Features

Newcastle melodic punk newcomers Wild Spelks recently released their debut EP, ‘A House Full Of Strangers’.Written, produced, mixed, and mastered by the band’s own Jonathon Sabiston throughout 2023 at home in his Newcastle flat, with drum takes recorded at Blank Studios, Newcastle with engineer Chris McManus (Pit Pony, Du Blonde, TV Death), the EP is an absolute must-hear for fans of everyone from Green Day and The Menzingers to Manic Street Preachers, Weezer and Jimmy Eat World.Read on to see what Jonathon had to tell us about the project’s start, the EP and Wild Spelks’ future plans.

PRT: I hadn’t heard of Wild Spelks until I checked out your flawless recent single, ‘Take It From A Friend,’ but when I went and looked you up on the internet I saw that you have already been releasing singles since early 2021. Did Wild Spelks start out as a pandemic project?

Absolutely! Whilst I did work throughout lockdown, the whole landscape of being a musician changed, which gave me the kick to really work on my own demos and give them the care and attention needed

to be put out, into the world.

PRT: I read an interview where you said you were hoping to release a first EP in late 2021. That EP is only now coming out. So what happened to those earlier plans?

So many things, life, finances, creative decisions. We really live in a singles based market now, where an extended or long play record, really is a bit of a risk, or possibly seen as indulgent. I’ve always

wanted to do it, but the right time only showed it recently. Thankfully, everything has fallen into place.

PRT: Other than the drums, you recorded the whole EP in a spare room of your flat. Do you see yourself recording there in the future as well or do you think at some point your wife will kindly suggest using a studio?

I will always record a large portion of my music at home, it really isn’t the compromise it used to be. We have access to incredible recording software and hardware even on our phones now, that are

completely useable in “professional” music. It’s always about the song.

PRT: Not only did you write all of the songs and played all of the instruments, you also produced, mixed and mastered the EP as well. Is that just a way of working that feels most comfortable to you?

It is, I haven’t looked into the psychological reasons for that yet, but maybe I should! But in almost every case, I can hear the full song, with it’s final production in my head when the first few notes are

written or recorded onto my phone. There are many exceptions to the rule, but the rule for me is to try and cut out the middle man to the final sound.

PRT: Do you remember the first instrument you ever picked up?

Guitar and at a very young age. I will have had a guitar in my hand almost every day since I was around ten. I should be much, much better than I am!

PRT: When and why did you decide that playing just one instrument wasn’t enough?

I can play a few instruments, but it really doesn’t stray too far from guitar, bass and drums. Drums came into my life just because they are so fun to play, I’d recommend everyone just give them a go, make some noise!

PRT: You seem to be influenced by everyone from Green Day and The Menzingers to Manic Street Preachers, Weezer and Jimmy Eat World. Does that sound about right? And was it the idea from the start to head in that direction?

I wouldn’t say it was the idea to do so, but whenever I have tried to steer off into other directions in the past, I have always ended up in the same place, so with Wild Spells, I haven’t fought it, I have accepted it and embraced it for all it’s worth.

PRT: While the songs on the EP are all upbeat and pack hooks and big choruses for days, the lyrics deal with themes like mental health and depression. What is it about that juxtaposition that appeals to you?

I think there has to be a sort of give and take. A spoon full of sugar, something like that. I love darker lyrics with upbeat hooks, it is what I’ve grown up on & I just can’t get away from it. It suits me.

PRT: I read that the name Wild Spelks comes from the pangs of anxiety that you experience when you are feeling panicked. Is fronting a band then something that comes easy for you?

Absolutely not, I’ve as recently as last year, had to drop out of a show due to my anxiety. I’ve been dealing with it intensely for around 15 years and generally, forever. I really do learn more about it, all the time. But sometimes the fight or flight is still just too strong for me. But we keep trying and we keep getting up.

PRT: Now that the EP is out... what is up next for Wild Spelks?

Well we have lots of shows to announce (but not just yet!) which will keep us busy for a little while. We are also already recording our next work! I love writing, so that will never end and as long as people still want to hear it, we’ll keep releasing it! Onwards and upwards.