twothirtysix
‘twothirtysix’ is the debut ep by dive casino. From the bands conception to the final recording at Hidden Lane Studios in Glasgow marked the first two hundred and thirty six days together as a band, a feat they wanted to mark with the name of the ep.
The album art, of an upside down VHS tape sitting in a puddle, in front of lights, was taken by vocalist and guitarist Johnny Tofalis outside a Glasgow nightclub.
Some of the bands thoughts can be found below:
Crossroad Promo
Ahead of the EP launch, a promotional video of Crossroads was filmed across the famous Suchiehall St in Glasgow.
“When listening back to the recordings, I always imagined this drunken night out of blurred light and gritty graffiti – not really knowing what’s going on, with moments of chaos and clarity and chaos and clarity – I thought I could capture that with this promo video”
– Johnny
Band interview
What were your thoughts going into the EP?
“For me, knowing that the sound would naturally change and evolve over time, I see this EP as a snapshot in time. I like the fact that in five or six years time, we can look back and use this EP as a place marker or a reference point to see clearly where we started.”
– Craig
“I think this being the first serious project I’ve been a part of, apart from nervousness, the main feeling going forward was just excitement about getting our stuff out there. A lot of the songs that have made their way to the EP were these “bedroom songs” and I think I really just wanted to hear them brought to life – which is definitely what the band has done!”
– Johnny
“The only thought I had was trying to make sure I didn’t make an arse of it more than anything else! But yeah mixed emotions, you know, want to make sure we get it right, but also very excited to put some of our own ideas out there, you know?”
– Matt
“I really enjoy being in a studio environment, I like being creative and it had been a long time since I’d done it so I was really excited to get back in and just create something in that environment again- to capture a moment! I knew that I was in good hands because the rest of the guys in the band are really great musicians and we all play well off each other; so all I could really do was focus on my own part and make that the best that I could make it!”
– Steven
What were your inspirations for this EP?
“So I guess there’s two parts to it; there’s the inspiration behind a lot of the main back melodies and then the inspiration behind the lyrics. The lyrics were just personal experiences; just my own kind of view of the world and my life, nothing special but from a musical direction, I think a lot of my inspirations came from a kind of ‘curiosity’. I think a lot of ideas spawned from very weird tunings and weird 9th and 11th chords that I ended up stumbling across and I think having a curious mindset to explore these ideas is kind of what inspired me to push forward. I don’t think I could ever write just a full four chord song – it doesn’t really inspires me at all, nor do I really idolise any massive legendary singer songwriters. I think it’s just uh, find me something weird and let me rock on with that.”
– Johnny
“I think for me I didn’t really have specific inspiration other than I really wanted to make sure that when writing the drum parts for each of these songs, I wanted to make sure that they were all different. As songs went on, I was keen to change up my parts so that if we ever did get the opportunity to record them on an EP, they would sound completely different to one another and, although this might sound w***y, you would be able to see the full profile of my own playing range and all of the different influences coming through. So aye. “
– Craig
“I come from a slightly different background being more blues and pop focused, […] so for me, it was kind of uncharted territory which was, you know, good in some respects. It forced me out of my comfort zone, which I found equal parts of “good and inspiring” and at other times “a bit daunting” because you’re listening to something and thinking “God, maybe the idea is not jumping out or is really that obvious” but I was always happy to put my own spin on things which I think came through”
– Matt
“I’ve always been a fan of the likes of Peter Hook of Joy Division, New Order, Royal Blood etc. where the bass tends to be, not just dull and in the background but more unique sounding and more in your face – sitting right out in the mix. Then with these hook-y bass lines, trying to put my own wee spin on things with some extra effects. Basically just trying to do the bass player’s job by supporting the song that’s there, but also bringing that wee element where the bass cuts through and it sounds kind of slightly different or unique!”
– Steven
What was the hardest part of the EP?
“The hardest part for me was recording Breathing because it’s so intricate and because we were trying to get it all in one take. I play a very intricate bass line for it which ‘wears your hand out’ after a wee while; after multiple takes on it, and also trying to get the wee bass solo done all in one take. That was probably the hardest for me but we finally got it in the end!”
– Steven
“By a f****** country mile – the artwork!“
– Craig
“Yeah what Craig said – the album art. When writing the music, you know exactly what you’re doing when it comes to your own parts and creating a sound that you really want, but we’re not painters, we’re not digital artists nor are we photographers – so finding something that we all can agree on and all like was actually significantly more difficult than anything else – even, I’d say, harder than than finding our band name or writing any songs – it was really hard to find something that we were all completely aligned with and even then, something that we could all say that we chipped in and that we’re all really happy. We went with a lot of really crazy ideas and I’m really happy how it turned on but yeah, it was definitely bloody hard”
-Johnny
“The hardest part of the process for me was definitely the first recording – I definitely underestimated how difficult the first time would be. The second time was actually relatively straightforward but that first time when you start listening back to yourself and realising how many little imperfections […] get picked up and amplified when it’s been recorded – it was quite startling.”
– Matt
Any finishing thoughts?
“Yeah just really thankful to the guys as I said before, a lot of these ideas were just bedroom ideas and they’ve definitely turned them into some really powerful songs and I’m really excited to get stuff out there.”
– Johnny
“Nothing other than just, you know, really quite proud of what we’ve done in what is a relatively short space of time.I think the music is a good thing, the lyrics are really good. Yeah, just all around pretty pleased and excited where the band going to go from here and looking forward for things to come””
– Matt
