Speaker 1: Oh, I love that. The track is called the Ineffectuals
and the band is the Fods, and uh oh, that
is so good.
Speaker 2: That is so good.
Speaker 1: And we've got Rob Critchley from the Fods on the
phone with us via WhatsApp.
Speaker 2: Rob, are you there, I'm him? Can you hear me?
Speaker 1: I can? Yes, yes, Hey, I love this. I love
that song. And I've been I've been anxious to talk
to you. You sent us a couple songs. We're gonna play
the other one at the end of the segment. But
I love the sound of the Fods. But now it's interesting, though,
so the Fods tell tell me if I'm if my
perception is correct. Is it not so much a band
but more of a collective? Would collective be a better word,
because it seems to it kind of changes in morphs,
and and tell us about the Fods.
Speaker 3: It absolutely changes the morphs. So there's basically two of
us who write songs. Okay, I write the lyrics and
I write the lyrics and some of the music. And
I'm not particularly good musicians. So I send voice notes,
you know, tinkerings over WhatsApp, and I send it to
my old school friend of thirty five years and I
send it over to him who's still in Manchester in
the UK, and he's he's been in the music business
with various bands for all that time, and he does
the majority of the music and putting it all together.
And we've got a mixed guy who is incredible and
he's also dirt.
Speaker 2: Cheap for us release because of hate and he does
the mixing.
Speaker 3: So there's three of us, and there's also we sometimes
use a guitarist out of old old band, and we
sometimes use a vocalist guitarist out of our old band
from when we were at school. So all and I
go all the way back to like the I'm trying
not to age myself here, late nineteen eighties, okay, and
we were we were in like, uh, you know, a
school band, and we tried really hard and we didn't
We wrote a few decent songs and we won a
Battle of the bands, and then we all disappeared off
to university and he carried on in a different morphed
into a different band and they did okay, and we.
Speaker 2: Sort of lost contact a little bit. Like I was
always like sort.
Speaker 3: Of following him, and when I was at university in
London and his band came down and played in London.
So I went and watched it, and so I knew
them all and they were good guys, and you know,
as the two thousands went along, I think he got
a little bit, you know, chewed up by the music
industry like a lot of people have done.
Speaker 2: Oh yeah, and it happens, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3: So he he was writing really good songs and you know,
playing half decent venues and you know, not getting any
traction and not getting any you know, we've been promised
deals by record companies and they've never come to fruition
and all that sort of stuff.
Speaker 2: You know, a tailor's old as the time in the
music industry. And during COVID.
Speaker 3: He he got hold of a couple of old bandmates
and during COVID they just set up phones and started
playing their old stuff and under the name of the
good Stoff Project, they eventually released like six songs or something,
and they were all done remotely, like in four different rooms,
and they found a they found a singer who was
really good.
Speaker 2: She did her part remotely. And this has gotten on
to do with the Fogs, by the way, Yeah, yeah, no, I.
Speaker 1: Want to learn.
Speaker 2: Yeah, So during COVID.
Speaker 3: They did six songs all remotely, put it on an
album six CP coord remote and released it. And one
of the songs that's which they didn't do because was
for whatever reason, they didn't want it on this EP
and the new singer didn't like it or.
Speaker 2: Whatever it was.
Speaker 3: We're shopping, which you're presuming I think you're going to
play later.
Speaker 2: Yes, yes, so he said to me. He said to me,
can can you you sort of rework.
Speaker 3: It and like change some of the lyrics which may
be a bit outdated, and you know, we'll we'll re
envision it and we'll, you know, see where it goes.
Speaker 2: So I'm like, yeah, I've always loved shopping. I think
it's a great song.
Speaker 3: And while we were talking about this, we started talking
about the old music we.
Speaker 2: Released and like the gigs that we played together and
all that sort of stuff.
Speaker 3: So he goes, well, while we're doing this, why don't
we go back and find the seven songs which we
did together over a period of like two years in
the late nineties and see what we can do with
them as well. So that's what we did, and they
don't argue. EP was the first thing in which we
put out as the odds. And so there's the two
of us and we used on that EP four different
singers and so that's how we sort of developed into
this collective. And so the four different singers like we
sort of found because for the first one, we didn't
have anyone. So we just said the first person who
said yes, we were well, let's try it.
Speaker 2: Let's see it. And it went quite well.
