Music Q&A: Toy

Lead singer Tom Dougall tells Big Issue North about his brush with witchcraft ahead of shows at Liverpool Magnet, 24 Nov, Newcastle Riverside, 25 Nov, and Leeds Wardrobe, 26 Nov.

What informs your music and songwriting?
It could be anything. We’re all constantly listening to music and playing each other stuff we’ve found. It can be anything we can get our hands on – music, films, books. All of it pours back into to what we do. Events that take place in our lives affect how we make music as well.

How has the band evolved over the years?
We’re always trying to experiment with new sounds and ways of making music. It’s our favourite thing to do so we spend quite a lot of time doing it. Learning how to use new instruments is always really fun. On this record Dom played vibraphone and I’ve played lap steel on records in the past. We used a lot of different synths and methods of recording them. We used sequencers for first time and tried playing some things like clarinet and violin. I think we’re always learning.

What are you up to at the moment artistically?
We’re touring at the moment around England and Europe. It feels great to be back on tour again playing to people around the country. We’re also planning to write our next album quite quickly, so we’re quite busy.

What’s it like to operate in the music industry today?
I think it’s difficult for independent bands at the moment. There is definitely more of an emphasis on pop and dance music. We feel lucky to have a great independent label – Heavenly – and people around us who have a good understanding of what we’re trying to do.

What’s on your rider?
Tequila and chicken.

Tell us your most embarrassing or surreal experience.
We met a white witch in Stockholm once. We were recording in a studio and she came round the corner. She had really bright blue eyes and didn’t speak any English. She communicated that she wanted to touch each of our hands and look in our eyes. When it came to me I felt an actual physical rush of energy shoot up my arm. As she touched us her English got better and she was able to explain what she felt. We each felt that weird energy she had. It was very strange.

What’s your worst lyric?
We don’t have any bad ones.