China White Exclusive Interview
Retreat recently had the honour of an exclusive interview with Warrington band China White to coincide with the launch of their official website.
A big year ahead for the band who's members include Inder 'Goldfinger' Matharu (Long time percussionist with Stone Roses lead singer Ian Brown).
We catch up with Liam and Antony from the band. Enjoy!!
Hi Guys, thanks for taking the time to speak to Retreat. For those unaware of China White, feel free to introduce yourselves
Hi we're China White, an Electro Funk band from Warrington (North West) UK. The two core members are myself - Liam Croker - singer / lyricist / producer and Antony Egerton - Keyboards / Programmer / producer. We write and record the majority of the music but have also worked with a wide range of musicians and vocalists to create our trademark eclectic sound. In the past we have occasionally been called a collective rather than a band. A similar set up to say Massive Attack. We also have a full live band and can often be found blowing the roof of venues throughout the U.K, most recently supporting 'The Jungle Brothers' at The Masque in Liverpool. Kermit from Black Grape joined us onstage to peform our track 'Thomas'...EPIC!!!
Where did the name China White come from
The name China White came from the song 'White Lines' by Melle Mel. At the time Myslef and Antony we're listening to ALOT of 'Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five' and pinched it from that song, the full version with the drug dealer at the end pushing dope. People quite often think it's a personal drug reference, but it's not, we're NO junkies haha. The Furious Five have definitely played a part in the history of China White.
You describe your music as D-Funk - Is this your own twist on Parliaments 'P-Funk'and Dr Dre's 'G-Funk'?
The D.Funk thing came about in 2009 while recording our 'Kitchen Sessions E.P'. The D stood for drunk AKA Drunk Funk. We we're partying pretty hard during the making of it, so I suppose it was a little in-joke about our lifestyle at the time. But we were very aware of the connection it would have with Dr.Dre and George Clinton which worked well for us when promoting the E.P. It gave the press and the public something to latch on to. It was also distributed exclusively through the Dr.Hermans shops throughout the U.K, which happens to be the biggest head shop chain in the country, so it all tied in nicely. 'My Tempo' off that E.P I suppose is what D.Funk sounds like, very funky and surreal.
Coming from the North West, which has been known to have produced a few well known bands over the years, do you find there is any pressure for you guys as there is a lot to live up to?
No I don't think so. I think if we were going out there being just another northern indie band then yeah we'd be screwed, but the fact that we're coming from a completely different place musically has always seperated us from that whole scene. I've always found our musical herritage very inspiring.
What music did you guys listen to growing up and which musicians influenced China White?
Growing up as kids we listened to alot of rock music, bands such as Guns N Roses, Faith No More, The Red Hot Chilli Peppers. I know Antony also listened to bands like Motley Crue and Iron Maiden.
As teenagers our tastes broadened, we started listening to Hip Hop like the Beastie Boys, Cypress Hill and the whole west coast ganster thing - Dre, Snoop, Death Row.
I think it goes without saying we we're into groups like The Stone Roses and The Mondays. Music that has directly influenced China White varies, depending on whether it's me or Antony who's telling you. I know Tricky, Massive Attack and Primal Scream influenced us both massively. Both Musically and sonically. I'd Say Tricky and Melle Mel are my biggest influences. Also Sly Stone and his album 'There's a Riot Going On' blew my mind, I started writing differently after hearing that album.
I know musically Ant has been influenced by Daft Punk, Justice, Parliament and also Manchester's Ruthless Rap Assassins. Rick James is his hero though. But we both love Funk music, George Clinton has alot to answer for!!!
You have already collaborated with a number of different artists. Care to expand?
Well, when we started me and Antony wrote down a hitlist of people we'd like to work with and we have been slowly been going through it ticking off the names haha. We collaborated with Scorpio from 'Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five' on a track called 'Aggression' which is the final track on 'The Kitchen Sessions E.P'. That was an amazing experience. Scorp flew over from Atlanta and spent three days with us in the studio and doing radio interviews.
We also got really fucked up while he was over which was fun. Pissed up rapping to 'The Message' with Mr Ness is very surreal. That track opened alot of doors for us and people started taking us seriously. We're still friends with Scorp and it was him who booked us for the Furious Five tour a year later.
We have recorded a track with Rowetta (Happy Mondays) called 'Our Dylan' which was released last month, Tim Hutton (Ian Brown, Prodigy, Amy Winehouse) played trumpet on it and Inder Goldfinger (Ian Brown, Fundamental) played percussion. Inder is now a full time member of China White and a mentor, he's a great friend.
Most recently we recorded a song called 'Thomas' with Kermit from Black Grape and The Ruthless Rap Assassins. Danny Saber who produced Black Grape and The Rolling Stones is currently remixing the song for his 'Saber Bytes' album which is due for release this month. Some bands would kill to get a hold of our little black book...know what I mean ;).I'd like to do something with Greg Wilson next, the guy's a genius.
