Interstate (song)
Encyclopedia
Interstate is the first single from Tear the Signs Down
, the third studio album by Welsh
alternative rock
band The Automatic
. The single was released on December 6, and marks the first release through the bands own record label; Armored Records.
", "Interstate" is considered a bridge between previous record "This Is a Fix
" and "Tear the Signs Down
". Lyrically and musically however the track is more like material from debut album Not Accepted Anywhere
, with the use of synthesizer keyboard
s and three part vocals - predominantly from Robin Hawkins
and Paul Mullen
, with backing vocals throughout from James Frost
. The track was written and recorded at Warwick Hall of Sound, and according to Paul Mullen was one of the easiest tracks to write, taking mere hours. The lyrics refer to "freedom, no stress, being away from everything and basically driving along a big long road to God knows where" referring to their split with former record label, B-Unique
, as well as they're experiences of recording previous album This Is a Fix
abroad in Los Angeles
in 2007.
. Armored Records; the bands new own record label
was announced on the same day, which would be distributed by EMI
. The track was premiered, also on November 03 on XFM
, with the music video and song itself available to stream on YouTube
, Myspace
and the bands official website. In promotion for the single, "Something Else", a bonus track from Tear the Signs Down was released as a free download on Music Glue. A week later on Zane Lowe
's BBC Radio 1
show on November 10, vocalist and guitarist Paul Mullen was interviewed about the new single.
The single artwork sleeve is an abstract painting by vocalist/bassist Robin Hawkins
, which uses the logo style from previous record This Is a Fix.
The band reworked the track soon after its release into an acoustic west country style, which was performed in session on BBC Radio Wales
and then on Live from Studio Five
.
. The primary setting of the video at the Chapter Arts Centre uses a backdrop created in 2008 by artist Alan Goulbourne; a 'multi-layered three-dimensional sculptural landscape' which originally was not painted, however in the video it has been painted Red White and Blue
, colours which re-occur throughout the video - with Paul Mullen
using a white Gibson SG
, Rob Hawkins using a red bass guitar
whilst Frost playing a blue Gibson Les Paul
and Iwan playing a blue drum kit, the woman and scrap-heap cars also use these colours. The concept of the video is based around the stereotype of the American lifestyle, with young girls, fast cars and unhealthy foods.
The narrative follows the band performing the track, whilst several different woman are shown consuming various meats, burgers, milkshakes and ice creams, as well as shots of cars being scrapped
. The video was premiered on November 03, 2009 on Youtube
and Myspace
, shortly after the song was initially aired on XFM
.
DJ Fearne Cotton
praised the track calling it wicked, and more pop than previous material fellow Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe
placed "Interstate" 5th on his hottest record of the week on November 27.
Tear the Signs Down
Tear the Signs Down is the third album by Wales-based band The Automatic. It was released on 8 March 2010 in the United Kingdom, and then on 12 April 2010 for the rest of the world. Tear the Signs Down was the first album released by the band on their own Armoured Records after being splitting with...
, the third studio album by Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band The Automatic
The Automatic
The Automatic , are a Welsh rock band. The band is composed of Robin Hawkins on vocals, bass and synthesizers, James Frost on guitar, synthesizers, backing vocals and occasional bass, Iwan Griffiths on drums and Paul Mullen on vocals, guitar and synthesizer - since 2007...
. The single was released on December 6, and marks the first release through the bands own record label; Armored Records.
Music and lyrics
Similarly to previous single "Steve McQueenSteve McQueen (The Automatic song)
"Steve McQueen" is the first and ultimately only single from Welsh rock band The Automatic's second album This Is A Fix. It is their fifth single overall...
", "Interstate" is considered a bridge between previous record "This Is a Fix
This Is a Fix
This Is a Fix is the second album by Wales based band The Automatic. It was released on 25 August 2008. The band worked with producer Don Gilmore in Los Angeles, but were disappointed with these sessions, and instead worked with Butch Walker at Sage and Sound Recording in Los Angeles then back in...
" and "Tear the Signs Down
Tear the Signs Down
Tear the Signs Down is the third album by Wales-based band The Automatic. It was released on 8 March 2010 in the United Kingdom, and then on 12 April 2010 for the rest of the world. Tear the Signs Down was the first album released by the band on their own Armoured Records after being splitting with...
". Lyrically and musically however the track is more like material from debut album Not Accepted Anywhere
Not Accepted Anywhere
Not Accepted Anywhere is the debut album from Welsh rock band The Automatic, originally released on June 19, 2006. Working with producers Stephen Harris, Richard Jackson and Ian Broudie on different tracks at a variety of studies around the United Kingdom the album was released through a joint deal...
