Movin' On | Matt Connarton Unleashed

0:00 Speaker 1: All right, let's see, I think we have Elijah Jenkins

0:03 Speaker 1: with us via WhatsApp. Let's see how this goes. Elijah,

0:06 Speaker 1: are you there?

0:07 Speaker 2: I am here?

0:08 Speaker 3: Is good?

0:09 Speaker 1: Oh? Perfect, perfect, no feedback, Everything's awesome, wonderful, all right,

0:14 Speaker 1: all right, yeah, yeah, I knew we I knew we

0:17 Speaker 1: would work through it. So so welcome Elijah again. You know,

0:20 Speaker 1: I love your solo work. Obviously we just played take

0:22 Speaker 1: a Chance on Her. That is a great song. But

0:24 Speaker 1: I'm really curious to learn more about your band moving on.

0:28 Speaker 1: I love that song Absolutely. We did the American radio

0:32 Speaker 1: premiere for that recently, and I really enjoyed getting to

0:35 Speaker 1: play that again as well. And so tell us about

0:38 Speaker 1: the band. I'm curious about how you know, because obviously

0:42 Speaker 1: you know you have released songs as a solo artist,

0:44 Speaker 1: but what why moving on? Why why move into a

0:49 Speaker 1: band project with the with your material?

0:52 Speaker 3: So I've had songs like Absolutely, which is obviously out now,

0:57 Speaker 3: and a couple of other things that we've got in

0:59 Speaker 3: the works for a while towards the end of the

1:02 Speaker 3: solo days, and I thought it was I thought the

1:05 Speaker 3: songs needed a band behind them, to be honest with you, Matt,

1:08 Speaker 3: I thought that was the way we were going to

1:10 Speaker 3: get the best potential out of them. So a little

1:12 Speaker 3: bit about the lads in the band. We've got Scott

1:15 Speaker 3: on drums, who I was in a former band with

1:17 Speaker 3: but when I was seventeen, and then we've got George

1:21 Speaker 3: on bass, who I have a mutual friends with, and

1:26 Speaker 3: then we've got Alfie on guitar, who was last to

1:28 Speaker 3: join us in mid October of last year. So you know,

1:32 Speaker 3: we're still only what we're in now. Late February was

1:35 Speaker 3: still only about four months into the journey as the band,

1:39 Speaker 3: but we're really happy with what we've done so far.

1:43 Speaker 1: How hard was it to find the right people? I mean,

1:45 Speaker 1: did the chemistry sort of come together quickly? Because obviously

1:49 Speaker 1: when you're putting a band together to do material that

1:51 Speaker 1: you've already written and you know recorded in some form,

1:54 Speaker 1: I mean, is it obviously it's a priority to write

2:00 Speaker 1: to find the right people. Was that difficult or did

2:03 Speaker 1: this come together quickly?

2:06 Speaker 3: So with Scott, I knew Scott who was obviously the drummer,

2:10 Speaker 3: so I knew he was going to be.

2:13 Speaker 2: I knew we worked well together.

2:15 Speaker 1: Yea.

2:15 Speaker 3: With Georgia we had mutual friends, so reached out to

2:18 Speaker 3: him on Instagram. Before Alfie came in, we did have

2:22 Speaker 3: another guitarist, but we parted ways for a couple of

2:27 Speaker 3: different reasons, and George knew Alfie and me and George

2:33 Speaker 3: both reached out to Alfie. And then then first few

2:36 Speaker 3: rehearsals were so exciting because it was obviously just as

2:40 Speaker 3: well as playing the songs and getting to know the songs,

2:42 Speaker 3: it was also getting to know each other on like

2:45 Speaker 3: a personal level as well, and to build that band chemistry,

2:48 Speaker 3: which is something we've gotten, something we're very very happy

2:51 Speaker 3: with and proud of as well.

2:52 Speaker 1: Sure sure, was that always kind of the goal when

2:56 Speaker 1: you were recording and releasing music as a solo artist.

