Genuine Panama Interview: “Hopefully the virus does a runner soon”

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Following on from the love and praise they received for their 2019 EP Itchy Teeth, Birmingham-via-Bristol outfit Genuine Panama recently returned to unveil their latest toe-tapping single The Crease.

With its fresh and upbeat aesthetic, reminiscent of Vampire Weekend and Bombay Bicycle Club, the band’s latest effort it that smooth and light-hearted dose of good times we are all looking for right now.

So with the group set to embark on the nation once again, we sat down with them to find out more behind their inspirations and what their plans are for the year ahead.

Hi guys, how are you doing today?

Hiya, not bad… quarantine is doing us wonders.

For those that haven’t heard your music yet, how would you best describe your sound?

We call it indie-funk or indie-soul – we’re kind of a melting pot of brass sections, funk aficionados and twinkly guitar-driven indie. One second you’ll think you’re listening to Vulfpeck, the next you’ll think it’s Little Comets. We like variety and love chucking in surprises – it’s a recipe for bouncy gigs.

You have just released your new single ‘The Crease’. Can you tell us the inspiration behind that release?

I suppose the song is about finding yourself in a dark, crumby crease, unable to connect with life… I think everyone knows what it’s like to be down there – you feel like you’re watching yourself living from a distance, leadened by lack of self, or lack of agency, or lack of purpose, or whatever it might be.

Ultimately, we wrote the song for those moments when you manage, normally through the help of people around you, to climb out of the crease and connect again. Those moments are brilliant, and that’s what we wanted to capture with the instrumental outro – a joyful, slightly manic resolution.

And are you planning to release any more tunes off the back of it?

We’ve got plenty of tunes to finish recording, but might struggle to do so during the COVID-19 lockdown. Hopefully the virus does a runner soon and we can get back to our favoured, less relaxing form of quarantine – driving each other up the wall in a small studio.

Everyone’s plans are up in the air right now, but do you have any live shows coming up that we should be aware of?

We had a tour scheduled for the end of April but of course have had to postpone it – we don’t know when it’ll be just yet, but keep your ears to the ground – we might be joining you at your local venue for the re-opening party!

Finally, what has been your fondest memory since you started this band?

We sold out one of our local venues, The Sunflower Lounge, in Birmingham earlier this year. Other local bands Sriracha People and Melotone were on the bill bringing heaps of funk and soul, everyone was on cracking form, and a full house managed to make things nice and sweaty despite the January weather – unreal vibes. We’re looking forward to more nights like that when we can start gigging again.

Genuine Panama’s latest single The Crease is available to stream and download now. Have a listen to it in the player below.

Listen on Apple Music

Chris Bound

chris bound

Chris bound is a freelance music journalist for Indie Is Not A Genre and editor at Mystic Sons PR, a Music Promotions company based in London.



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