Speaker 3: So he did a couple of mon and there's a
few other people who got involved. And as as that album,
all those songs off that album got a bit more momentum,
it started to get easier to entice singers to actually
come and do it for us. Right, So this is
how we ended up with Joe Boo. As you can
hear from his vocal performance in the Indefectuals, you can
actually sing. You know, he's a real, real talent, and
he liked he liked what we did in Dan Don't
Argue EP, and we you know, we've chatted occasionally on
other shows and you know, in a couple of Discord channels,
and I've downloaded his songs and he's listened to ours.
So I blindly sent a text to him, you know,
a Facebook messenger or whatever and said, look, do you
fancy having to.
Speaker 2: Go We've got a new song lined up, And he's like, yeah, yeah,
give me, give me a couple of weeks and then
I'll be in some of the other stuff.
Speaker 3: Over and when I've got time, I'll have a look.
So we sent some other stuff over and literally been
two weeks. It's sent back, you.
Speaker 2: Know, vocals for it.
Speaker 3: Wow, this is like he's so much better than we are.
Like me and all are like, okay, we've got to
like really sort of think about what we're going to
do here, and we're going right, the lyrics needs changing
and like it needs bumping up and like so we
scrabbled around for a couple of weeks and send him
back something and it's like, guys, this is brilliant, Like
this is.
Speaker 2: Coming together really well. And he sent it back and
we're like, wow, his vocals are even better on this
first that's great.
Speaker 3: So so we did all this and all these things
which we are doing are all remote. So Joe's in Florida,
I'm in Joseph City, and Paul's in Manchester in the UK.
You know, all these files and things are flying back
and forth and uh yeah. So so eventually we got
we got to a place where music was getting close
to what Joe was was putting out. And you know,
his his vocals are outstanding.
Speaker 2: He's done loads and loads, but stuff.
Speaker 3: Like he's constantly he I think that's what he does
is collaborate. He's got like a couple of bands that
he's getting a bit more serious with. Okay, but like
he's a he's a collaborator and he's been on loads
of people's and songs and yeah, people should check him
out because he's outrageous.
Speaker 1: Yeah. Yeah, it's interesting because it's like something that comes
up a lot on the show is you know, COVID
and how COVID changed so much. And I feel like,
obviously it was terrible, but we got to find those
silver linings where we can. And I think one of
the one of the few silver linings of the pandemic
was it kind of forced people to think a little
bit outside the box in terms of, you know, the
technology already existed, you know, to share files back and forth,
and and and and to collaborate via the Internet. But
I think what the pandemic did it kind of forced
a lot of people to really embrace it more. And
so you see a lot more of these kinds of
projects now where you know, people aren't even in this case,
not even necessarily on the same continent, right, but you
can you can collaborate that way, and you can send
files back and forth, and people are more comfortable with
it now. And I mean, and and you know, the
FODS probably, I mean, without the Internet, I think it's
safe to say the FODS would not exist as a project,
right because you know, yeah, you wouldn't be able to
connect all of this.
Speaker 3: So so if if you look at it like it
used to be, like it used to have to get
four or five people into a tiny little room, and
that's how people used to make music.
Speaker 2: And it's not wrong with that. I'd love to do
that again. Sure, you know, get get in a studio or.
Speaker 3: Get because we don't really see the end products. I
send my bit off and I'm involved in the producing
and all that sort of stuff, and then it goes
to mix it and he does his stuff, and then
it comes back to me and I go, I don't
really know what more to add to that. It's outstanding, yeah,
you know, And I could give him little tip bits
and say oh, at one minute twenty three, can you
do this instead of this? And he goes yeah, and
it takes like seconds and and he's done. I'm like, Okay,
that's good.
Speaker 2: And so the technology is so good these days. You know,
he has a real job. He's not a real.
Speaker 3: Well he is a real mixer because he's incredible at it,
but he also has a day job and you.
Speaker 2: Know this is his side hobby. Oh okay, yeah, and
he's outstanding.
Speaker 3: And some of the stuff that we've got coming out.
So these two songs, Ineffectuals and Shopping Like came out
in January, and we've been we've had i think eight
other songs in weird stages of like pre production and
sitting with about another band or a singer or sitting somewhere.
And there's there's one song that we've been waiting on
a singer to do it for like six months and
eventually we've just had to say to him, look, it's
been far too long. We need to find someone else.
