Total Star Meets Bars and Melody Tour Interview:
By Mark O'Reilly
You might remember these guys from Britain’s Got Talent in 2014 as they wowed the judges and the audience with their own written tracks on which the judges pressed their golden buzzer to send Bars and Melody straight through to the finals. They came 3rd on the talent show but these guys certainly have a unique talent for writing and performing live to an audience.
Their first track under Simon Cowell’s label SYCO entered the charts and now the boys are currently on tour promoting their new album On Friday the boys from Bars and Melody came to do an exclusive signing of their new album in Belfast’s HMV Store.
Their first track under Simon Cowell’s label SYCO entered the charts and now the boys are currently on tour promoting their new album On Friday the boys from Bars and Melody came to do an exclusive signing of their new album in Belfast’s HMV Store.
Bars and Melody Tweeted how EXCITED their were to be back in Belfast:
Super excited to be back in Belfast today!!!!!
— Bars And Melody (@BarsAndMelody) September 4, 2015
So I started asking Charlie and Leon about their time in Belfast and telling them how big crowd there was outside. So Hi guys Welcome to Northern Ireland,, so how are you finding Belfast today and is this your first time visiting the city?
Leondre: We've actually been to Belfast before. I think we've done a show here one time and it sold really well so we thought we come back. It's really nice to be back in HMV and signing CD's and hopefully be doing a show very soon.
So what have you been doing while your in Belfast?
Leondre: Well we haven't actually been in Belfast as much as we been in Southern Ireland doing a couple of shows in Galway, Dundalk and has been fun and now we just come up to Northern Ireland to do a signing here today in HMV.
I've seen you been tweeting something about performing in Dundalk
Leondre: Yeah we performed in Galway, Dundalk and Cork too as we tried to make it really intimate chilled out show and it was really nice because its not often you get to see fans that up close and personal cause there was about 50 out there. It was nice.
I then asked Charlie how he was finding Belfast and is enjoying It so far?
Charlie: yeah it's great we actually went down to Belfast Gaol the jail it was really cool and we went down and had a tour of the prison which was really cool so we done what was the most popular tourist attractions on TripAdvisor.
Yeah we have to do some tourist stuff whilst we are away. That was interesting
Leondre: Like you gotta have these experiences as their is a story to come later on in life.
It's defiantly one of the best places to visit in Belfast with the history and stuff in there.
So you been touring round Ireland at the moment and how you find promoting the new album?
Charlie: Yeah it's great it's all fun and i mean we've done a whole month and a half in the UK promoting the album. Doing shows, doing signings which was very tiring so to finish that we kinda do more relaxed stuff here in Ireland have a few weeks off. But we are really please on how the album has done and we are looking forward to releasing it out in Ireland which is on 5th September.
Your new album "143" tell us a bit about the album, what's the story behind it?
Leondre: Well basically we wanted an album that was dedicated to the fans and because we needed some more material. We just thought well what better way to do it than have it inspired by the fans and really when we was writing a song we were thinking how we feel towards the fans and how they feel towards us.
What does "143" mean?
Leondre: "143" means I Love You is one letter for I and four letters for love and three letters for you, yeah it's cute.
So this is your kinda first album, Are you nervous about how it will go with the fans and releasing it?
Charlie: No not really, The main thing is done you know we released it a few weeks ago earlier in the UK and we went number 4 in the UK charts which was really good but now we wanna come outside the UK and promote the album elsewhere hence why we've come out to Ireland and why we push the release date back out and do a bit of promotion before the album is released. Yeah I don't think there is no point in been nervous as you can't help how your album does and you can only hope for the best for your album.
You been touring for quite a while so your touring right up to November and you got lots of places lined up to perform in the UK so tell us a bit about the tour and what you got lined up?
Leondre: Well we been all over the UK on our tour and we tried to do like a little town tour so we went to all the little towns around the UK. We didn't come out to Ireland hence why we are doing it now. There was places like Colchester and anytown you can think off and we did a really massive tiny tour and we did some major cities too like Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow which all sold out instantly. It was really nice to see that We are actually doing a major tour in the major cities in November like London, Southampton and many other places and one in Dublin so if you wanna come down there.
Leondre: We've actually been to Belfast before. I think we've done a show here one time and it sold really well so we thought we come back. It's really nice to be back in HMV and signing CD's and hopefully be doing a show very soon.
So what have you been doing while your in Belfast?
Leondre: Well we haven't actually been in Belfast as much as we been in Southern Ireland doing a couple of shows in Galway, Dundalk and has been fun and now we just come up to Northern Ireland to do a signing here today in HMV.
