Members of Batrat talk about their first performance together at the Live Thursday event in the UEL Student Union bar.
Batrat is a group of UEL music students that have come together to form a band, the band includes Chloe Ann Ewens on Vocals, Graham Plummer on Guitar, Johnathan Yates on Bass and Harry Sorrell on Drums. I spoke to them after their first show.
How does it feel to be playing live again?
Graham: “It feels great, I became more confident than I was, it felt, I felt prouder of myself that I was able to play to an amount of people and that I am a part of something, and it is a very cool experience.”
Chloe: “Oh my god, it is amazing, like I haven’t played live in 2 and a half years, and tonight I just lost myself in the music.”
How long as the band been together?
Harry: “We literally met 5 days ago, and you know what, it was a wild ride but that is what it is all about and I will tell you what right, I have loved every moment, I have seriously enjoyed it. To play rhythm for anyone is an absolute privilege, you know, because it is such a trustworthy job. And to do it for this band, even if it has only been 5 days is just really good. It is a really incredible thing!”
So, what made you choose the setlist that you played tonight? Did any song in particular resonate with you?
Chloe: “Yeah Los Ageless a lot because I developed the bassline and the guitar and everything. We really come together with that one, there a lot of power behind it and even though it gets a bit messy in the middle, I feel like that tops it off. Also, Sweet Child O’ Mine was one of the first songs I ever performed in a band, so I was like I really want to perform it with you guys, we gel so much, I really want to try it and it worked first time.”
So, are you working on original stuff for next month or do you think you will spend more time bonding as a band first?
Chloe: “I think we are doing covers right now to get our groove and then me and Harry we work together on stuff sometimes on the piano, write lyrics so that is good, but we haven’t incorporated that into our rehearsal schedule yet because there is so many gigs, we have to get stuff done but we did it.”
John: “We have not actually discussed originals yet but you know, a few of us write so maybe in a few weeks.”
