Interviews: Dutch Criminal Record

This is a new interview with the Surf Rock band Dutch Criminal Record from the UK. Check out the interview and follow the band on his FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, did you plan it or was it a spontaneous decision?

Our then drummer had an adventurous football trip to The Netherlands aged 15 and came back with a story and the band name!

2. Why did you want to play this genre of surf-style indie rock?

When we started I guess it was an amalgamation of the indie rock bands we were listening to like The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys, The Maccabees, and Foals with the more carefree nostalgic feel of The Beach Boys, Real Estate, and Beach Fossils.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

Yes, we did we all went to the same secondary school and knew each other but it wasn’t until Joe and Sam were in the same GCSE music class that the band started.

4. Does each band member have a favorite band?

Sam: Coldplay

Joe DS: The Magic Gang

Joe F: Stornaway

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Sam: I think we naturally do it as a way of expressing ourselves. I find it the best way of just getting my thoughts out of my head and turning them into a 3-minute package that you can listen back to and then other people can relate to it and draw comfort or meaning from it, it’s magical thing! From a songwriting perspective growing up, I’d often hear a song and be like how on earth did they write that and just try and pick it apart? I remember spending one winter going through basically every song in The Beatles chord book and that inspired me a lot as a writer. Joe often writes at his computer and will get inspired by a particular sound or effect and that will spark his train of thought to write a whole song out of just one sound.

6. Where was your last gig?

Golden Touch fest at the Wedgewood Rooms Portsmouth but we’re playing our hometown tonight in Chichester to celebrate our new single Light Up and doing a collection for our local food bank.

7. Where would you most like to perform?

Hmmm, Glastonbury, O2 Academy Brixton, and The Hollywood Bowl are just three random ones I’m sure there are loads more.

8. Who would you like to feature on a track with and why?

Paul McCartney and Doja Cat, Paul because he’s a legend, and Doja Cat because that’d be a mad combo.

9. Have any of you ever suffered from stage fright? Any tip for beginners on how to beat that?

Sam: Maybe right at the start we did a lot more than now, it’s different for different people though as some people have a much harder time dealing with it than others. Personally, I find I draw confidence from being on a stage with others so you’re not totally alone and you feel as a band you’re all in it together. Often if I feel a bit nervous I’ll try and visualize before going on what I’m going to do and just take some deep breaths but normally I’m fine.

10. What bands have inspired you the most?

We’ve mentioned a few earlier but feel like The Beatles, Coldplay, and The Magic Gang all deserve mentions.

11. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

Usually just signing random objects or completely unrelated items of clothing like a t-shirt of another band or something haha

12. What do you think of your fans?

They’re amazing, it’s honestly such a dream for us to have anyone actually listening to our music. Every time a fan tells us we’re their favorite band I can’t believe my ears but it’s such a life-affirming thing to hear and gives us the impetus to keep going.

13. Anything to add?

Go stream our new single Light Up!