The one thing I love about Le Reno Amps is the fact that I really don't know what they're going to do next. For the past the few weeks I have been listening to their forthcoming album 'Appetite' on heavy rotation, each time I listen to I have been racking my brains as to how the hell I was going to write up this introduction piece, a nigh on impossible task as these boys aren't for being pigeon holed. One minute they sound like a psychedelic Beach Boys jamming with Apples In Stereo, then the next minute they're strumming out some country western numbers. It's a rollercoaster ride and a half, I can assure you. Although I must admit that on first listen I couldn't quite get my head round it all, but as Al from the band put it quite aptly, Le Reno Amps are like Marmite, you'll either love 'em or hate 'em. Round these parts we're feeling the love...
Would you care to introduce yourself?
Scott Maple (SM): We prefer being introduced like, but if we must, Scott Maple and Al Nero - the future, today.
Al Nero (AN): Hello.
How would you describe the music you make?
SM: Very good.
AN: Very.
How did you come together as a band?
SM: We had our own bands, but were asked to get together and write some songs for a PRS event. We duly did this, appearing as an acoustic duo with some songs built (in the main) around country harmonies.
AN: Thirds and perfect fifths, it's in the game.
How did you start out making music?
SM: I bought a guitar from somebody in High School. I learnt to play by listening to (mainly) American punk and playing along. I started making up my own riffs and melodies. When I moved to Aberdeen I knew exactly one person, so I had a lot of spare time and wrote some songs.
AN: Yeah, similar story for me; got guitar, made a riff, made a song, made a lot of love to a lot of beautiful women.
What process goes into the way you write songs?
SM: First of all I centre myself by feeling the earth beneath my feet. I then create a white cord of energy that goes from the base of my spine up through the top of my head to my soul (which is about 1 to 3 feet above my head). I pull all of my energy into the core or Sushumna (the white pillar of light that runs through the middle of the body, about 6 inches in front of the spine), and centre my consciousness in the head centre. I visualise myself inside the core, I become the core, then I go have a shit.
AN: Thirds and perfect fifths, it's in the game.
Who are your big musical influences?
SM: Soooo much stuff, but I guess Cake and Beck got me interested in country / folk / harmonies and that was probably the starting point for Le Reno Amps' music.
AN: Fiddler on the Roof.
What kind of influence do you feel that where you come from has had on the music you create?
SM: Not much to be honest, not musically at least.
AN: I think a sense of belonging to a place does have an influence but we've never been one's for gushing patriotism, especially musically.
What can people expect to see/hear from your live shows?
SM: High energy, excellent songs, a connection with the audience, excellent songs, good humour, excellent songs, never the same show twice. Did I mention excellent songs?
AN: Come to our shows if you want to get Charlie Sheened.
Has there been a particular gig that has stood out for you so far (good or bad)?
SM: Someone asked me that the other day and we've done so many it's a bit of a blur. I remember once me and Al travelled for 2 hours to do a gig, the band who's gig it was had pulled out but failed to tell us. They hadn't advertised and we played to literally one man and a dog. That was pretty bad, but hey, we just love to play!
AN: Sanctuary Scotland. Priesthill. Carpark. What a day.
What are your plans for the rest of the year and beyond? Do you have any new releases planned for any time soon?
SM: We're about to put out our new album, 'Appetite', which we put a lot of time into. We're going to play some gigs to promote that, make people aware of its fabulousness. As for the year beyond, we're in the very early stages of writing songs for a new project, and of course the next Le Reno Amps album.
AN: What are we doing another one? I better have a sit down.
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