You appear to have a solid Resume already. You have toured / opened up for some legends in the hip hop game. Many who are heroes of mine.
Please tell us more.
We were asked by Scorpio to be the official U.K support for their 'Legend To Legend' tour with Kurtis Blow. When he asked us I nearly shit myself I was that happy.
Meeting Mel and the rest of them was cool and they made us feel really welcome. Kurtis Blow was mad as a badger, he's now a reverend but he wasn't very holy if you know what I mean.
We finished the tour at 'The Arches' in Glasgow. It was an amazing night and experience. Rowetta performed the track 'Our Dylan' with us at the Mint Lounge in Manchester on our first date of the tour, arguablly our greatest show, we were on fire!!!
Since then we've gone on to support 'The Sugar Hill Gang' 'The Jungle Brothers' and 'Mix Master Mike'. I think promoters are aware of our connection with the F.Five and book us for the Hip Hop groups coming to the North West. I feel very lucky to have had these experiences, it beats working in Lidl!!
If there is one artist/band who you would most like to collaborate with, who would it be?
Antony - I'd like to work with Tricky, Daft Punk, George Clinton and Nile Rodgers.
Liam - I'd Like to work with Tricky and George Clinton, Sly Stone in his hey day.
What advice would you give to young bands starting out in the business industry?
I'd say do it for the right reasons i.e THE MUSIC. Also you have to be 100% committed or it's pointless. If you can't dedicate all your time to making it happen then you might as well go and be a postman, it's all about the graft.
Can each of you name your top five all time favourite albums
Antony - 'Street Songs' Rick James, 'efil4zaggin' NWA, 'Appetite For Destruction' Guns N Roses, 'Blue Lines' Massive Attack and 'Homework' Daft Punk.
Liam - Tricky 'Pre Millenium Tension', Sly and The Family Stone 'There's a Riot Going On', Massive Attack 'Blue Lines', D'angelo 'Voodoo', The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses.
Many thanks to Liam and Antony for taking the time out to speak to us, and for also supporting Retreat over the last year.
China White's official website launches on the 14th February. To sign up for album news and tour dates visit http://www.chinawhitemusic.net
Danny Saber's produced track 'Everybody Everyone Featuring Kermit is due for international release the end of feb 2012 on 'Saber Bytes'.
A big year ahead for the band who's members include Inder 'Goldfinger' Matharu (Long time percussionist with Stone Roses lead singer Ian Brown).
We catch up with Liam and Antony from the band. Enjoy!!
 |  |
Hi Guys, thanks for taking the time to speak to Retreat. For those unaware of China White, feel free to introduce yourselves
Hi we're China White, an Electro Funk band from Warrington (North West) UK. The two core members are myself - Liam Croker - singer / lyricist / producer and Antony Egerton - Keyboards / Programmer / producer. We write and record the majority of the music but have also worked with a wide range of musicians and vocalists to create our trademark eclectic sound. In the past we have occasionally been called a collective rather than a band. A similar set up to say Massive Attack. We also have a full live band and can often be found blowing the roof of venues throughout the U.K, most recently supporting 'The Jungle Brothers' at The Masque in Liverpool. Kermit from Black Grape joined us onstage to peform our track 'Thomas'...EPIC!!!
Where did the name China White come from
The name China White came from the song 'White Lines' by Melle Mel. At the time Myslef and Antony we're listening to ALOT of 'Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five' and pinched it from that song, the full version with the drug dealer at the end pushing dope. People quite often think it's a personal drug reference, but it's not, we're NO junkies haha. The Furious Five have definitely played a part in the history of China White.
You describe your music as D-Funk - Is this your own twist on Parliaments 'P-Funk'and Dr Dre's 'G-Funk'?
The D.Funk thing came about in 2009 while recording our 'Kitchen Sessions E.P'. The D stood for drunk AKA Drunk Funk. We we're partying pretty hard during the making of it, so I suppose it was a little in-joke about our lifestyle at the time. But we were very aware of the connection it would have with Dr.Dre and George Clinton which worked well for us when promoting the E.P. It gave the press and the public something to latch on to. It was also distributed exclusively through the Dr.Hermans shops throughout the U.K, which happens to be the biggest head shop chain in the country, so it all tied in nicely. 'My Tempo' off that E.P I suppose is what D.Funk sounds like, very funky and surreal.
 |  |
Coming from the North West, which has been known to have produced a few well known bands over the years, do you find there is any pressure for you guys as there is a lot to live up to?
No I don't think so. I think if we were going out there being just another northern indie band then yeah we'd be screwed, but the fact that we're coming from a completely different place musically has always seperated us from that whole scene. I've always found our musical herritage very inspiring.