2:58 Speaker 1: Did you always kind of have it in mind that

3:00 Speaker 1: you would like to transition that into a band or

3:02 Speaker 1: is that something that you sort of came to over time.

3:07 Speaker 3: It's come quite recently, to be honest. I think definitely

3:12 Speaker 3: in my earlier solo days, when I had done Start

3:16 Speaker 3: Again and stuff like that, I couldn't really see it

3:20 Speaker 3: as a band. But then the more I started to

3:23 Speaker 3: write and the more I started to think about it,

3:28 Speaker 3: and when it was just me and my guitar, I

3:31 Speaker 3: could hear drums in the back of songs and guitar

3:34 Speaker 3: solos and bass, and obviously I can't play all that

3:38 Speaker 3: at once at the same time, so I thought, right,

3:41 Speaker 3: we need to get a band behind it, and yeah,

3:43 Speaker 3: that's what we've done and couldn't be happy with it either.

3:46 Speaker 1: Yeah, No, it sounds great. Absolutely. Now that's the only

3:49 Speaker 1: single you've released so far as a band to this point.

3:52 Speaker 2: Correct, Yes, that is correct, okay, And.

3:55 Speaker 1: What's kind of been the response over there? I mean, obviously,

3:58 Speaker 1: you know, we played it here, so an American audience

4:01 Speaker 1: is getting exposure to it. But I mean do people

4:03 Speaker 1: when people hear it, do they do they recognize it's

4:06 Speaker 1: you right away with a band or how's how's that

4:10 Speaker 1: transition been in terms of interacting with your audience and

4:14 Speaker 1: and what's some of the feedback that you've gotten from them.

4:17 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's been smooth, to be fair, Even when we've

4:20 Speaker 3: been working with a lot of the people here in

4:23 Speaker 3: the on the UK side of things as well, like

4:26 Speaker 3: gig promoters and stuff, they're really pleased to see it

4:30 Speaker 3: move into a band and it adds a lot more

4:32 Speaker 3: energy even to some of the solo stuff that had

4:35 Speaker 3: been doing as well, a lot of the solo songs

4:39 Speaker 3: that are out have now got full band versions that

4:41 Speaker 3: we're obviously playing live, so you know, we're still keeping

4:44 Speaker 3: the solo stuff in there, but you know, we've transitioned

4:48 Speaker 3: it all now into a you know, the four piece band,

4:51 Speaker 3: and you know, the receptions who it's been fantastic from

4:55 Speaker 3: obviously both sides of the pond, which we're really really

4:58 Speaker 3: happy about.

4:59 Speaker 1: Yeah, no, that's fantas So an obvious question, where does

5:03 Speaker 1: the name come from? Moving On?

5:06 Speaker 3: So the name moving On comes from when I just

5:10 Speaker 3: previously mentioned we obviously had another guitarist who we separated

5:16 Speaker 3: ways with, and yeah, I created a WhatsApp group with myself,

5:21 Speaker 3: George and Scott.

5:24 Speaker 2: Called moving On.

5:25 Speaker 3: Oh and it wasn't really thought of us like, oh,

5:29 Speaker 3: this will be the band name or anything. It was

5:32 Speaker 3: just like, oh, this is how we're going to move

5:34 Speaker 3: on from this situation. Yeah, and it sort of stuck,

5:40 Speaker 3: and you know, then we added alphae in and we

5:43 Speaker 3: were like, right, we've got to think of a band name.

5:45 Speaker 3: And I was thinking, you know a while about what

5:51 Speaker 3: a lot of the songs reflect, and a lot of

5:53 Speaker 3: the songs reflect you know, nostalgia, but also escapism, and

5:58 Speaker 3: you know that wanting to be free just for moving

6:01 Speaker 3: on was the perfect fit really for what a lot

6:04 Speaker 3: of the songs are about that are obviously already out

6:07 Speaker 3: from the solo project, but a lot of what's to

6:09 Speaker 3: come as well.

