Ents24 are proud to announce that Kal Els Cape are the official winners of our Gig@GuilFest Unsigned Band Competition.
They beat off competition from over two hundred other bands to win a place on the Ents24 Stage at this year's GuilFest.
A melodic indie band based in Hull, their upbeat tunes and summery vibe won over both the voters and the judges.
As winners, they'll be playing on the Ents24 Stage at GuilFest 2007 on Sunday 15th July and will also feature on the very special Ents24 Stage Sounds CD, available free at the festival.
Kal Els Cape
We spoke to Kal Els Cape frontman Shane McMurray to see how he was feeling about winning the competition.
Hi Shane, congratulations on winning Ents24's Unsigned Band Competition! Can you start by telling us a little bit about Kal Els Cape?
Well, we've not been together for a very long time in this set up, it's probably been about four months. We're gigging loads at the moment, we've just got a set together, a half-hour, forty minute set, and have just done a recording. We're just gigging around, trying to build a little web and then build out from that.
What we're trying to do, as opposed to standard indie, is we're trying to write decent songs with lyrics that have some kind of meaning for people, but rather than just doing that, we're trying to put some kind of edge to it as well. We're just trying to do stuff that's probably been done before, but do it a little differently - that's our aim. It's a really song-based kind of thing, as opposed to just trying to get a sound, at the heart of it, there has to be a really good song, and when you've got that good song, whatever you put on top just makes it sound better.
Was winning the competition a big surprise?
Well, it was and it wasn't. We'd been in a band before and we got to a point where we'd got a manager in the US and were getting loads of air play and were getting record companies and agents coming to see us but it just didn't really feel right, but then, as soon as we'd been in this band for a few weeks and got some songs, it was really good. It was going really well and felt like everything was fitting into place. To be honest, I didn't think we would win it, just because of the sheer amount of people who were in it and the talent there - but there was a bit of hope, you know, just 'cause things have been going so well recently.
Kal Els Cape
And are you looking forward to playing at GuilFest?
Yeah, we really are. It's a really good opportunity for us to show people what we're about. We're really happy with what we've got at the moment and it's just about getting it out to people and that's one of the best ways to do it.
What kind of a set can we expect from you?
A relatively positive set. We're trying, for the larger shows, to not have any, like, mid-tempo songs to bring it down, so there'll be quite a lot of energy on stage.
You mentioned earlier about getting your music out to people; as an unsigned band trying to get your music heard, what do you think are the most important things for you to be doing?
The most important thing is to obviously let people know that you exist, via the internet and stuff, and just don't sit back - always be pushing, trying to get more gigs and trying to get your stuff accessible. There's that much stuff, there's that many choices for people, that you need to, like, force yourself into people's living rooms basically.
Would you say that the UK music scene is doing particularly well at the moment?
I was really in touch with it when I was in the band I was in last year, and then, when I did my solo project, I sort of detached myself 'cause I didn't want to be influenced by it - so I couldn't really tell you what's going on in the music scene! I know there's a lot of bands that seem to jump onto the back of bandwagons, and I never think that's a good option because they always disappear as quickly as they come, so we just try and not be bothered if it fits into this box or that box.
Kal Els Cape
And is there a good scene in Hull, your local area?
Yeah there is, yeah. There's loads of bands, and some really good bands, but for some reason, because of its geographical location and because of the history of the place, and the fact that it's so far away from everything, it's hard. But it's good as well because we're not as influenced by everything.
Having won the Ents24 Unsigned Band Competition, do you have anything to say to all the fans who voted for you?
Yeah, I just want to say thanks, you know, we really appreciate it. We don't take anything for granted. When people come up to us at our gigs and say 'That was great', it means a lot. At the end of the day, we want to make music that we like, first and foremost, but after that, when other people like it it's just great.
As a band, what do you hope that the future holds for you?
Well, at the minute, I don't really have any expectations of where we're going to get, because it's a fickle industry, but we just want a chance for people to hear us and if they like us, great, but if they don't, you know, that's also cool. We're just trying to push ourselves, not trying to push, necessarily, towards getting a record deal. If that happens, it'll be amazing, but we'll just keep doing music that we like, and that hopefully, others will like too.
Thanks to all the bands who entered and to everyone who voted. If you're at GuilFest this year, come and check out Kal Els Cape on the Ents24 Stage on Sunday afternoon, or see their listings page here on Ents24 to find out where they're playing next.
