Interview With Joe Symes and The Loving Kind… Thanks to Joe Symes and Colin White

What made you want to become a musician?

JS&TLK – Being inspired by the music we were brought up with. I think it all just soaked in to the point where you found yourself saying, “Hey, I can do that. I WILL do that!”

Who writes your music?

JS&TLK – Joe is the principle songwriter of the band. He will come in and play the song acoustically, then the rest of us will “colour in” our parts like on a canvas.

Do you write from personal experiences?

JS&TLK – Yeah, some of the songs have been, others from things I’ve been told or heard about from friends, family, in some cases things I’ve read about. The inspiration comes from so many different places.

Is there a hidden meaning in any of your songs?

JS&TLK – Ah, that would be telling.

What’s the worst part about being a musician?

JS&TLK – Good question. Sometimes it can be physically and emotionally draining, but you’ve just got to plow on.

Who are your inspirations?

JS&TLK – Individually and collectively we have so many. The Doors, The Beatles, U2, Burt Bacharach, Motown, Stax, Echo and the Bunnymen, The Who, all the great crooners, film composers like John Barry, so much.

Do you remember your first gig?

JS&TLK – Wow! It feels so long ago, and so much has happened to us. it’s all so hazy.

If you could collaborate with any artist who would it be?

JS&TLK – I think a lot the people we’d like to work with are dead, sadly. Paul McCartney would be great to work with.

If you could have any artist (dead or alive) sing your songs who would it be?

JS&TLK – Ah, that could change day by day. I think any of the great crooners could’ve sang our song Ready To Ride from the first album. Yeah, I could see that.

Where’s your favourite and least favourite venue to perform?

JS&TLK – We love most of the venues we play. I think it would be unfair to mention out least favourites. Don’t want to tread on anyone’s toes.

What would be your dream gig? (Your choice of venue and support acts etc)

JS&TLK – Again, supporting Paul McCartney would be amazing. Somewhere like Madison Square Garden.

If you could create a super group of musicians, dead or alive, who would it be?

JS&TLK – I think that’s impossible to put together. The whole super group concept can be so misleading. Certain bands are comprised of certain musicians for a reason, and to mix that up wouldn’t work as good as some people are lead to believe.

What song makes you think, “Damn I Wish I Wrote That?”

JS&TLK – I Feel Fine by The Beatles is up there. Ain’t Misbehavin’ could be added to that too.

With Biopic films growing increasingly popular, if you had to choose an actor to play out your life story who would it be?

JS&TLK – Absolutely no idea.

What is your greatest achievement to date?

JS&TLK – I don’t think we could name just one. The fact that we’re making music that we like, and are proud of, and the fact that people from all over the world seem to like it.

If you could only listen to one album for the rest of your life what would it be?

JS&TLK – The Beatles White Album. Yeah, I think we can agree on that. It’s an album with so much variety that you can never get bored by it.

Is there a message you would like to give to your fans?

JS&TLK – Yes, we’d like to thank them all near and far for believing in us, and loving everything we do. For that we’re eternally grateful.