The music industry is littered with mercurial characters. If nothing else it’s a way of creating a mystique and intrigue around your music and often makes for an entertaining read. Just look at the way NME have been living off soundbites from the Gallagher brothers for the last couple of years. They are journalistic gold. They are good for the industry and make it a more interesting and controversial place. Everyone has an opinion and a preferred brother (Liam for me) as they look to embody that ‘Rock n’ roll’ lifestyle, even if it is a slightly outdated concept. But part of the parcel of being such a controversial character is having the tunes in your pocket to be able to backup your arrogant and quite frankly ‘dick-headed’ behaviour. Axl Rose can afford to turn up an hour late (as annoying as it may be) because he knows full well that he can open with ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ and it will all be ok and fans will still rush to his gigs. This is something however, that Stockport’s wannabe rocker Rory Wynne does not have. A name you’ll only be aware of if you rocked up early at a Blossoms gig. Here’s what happened when I attempted to have a chat with the singer ahead of his support slot at the NME Award show at Exeter’s very own Lemon Grove.
Now is probably a good time to state that there is limited dialogue to call upon when writing this interview. Something that partly comes down to the fact that Wynne was eager to race through my prepared questions like a lap of Silverstone at the British Grand Prix, and also in part due to the unfortunate timing of Blossoms’ sound check that muffles out the very little conversation we manged to have. As an interviewer during my tenure at Exeposé I’ve spoken to a range of acts including Frank Turner, Drenge and The Big Moon and the warning signs were there after the answer to my opening question; ‘How has the tour been so far?’, was a weary “Yeah it’s been alright.” A frank answer which I accepted and put down to interview inexperience given his young age of 18 years, however this was a bluntness that continued for the all too long eight minute duration.
Wynne was eager to race through my prepared questions like a lap of Silverstone at the British Grand Prix
The conversation then moved to his background as an artist and his childhood spent growing up in Stockport. ‘You come from Stockport, not too far from Manchester which has it’s own rich musical history, do you feel that this environment has rubbed off on your music?’ I asked. He pondered before citing “Oasis, the Roses and The Smiths” as some of his favourite bands before exclaiming “the first album I bought was The Script, I used to be into them when I was younger”. Wynne also discussed his interest in frontmen Morrissey and Liam Gallagher, comparing himself to the individuals in a sense that “people seem to have an opinion on me. They either love me or hate me.”
After discussing his desire to release more EPs and in a vague attempt to salvage something interesting from our chat I asked Wynne on his opinion on the guitar solo and whether is it a dying art in music? A fair question giving the inclusion of one in his own track ‘Post Party Confusion’. “I mean Blossoms do guitar solos” he countered, before conceding ‘I know what you mean’. Again, offering little insight into his own musical processes nor that which had come before and particularly inspired him, and is instead persistent in keeping up this fake rock n’ roll persona that sees him scowl and flick his long blonde hair in typical prima donna fashion.
Finally I came to ask Wynne as to where he saw himself and his band in the next five years? A question that prompted one of his most honest answers of the eight minute interview. “I’d just like to finish my debut album and put out some more EPs” he retorted. A moderate answer for a self-assured individual before proclaiming that he’d just like to be “bigger” and do something “like what Blossoms have manged”. A band who he clearly holds in high-esteem, yet is some way off in terms of both genuine charisma and musicality.
“I’d just like to finish my debut album and put out some more EPs”
To be honest, before reading this article I doubt you were aware of Rory Wynne or his music (perhaps you got a fleeting glimpse of his cameo in ITV’s Cold Feet last year). This is the part where I’d usually encourage you to give said artist a listen, but in this case I’d give him a swerve. His songs are average and generic indie rock land-fill, lacking the lyrical wit of Arctic Monkeys and not raucous enough to earn comparisons to Jamie T. A poor-man’s Jake Bugg in a world where Jake Bugg himself is hardly relevant. Put it this way, if Rory Wynne is still alive and well in the industry three years from now I will happily write a 1,000 word think-piece on how I misjudged Wynne and his music. I don’t think I’ll be having many sleepless nights just yet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoDS5l0I6z0
