Exclusive Interview: InAir talk writing and recording!

What can we say? Being a Media Partner for an event like Reading Rising IV gives us a little bit of extra persuasive power, so we were able to get the Gentlemen from Reading Alternative Rock trio InAir back around the table for a second exclusive interview. This time around we talk to them about writing and recording their recent run of singles “Leap Of Faith“, “Pieces” and “Same Skies“, working with Claire at Western Audio Studios in Swindon (Visuals, NervEndings, Truck), gear and a whole lot more!

How did your previous experiences writing and recording help to smooth the path of your recent run of singles?

Connor (drums): “For these releases, we made sure we had a good amount of time in pre-production with Claire, our producer to really finalise how we wanted everything to sound to make sure our process was as good as it could be, so we could get on with tracking as soon as we were set-up, and bar one drum part which got changed and a few improvised guitar layers, it meant we knew exactly what we needed to record”

How does the writing process of a new track start? Melody, riff or rhythm first? How does it evolve from there before you consider it the finished article? 

Joe (bass): “I usually come up with a riff or a synth idea and then go from there. Lyrics and vocal melody go last as I like to get the barebones of the song done and make sure the lyrics I write reflect the mood and the feel of the track”

Your latest run of incredibly well received singles were recorded with Claire at Western Audio Studios in Swindon (Visuals, NervEndings, Truck). What was it like working with them and how did you come to choose them in the first place?

Aaron (guitars and vocals): “Claire was great to work with. We wanted to work with Claire in particular because of her production work with vocals and harmony layers which is something I think we improved at in our time recording with her. I believe you can hear a development in our sound in that area. In addition to this she really wanted us to experiment – use different drum skins, putting mics down hallways, putting bass through a guitar amp – which was a lot of fun. I would definitely recommend her to other bands looking to record. We chose them because we loved the work she had done on her own band – All Ears Avow – and our friends in NervEndings told us what a great time they had recording with her”

Back in 2016 you released an acoustic rendition of “When I’m Gone” featuring Marisa Rodriguez, which is very special. If you had the opportunity to work with someone else in the studio, who do you fancy as a future guest?

Joe: “If we were going to collaborate with someone then it would be cool to work with someone with lots of character and charisma to put a different spin on our sound, for example Benji Webbe of Skindred or Rou Reynolds from Enter Shikari. Realistically I would love to work with Charlie Rolfe from As Everything Unfolds as we played with AEU in the past and she has a great vocal style and distinctive voice”

For us gear nerds out there, can you tell us what you’re using gear wise (pedals, strings, drums etc) to get your sound?

Connor: “I used a Forecast acrylic kit which I absolutely adore, it has so much bite to cut through all the synths, which along side running drum triggers through my sample pad to create hybrid electronic drum sounds, gives the kit a massive sound. I also use a variety of Sabian cymbals and DW hardware, the cymbals aim to give a big arena sound and the DW hardware is absolutely bulletproof”

Aaron: “I am using an American Strat HSS with Texas special pickups. String wise I have gone up and down a bit in my time in InAir but I am currently using NXYLs 11s. My amp in an Orange Thunderverb 200 – which I love and spent a long time looking for before finding one 2nd hand before a gig we played in Leeds into a Mesa Boogie 2×12 Rect cabs. My pedal set up is – Tuner, Digitech Whammy Drop, Pog2, TS Mini, Green Carrot Pumpkin Pi (Fuzz), Boss Noise suppressor into the front of my amp. I run a Way Huge Supa Puss delay in my loop and just use the Reverb within the amp. Hoping to add / replace a few over the next year or so but only if I see stuff for the right price happy with my set up for now!”

Joe: “Fender P Bass with Ernie Ball Power strings into a digitech drop, into a sansamp. All into the front of my OB300 Orange Bass head into an Ampeg Cab – dead simple”

What difference would it make to you as a band if you could land an endorsement from a gear manufacturer?

Connor: “For me it would be huge, I play two different Forecast custom kits and I love them both, so get an endorsement from a company like that would be great. As well as that, I’d love a cymbal endorsement so it’d be less expensive when I keep breaking them!”

18th November. The Facebar. Reading Rising IV. 12 bands. 2 stages. 0 clashes. Here’s the line up announced so far…

Our Hollow Our Home
Confessions Of A Traitor
Waterlines
InAir
Crushed By Waves
NervEndings
Veridian
Our Fate

Add to that little lot 4 more bands to be announced and an after party DJ set from Our Fates’ Finn Panhalleux running until 2am!

We’re proud to be a Media Partner of Reading Rising IV. If you want a ticket for this year’s incarnation you can find them here.