6:10 Speaker 1: Okay, okay, were you surprised that the name was available

6:15 Speaker 1: because you know, it almost seems like somebody else has

6:16 Speaker 1: already got to be using that name, right, but but

6:19 Speaker 1: apparently not, like you know, you you found something that

6:21 Speaker 1: I'm just curious, you know, I'm always fascinated by how artists,

6:25 Speaker 1: you know, decide to choose a name, and you know,

6:29 Speaker 1: it is almost surprising to me that was available, but

6:31 Speaker 1: obviously it was. Was it a surprise to you? It was?

6:35 Speaker 3: I mean we had to drop the g Yeah, wasn't

6:38 Speaker 3: initially on the WhatsApp group chat, but no, Yeah, obviously

6:43 Speaker 3: did the research around it, and when we found out

6:46 Speaker 3: it was available and you know, we could get it

6:50 Speaker 3: on Spotify and all that, it just all seemed to

6:53 Speaker 3: fall into place at.

6:54 Speaker 2: The exact right moment.

6:55 Speaker 3: And you know, when we went into the studio to

6:58 Speaker 3: do Absolutely and then the other songs that will have

7:01 Speaker 3: coming out later this year, it's just all seemed to

7:04 Speaker 3: fit into place really well. And you know, we've got

7:08 Speaker 3: some cracking live shows coming up. We've got a headline

7:11 Speaker 3: show in Liverpool at the Jacaranda, which is a famous

7:15 Speaker 3: venue where the Beatles played when they were just starting out.

7:19 Speaker 3: And then we've got a couple of festivals and a

7:22 Speaker 3: few unannounced things that I can't spill the lid on yet,

7:25 Speaker 3: but as soon as soon as I can, you'll be

7:29 Speaker 3: hearing all about it.

7:30 Speaker 1: Outstanding festivals are great. You know I say this all

7:33 Speaker 1: the time. You might have even heard me say it.

7:34 Speaker 1: Festivals are The great thing about festivals is on two levels.

7:37 Speaker 1: On one, you know, obviously you're playing in front of

7:40 Speaker 1: a large crowd and you're going to get exposed or

7:43 Speaker 1: fans are going to get exposed to you, new fans

7:45 Speaker 1: perspectively who might not have been aware of you or

7:48 Speaker 1: have ever seen you live or heard your music before.

7:50 Speaker 1: So it's such a fantastic way to expand your fan base.

7:53 Speaker 1: But it's also an easy way to be able to network,

7:58 Speaker 1: you know, and meet their industry people and of course

8:01 Speaker 1: other artists as well, just more broadly, but it's such

8:05 Speaker 1: a Festivals are just such an amazing opportunity for an

8:09 Speaker 1: artist like yourself to just really again not only expand

8:13 Speaker 1: your fan base, but expand yourself within the industry in

8:17 Speaker 1: terms of who you meet and the connections that you make,

8:19 Speaker 1: and you never know what might lead to something even

8:21 Speaker 1: more so, that's great. It's great that you're gonna be

8:23 Speaker 1: doing a couple of those. I'm curious about the show

8:25 Speaker 1: at the Jack Randa. You know you mentioned the Beatles.

8:30 Speaker 1: How how do you feel about I mean, is it

8:34 Speaker 1: pressure to be playing a show like that or are

8:36 Speaker 1: you just excited? Or is there like especially where you're from,

8:40 Speaker 1: because you know, obviously you know there's the Beatles and

8:44 Speaker 1: the music scene there. I mean, I'm sure it's always

8:48 Speaker 1: really amazing and that there's so much great talent there.

8:50 Speaker 1: But i mean, do you feel any pressure with that

8:52 Speaker 1: or is it more just excitement or maybe you'll feel

8:55 Speaker 1: pressure on the day of the show. I don't know,

8:56 Speaker 1: But how do you how do you feel about that?

8:58 Speaker 1: How do you process that psychologically leading up to it?