What music did you guys listen to growing up and which musicians influenced China White?
Growing up as kids we listened to alot of rock music, bands such as Guns N Roses, Faith No More, The Red Hot Chilli Peppers. I know Antony also listened to bands like Motley Crue and Iron Maiden.
As teenagers our tastes broadened, we started listening to Hip Hop like the Beastie Boys, Cypress Hill and the whole west coast ganster thing - Dre, Snoop, Death Row.
I think it goes without saying we we're into groups like The Stone Roses and The Mondays. Music that has directly influenced China White varies, depending on whether it's me or Antony who's telling you. I know Tricky, Massive Attack and Primal Scream influenced us both massively. Both Musically and sonically. I'd Say Tricky and Melle Mel are my biggest influences. Also Sly Stone and his album 'There's a Riot Going On' blew my mind, I started writing differently after hearing that album.
I know musically Ant has been influenced by Daft Punk, Justice, Parliament and also Manchester's Ruthless Rap Assassins. Rick James is his hero though. But we both love Funk music, George Clinton has alot to answer for!!!
You have already collaborated with a number of different artists. Care to expand?
Well, when we started me and Antony wrote down a hitlist of people we'd like to work with and we have been slowly been going through it ticking off the names haha. We collaborated with Scorpio from 'Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five' on a track called 'Aggression' which is the final track on 'The Kitchen Sessions E.P'. That was an amazing experience. Scorp flew over from Atlanta and spent three days with us in the studio and doing radio interviews.
We also got really fucked up while he was over which was fun. Pissed up rapping to 'The Message' with Mr Ness is very surreal. That track opened alot of doors for us and people started taking us seriously. We're still friends with Scorp and it was him who booked us for the Furious Five tour a year later.
We have recorded a track with Rowetta (Happy Mondays) called 'Our Dylan' which was released last month, Tim Hutton (Ian Brown, Prodigy, Amy Winehouse) played trumpet on it and Inder Goldfinger (Ian Brown, Fundamental) played percussion. Inder is now a full time member of China White and a mentor, he's a great friend.
Most recently we recorded a song called 'Thomas' with Kermit from Black Grape and The Ruthless Rap Assassins. Danny Saber who produced Black Grape and The Rolling Stones is currently remixing the song for his 'Saber Bytes' album which is due for release this month. Some bands would kill to get a hold of our little black book...know what I mean ;).I'd like to do something with Greg Wilson next, the guy's a genius.
 |  |  |
You appear to have a solid Resume already. You have toured / opened up for some legends in the hip hop game. Many who are heroes of mine.
Please tell us more.
We were asked by Scorpio to be the official U.K support for their 'Legend To Legend' tour with Kurtis Blow. When he asked us I nearly shit myself I was that happy.
Meeting Mel and the rest of them was cool and they made us feel really welcome. Kurtis Blow was mad as a badger, he's now a reverend but he wasn't very holy if you know what I mean.
We finished the tour at 'The Arches' in Glasgow. It was an amazing night and experience. Rowetta performed the track 'Our Dylan' with us at the Mint Lounge in Manchester on our first date of the tour, arguablly our greatest show, we were on fire!!!
Since then we've gone on to support 'The Sugar Hill Gang' 'The Jungle Brothers' and 'Mix Master Mike'. I think promoters are aware of our connection with the F.Five and book us for the Hip Hop groups coming to the North West. I feel very lucky to have had these experiences, it beats working in Lidl!!
If there is one artist/band who you would most like to collaborate with, who would it be?
Antony - I'd like to work with Tricky, Daft Punk, George Clinton and Nile Rodgers.
Liam - I'd Like to work with Tricky and George Clinton, Sly Stone in his hey day.
What advice would you give to young bands starting out in the business industry?
I'd say do it for the right reasons i.e THE MUSIC. Also you have to be 100% committed or it's pointless. If you can't dedicate all your time to making it happen then you might as well go and be a postman, it's all about the graft.
|  |
Can each of you name your top five all time favourite albums
Antony - 'Street Songs' Rick James, 'efil4zaggin' NWA, 'Appetite For Destruction' Guns N Roses, 'Blue Lines' Massive Attack and 'Homework' Daft Punk.
Liam - Tricky 'Pre Millenium Tension', Sly and The Family Stone 'There's a Riot Going On', Massive Attack 'Blue Lines', D'angelo 'Voodoo', The Stone Roses - The Stone Roses.
Many thanks to Liam and Antony for taking the time out to speak to us, and for also supporting Retreat over the last year.
China White's official website launches on the 14th February. To sign up for album news and tour dates visit http://www.chinawhitemusic.net
Danny Saber's produced track 'Everybody Everyone Featuring Kermit is due for international release the end of feb 2012 on 'Saber Bytes'.
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