by Dan Salter
Me, You & Thomas | Facebook | Soundcloud
(((o))): So, first and foremost, who are Me, You and Thomas and what are your musical backgrounds?
Me, You and Thomas is Rhianna Berarey (vocals, guitar and piano) and Joe Sherrin (drums).
Joe: Well, since the age of about 13 I’ve been in bands. I'm sure everyone remembers the musical genius that was Laminate This circa 2004... No? Well then you might recall more recent ramblings such as the thrashy punk covers of Thai Bride, or the mellow ukulele noodlings of The Dulcet Tones of Eugene? The cheesy funk of Shezzer 'Booty' Butcher or maybe even the pool side sounds of europop holiday discos channelled through the techno collective that is Pump? Those bands do all exist on MySpace and Soundcloud somewhere!
On a more serious note, I played bass in the Noise Beasts, Holy Stain and am currently in two other bands (Let's Kill Janice and Milo's Planes), so am something of a busy bee I suppose!
Rhianna: In contrast, this is my first band!
(((o))): How did the band come together?
Joe: Rhianna would always play guitar and sing these songs she'd written and after years of me telling her she needed to be in a band so other people could hear them, she let me play the drums for her.
(((o))): Please describe your sound in the form of a haiku?
Bernard, Bruce and Bob
These are just some names for men
My name is Thomas
(((o))): Do you think your local music scene has had any impact on Me, You and Thomas as a band?
Rhianna: Definitely. Being surrounded by bands made up of our friends made me want to stop just playing songs in my bedroom and finally play to people. There are loads of amazing bands in Bristol, and Sherrin is in half of them, so I must say I felt a bit left out!
(((o))): Your new single has just come out. Tell us a bit about it...
Joe: It's a three track single - "Eventually" and then two B sides, "Stop Here" and "Boundary". We recorded the tracks at Bink Bonk studios in Bristol with Matt Robinson and are thrilled to be releasing it with our friends at Howling Owl Records.
Rhianna: Eventually is one of my oldest songs - when we started Me, You and Thomas I was worried all my songs were too slow for Sherrin so I changed it around to make the song we're now releasing, which is now one of our fastest!
(((o))): What do you think is the most difficult challenge facing new bands starting out in the industry today?
Joe: It's very difficult to get people to notice you when bands like Brokencyde and We Start Parties are already so popular... So, perhaps that shows that you really need a good, strong costume.
(((o))): Every band has different aims, and sadly very few decent ones get proper fame and recognition. What would have to happen for you to feel like you have ‘made it’ as a band?
Rhianna: Being played on Radio 6 Music would be amazing - especially Shaun Keaveny. I love that guy...
Joe: Actually, if we could get Tinchy Strider to do a "feat." on a Mark Ronson remix of ‘Eventually’...
(((o))): Who is You? Who is Me? Who is Thomas?
Joe: Thomas is Rhianna's guitar (his full name is Thomas Telecaster). Me and You are his carers!
(((o))): We have another column called Echoes of the Past in which we get people to talk about albums that strongly influenced their musical outlook. If you had to pick a single album that strongly influenced the music of Me, You and Thomas then what would it be and why?
Rhianna: I take influence from people like Cat Power, PJ Harvey, Sharon Van Etten... but picking an album that influences us as a band, I'd say The Evens. Being a huge Ian MacKaye fan, Sherrin knew about The Evens so that's how I know about them. I thought they were a refreshing and different two-piece and made me think that we could do well as a duo with just drums and guitar, without any super-complicated guitar licks or screaming solos.
(((o))): This is ostensibly a column for introducing new bands. Who do you think we ought to include in it in the near future?
Rhianna: There's so many good new bands in Bristol at the moment! We're really excited to be sharing our single launch with Gigi Hare and Lizzie Murray, both of them are making some seriously beautiful music as solo ladies, as well as together, so you should defiantly check both of them out. Obviously there's Velcro Hooks, Oliver Wilde, Spectres and all the other ace Howling Owl bands that you probably already know all about! Then there's Barny Carter, Pennydrop and The Gnarwhals (Sherrin's favourites)... The list goes on!
Joe: I am gonna have to be cheeky here and mention Milo's Planes and Let's Kill Janice too!
(((o))): What are your plans plans for the near future?
Rhianna: We've got some exciting things planned for our single launch on 13th April, which is at Start The Bus in Bristol. So we're really busy at the moment getting ready for that. After this we'll be concentrating on getting some new songs nailed and ready for the studio!
'Eventually', the new single by Me, You and Thomas, is out now via Howling Owl Records.
