Leo Brazil shares single ‘Bats, bats, BATS!!!’ + plays “Shuddersfield” tomorrow!
Leo tells us how the project came about...
"I'd already thought about releasing a Halloween song and took it as a sign when I found a box of old costumes in the loft on the same day I was asked to be a guest for 'Shuddersfield' the Halloween show and brainchild of Huddersfield band “The Will Yates Experience”. When they asked me if I’d join them on stage for Psycho Killer by Talking Heads, I decided to write a song especially for the event too. I'll be performing it on the night with the band but decided to create a single and video for it because I love an excuse to play dress up and have fun with music!"
Taking a break from finishing his upcoming introspective acoustic record 'Alone' to answer the call of the bats; like a man possessed, he wrote, recorded and created the video within a couple of weeks. Reigniting his love of animation with hand drawn psychedelic additions to the live action performances, he created the video completely on his own at home. When asked if it’s hard filming without assistance: “l got to dress up and have glitter and plastic bats in a bathtub as a backdrop, who can complain? Certain parts required more takes than usual, playing piano whilst wearing a mask was quite a challenge and I had to mime the vocals, it turns out that singing with plastic vampire fangs in your mouth is impossible!"
Leo took inspiration from supporting the legendary psychedelic act The Crazy World of Arthur Brown earlier this year. "It really was an honour supporting such an icon. Arthur was a definite influence both visually and musically. I share his love of dressing up and putting on a show so I certainly had him in mind whilst working on this project”.
Leo's continued animal obsession is evident from the name of his record label “Birds and Beasts Records”. Whilst preparing his introspective acoustic album 'Alone' for full release next year following the positive reception to the release of the title track, Leo let’s us in on the fact he is currently writing and recording new material with a new dinosaur themed psych-rock quartet who will be ready to start playing shows in 2025. When asked if he might also dress us for these shows Leo told us “let's just say I'm currently researching the best materials to represent scales and wings on stage!”
Visit WWW.BIRDSANDBEASTSRECORDS.COM to find out about future releases from Leo Brazil and his various musical projects!
'Shuddersfield' is on the 2nd of November at Northern Quarter in Huddersfield and features The Will Yates Experience performing Halloween themed covers and joined on stage by a rotating cast of luminaries from the West Yorkshire music scene. Tickets available from: www.nqhuddersfield.co.uk
Press/quotes from Leo Brazil's previous projects:
"...a wall of gorgeous sound that will leave you breathless. This thing is a bloody joy." - Local Sound Focus
"...colourful and joyous...groove filled, thumping and purposeful." - Folk Phenomena
"...like a Wes Anderson animation in sonic form…" - Kitchen Disco Records
"...psychedelic folk fused with cosmic and disco pop...fun, clever and unique." - Loafers
"...energy, passion, tight harmonies..." - Northern Quarter
"...fascinating music...a cornucopia of genres..." - Nick Hall (Plumhall)
"...a nuanced balance of acoustics, sizzling synths and electric guitars." - Huddersfield Times