Because and we found someone else and they did it
in like two weeks. So this is this is one
of the one of the pitfalls about doing it this way, because.
Speaker 2: Someone will with the best intentions. Yeah, we'll go.
Speaker 3: Yeah, it's a great song, like I think it will
really fit my my voice on my tone, and and
I'll get around to it, you know, I've got a
couple of things to do, and then.
Speaker 2: You know, in three weeks, i'll be there. I'll be
on it. So in a month later, I'll text him
back and go, how's it going.
Speaker 3: I've not got around to it yet, you know, give me,
give me a couple of weeks and I'll.
Speaker 2: So this little back and forth goes on, and it
gets quite.
Speaker 1: Awkward, you know, yeah, no doubt and no doubt.
Speaker 3: And eventually I had to say to him, look, I
know you really want to do this, but like you've
had it for six months and pre want to try
and get an album out in.
Speaker 2: January or February or March or sometime.
Speaker 3: I don't know whether you're going to get me any
get me anything to to.
Speaker 2: Put on it. Yeah, yeah, I get it.
Speaker 3: And then we gave it to someone else who turned
it around in three weeks. As much as you want
a particular person, you think this song, I think will
and you find a person who you know. I've trolled
through all sorts of radio stations and streaming platforms just
to find like someone who's got a sound which we
think will be great for this particular song. And we've
also done it right, just have it and give it
a go and see what it comes up with. There
was a there was a song on I'd Argue Epic
which was never really meant to be like It turned
out to be a bit of a shoot gaze indie
song and it was never never meant to be like that.
But the guy who we gave it to just gave
it that vibe. Yeah, and it came back and we
were like, well, we weren't expecting this, but this is different.
Speaker 2: Book great, you know.
Speaker 3: So one of the things that we really want to
do is have these singers put their mark on our
songs as well, because there's no point me's sending a
settling something off and saying right, I mean this probably
won't happen, but like we've got a sound, a song
that sounds like europe m made this like Joey Tempest, right.
Speaker 2: Right, that's pointless.
Speaker 3: So we want them to put their own stamp, and
we've got obviously Laura is a female, so we've we're
looking to get female singers into it as well, which
opens a whole new.
Speaker 2: Sort of sound for us.
Speaker 3: Oh yeah, so you know we're not stuck with just
like guys singing it like if we like, we've got
two on the on the albums coming out that we've
we're going to release them. We weren't going to even
release this, but one of the songs sound came out
sounding so good that we're right the middle of October
we're going to release it and see what people think.
And it's nothing, it's not I don't think it's even
a rock song.
Speaker 2: Oh really, it's sort of a blues blues ballady type thing.
Speaker 3: Oh nice, you may fit on a James Bond theme,
so we'll see.
Speaker 2: But like we love it, so yeah, see what people think.
Speaker 1: That must be exciting for you though, because as as
you're coming up with these ideas for these songs and
you're you're putting lyrics together and so forth, that you know,
it sounds like it's it's kind of an adventure because
you don't know once it leaves your hands, you don't
know exactly what's going to happen to it, and obviously
you know you've got to approve what I whatever happens
to it. But with working with these different singers, you
don't know until it happens what kind of a stamp
they're going to put on it. And that just must
be that must be very exciting. I would think, you
know that.
Speaker 3: It's it's it's exciting, and it's also quite frightened as well.
Like you say, you just don't know, so it's a
huge step into the unknown. Yeah, so we're like, right,
there's a song that I wrote and I was listening
to a bit more dancy type of stuff and I'd
love to love us to put out something because you know,
we we don't tend to stick to one genre. Yeah,
I'll just put out something a little bit more dancing,
like with a bit of a boogie feel, you know,
sort of like that. And I wrote these lyrics. It's
a song called Fuel and hopefully we'll be out around
Christmas all New York, okay. And I wrote it and
it's called Fuel, and I was thinking about, like, you know,
maybe a bit hedonistic and you know, dancing o'clock in
the morning and all that sort of stuff. And the
way it's turned out is like a I don't even
know what the term for it. It's like sludge stone
and metal, so it's gone into a totally different like
genre and spectrum.
Speaker 2: I never thought it was, but it's brilliant. It's brilliant.
Speaker 3: And when we actually gave it to the band who
did it, they were like, what you're expecting from this?
