This week Roni Glasthal is joined in the studio by The Worry People.
Category
📺
TVTranscript
00:00Hello and welcome to Based in Kent.
00:18I'm Ronnie and this is the show that introduces you to original music artists from around
00:22the county.
00:23Each artist will be with me here in the studio talking about and performing their own music.
00:27Today I'm joined by the frontman of the band The Worry People, a group from Ashford, typically
00:31known for their emotive anthems and heart-on-sleeve lyricism.
00:35Sam, thanks for joining me today.
00:37Thanks for having me.
00:38So let's talk a little about your band first.
00:41Obviously it's a band, you're not a solo act.
00:43Tell me a little bit about the members.
00:46So predominantly it's me and my bandmate Ryan.
00:48We met in school.
00:50He was always, because he was in the year above me, he was always in this other band
00:53and I was always banging on that door, can I play with you guys?
00:56Yeah, we reconnected during the first lockdown to do some covers of the 1975, but by that
01:01time I'd written some of my own songs.
01:04So I said, do you mind if we just give them a try?
01:06And then sort of the rest was history.
01:10From quite our early days, we have been working out of a studio called Magpie Studios in Bethesda,
01:15quite closely with our producer, who is also a bass player.
01:18So more recently he's been joining us on stage as well, which adds like a really nice energy
01:23and dynamic.
01:24Yeah, feels good.
01:25Nice.
01:26Okay.
01:27A very dynamic group comes together.
01:29Now The Worry People.
01:31I love band names.
01:32I love when people talk about how they came up with it.
01:35The Worry People sends a very specific kind of message to the audience.
01:39How did you settle on that name?
01:40Well, when I was in primary school, I was just quite a nervous guy.
01:45My mum one time came home with like this little bag and it had like these little stick figures
01:51in there, all wrapped in cotton or something.
01:55And they're called the Guatemalan Worry Dolls.
01:57She said, what you do, you tell them your worries, you put it under your pillow, when
02:00you wake up, your worries will be gone.
02:02So they helped me through school.
02:04So I just thought I'd sort of pay homage to the Worry Dolls.
02:08But obviously you've got the Goo Goo Dolls, so I don't want to get too close.
02:11So The Worry People was born.
02:13That's such a sweet origin story.
02:15I love that.
02:17I bet your mum feels very honoured as well.
02:18Yeah.
02:19I mean, Ryan's actually bought me some as well recently, I think, yeah, just because
02:24why not?
02:25Yeah.
02:26Absolutely.
02:27So your first song today, tell us a little bit about it.
02:29So this is a song, it was originally written to be a little bit more of a country-esque
02:34Fleetwood Mac style song.
02:36So it's called Bag of Hats.
02:38And when I told my sister that name, she laughed at me.
02:41But yes, it's a lot about, I tend to write a lot about identity and just trying to figure
02:45your way through your 20s and stuff like that.
02:48So yeah, Bag of Hats.
02:50I can't wait to hear it.
02:51Take it away.
02:52Thank you so much.
03:18I'm totally hollow.
03:22Hollow.
03:25I'm totally hollow.
03:30It's gonna take some time.
03:32That's all right.
03:34Cause I'm gonna get there free.
03:37You know my mind's made up and I'm on my way.
03:41Just a bag that I can carry with me.
03:44Just a bag of hats that I wear.
03:48Just a bag of hats that I wear
04:00Tell me if you find out how to make up a man
04:04Cause I don't think I'm doing it right
04:08Bottling up the way I feel is something to try
04:12But then I drink it all alone in the night
04:16Hollow, I'm totally hollow
04:24Hollow, I'm totally hollow
04:30It's gonna take some time, that's alright
04:36Cause I ain't gonna get there for free
04:39You know my mind's made up and I'm on my way
04:43Just a bag that I can carry with me
04:46Just a bag of hats that I wear
04:54Just a bag of hats that I wear
05:13It's gonna take some time, that's alright
05:22Cause I ain't gonna get there for free
05:25You know my mind's made up and I'm on my way
05:29Just a bag that I can carry with me
05:32Just a bag of hats that I wear
05:35Just a bag of hats that I wear
06:05That was great!