, with the use of synthesizer keyboard
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
s and three part vocals - predominantly from Robin Hawkins
Robin Hawkins
Robin Hawkins, commonly known as Rob is the primary vocalist and bassist for Welsh band The Automatic.-Personal life:Rob studied at Cowbridge Comprehensive School, completing his A-levels and going on to take a chance with The Automatic in his gap year...
and Paul Mullen
Paul Mullen
Paul Mullen is an English musician, most notable recognized for being the primary vocalist and guitarist with Yourcodenameis:milo who went on hiatus in 2007, and the joint lead vocalist, guitarist and synthesizer player for The Automatic from 2007 onwards...
, with backing vocals throughout from James Frost
James Frost
James Martin Frost is the guitarist, keyboardist and backing vocalist of Welsh band The Automatic, and guitarist and backing vocalist for Cardiff based band Effort. As well as his musical duties for The Automatic, Frost has also directed two of the bands music videos and their tour video daries...
. The track was written and recorded at Warwick Hall of Sound, and according to Paul Mullen was one of the easiest tracks to write, taking mere hours. The lyrics refer to "freedom, no stress, being away from everything and basically driving along a big long road to God knows where" referring to their split with former record label, B-Unique
B-Unique Records
B-Unique Records is a London-based record label, founded in 2001 by Mark Lewis and Martin Toher.B-Unique has been a division of Atlantic Records UK since February 2008...
, as well as they're experiences of recording previous album This Is a Fix
This Is a Fix
This Is a Fix is the second album by Wales based band The Automatic. It was released on 25 August 2008. The band worked with producer Don Gilmore in Los Angeles, but were disappointed with these sessions, and instead worked with Butch Walker at Sage and Sound Recording in Los Angeles then back in...
abroad in Los Angeles
Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 9,818,605, making it the most populous county in the United States. Los Angeles County alone is more populous than 42 individual U.S. states...
in 2007.
Release
The tracks release details were announced on November 3 2009, with the announcement of the single "Interstate" and the bands third album Tear the Signs DownTear the Signs Down
Tear the Signs Down is the third album by Wales-based band The Automatic. It was released on 8 March 2010 in the United Kingdom, and then on 12 April 2010 for the rest of the world. Tear the Signs Down was the first album released by the band on their own Armoured Records after being splitting with...
. Armored Records; the bands new own record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
was announced on the same day, which would be distributed by EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
. The track was premiered, also on November 03 on XFM
Xfm
Xfm is a brand of two commercial radio stations focused on alternative music, primarily indie pop, and owned by Global Radio.-History:Xfm was created in London in 1992 by Sammy Jacob, who later co-founded NME Radio in 2008. Xfm subsequently expanded to a network of four stations; there are...
, with the music video and song itself available to stream on YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
, Myspace
Myspace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
and the bands official website. In promotion for the single, "Something Else", a bonus track from Tear the Signs Down was released as a free download on Music Glue. A week later on Zane Lowe
Zane Lowe
Zane Lowe also known as 'Zipper', is a radio DJ and television presenter. He was born in New Zealand and grew up in Auckland, where he was a presenter on the local music station Max TV, before moving to England...
's BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
show on November 10, vocalist and guitarist Paul Mullen was interviewed about the new single.
The single artwork sleeve is an abstract painting by vocalist/bassist Robin Hawkins
Robin Hawkins
Robin Hawkins, commonly known as Rob is the primary vocalist and bassist for Welsh band The Automatic.-Personal life:Rob studied at Cowbridge Comprehensive School, completing his A-levels and going on to take a chance with The Automatic in his gap year...
, which uses the logo style from previous record This Is a Fix.
The band reworked the track soon after its release into an acoustic west country style, which was performed in session on BBC Radio Wales
BBC Radio Wales
BBC Radio Wales is the BBC's national radio station broadcasting to Wales in the English language. Operated by BBC Wales, it began broadcasting on 12 November 1978 following the demise of the old "Radio 4 Wales" when BBC Radio 4 became a national network and moved from medium wave to long wave...
and then on Live from Studio Five
Live from Studio Five
Live From Studio Five was an early evening, British magazine programme which was produced by Sky News for Channel 5. The show was presented by Kate Walsh and a line-up of other co-presenters during its run. It consisted of interviews and discussing topical issues, with an emphasis on showbusiness...
.
