Last Friday, Scottish pop-rock band Dancing On Tables released their latest single Losing It alongside their music video which was filmed in lockdown with special involvement of their fans. In 2019, the band, made up of Robbie, Callum, Gregor, Hamish and Reece, supported Catfish and the Bottlemen on their UK arena tour, and this winter, they will be heading out on their own headline tour of the UK. We caught up with Dancing On Tables about their new release of Losing It, having their fans involved with the music video and what they’re up to in lockdown.
For those that haven’t heard of Dancing on Tables, can you tell them how you started?
We started as a bit of fun when we were in school and somehow went from friends’ parties to where we are now. I wanted to give us Spice Girl-esque names, but there is definitely offence in there somewhere.
Your latest single Losing It was released on 22nd May, how long were you working on the single and can you say more about it?
The overall theme of the song talks of someone who is forced to be apart from a loved one, and the downward spiral that they experience as a result. It wasn’t actually the original track we wanted to put out at the moment, but when we listened to the final track it felt like it really applied to how some of us are feeling in the current lockdown situation.
The first idea was played with about a year ago, but we didn’t write the song until September. The original demo was very different to what we released. We spent a lot of time deliberating how we wanted the song to ‘feel’, but we’re really happy with the track.
Who came up with the artwork and what was it like seeing it for the first time?
With the track being focused around experiences during lockdown, it only felt right that the artwork would represent the new cultural phenomenon that is Zoom. Linzi Jamieson (@classyburd_) has done the artworks for this EP and is a dream to work with. She takes our notebook scribbles and makes better images than we thought possible.
How did you come up with the idea for the song and what do you hope listeners will take from it?
Originally it was about a friend of ours who had just been dumped and went off the rails a bit, but it snowballed into looking at the effect of being forced to be away from people/things that you rely on in your life – something that everyone is currently experiencing.
You asked people to get involved with your music video, how did this come about and what was it like seeing it come together?
We first imagined the video having lots of people singing the chorus of the track – just like playing it live – but people have gone mad with it. It’s amazing to see people’s interpretation of our track, and the lengths they went to to convey it. We even have someone on a unicycle.
What was it like releasing your debut EP – Don’t Stop – and how would you say your music has developed since starting Dancing on Tables?
So much has changed since the first EP. As songwriters and performers, we’ve come on a lot. It got a good response at the time and helped us learn some valuable lessons. We still play some of the songs live every now and then too.
Your headline tour has been rescheduled for later this year, what can audiences expect from one of your shows?
Playing live is our favourite thing to do and we try to convey that in our show. It’s high energy and fun. By the time we go back on tour, we’ll have lots of new music out, so it’ll be people’s first chance to see it live.
What do you enjoy most about being in a band and performing on stage?
Watching people singing back songs and lyrics that mean so much to us is a feeling like no other. Playing live is what it’s all about for us. We spend a lot of time working on making sure we put on the best show we can.
What’s your favourite song to perform live and have you had a favourite music video to film?
It varies between each show. There are a few that I always look most forward to (namely the ones I’m lead in) but it’s the crowd response that decides it. We filmed the video for Body in a (very, very cold) skatepark in Liverpool with a giant foam pit that we spent a lot of time tackling each other into.
Last year, you supported Catfish and the Bottlemen on their arena tour, how was the experience and can you describe how you felt when finding out you’d be supporting them?
We only found out a few days before, straight after we finished a show in Liverpool. That was the last night of our tour, so it was the strangest drive home ever because we were all at different levels of excitement/tiredness/adrenaline. The shows were so much fun. The crowds were so up for it from the first song which really helped.
What’s the atmosphere like when performing at festivals?
It’s completely different from a live show. You’ll have people watching that aren’t already fans, so you have to work to win them over whilst also playing a show for the people that are there just to see you.
How was it hearing your music be played on Made in Chelsea?
It’s always strange hearing your music when it’s not us playing it. Knowing there are so many watching something soundtracked by your voice isn’t a feeling I’ll get used to.
What music did you each grow up listening to and was there anyone that influenced the style of music you now play?
I grew up with whatever CDs my dad had in the car, so began as a big punk/rock fan. When I got my own guitar, I was obsessed with writers such as Springsteen and Dylan, and the storytelling aspect of music. Between the five of us, we have all had different influences/experiences growing up, which I think allows us to make music that is purely Dancing On Tables.
During lockdown, you’ve started Cooking/Baking with Dancing on Tables and A-Z Of Covers, how did these come about and what do you like about filming them?
With so much extra time on our hands, we decided to fill it with as much fun as we could. They are really fun to film, and gives people a chance to know us a bit better. Deciding which cover to do is so much harder than it sounds.
Are you currently working on new music and do you have any upcoming release plans?
Fortunately, we were in the studio at the end of last year, so we have enough music to keep us going till we’re allowed to be back recording. We’ve spent lockdown writing as much as we can. I think we’re on forty new demos, which will be a lot of fun working through as a band and deciding which songs we want to move forward with.
Follow Dancing On Tables on: