Pattern Pusher are a three piece from Devon, known for their cheerful outlook and groovy indie disco sound, they consist of Benjamin Conibear, Benjamin Green and Alex Johnstone. They have gained the attention of BBC Introducing, GQ Magazine and Glastonbury organiser Michael Eavis, after winning a competition, judged by the man himself, to play at Pilton Party 2019. Get to know this up and coming band below…
Benjamin Green, Alex Johnstone and Benjamin Conibear (left to right)
How did you all meet?
Benjamin Green: We met at a jam night that Alex used to run. We would play for hours on end, never wanting to stop, so we decided to take things a step further and start the band and see how far we could push it!
How does the process of making your music work? Has it changed since you started?
BG: We do a lot of the writing in living rooms and kitchens. We are firm believers that a song has to feel good stripped down before it’s worth adding all of the detail and energy that make it a finished Pattern Pusher track. Once a song’s written there’s usually a period of demoing, testing out live and intense listening before we properly commit to tape and call it finished. It’s definitely changed since we started out, before we would put way too much attention on filling up the song with too many busy parts. Now we’ve shifted our focus to making sure the core of the track - bass drums keys vocals are all high energy and working together, using extra layers to support rather than take over.
Sofar Sounds say you’re ‘ones to watch’, how do you feel about that?
Benjamin Conibear: Ace! There were acts from all over the world on there and some of our most influential idles have taken part in their events in the past, it feels like we're on the same path
Sofar Sounds, what was your experience like with them?
BG: We’ve had great fun with the Sofar Sounds Bristol team. They’ve put us on for two amazing gigs and been incredibly supportive of the band. Last time they had us play in a church and I got to dance around and go in all the special areas that I think you’d normally not be allowed in. They filmed our set too!
How do you feel about intimate gigs?
BC: In my opinion they're scarier to perform at, especially in places you haven't been before, but they're normally more rewarding. On larger stages it's harder to see the reaction on people's faces. Whereas you can literally smell the audience at the smaller places we play, when you set up everyone's watching you, you wonder whether the crowd are going to be up for it. Normally they always are and when people start to dance it feels immense, like you've somehow learnt their language.
How do you think playing these smaller venues have helped you?
BC: They've made us a lot tighter as a band, normally the equipment isn't always the best so you can't always rely on the monitors or speakers being your friends. If you can nail it in a small pub then doing it on a big stage with pro audio is a breeze!
Have you noticed a difference in your performance style when the audience and size of them are different, like your own gigs vs festivals for example?
BG: We try our best to make sure every show, no matter what size, has the same intensity and good spirit for everyone there. It’s an incredible feeling walking out in front of a giant festival crowd but some of our all time favourite gigs have been playing in sweatbox rooms with a small amount of people just giving it everything! You always have to give 110% otherwise why are you doing it?
Do you miss the intimacy when playing festivals? Or do you crave the bigger audiences?
Alex Johnstone: I love playing anywhere so long as the crowd are up for it. I’d rather play to 20 people smiling, dancing and loving it, then to a field of people who are just milling about getting falafel wraps.
Was there anything you learnt from playing Pilton Party?
AJ: No matter what you achieve you always want more, from that lesson that it’s the journey that is the best bit. Savour every moment. Whether it’s a small show at the back end of a venue or a big field at a festival. Make sure you look around and take it in.
Benjamin Green, Michael Eavis, Alex Johnstone and Benjamin Conibear (left to right)
What is your view on artists that have established themselves at headline spots and stadiums shows playing small venues?
BG: I think that it’s a really cool concept, I’d love to see some of my dream acts in a smaller venue! A memorable gig we recently attended was Mini Mansions at The Cavern in Exeter (approx 200 cap.). The band consists of some top session players involved with Arctic Monkeys & Queens of the Stone Age. It was really cool to meet them and see artists used to filling stadiums come and rock out at our local club.
You had four supports at a recent Pattern Pusher Presents, it’s refreshing to see you focus on supporting artists and making it more about the music rather than making money. £8 on the door to see five acts, that’s pretty good for your money. What has made you do this?
BG: Pattern Pusher Presents is all about two things. Firstly it’s about giving newer artists an opportunity to play on a larger stage and to a bigger crowd than they might be used to. Secondly it’s about having a great time and showcasing some of the exciting music that we see coming up around us. There’s not a great deal of things like this happening in the Devon & Cornwall area, certainly not as much as in other cities in the UK. When we first started out we would have loved to have the chance to play a show like this so we thought, why not just start one ourselves?
Who did you last see live?
AJ: Franc Moody. They blew the roof off the Fleece in Bristol. If you haven’t heard of them, trust me, get on their Spotify and dance till your feet hurt. Pure, disco drenched, fun.
What would I have expected to see at your show if it weren’t cancelled?
BG: All the good times, with dancing, singing and generally getting wild!
Any plans for the very uncertain future?
BG: We’re working on our debut album at the moment! Lots of song writing and demoing from our living rooms and kitchens. The songs are sounding really exciting and we can’t wait to record them all and release them out into the world!
Head over to @patternpusher on Instagram to see them sport their brand colours, pink and yellow, even during this dark time. Listen to them on Spotify now and sign up to their mailing list at patternpusher.com, to be the first to hear their debut album.
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