I've seen you been tweeting something about performing in Dundalk
Leondre: Yeah we performed in Galway, Dundalk and Cork too as we tried to make it really intimate chilled out show and it was really nice because its not often you get to see fans that up close and personal cause there was about 50 out there. It was nice.
I then asked Charlie how he was finding Belfast and is enjoying It so far?
Charlie: yeah it's great we actually went down to Belfast Gaol the jail it was really cool and we went down and had a tour of the prison which was really cool so we done what was the most popular tourist attractions on TripAdvisor.
Yeah we have to do some tourist stuff whilst we are away. That was interesting
Leondre: Like you gotta have these experiences as their is a story to come later on in life.
It's defiantly one of the best places to visit in Belfast with the history and stuff in there.
So you been touring round Ireland at the moment and how you find promoting the new album?
Charlie: Yeah it's great it's all fun and i mean we've done a whole month and a half in the UK promoting the album. Doing shows, doing signings which was very tiring so to finish that we kinda do more relaxed stuff here in Ireland have a few weeks off. But we are really please on how the album has done and we are looking forward to releasing it out in Ireland which is on 5th September.
Your new album "143" tell us a bit about the album, what's the story behind it?
Leondre: Well basically we wanted an album that was dedicated to the fans and because we needed some more material. We just thought well what better way to do it than have it inspired by the fans and really when we was writing a song we were thinking how we feel towards the fans and how they feel towards us.
What does "143" mean?
Leondre: "143" means I Love You is one letter for I and four letters for love and three letters for you, yeah it's cute.
So this is your kinda first album, Are you nervous about how it will go with the fans and releasing it?
Charlie: No not really, The main thing is done you know we released it a few weeks ago earlier in the UK and we went number 4 in the UK charts which was really good but now we wanna come outside the UK and promote the album elsewhere hence why we've come out to Ireland and why we push the release date back out and do a bit of promotion before the album is released. Yeah I don't think there is no point in been nervous as you can't help how your album does and you can only hope for the best for your album.
You been touring for quite a while so your touring right up to November and you got lots of places lined up to perform in the UK so tell us a bit about the tour and what you got lined up?
Leondre: Well we been all over the UK on our tour and we tried to do like a little town tour so we went to all the little towns around the UK. We didn't come out to Ireland hence why we are doing it now. There was places like Colchester and anytown you can think off and we did a really massive tiny tour and we did some major cities too like Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow which all sold out instantly. It was really nice to see that We are actually doing a major tour in the major cities in November like London, Southampton and many other places and one in Dublin so if you wanna come down there.
Mark catches up with Bars and Melody before HMV album launch signing
I went on to chat about the boys time on Britain's Got talent.
It's one thing seeing a singer on Britain's Got Talent singing some unoriginal song but you guys write and perform your own songs which you don't see very often with artists these days as it's mostly remakes of other songs
Charlie: Yeah that's kinda why we know going onto a show that is dangerous to do a song that is completely your own and original. it's very difficult cause especially Simon doesn't like it very much. But we knew we had to be different that we created a song that was original but was well know hence why Leo wrote his own words and Rap. I put a song that wasn't too new and now but still a big song that everyone knew. Leo's rap was incredible and we've the right chorus which they just topped if off and made it perfect really.
Now lets talk about your songs and how they inspire you. So we know your story from the show and your first track Hopeful which was an Anti Bullying track, It's a very brave thing to do is for someone like you guys to come out and talk about their problems especially through music which is a great way of getting your message across. Do you's think so?
Leon: I definitely think music is because everyone likes music but they have their own taste. I feel like cause music is such a world wide thing and is good to put the two together and to put something positive into the music. Hit the people hard make them really think of what i am rapping about and it had such an awesome response and i am just glad it paid off.
In your new album is their gonna be that kind of element like your first track with those kinda personal messages?
Leon: Yeah the songs definitely have like meanings behind them and always like sticking to things you love.
If someone is getting bullied what would you say to them to advise them what to do?
Leon: The advise i would give is to always tell someone and to never feel like your alone going through it because you isolate yourself. You feel like a weirdo and your not cause so many other people go threw it and your not alone and you should always tell someone as long as someone knows as they can help you.
Charlie: Mine would be to defiantly as much as everyone can try and help you and be there for you. You got not support unless you support yourself because people can try and help you and if you deny that help then it will only get worse for you. You need to step up for yourself in order to let people step for you. You kinda need to have a lot of strength in yourself to be able to come out and admit that and tell someone.
