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Aug 20, 2014 Web Exclusive By Lauren Down

Band Name: Boxed In

Members: Oli Bayston (vocals, keyboards), Liam Hutton (live drums), Mark Nicholls (live bass), Jack Benfield (live synths)

Where: Manchester, U.K. (now based in London)

Foundation and Formation: In 2011 the loss of LCD Soundsystem created a polished, ludicrously-danceable pop power vacuum, one which many bands have tried to step into, but none so successfully as Boxed In. The work of London based producer Oli Bayston, Boxed In captures the euphoria and bitterness of James Murphy’s creation whilst bringing something very distinctively “Boxed In” to the fore.

“I first got into music when I was about 18 actually,” Bayston explains. “I just immediately fell in love with it when I heard a record by a guy called Matthew Herbert. From there, I just delved really heavily into anything house related from Detroit and Chicago to like old acid house. I’ve seen Theo Parish more times than I can remember. I’ve always loved that kind of music. Even though what I’ve made has varied over the years, it’s always been a mainstay for me.”

Boxed In is certainly built on a foundation of house music, combined with Krautrock rhythms. “I started Boxed In probably about three years ago,” says Bayston. “I wrote and recorded 10 songs all on the computer—the best part of an album, really—and decided I just wanted to develop on from there. I started working with [producer] Dan [Carey] on trying to interpret those very specific four or five electronic beats into something more acoustic, using real instruments the way we did it live.”

The way he did it live, of course, was to pull a band together. “I used to be in a band with Mark [Nicholls] up in Manchester, so we’ve known each other for a very long time,” says Bayston. “He used to play guitar in that band, but now plays bass in Boxed In. Liam [Hutton], I met him when he was 17 and he was playing drums for Neneh Cherry’s band, and we were supporting, me and Mark, for three weeks throughout France on the tour. I was just absolutely blown away by Liam’s drumming. Jack [Benfield] is one of Liam’s best friends and he came along to a few gigs when it was just us as a three piece. I got on really well with him and I knew he was a great guitarist, so I thought maybe he could join the party.”

What’s in a name? Bayston’s Boxed In moniker was inspired by Francis Bacon’s painting Head IV. “I never intended to create a band name that was based around a deep pretentious concept,” a cautious Bayston says when asked about this. “But I’ve always been a huge fan of his and I’ve got this big book, and in the book one of the art critics—Gilles Deleuze—described that particular painting as ‘The operation through which the entire body escapes through the mouth.’ That, to me, just immediately sprung out as the description of either songwriting or singing. It just seemed like a perfect observation of a creative outlet.”

Reference Points: Hot Chip, Neu!, LCD Soundsystem

Sound and Vision:

Releases: “All Your Love is Gone” 7-inch on Moshi Moshi. “Run Quicker” single was released via Nettwerk in July. A debut album is forthcoming in the U.S. via Nettwerk.

Links:

www.facebook.com/boxedinuk

www.soundcloud.com/boxedin

www.twitter.com/boxedinuk

[Pick up or download the next issue of Under the Radar to read more from our interview with Boxed In.]