9:02 Speaker 3: It's a bit of everything, to be honest with you, Matt,

9:04 Speaker 3: To be honest, obviously, yeah, you know there's pressure. When

9:07 Speaker 3: you first announced the show, you hope it sells well,

9:10 Speaker 3: you know, we're nearly sold out, which I'm absolutely delighted

9:14 Speaker 3: to say. You know that this song and the way

9:17 Speaker 3: the band's been received since we announced that it would

9:21 Speaker 3: be a band in late December and then when the

9:23 Speaker 3: show got announced, you know, we've had a really, really

9:26 Speaker 3: great reception and response. We've played the Jacaranda beforemat which

9:31 Speaker 3: I think, oh, ease is a little bit of the pressure.

9:34 Speaker 3: We've played a support slot there just before Christmas. Yeah,

9:37 Speaker 3: so I think that eases the pressure. But you know,

9:39 Speaker 3: headlining it is a different kettle of fish, but I

9:42 Speaker 3: think it will be that same emotion that's tied to

9:45 Speaker 3: both nerves but also just immense excitement ready to get

9:49 Speaker 3: out there and perform.

9:51 Speaker 1: That's great. That's great. By the way, I saw a

9:53 Speaker 1: couple of names of bands associated with you that you

9:57 Speaker 1: may have played shows with scruff of the neck and

10:00 Speaker 1: this feeling. Are there are those bands that you've been

10:03 Speaker 1: playing with.

10:05 Speaker 3: No, So they're the promoters and the booking agents that

10:09 Speaker 3: we use, and they have oh real champions of unsigned,

10:14 Speaker 3: unsigned acts across the UK.

10:17 Speaker 1: Oh fantastic, Okay, that's why those names came up. Yeah,

10:21 Speaker 1: uh no, that's great. I mean, how how would you

10:24 Speaker 1: how do you feel about the scene there currently? I mean,

10:27 Speaker 1: like I said, I know, you know a lot of

10:28 Speaker 1: great bands have come out of that area, but uh,

10:31 Speaker 1: I mean, are there a lot of other bands that

10:33 Speaker 1: sound because I feel like your sound is is unique.

10:36 Speaker 1: Obviously it's reflective of your solo work, but but with

10:39 Speaker 1: a full band. But I mean, what's is it competitive there?

10:45 Speaker 1: Is it more just a community thing where everybody kind

10:47 Speaker 1: of works together. How would you describe the scene where

10:50 Speaker 1: you are?

10:52 Speaker 3: It makes it both to be honest, Matt, you know,

10:54 Speaker 3: there's support and there's you know, willingness from you know

10:58 Speaker 3: of the bands to do well and opportunities, you know,

11:01 Speaker 3: like when we've been looking for support slots, we've been

11:04 Speaker 3: offered it by different.

11:06 Speaker 2: Bands who are on the way up as well.

11:09 Speaker 3: But you know, it's it's a competitive scene, but there's

11:12 Speaker 3: no one, you know, drugging anyone down and wanting anyone

11:15 Speaker 3: to not do well just so they can do well.

11:19 Speaker 2: If that makes sense.

11:20 Speaker 3: Like there's a lot of bands out there, but a

11:22 Speaker 3: lot of the bands are all very good, and you know,

11:25 Speaker 3: everyone supports each other, which I think is fantastic.

11:28 Speaker 1: No, that is fantastic. You know. I always say success

11:31 Speaker 1: in life or or in a career. It's not a

11:35 Speaker 1: zero sum game, you know. It's not like just because

11:37 Speaker 1: somebody else is doing well that means you're automatically doing

11:39 Speaker 1: less well, you know so, and I think musicians generally

11:43 Speaker 1: understand that, which is good. What's kind of the forward

11:48 Speaker 1: trajectory for you guys as a band? Obviously you've got

11:51 Speaker 1: the single Absolutely, which is out. Is there a second

11:55 Speaker 1: single on the way? Do you plan to do an

11:57 Speaker 1: EP or an album? What's kind of the next year

12:00 Speaker 1: look like for Moving On?

