How would you describe your style of music? STAN play in a variety of styles from acoustic to full band arrangements with folk, pop, rock, and jazz influences. We also like to write lyrics that tell stories. It was said in a magazine review that our lyrics “play like movies”. What would you say are your musical influences? Our musical influences are many and varied from classic British 60s pop, and R & B as typified by the Beatles, Spencer Davies, the Kinks, and Brian Auger, to more modern bands such as Supergrass, and Paul Weller. We also like the jazz of Wes Montgomery, Pat Methany and Jimmy Smith. How did the band form? STAN are a duo comprising Neil Archer and Tim Smith. We were introduced, in October 2003, by a mutual friend Russ Hardy (now our manager) at a football match. We discussed music over a few beers before the game and realised that we had a lot of influences in common and decided to get together for a jam at Neil's studio. From the first session it was clear that we got on both musically and as friends so things developed from there. Which bands have you been in previously? Neil: I was in a few bands in the 60s and 70s Ltd Co, Assorted Noses and Eight Eyes amongst others - some gigged, some never got that far. More recently I have recorded as a solo artist and received some very positive critical reaction in magazines such as Making Music and Blues Matters. I also have a solo web site at www.vitaminic.co.uk from which to date, in excess of 40,000 down loads have been taken, appearing in its top ten chart on many occasions. Tim: I was in a few bands at school but we didn’t have names it was more of an excuse to play together and get drunk! I also joined a band in Chelmsford when I first came down south but I left when it was apparent that they just wanted to be Jimi Hendrix with self indulgent solos! What is your favourite song on your current album and why? Tim: 'The Queens Park' because I like the melody and the lyrics particularly the middle eight section, as the song is about my memories of growing up in Chesterfield. I also like 'Brighton Rock' cos its straight to the point and about my favourite era when the mods and rockers were always invading Brighton. Neil: I have two favourites 'Sybilitude 2' because I’m proud of my Hammond and slide guitar work, and 'Just a Whale Song' cos I think the lyrics say it all in four lines. What type of gig do you most like to play and why? As we are a duo who double and treble up on instruments we have yet to play live for logistical reasons. But we do not rule out live work in the future either by doing and acoustic set, or using other musicians to reproduce our studio arrangements. What’s your fan base like? What group of people would you say you appeal to most? Currently our fan base is developing from our friends to those who have heard us on local radio (we recently got played on local independent radio) and those people worldwide who have down loaded tracks from Neil’s vitaminic site. What is the weirdest thing a fan has ever done/sent to you? Our current fan base comprises friends (most of whom are not weird – as far as we know!) and Internet down loaders who we have never met. But Neil has received quite a few emails in languages he doesn't speak – so they could have said anything!!! Name one unusual fact about each of you. Neil: I worked for a while as an alligator tamer and a roadie for T-Rex is there a connection? Tim: I once had to abseil out of a three storey flat bedroom window on bed sheets tied together anchored to a radiator pipe, cos the door handle on the bedroom door had broken and I was locked in!! If you could record a collaboration with ANYONE – who would it be and why? Tim: Gaz Coombes from Supergrass, and Paul Weller cos they are major influences and I love their music. Neil: Paul, Ringo and George Martin I don’t think I need explain why! What is the band’s ultimate ambition or what’s your dream? Neil: To get signed and gain wider recognition. Tim: To get signed and make enough money to buy a house, also to play live with a full orchestra. Listen to Stan's "Nights in Shining Karma" using the link on the right. Nights in Shining Karma: "An up-tempo rocky number with a line up of organ, bass and drums. The lyrics are about the British Raj in India and Asia." - Stan. | 