Music video
The music video was directed by Ewan Jones Morris and Casey Raymond, with additional photography by Nicolas Booth. The music video was filmed on October 12 2009 at the Chapter Arts Centre in CardiffCardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
. The primary setting of the video at the Chapter Arts Centre uses a backdrop created in 2008 by artist Alan Goulbourne; a 'multi-layered three-dimensional sculptural landscape' which originally was not painted, however in the video it has been painted Red White and Blue
Red White and Blue (disambiguation)
Red White and Blue may refer to:* any Tricolour flag or banner having the three colours of red, white and blue:** The Flag of Australia** The Flag of Chile** The Flag of Costa Rica** The Flag of Croatia** The Flag of Cuba...
, colours which re-occur throughout the video - with Paul Mullen
Paul Mullen
Paul Mullen is an English musician, most notable recognized for being the primary vocalist and guitarist with Yourcodenameis:milo who went on hiatus in 2007, and the joint lead vocalist, guitarist and synthesizer player for The Automatic from 2007 onwards...
using a white Gibson SG
Gibson SG
At the launch of the SG in 1961, Gibson offered four variants of the SG; the SG Junior , the SG Special, the SG Standard, and the top-of-the-line SG Custom. However, Gibson's current core variants as of 2010 are the SG Standard and the SG Special...
, Rob Hawkins using a red bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
whilst Frost playing a blue Gibson Les Paul
Les Paul
Lester William Polsfuss —known as Les Paul—was an American jazz and country guitarist, songwriter and inventor. He was a pioneer in the development of the solid-body electric guitar which made the sound of rock and roll possible. He is credited with many recording innovations...
and Iwan playing a blue drum kit, the woman and scrap-heap cars also use these colours. The concept of the video is based around the stereotype of the American lifestyle, with young girls, fast cars and unhealthy foods.
The narrative follows the band performing the track, whilst several different woman are shown consuming various meats, burgers, milkshakes and ice creams, as well as shots of cars being scrapped
Wrecking yard
A scrapyard or junkyard is the location of a dismantling business where wrecked or decommissioned vehicles are brought, their usable parts are sold for use in operating vehicles, while the unusable metal parts, known as scrap metal parts, are sold to metal-recycling companies...
. The video was premiered on November 03, 2009 on Youtube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
and Myspace
Myspace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
, shortly after the song was initially aired on XFM
Xfm
Xfm is a brand of two commercial radio stations focused on alternative music, primarily indie pop, and owned by Global Radio.-History:Xfm was created in London in 1992 by Sammy Jacob, who later co-founded NME Radio in 2008. Xfm subsequently expanded to a network of four stations; there are...
.
Reception
BBC Radio 1BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation which also broadcasts internationally, specialising in current popular music and chart hits throughout the day. Radio 1 provides alternative genres after 7:00pm including electronic dance, hip hop, rock...
DJ Fearne Cotton
Fearne Cotton
Fearne Cotton is an English television and radio presenter who is known for presenting a number of popular TV programmes such as Top of the Pops and the Red Nose Day telethon. In 2007, she became the first regular female presenter of BBC Radio 1's Chart Show...
praised the track calling it wicked, and more pop than previous material fellow Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe
Zane Lowe
Zane Lowe also known as 'Zipper', is a radio DJ and television presenter. He was born in New Zealand and grew up in Auckland, where he was a presenter on the local music station Max TV, before moving to England...
placed "Interstate" 5th on his hottest record of the week on November 27.
Track listing
Credits and personnel
- Robin HawkinsRobin HawkinsRobin Hawkins, commonly known as Rob is the primary vocalist and bassist for Welsh band The Automatic.-Personal life:Rob studied at Cowbridge Comprehensive School, completing his A-levels and going on to take a chance with The Automatic in his gap year...
- lead vocals, bass guitar - Paul MullenPaul MullenPaul Mullen is an English musician, most notable recognized for being the primary vocalist and guitarist with Yourcodenameis:milo who went on hiatus in 2007, and the joint lead vocalist, guitarist and synthesizer player for The Automatic from 2007 onwards...
- synthesizers, guitar, vocals - James FrostJames FrostJames Martin Frost is the guitarist, keyboardist and backing vocalist of Welsh band The Automatic, and guitarist and backing vocalist for Cardiff based band Effort. As well as his musical duties for The Automatic, Frost has also directed two of the bands music videos and their tour video daries...
- guitar, backing vocals - Iwan GriffithsIwan GriffithsIwan Griffiths is drummer for Welsh rock band The Automatic, Iwan originates from Cowbridge in Wales, and currently resides in a house with band mates Robin Hawkins and James Frost.-Musical career:...
- drums - Richard Jackson - production