12:03 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think the next year for Moving On, Matt,

12:06 Speaker 3: it looks good. We've already got our second single recorded

12:09 Speaker 3: and produced. Oh so that that will lead into an

12:12 Speaker 3: EP okay, probably into the second half of this year,

12:18 Speaker 3: and then just getting out everywhere, Matt. You know, as

12:21 Speaker 3: I said before, we've got a couple of festivals lined up.

12:25 Speaker 3: We're going to be announcing a London show this weekend

12:28 Speaker 3: as well. We'll be announcing another headline in our hometown

12:33 Speaker 3: of Chester in the next few weeks. So it's going

12:37 Speaker 3: to be a really busy year for us, Matt, but

12:40 Speaker 3: it's one we're really looking forward to. But yeah, I

12:42 Speaker 3: think in terms of obviously you know, the second single

12:46 Speaker 3: will be out, give it to a three months. We'll

12:50 Speaker 3: let people enjoy absolutely, but then we'll make sure that

12:53 Speaker 3: they're wanting the next one as well, and then we'll

12:56 Speaker 3: give the people what they want. But yeah, second half

12:59 Speaker 3: of the year and especially the summer is going to

13:03 Speaker 3: be a really great time for Moving On with lots

13:05 Speaker 3: of gigs and a couple of festivals lined up as well.

13:08 Speaker 2: So yeah, we're all really excited about it.

13:11 Speaker 1: No, that's wonderful. Yeah, it's great to see that you're

13:13 Speaker 1: off to such a great start with the band, and

13:15 Speaker 1: you know, and obviously with your solo work you built

13:18 Speaker 1: a strong foundation. But it's great to see the band

13:21 Speaker 1: doing well. And like I said, I love that first

13:23 Speaker 1: single absolutely, that's really good. Where should people go, Elijah,

13:27 Speaker 1: where's the best place to go online to keep up

13:29 Speaker 1: with everything that Moving On is doing or that Elijah

13:32 Speaker 1: Jenkins is doing? Where should people go?

13:34 Speaker 3: Yeah? So for the band, it's moving On Official without

13:39 Speaker 3: the g So m ov in On Official for the

13:45 Speaker 3: Instagram and that's where to keep up with everything, and

13:48 Speaker 3: then it's the same on Spotify as well.

13:51 Speaker 1: Okay, okay, outstanding. I think in a moment we're gonna

13:55 Speaker 1: close with one of your again, one of your solo songs,

13:58 Speaker 1: start Again, which I think is appropriate in a sense

14:01 Speaker 1: because you know you moving on. Start Again. This is

14:06 Speaker 1: another one of the songs that we had played previously

14:09 Speaker 1: that I really love, and then I'll probably play absolutely

14:12 Speaker 1: again a little bit later in the show because we

14:13 Speaker 1: did play it to open our segment with you today.

14:15 Speaker 1: But Elijah again, congratulations on the band and the success

14:19 Speaker 1: that you're having. It's wonderful to see this transition in

14:22 Speaker 1: your career. And when the next single is ready, we

14:25 Speaker 1: would love to be again the first American radio station

14:28 Speaker 1: to play that, if you will do us the honor,

14:31 Speaker 1: and we love being able to kind of be your

14:33 Speaker 1: conduit into the American radio market because we're big fans

14:35 Speaker 1: of what you're doing.

14:38 Speaker 2: Yeah. Absolutely, Matt, I appreciate that nice one.

14:40 Speaker 1: Oh, definitely, definitely, So we're going to hit that track.

14:43 Speaker 1: We will let you go. But Elijah Jenkins of Moving On,

14:47 Speaker 1: thank you again, my friend, and we will talk to

14:49 Speaker 1: you soon, I'm sure.

14:50 Speaker 2: James out, thank you everyone, you got it.

14:52 Speaker 1: Bye bye, all right. That is Elijah Jenkins from the

14:55 Speaker 1: band Moving On, and this is another one of his

14:57 Speaker 1: solo songs This is so good. I love this. This

15:00 Speaker 1: is called start Again.