What is your name and role within the band?
My name is Andy Crowder. And Piles of Clothes is pretty much me.
How did you start?
Piles of Clothes started back in my last year of university in Leeds. I was studying Music production and I realised I hadn’t written any music in the three years I was there. So I wrote the song ‘Piles of Clothes’. My room was a shit hole at the time.
Where are you based?
I / Piles of Clothes am/is based in Leeds, West Yorkshire in the UK. I’m originally from Lichfield in the Midlands though.
Please give an example of your music writing process?
Everything starts at home on a guitar. I normally root around for something for something that sounds nice or interesting; getting a chord progression or a riff that fits nicely with a vocal line. Then it goes from there. Once part of the song (a verse, chorus, section) is heading in the right direction, I’ll then start to write some lyrics. I’ll play everything acoustic live, then record as a full band in the studio. It’s a bit of a long process, but it’s worked so far.
What are you working on right now?
In a couple of weeks I’m recording a new double single in Leeds. I put out a 4-track EP at the start of the year, so I wanted to keep the momentum going and not spend another 2 years recording like I’ve done in the past.
What is your gear setup?
It’s very. very simple. Just acoustic and vocal at the moment. So nothing stressful or hard to set up. I’ve just started using my new Martin RS1 though, which sounds super bloody nice. It’s got a nice woody sound and is great for finger picking.
What do you like to do outside of music and does it affect your music?
I work in Marketing at the moment, for a company called Bloom in Leeds. And yeah, it does affect what I do in Piles of Clothes – but in a really good way. It gives me a stupid amount of stability, security, and flexibility. They’re rad people who support what I do and are cool with me booking Friday’s off and turning up a little late. It also means I’m not just sitting at home in my pants, eating pot noodles all day, drinking white lightening and trying to ‘make it’.
How would you describe your music genre?
Self-deprecating, past-tense folk stuff.
Do you know any music theory?
Nope. Don’t understand a word of it.
What are your plans for the future?
Write more music, record more music, play more music, make some friends, get a band, play with said band, get paid, buy champagne, sleep.
How did you get into music?
Got Green Day, ‘Dookie’, when I was about 10. Made my mum teach me ‘Basket Case’ on guitar.
What are you listening to at the moment?
Can’t get enough of Pinegrove at the moment, ‘Cardinal’ is an incredible record. Also listening to a lot of Microwave, Stephen Steinbrink, Andy Shauf, oh, and Mac Demarco’s new record too. That’s nice.
Who are your top 5 influences and icons?
Oh, shit. This is hard. I’ll have a go: Kevin Devine, Andy Hull, Elliot Smith, Willy Mason, Billy Joel
When are you playing next?
I am playing a few shows over the next few months. Here’s where to find me.
24th May – Leeds, Headrow House w/Miya Folick
25th May – Manchester, The Eagle Inn
17th June – Brighton, Marwoods Coffee Shop.
Please feel free to include any extra info.
You can get my debut EP ‘Songs Etc.’ for free at
www.pilesofclothes.bandcamp.com
www.facebook.com/pilesofclothes
www.twitter.com/pilesofclothes
