We caught up with Stevie Westwood frontman from classic rock band Bad Touch to talk about the bands fourth album ‘Kiss The Sky’ which was released this year, their writing process and recording in Rockfield Studios
You released your fourth album ‘Kiss The Sky’ this year. It is a powerful, swagger soaked collection of bangers. How do you guys keep your sound fresh four albums in?
We’ve always been and will always be Bad Touch. We play feel-good rock n roll for the soul. Our never ending mission to give you the night you’ll never forget; a break away from the monotony and tyranny of life, and to leave anybody who is awesome enough to come to a gig smiling from ear to ear. That’s our mantra. This album is 110% just that, this is a dancing round your bedroom, annoying your neighbours album; that we hope people will love any bit as much as we do.
Was your music writing process for this album different to the previous albums?
Not much has changed since the early days, we still write and rehearse in the same space we have since day one. We just write about emotions and situations we all feel and have experienced, in a hope that someone else feels the same way and can connect to our music. Our attitude towards writing remains true as well, we’re a melting pot of influences and ideas from every member, not bound by role. Quite often George (drums) will have a vocal line or guitar riff, just as often as I’ll have an idea for a drum beat… it keeps things fresh.
The tracks in the album are full of feel good powerful tunes with shredding guitars, pummeling drums and oodles of soul. Talk us through how you chose the songs for the album?
We took a lot more time, effort, sweat and tears when it came to this album from the get-go. Our attitude to songwriting was a lot more critical. If a song wasn’t cutting-the-mustard, we either changed it until it did, or chucked it in the bin and moved on. No compromises.
Your songs boast some pretty slick riffage. How do you guys come up with these gritty riffs?
When you have two riff-meisters like Rob and Seeks it just comes naturally haha
It’s a swagger drenched album laced in classic rock. I especially like ‘Strut’ it really does fill you with that prancing confidence. Tell us how you wrote and crafted that track?
‘Strut’ was one of the first songs we wrote for ‘Kiss The Sky.’ Seeks (guitar) had that biting riff, and George (drums) had the vocal melody for the chorus, so we took it from there. We always write together and everyone chips in, it’s a real fun way to write.
Do you have a track on the album that you are particularly proud of or enjoyed writing?
Speaking personally, I can hand-on-heart say that I am proud and love every track on ‘Kiss The Sky.’ This album has been the hardest one to write so far, for all the right reasons. We’ve put so much into this as individuals and collectively as a unit, and we’re super proud with the end result. It’s fun, it’s loud, it’s in-your-face, it’s everything that Bad Touch have always been, plus so much more.
You guys got to record the album in Rockfield Studios in Monmouth, It’s where Oasis created their masterpieces, where Bohemian Rhapsody came to life and where Coldplay’s journey into the musical stratosphere took off. A place with such history can do one of two things: fill you with awe and make you strive to bring out the best in your tunes or fill you with shattering expectations and pressure. Did you get an instant shot of inspiration or fear within the studio’s walls?
It was completely jaw-dropping-ly awe-inspiring. We are so privileged as a group of friends to have recorded in a place with such musical gravitas. It really did kick us up a notch as musicians, and just felt so right. Plus I got to sit at Freddie’s piano, the one he wrote ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ on, it doesn’t get much cooler than that.
Is it difficult to get the raw energy you guys bring to your live shows into the recording?
For that we owe a special mention to our producer, (who later became our friend), Nick “Brino” Brine… He deserves a serious pat on the back. Through many tireless hours, he’s managed to capture and refine that raw energy that we’ve always had, but always struggled to get down on recordings up until “Kiss The Sky,” so to him we owe tremendous thanks.
You have announced your March/April 2021 UK tour.The 14-date tour includes Norwich, Manchester, London, Cardiff and Glasgow. What have you got planned for the shows?
With the year that 2020 has been, we owe it to our fans and to ourselves to make this the most explosive and fun tour yet, and we plan to do just that. We can’t wait to reconnect with the Bad Touch Family and hopefully make some new friends along the way. (badtouchrocks.co.uk for full tour details)
You guys are known for your energetic and raw live shows. Are you missing the live show energy at the moment?
What a question! It’s like we’ve lost the best part of ourselves, to say we are missing it is a huge understatement. We cannot wait to be back on stage doing what we were born to do, but we won’t until it is safe to do so, for the sake of everyone. Stay safe everybody.
You’ve been doing Facebook videos called “The Isolation Sessions” to stay connected with your fans while everyone is at home.Have you felt pressure to make each one better than the last?
I like to think that some of the beauty of The Isolation Sessions was that it was just me and my guitar playing into my mobile phone. That’s it. It wasn’t about the production or the effects, it’s just me having a go at some songs that have influenced me as a singer. I did one a day for around fifty days, they’re on hiatus at the minute, but who knows, I may dust off the guitar soon!
Have you found time to write and relax during the lull in touring?
We’re still promoting ‘Kiss The Sky’ at the moment, but we’re always writing and looking to the future.
Do you have any advice for someone who wants to start a band?
Just do it, and don’t give up. If you’ve got a band you love, playing music you love, you can make it work, and everything else will fall in place around it. Trust me.
What have Bad Touch got planned for the rest of the year?
Sadly this year seems to be all but written off, nobody knows what’s around the corner at the minute, but know that we’ll be here to rock your socks off when we come out the other side. Stay safe you beautiful people.
Stream ‘Kiss The Sky’ below
Author : Danu