Yeah this is what we try to make different about ourselves as a lot of artists don't appreciate and realize how powerful music is and how inspirational music is and even for our fans between the ages of 6 and 16 they understand lyrics and understand the craft of the music and can really relate to the songs and a lot of artists forget that. There is a lot of songs that are disrespectful to women and the same with men and people need to realize listening to music that does have an influence on the way people are. That's why we try and make our music have a strong meaning and have a relateable issue instead of wasting it on a negative issue so even if we try and address a negative issue we wanna put a positive aspect on it. Kids take that vibe and build it into their own life's.
What you got lined up for your UK tour or any new songs your gonna perform?
Leon: Me and Charlie had a lot of ideas
Charlie: The thing with us we wanna put on an amazing show. We want people to leave our shows and want to come back again. Their is nothing worse than going to a show and being it was alright. We want people saying it was awesome and wanting to go again and we are putting a lot of time, money and effort into the tour, our production, live band, into the show just to make the tour incredible as possible. We want it to be an amazing experience. So when it comes to the next tour people know there is something big to expect.
Leon: We are actually doing it all independently as well our album, our promo and everything it's all independent. its ourselves. I feel it's a fulfillment for doing that and not having a major record label behind you.
So maybe might see you at an Arena Tour in the next few years. Best of luck to you both and thanks for speaking to Total Star.
Makesure to check out our Facebookand Twitter for all photos from HMV Belfast Bars and Melody Album signing.
So make sure to watch out for future tour announcements as they could be playing in a venue near you soon. Tickets still available for October in Dublin Academy
It's one thing seeing a singer on Britain's Got Talent singing some unoriginal song but you guys write and perform your own songs which you don't see very often with artists these days as it's mostly remakes of other songs
Charlie: Yeah that's kinda why we know going onto a show that is dangerous to do a song that is completely your own and original. it's very difficult cause especially Simon doesn't like it very much. But we knew we had to be different that we created a song that was original but was well know hence why Leo wrote his own words and Rap. I put a song that wasn't too new and now but still a big song that everyone knew. Leo's rap was incredible and we've the right chorus which they just topped if off and made it perfect really.
Now lets talk about your songs and how they inspire you. So we know your story from the show and your first track Hopeful which was an Anti Bullying track, It's a very brave thing to do is for someone like you guys to come out and talk about their problems especially through music which is a great way of getting your message across. Do you's think so?
Leon: I definitely think music is because everyone likes music but they have their own taste. I feel like cause music is such a world wide thing and is good to put the two together and to put something positive into the music. Hit the people hard make them really think of what i am rapping about and it had such an awesome response and i am just glad it paid off.
In your new album is their gonna be that kind of element like your first track with those kinda personal messages?
Leon: Yeah the songs definitely have like meanings behind them and always like sticking to things you love.
If someone is getting bullied what would you say to them to advise them what to do?
Leon: The advise i would give is to always tell someone and to never feel like your alone going through it because you isolate yourself. You feel like a weirdo and your not cause so many other people go threw it and your not alone and you should always tell someone as long as someone knows as they can help you.
Charlie: Mine would be to defiantly as much as everyone can try and help you and be there for you. You got not support unless you support yourself because people can try and help you and if you deny that help then it will only get worse for you. You need to step up for yourself in order to let people step for you. You kinda need to have a lot of strength in yourself to be able to come out and admit that and tell someone.
Yeah this is what we try to make different about ourselves as a lot of artists don't appreciate and realize how powerful music is and how inspirational music is and even for our fans between the ages of 6 and 16 they understand lyrics and understand the craft of the music and can really relate to the songs and a lot of artists forget that. There is a lot of songs that are disrespectful to women and the same with men and people need to realize listening to music that does have an influence on the way people are. That's why we try and make our music have a strong meaning and have a relateable issue instead of wasting it on a negative issue so even if we try and address a negative issue we wanna put a positive aspect on it. Kids take that vibe and build it into their own life's.
What you got lined up for your UK tour or any new songs your gonna perform?
Leon: Me and Charlie had a lot of ideas
Charlie: The thing with us we wanna put on an amazing show. We want people to leave our shows and want to come back again. Their is nothing worse than going to a show and being it was alright. We want people saying it was awesome and wanting to go again and we are putting a lot of time, money and effort into the tour, our production, live band, into the show just to make the tour incredible as possible. We want it to be an amazing experience. So when it comes to the next tour people know there is something big to expect.
Leon: We are actually doing it all independently as well our album, our promo and everything it's all independent. its ourselves. I feel it's a fulfillment for doing that and not having a major record label behind you.
So maybe might see you at an Arena Tour in the next few years. Best of luck to you both and thanks for speaking to Total Star.
Makesure to check out our Facebookand Twitter for all photos from HMV Belfast Bars and Melody Album signing.
So make sure to watch out for future tour announcements as they could be playing in a venue near you soon. Tickets still available for October in Dublin Academy
