A Chat with Chris Buxton from The Covasettes (30.06.18)

Manchester has been infested with a brand new sound, and that is one coming from The Covasettes.  Described as being ‘infectious’, the indie-rock band is building a strong following in their local town, and throughout the rest of the UK – soon to be global, I think.  Charming as ever, The Covasettes’ frontman, Chris Buxton (CB), took time out to chat with our writer, Nicole Mendes.

OSR:  Your biographies say that you were formed in Fallowfield, Manchester, but how exactly?  Where did you meet, and what’s the story behind the creation of The Covasettes?

CB:  We met at university.  I’d started playing songs that I’d written with Matt (lead guitar), and they started to sound good – if I can say so myself.  We’d played a few open mic nights together, and we decided we’d give the whole band thing a shot.  So, along come Buckley and Jamie, and the Covasettes were born.  It’s definitely not the most exciting love story you’ll ever hear, but that’s how it happened!

OSR:  Why did you choose ‘The Covasettes’ as your band name, and were there any other ideas for a band name?

CB:  Choosing the band name was probably the hardest challenge we faced as a band because literally everything is taken, and we wanted something unique.  I wanted the band to be called ‘The Slates’ at the time, but in retrospect, I’m very glad I didn’t get my own way with that.  ‘The Covasettes’ came from Matt in a moment of pure passion and inspiration!  However, that’s a story for another time.

OSR:  Many reviews say your vocals seem effortless and are infectious.  Chris, do you think your music is ‘effortless and addictive’?

CB:  They’re definitely my favourite reviews to read!  It’s a hard question for me to answer, I wouldn’t call our music effortless as we always pay so much attention to the tiny details of the songs, things that people will never notice.  We always want to get the most out of a tune.  As for our songs being addictive, it’s one of the best compliments to receive.  Someone having our tune in their head all day is great, because that’s what all good songs do in my opinion!

OSR:  Your latest single, ‘Top Drawer‘, has a more upbeat vibe to it.  Did you enjoy recording something happier (for lack of a better word), than heart-wrenchingly emotional?

CB:  Definitely.  ‘Top Drawer’ was a song we’ve always loved because of the vibe it creates whenever we play it live; so, trying to recreate and capture that vibe during the recording process was really fun.  We record and produce everything on our own in Jamie’s bedroom, so it really is up to us as to how a song comes out.  ‘Top Drawer’ came together really smoothly and it was definitely the most fun I’ve had recording a song.

OSR:  What was the songwriting process for ‘Top Drawer’?

CB:  ‘Top Drawer‘ really did write itself; it came together in the same time it takes you to listen to it.  It was great because when I brought it to the lads, they really got behind it straight away, and it just worked!  I never write their parts (the drums, bass or lead guitar) because I think it’s important that each member of the band has their own take on the song.  I think that’s what contributes heavily to our sound.

OSR:  You released a music video for ‘Top Drawer’ at the same time as the single.  How did you come up with the concept behind the video?

CB:  We just wanted something simple and fun; so, we just spent the day walking around Manchester, and we set up on a really cool rooftop which looked over the city.  It was one of those days where everything went right.  The sun was shining and everyone was in a really good mood.  I think that shows in the video.

OSR:  Did you enjoy making the video?  Did you experience any problems?

CB:  We loved it!  Everything ran so smoothly UNTIL the last five minutes.  A crazy guy with face tattoos came up and had a go at us because the instruments were too loud; that’s one of the many downsides of having a drummer.

OSR:  Who would you say have been your biggest supporters, not only during this period but throughout your musical journey? 

CB:  Friends and family, for sure.  When you’re in a band at our level, believe it or not, the hardest thing to do is get people to engage with your music and turn up to see you play.  They were, and still are, so important to us.  We always appreciate every like and share we get on everything!

OSR:  You’ve released three singles – ‘Top Drawer‘ being the latest, have been featured on BBC Introducing, have a few official music videos, and have performed around the UK.  What is next for The Covasettes?

CB:  Hopefully, more of the same!  We’re just focused on getting more music out and selling out shows.  To me, our best songs haven’t been released yet, so I can’t wait to see what the world thinks of them!

OSR:  If you skip forward ten years, where do you hope to see yourselves?

CB:  I see us being jet-lagged because we’ve just got home from touring the USA for a year.  There’s a Grammy in each of our many bathrooms, and I’m about to spin off into an underwhelming solo career where I milk the success of the band for years to come.

OSR:  What is the best piece of advice you have ever received, and did you listen to it?

CB:  We’ve never really been given any advice from anyone, but we have our own set of rules that we live by.  One of them is that ‘something always comes from everything’, whether that’s playing an empty show or busking in the street; you might meet that one person who can make a difference to you!  So, we never like to turn opportunities down, however daft they may seem.

OSR:  Name one of your comfort foods.

CB:  Subway; it’s a massive pre-gig ritual for us!  The aim is to get a sponsorship.

OSR:  If you could live in any television show, which one would it be and why?

CB:  The Office!  David Brent is my spirit animal, and it would be a pleasure to work in his office.

Thanks to Chris for speaking with The Other Side Reviews.  To connect with The Covasettes, check out their official website or their socials – Facebook and Twitter.  You can also find them on iTunes, Spotify and YouTube.

Related posts:

The Covasettes – Top Drawer (2018)
Musician of the Month:  The Covasettes