And I explained this to them and they were like, right,
just leave it with me.
Speaker 2: I've got this.
Speaker 3: And he came back and he's a vocal and he's
also done a.
Speaker 2: Guitar solo for it.
Speaker 3: And if someone has said to me, I wrote it,
you know, eighteen months ago, and someone said to me
eighteen months ago, you'll have this.
Speaker 2: Five and a half minute long you know, goes on
like that, and I'll be like, Okay, that's cool. But yeah,
even writing the lyrics, you don't know where it's it's
going to go, and you've always got something you know
in your mind slightly yeah you know who knows?
Speaker 1: Yeah? Yeah, No, that's uh, that's really cool. And so
where should well actually a quick question, what does what
does the name mean?
Speaker 2: Where?
Speaker 1: Where does the name? You probably get this question what
is a far.
Speaker 2: Right?
Speaker 3: So if you listen to me, I've got a bit
of an accent, right, yes, from a place called Warrington
in Cheshire, which is just that side of Manchester in
the UK, and we all sort of grew up there
and Warrington is like one of these it isn't like
an old mill town and the Euston mill wire in
the in the in the factories in Warrington. Yeah, and everyone,
my accent is not too bad because I say in
a broad that's the right word.
Speaker 2: Sorry, yeah, because.
Speaker 3: I went to University of London and then I was
so down there for ten year is and then I've
been over in the States for another ten years.
Speaker 2: So whatever accent, I had a sort of mellow Sure.
Speaker 3: Well, if you're from if you're from Warrington, you say
things in a particular way, okay, And all our guitarist
is a.
Speaker 2: Place called is from a place called Orford in Warrenton. Okay.
And if you say Orthored in a Warrington accident, say orthored.
Speaker 3: Ah, yeah, see what I do, I do drop We've
dropped the or off. And so basically, if you say
it right, you would be the authors.
Speaker 1: Gotcha.
Speaker 2: Now we're just the fodds.
Speaker 1: Gotcha.
Speaker 2: Gotcha is Yeah, it's.
Speaker 3: It's a it's a shortened version of Orford said in
a Warrington accent.
Speaker 1: That makes sense, That makes sense, well, Rob, Unfortunately, the
time goes quickly and I want to make sure we
get this last h this last single in shopping. But
we'll have to have you back soon, definitely, when the
next single is ready, we'll have you back, and we'll
we'll book a longer block of time because i'd love
to talk to you more.
Speaker 3: But no, that, yeah, that sounds great. The new single,
I'll drop it over to you as well. Oh wonderful
is very much enough and it's out on I think
October seventeens.
Speaker 1: Okay, so I'll.
Speaker 3: Drop that over to you and you can have a
little preview for for it and have a little listen
and seeing.
Speaker 2: I would love to love to get on with you again, yeah,
whenever it's good for you to be honest.
Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, great, No, that'll give us an excuse to
get you booked again quickly, because I do want to
have a longer conversation with you. But well, we're gonna good,
We're gonna spend this track shopping and this is with So,
this is with Ora Davis on vocals.
Speaker 3: Correct, Yes, okay, she's yeah. I found her when we
first started looking for people, and I never thought you'd
give us a shot either.
Speaker 2: Yeah, but people, people are generous with their time and
generous with their talents.
Speaker 3: And you know, we're grateful for for all the people
that we've worked with, and we hope they've had a
good experience with it as well, because you know, we've
got something really good out of all this experience and
everyone that we speak to it seems to well, you know,
people are nice and may not tell us the truth.
Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, gotcha. All right, Rob, we will let you go.
We're gonna spin this track. But thank you so much
for joining us. And yeah, well we'll have you back
on soon for sure.
Speaker 2: Sounds good. I appreciate you, Thanks very much.
Speaker 1: All right, you got it, Rob, Thank you?
Speaker 2: Bybye, all right, sweet too, by bye bye bye.
Speaker 1: All right. That is that's Rob from the Fods. Let's
give this a spin. I really love this too. I
love their sound. Both of these songs are really good.
But earlier we played the ineffectuals. We're gonna play this.
This is Shopping by the Fods. And then after this,
Jenny and I will be back for a quick minute
before we run out of show. We'll tell you about
what we're doing later today. If you want to join us.
But here it is the Fods. The track is called
Shopping