06:06Thank you so much
06:07And you mentioned the Goo Goo Dolls earlier
06:09I hear a little bit of influence from them in there
06:12Kind of
06:13Only in the regard that it's sort of like the indie rock vein
06:17Kings of Leonar, a massive influence on what we do
06:20So yeah, all of that kind of stuff
06:23Okay
06:24Yeah, I hear it, it definitely fits the genre
06:26But it's very much your own as well and I like that
06:28Oh thank you, yeah
06:29I just think where we're on a local level
06:33We don't have to worry so much about fitting into a box
06:36We can just play and write whatever we're inspired by
06:40Yeah, so I like to think that a lot of the songs that we do come up with
06:44Are just, they're so different from each other
06:47But it still sounds like us at the very core of it
06:50That's a great goal
06:51What's your currently biggest influence?
06:54Cause it sounds like you go through phases of different ones
06:56Yes, definitely
06:58Biggest influence at the minute
07:00I mean I am looking forward to that Sam Fender record
07:02That's going to be coming out real soon
07:04So that'll be good
07:06I always go back to the 1975 just as a major influence
07:11But cause I'm more guitar based rather than sort of synth based
07:15It tends to come out a little bit more rocky
07:17So they are an influence but you can only hear it in some songs
07:21Okay, interesting
07:22And your other band members, do they influence the final outcome of the songs at all?
07:28Yeah, definitely
07:29I mean we're Charlie, he's a producer within his own right
07:34And he's definitely into the heavier stuff
07:36So you tend to find that if you come and see us live
07:40It comes across as a little bit heavier
07:43But it's nice, in a nice way
07:45Okay, I'll have to come see you live sometime
07:48Please do
07:49So your next song, tell us a bit about that
07:51Does that have the rock influence to it?
07:53Well actually no
07:55This song was actually inspired by Gracie Abrams
07:58I just discovered her at the time
08:00And she played this chord progression
08:02So I tried copying it
08:04Didn't really work out the exact same
08:06But I got a song out of it anyway
08:20Stay the night
08:23My eyes hurt too much for the drive
08:27Let's pretend
08:31We're not here for dear life
08:35Now I know
08:38Reality comes back to fold
08:42When we wake
08:44You'll be you and I'll be gone
08:50Would you have told me
08:52Or let me live in vain
08:57It don't mean to hurt me
09:00But it hurt me all the same
09:05When monies gave out
09:07I was halfway down the stairs
09:10As I'm leaving your parents' house
09:13Oh it wrecked me
09:15And yet I'm glad I can
09:19Can we do this all again
09:27Can we do this all again
09:36In my head
09:39I am six feet off the ground
09:43But my chest
09:47Likes to pull me right back down
09:51Wonder if I place my bets
09:55The odds would understand
09:58She makes me want to be a betting man
10:06Would you have told me
10:09Or let me live in vain
10:14It don't mean to hurt me
10:16But it hurt me all the same
10:22When monies gave out
10:24I was halfway down the stairs
10:27As I'm leaving your parents' house
10:30Oh it wrecked me
10:32And yet I'm glad I can
10:35Can we do this all
10:37Now I'm hanging on my jumper
10:39That you folded away
10:41As I tiptoe around the books
10:44Books that I gave you
10:46Never even read
10:47No you didn't even try
10:49Every fiber of my being
10:51Screaming don't say goodbye
10:59Would you have told me
11:01Or let me live in vain
11:06It don't mean to hurt me
11:08But it hurt me all the same
11:14When monies gave out
11:16I was halfway down the stairs
11:19As I'm leaving your parents' house
11:22Oh it wrecked me
11:24And yet I'm glad I can
11:28Can we do this all
11:36Can we do this all
11:38Mm-mm-mm-mm-mm-mm-mm-mm
11:43Can we do this all again
11:47Mm-mm-mm-mm-mm-mm-mm
11:51Can we do this all again
11:53Mm-mm-mm-mm-mm-mm-mm
12:02Hello and welcome back to Based in Kent
12:04where I am still joined by Sam Stewart
12:06the frontman of the band The Worried People
12:08the group from Ashford.
12:09Thanks for being here, Sam.
12:10Pleasure, thank you.
12:11So the next portion of this
12:12is my favorite part of the show.
