SUPERCAAN
Talk to PHACEMAG
On Supercaan’s introspective second album, ‘A Tiger Walks the Streets’, the band come face to face with their biggest anxieties for the world. “It’s about the things you look at in society, things that worry us about bringing kids up in this world, and what we are leaving behind for future generations,” says lyricist Tom Whitfield.
In a time where society feels increasingly fragile, polarising and detached, the five-piece’s sophomore offering attempts to make sense of a world where we don’t have all the answers. “We wanted this album to feel like there was something cutting through to the listener,” adds Tom.
In a time where society feels increasingly fragile, polarising and detached, the five-piece’s sophomore offering attempts to make sense of a world where we don’t have all the answers. “We wanted this album to feel like there was something cutting through to the listener,” adds Tom.
The independent band – based in London, Birmingham, North Shields and Denbighshire, Wales – is made up of Greg Milner (vocals), Tom Whitfield (lyrics), Stuart White (drums), Justin Januszewski (bass) and Ralph Frost (guitar). Originally starting out as a trio in 2003 with Greg, Tom and another close friend who all met at university, it wasn’t until 2013 when Supercaan formed as we know it today.
It all started with an email Greg sent to Tom following an 2 year band hiatus: “I want to write an album. I don't know how I'm going to do it, I don't know who's going to do it. But that's what I want to do.”
That was the start of Supercaan, a band name inspired by provocative British author J.G. Ballard’s dark thriller ‘Super-Cannes’. Taking inspiration from groups like Canadian indie collective Broken Social Scene and late ‘90s Nottingham rockers Six By Seven, Supercaan refined their ambitious sound to one that pairs anthemic indie-rock and soaring electronic landscapes, strewn with bubbling, nostalgic synths.
Propelled by Greg’s sonorous, ruminative vocals, the result is a brooding sound big enough for the weighty questions each song tackles. “We ask ourselves how big and bold can we go in that space of a four to five minute indie-pop song,” Tom says. “We’ve always liked artists that have made albums where it feels like you don't want to skip a track because it's all part of a story. That's what we’ve tried to do with Supercaan.”
Their 2019 self-titled debut album explored a pool of abstract ideas – from society’s imperfections and false memories, to warped perspectives and insomnia – which saw Greg and Tom experimenting with samplers and synthesisers to create sprawling, multi-layered sonic vistas. The rousing stadium-sized lead single ‘The Bull’ earned recognition from BBC Radio 6, described by broadcaster Tom Robinson as “motoring, atmospheric psychedelia”. While the sensitive, swirling ‘The Great North Eastern’ made Spotify’s ‘Fresh Finds’ playlist.
Returning three years later with their second album, the band started working on ‘A Tiger Walks the Streets’ in the first lockdown in March 2020. “The Dropbox folder was poppin’!” Greg jokes. By November that year, the group were able to get into the studio in Birmingham to record their individual parts. “Recording on our own gave us more time to really focus on the sound we were bringing to the album, from start to finish,” Greg adds. “We all knew the story the album was trying to tell.”
As Supercaan enter a new era, ‘A Tiger Walks the Streets’ offers perspective in a time that has left so many of us jaded. In an elusive search for the answers, Supercaan unearth their biggest, boldest sound yet.
PHACEMAG Talks to SUPERCAAN
Can you tell us a little about your experience?
We're five guys who have all just turned 40 with families and careers. This is the hobby that keeps us all sane. Between us we've been playing in different configurations of bands for 20 years.
Where are you from / how did you get into music?
All over the place! Birmingham, London, North Wales and North Shields. Every time we want to practice or play a gig we have to cover around 200miles! We all got into music in our teens and haven't been able to give up the buzz of a live gig.
Who have been your main inspirations ? And how have they affected your sound?
This is our 2nd album and we wanted to go big, with a record that is on journey from the first second to the last, with every track bringing something different but all connecting to a theme. We were inspired by records like ladies and gentlemen we are floating in space, you forgot it in people, the things we make where you never even dream of skipping a tracks.
Who / What do you dislike musically ?
Ha, maybe we should start some beef with Radiohead for the publicity
How would you define your sound? And how has your sound evolved so far?
Our first album was anthemic indie pop with a heavy heart. This album has a harder edge, more post punk, dirtier Synths,, heavier guitar, sexier bass. Tom Robinson called us motoring atmospheric psychedelia and I've always quite liked that.
What concept do you want to convey?
Belligerents' is the 2nd single taken from the new album by Supercaan ‘A Tiger Walks the Streets’ On Supercaan’s introspective second album, ‘A Tiger Walks the Streets’, the band come face to face with their biggest anxieties for the world. “It’s about the things you look at in society, things that worry us about bringing kids up in this world, and what we are leaving behind for future generations,” says lyricist Tom Whitfield. In a time where society feels increasingly fragile, polarising and detached, the ve-piece’s sophomore offering attempts to make sense of a fractious and complicated world
What projects are you working on right now?
We've finished the second album 'a tiger walks the streets' which will be out later in the year. Spotify has only just started as we have a backlog, but results can take 3-4 weeks. I will send a separate report for this when its done.
Bless you keep in touch because we want you to come do an upstairs @Phacemag with us - bless best pauliepaul
We're five guys who have all just turned 40 with families and careers. This is the hobby that keeps us all sane. Between us we've been playing in different configurations of bands for 20 years.
Where are you from / how did you get into music?
All over the place! Birmingham, London, North Wales and North Shields. Every time we want to practice or play a gig we have to cover around 200miles! We all got into music in our teens and haven't been able to give up the buzz of a live gig.
Who have been your main inspirations ? And how have they affected your sound?
This is our 2nd album and we wanted to go big, with a record that is on journey from the first second to the last, with every track bringing something different but all connecting to a theme. We were inspired by records like ladies and gentlemen we are floating in space, you forgot it in people, the things we make where you never even dream of skipping a tracks.
Who / What do you dislike musically ?
Ha, maybe we should start some beef with Radiohead for the publicity
How would you define your sound? And how has your sound evolved so far?
Our first album was anthemic indie pop with a heavy heart. This album has a harder edge, more post punk, dirtier Synths,, heavier guitar, sexier bass. Tom Robinson called us motoring atmospheric psychedelia and I've always quite liked that.
What concept do you want to convey?
Belligerents' is the 2nd single taken from the new album by Supercaan ‘A Tiger Walks the Streets’ On Supercaan’s introspective second album, ‘A Tiger Walks the Streets’, the band come face to face with their biggest anxieties for the world. “It’s about the things you look at in society, things that worry us about bringing kids up in this world, and what we are leaving behind for future generations,” says lyricist Tom Whitfield. In a time where society feels increasingly fragile, polarising and detached, the ve-piece’s sophomore offering attempts to make sense of a fractious and complicated world
What projects are you working on right now?
We've finished the second album 'a tiger walks the streets' which will be out later in the year. Spotify has only just started as we have a backlog, but results can take 3-4 weeks. I will send a separate report for this when its done.
Bless you keep in touch because we want you to come do an upstairs @Phacemag with us - bless best pauliepaul
Social Media:
https://www.instagram.com/supercaan_music/
https://www.facebook.com/supercaan/
https://twitter.com/Supercaan_Music
https://www.instagram.com/supercaan_music/
https://www.facebook.com/supercaan/
https://twitter.com/Supercaan_Music