interview with TOYS - Take Off Your Shirt
What are your names? / Who plays what? / How old are you? Cedric, Vocals, 38. Célian, 1st Guitar 37. Sylvain, 2nd Guitar, 40. Alex, Drums, 25. Cynthia, Bass, 22.
Where are you from? Toulon, French Riviera
What year did the band form? The band was born in 2015 but the current line-up works since 2016
What's your style of genre? Hard Rock, even Sex Rock ;)
What inspires you? Really influenced by ACDC, Airbourne, Nashville Pussy, Motörhead …
How often and where do you rehearse? 1 every two weeks, Toulon - Downtown
Are you looking for a label, and what are your thoughts around that? Yes, we are looking for that, to export our music outside our beautiful French Riviera
What made you decide to make this music? For fun, sharing, pleasure, make you smile and dance!
What are your songs about? Pleasure, love, fire, alcohol
Who does the composing and writes the lyrics? The guitarist and the singer
Do you start with the music or the lyrics? The music
Do you compose in a certain environment? Celian (guitar) : “On my toilets at night”
Have you done any covers live? Yes: ACDC, Motörhead, Airbourne…
What language do you sing in? English
What are the least and most people to attend one of your gigs? At our last show there were almost 400 people
What ages are most of your concert attendants? Between 18 and 45 y.o
Do you always play the same songs live, or do you vary? We vary; it depends of the place of our show
What was your latest gig? L’Usine, at Istres, South of France.
Have you had to cancel a gig? Never
Where have you played live this year? In different places on the French Riviera
Where do you plan to gig the coming year? Abroad: UK, Italy, Spain, Germany and… Sweden! ;)
When did you start to sell merchandise, and what do you have for sale? When? Can’t remember! We have CDs, T-shirts, stickers, condoms…
Where can people buy your merchandise? On our gigs.
What do you think about people downloading music instead of buying records now a days? It’s cool, it allows to be known. We don’t play music for being rich, so you could steal us if you want!
How do you think the music industry have changed because of this? Yes, certainly.
What do you think of my work? WE LOVE YOU <3,
How do you think and know that this interview will help you in the music business? Yes, it will give more visibility to our music, and allows people to know us a little more..
Do you have any role models or idols? Cedric (singer): “yes, myself”
Is it easier to find inspiration from older bands, or bands that are more active today? Older bands but Alex (drummer) and Cynthia (bassist) are younger so more active today.
What have been your biggest obstacles? We are poor! But Hard Rock is not well known or really appreciated by French people…
What advice would you give other bands or artists? Be patient with your singer! Singers are so silly!!!
Do you have any new material? Visuals for shows
What are your web sites?
https://www.facebook.com/TakeOffYourShirt83/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAcmbAVUKU8zlafjv1RJ2tg https://www.instagram.com/toys.band/ https://www.reverbnation.com/toys83
How can people reach you? By mail and on our different web sites
What are your plans for the future? Record a first album, play more shows and travel!
Do you have something to add? No thanks ;) Alex (drummer); Send nudes!!