12:13We're going to play a little game.
12:14The quick fire question round.
12:16A timer's going to come up
12:17on the monitor between us.
12:18It'll start counting down
12:19when I ask you the first question
12:20and we're just going to get through
12:21as many of them as we can
12:22just to get to know you
12:23a little bit better as a person.
12:25So no pressure at all.
12:27Live or recorded music?
12:29Oh, live.
12:31Okay, live music.
12:32Tea or coffee?
12:33Coffee.
12:34Okay, good choice.
12:35Writing or performing your music?
12:37Writing.
12:38Oh, okay.
12:39Not performing.
12:40Interesting.
12:41Winter or summer?
12:42Summer.
12:43Okay.
12:44100% summer.
12:45Few and far between in the UK
12:47but I see where you're coming from.
12:49Favorite song you have written so far?
12:53Oh my gosh.
12:54Probably Wakeview.
12:56Okay.
12:57Morning or evening?
12:59Morning.
13:00Morning.
13:01Oh, I'm not a morning person.
13:02I can't do it.
13:03First song you learned
13:04to play?
13:06What was that McFly one?
13:08Girl with five colors in her hair?
13:09Is that it?
13:10Five colors in her hair?
13:11I think.
13:12You would know better than I.
13:13I didn't grow up with McFly.
13:15Sweet or savory?
13:17Savory.
13:18Savory, okay.
13:19First artist to inspire you?
13:22John Mayer.
13:23Oh, okay.
13:24Good choice.
13:25Time alone or time with mates?
13:28Mates.
13:29Mates, okay.
13:30Social butterfly.
13:31Favorite fellow Kent musician?
13:34Josh Kayster from Bed Sheet.
13:36Oh, I'll have to check him out.
13:38Okay.
13:39Favorite gig you've attended?
13:40Attended?
13:41Oh, probably the 975 last year.
13:46Oh, okay.
13:47So you got to see them live.
13:48Dream gig to attend?
13:50Dream gig to attend would be,
13:52well, I'm doing it.
13:53I'm seeing Zach Bryan this summer.
13:54Nice.
13:55There we go.
13:56That'll be good.
13:57And first gig you ever played?
14:00I think it was Isle of Sheppey.
14:02Isle of Sheppey with Sky Cassettes.
14:04Okay.
14:05One musical you have for your career?
14:08One musical?
14:10Music goal.
14:11Music goal.
14:12Oh, gosh.
14:14Being on KMTV.
14:16Well, goal accomplished.
14:18What's next?
14:21I wouldn't mind doing like a BBC introducing stage.
14:24I think that'd be cool.
14:25Okay.
14:26Well, we'll keep our fingers crossed that that happens for you.
14:28And that brings us to time just in the nick of it.
14:32Perfect.
14:33Right.
14:34So your next song, tell us a little bit about it.
14:35This is an unreleased song, actually.
14:37Yeah.
14:38So we tend to open the show with this.
14:41There's nothing about this online at the minute,
14:43but it's one of my favorites to play as well.
14:46Oh, okay.
14:47So a little exclusive here.
14:49It is an exclusive, yeah.
14:50It's called Gold.
14:51I hope you like it.
14:52Well, I can't wait to find out.
14:53Take it away.
14:55Here we go.
15:05Would you recognize me?
15:08If you saw me now?
15:12I cut my head to spot your face like I'm Holy up now.
15:17We were bed strangers and all that.
15:22Cover me up in your gold and wrap me round your finger
15:28Give me something to believe in, something like forever
15:33Whoa, whoa
15:36Whoa, whoa-oh-oh-oh
15:40guitar solo
15:51I was building houses on foundations made of sand
15:57So why, oh why was I surprised when it all came crashing down?
16:03Don't know what to call it, Lord knows we came so close
16:08But the rubble just reminds me I was a tourist on your coast
16:14Cover me up in your gold and wrap me round your finger
16:20Give me something to believe in, something like forever
16:25Whoa, whoa
16:28Whoa, whoa-oh-oh-oh
16:32guitar solo
16:37Whoa, whoa
16:39Whoa, whoa
16:42Whoa, whoa
16:45Whoa, whoa
16:48Whoa, whoa-oh-oh-oh
16:54Cover me up in your gold and wrap me round your finger
17:00Give me something to believe in, something like forever
17:05Whoa, whoa
17:08Whoa, whoa-oh-oh-oh
17:12Cover me up in your gold and wrap me round your finger
17:18Give me something to believe in, something like forever
17:23Whoa, whoa
17:26Whoa, whoa-oh-oh-oh
17:30guitar solo
17:40I can see a crowd very much getting into that song.
