Chncer.
OSR: Where would you like to see yourself in five years?
C: To have a reputation for absolute quality and to have at least a couple undeniable EPs that allow us to record an album. Straight up.
OSR: How would you describe Chncer as a band?
C: The sound of a mind in conflict with itself.
OSR: If you were in a witness protection programme, what would your new name be and where would you go?
TM: My name would be Tom Malkin as I wouldn’t need witness protection because I ain’t no snitch.
JW: I’d also change my name to Tom Malkin because that’s a man nobody’s gonna fuck with.
JD: I would also choose Tom Malkin and then start dressing the same as the original Tom Malkin and start messaging people in order to confuse people and ultimately ruin his life.
OSR: What is your favourite smell and why?
TM: Favourite smell has to be lavender because I’m just a big girl.
JW: One of my favourite smells has gotta be fresh petrol. I dunno, it’s just got this strange and satisfying smell to it.
JD: You know when you get a proper nice smelling book and you just whiff the middle of it. I’ve never done heroin, but that’s got to be similar.
OSR: What are your plans for the rest of 2020 and beyond?
C: Who knows what’s going to happen for the rest of 2020. We do know that as soon as we can we’re going to record a handful of songs which are the best we’ve written and blow people heads off.
Thanks to the lads from Chncer for chatting with us! You can find more about Chncer on their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