17:43Oh, thank you. Yeah, I mean, like I said earlier, where the live show is a little bit heavier,
17:47that song live, I hope it does grab some attention. Yeah, it's a lot of fun.
17:52I mean, it grabbed my attention just sitting here, so I can only imagine with a full band in a pub, in a venue.
17:58Yeah, well, we'll have to get you and the crew to a show.
18:00I can't wait. I'm sure the guys in the gallery next door are very much looking forward to that as well.
18:07So tell me a little bit about how your music track is going career-wise,
18:13because, you know, musicians, music industry, very tough industry, very, very difficult.
18:19What are some of the things that you have found that have helped get you to where you are now?
18:25Attending other people's gigs just on a local level, go to their shows, make friends with everyone.
18:30They're wonderful people. I promise they don't bite.
18:33There's so much great music on a local level that I think can very easily go under the radar
18:40because they aren't already making the thousands of streams and they aren't selling out massive arenas.
18:46But some of the loveliest people I've ever met are in a pub in Canterbury.
18:51So I'll take that with me. And where do you want to take that?
18:55So, you know, you've emphasized very much about being very proud of being a local musician, being at this local level.
19:02But, you know, everyone has big dreams. Everyone has, you know, the fantasies of, oh, I could sell out an arena.
19:08You know, is that something you're working towards?
19:12I don't I don't know if I'd say it's something I'm working towards.
19:15And so as much as just being able to make a living off of doing what you love as a musician,
19:22whether that is writing with other people, I'd be more than happy to do that.
19:27But, yeah, I mean, we love playing shows, obviously, and we're very grateful for the shows that we have had.
19:33I think progression wise, it would be even better if we could say take a reputable venue such as the Forum in Tunbridge Wells.
19:42If one day we could do a sell out headline show there, then, you know, that we've sort of made it on a local level.
19:48But depends what success means to you, you know, so relative.
19:52That is the big question, isn't it? You know, how does it mean?
19:56Yeah, I think I think that's one of life's big mysteries. Yeah.
19:59Well, we don't have too much time left. So your last song today, tell me a little bit about it.
20:03So this is on our first EP. It's always been a little bit of a crowd pleaser.
20:08So I thought I'd close the show with with this song today.
20:11It's called Wait For You. It's a love song.
20:15It's a love song. Sounds like a wise decision. Take it away. Thank you so much.
20:27Winds could change my mind. Would that stop me going under?
20:39One more country mile. Nothing like a little pressure.
20:49I could never pin her down.
20:55But she's got me figured out.
21:01I was tired. I was wired. I was lost, yeah. But happily wait for you, baby.
21:13I was tired. I was wired. I was lost, yeah. But happily wait for you, baby.
21:25Static was my tongue. She came rolling with the thunder.
21:37If I said too much, I promise I'll be better.
21:47But the words fell out of my mouth. Oh. Now she's got me figured out.
21:59I was tired. I was wired. I was lost, yeah. But happily wait for you, baby.
22:11I was tired. I was wired. I was lost, yeah. But happily wait for you, baby.
22:22Oh, take my time. No, take my time. Say it, I can take it. I'm all right.
22:33Oh, take my time. No, take my time. Say it, I can take it. I'm all right. I'm all right.
22:45I was tired. I was wired. I was lost, yeah. But happily wait for you, baby.
22:56I was tired. I was wired. I was lost, yeah. But happily wait for you, baby.
23:08I was tired. I was wired. I was lost, yeah. But happily wait for you, baby.
23:19I was tired. I was wired. I was lost, yeah. But happily wait for you, baby. Oh.
23:31Oh, take my time. No, take my time. Say it, I can take it. I'm all right.
23:42Oh, take my time. Can we take our time? Say it, I can take it. I'm all right. I'm all right.