Interview with Gasoline Thrill
What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?
Samara: The melody … I have always been into music. As for playing in bands, I started a band when I was in Uni with some friends, then I moved to the UK and found myself on the dole for 2 months. I had no money to go out. One day, a friend came over and left his old acoustic guitar. I finally had a toy to occupy myself. I picked up the guitar again but was very serious about it this time. I played all day long for 2 months straight and joined a band soon after. If I hadn’t got into playing music, something would have been missing in my life and I would probably be regretting it now.
What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?
Samara: I like to spend time with my family, my 2 kids. I exercise a bit when I can find the time. I also enjoy swimming, going to the beach. The sea makes me feel calm, relaxed, no boundaries. Nature inspires me but I also get my inspiration from the fast-paced life and hustle and bustle of the city. However, it is when I retreat to a quiet space that it all comes together. Listening to new music, bands, new sounds and tones I like inspires me too.
How long has your band been around?
Martha: We started over 10 years ago as an all-girl band called Catfight, we used to tour London and after some time we regrouped, changed the style slightly and became Gasoline Thrill
Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?
Martha: We were always a London-based band, although I have very recently moved to Nice, France to be closer to sunshine and family. London gave us a lot of influences as it has such a good music scene and diverse mix of people. Camden was always a favorite place of ours to hang out, rehearse and of course play gigs.
How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?
Sam: We were originally called Catfight when we were an all-girl- band. Our EP ‘Never go back’ was released under that name. We then wanted to change our name to reflect the new line up. We were starting to hit the road quite a lot and we had that conversation about the price of petrol and how the American word ‘Gasoline’ sounded great. ‘Thrill’ came up to our mind when we tried to describe ourself at that time. We were and still are thrill seekers
Tell me about your most memorable shows.
Samara: We played a gig in Germany at White Trash; it was our first tour outside of the UK and we were buzzing to be there. There was a large backstage area and we got chatting to this guy who seemed friendly and offered to carry some of guitars onto the stage only to realize it was Motorhead’s Phil Campbell! He watched our show and told us he really liked it. That was pretty cool, he is such a
cool dude. The place, the promoter, the staff were awesome.
Playing Rebellion was great too. It was great to have everything done for you before you start your set.
The 3-chord festival was hard to get to. It was an 8-hour drive. We got there 5 min before our stage time! The rest of the band had voted yes to camp on site so I had to go with it. I almost froze to death if it wasn’t for my guardian angel who had told me to bring some whiskey in a flask. I was sipping it all evening to keep warm. As amateur campers that we were, we set up our tent right outside the festival entrance under the light and I hit the top of the tent when I woke up which got us drenched. It wasn’t fun spending the day in wet converse. We then all agreed we wouldn’t be camping after a show again. I am glad we did it though!
What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?
Martha: We have played Rebellion in Blackpool a few times now. It was such a good festival to be part of with so many cool bands and people to hang out with afterwards. LA is still a dream to play, one day we hope too!
If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?
Samara: Opening for Joan Jett, NOFX, The Distillers, Killing Joke, Social Distortion, Hole, Rancid, transplant, Danko Jones. Green Day, Misfits, The Interrupters, Horrorpops, L7, Yearh yeah Yeahs. The Exploited would be great.
What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger self?
Martha: Practise, practice, practice. Be as good, tight as you can …
Samara: …and be prepared to work your arse off for very little (financially) in return lol.
If you could go back in time and give yourselves advice, what would it be?
Samara: Even though I think I appeared to be, I wasn’t very confident when I was a teenager and a very young adult. This kept me from doing some of the things I wanted to do. I wish I had more confidence in myself to do it then rather than later. We raise children differently today and really focus on increasing their self-confidence. Hopefully this will help them do what they want to do without caring so much about what other people might think.
Martha: Don’t be afraid to start a band even if you don’t feel like your competent enough. You will learn more from playing with other people. Plus turning your guitar up loud with a load of distortion will sound much better than it does, quietly in your bedroom at home!
Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?
Samara: That is a hard question. I am happy of most of them and some of them don’t like so much anymore lol
The ones people tend to like the most are the ones that mean to me the most such as Once, Not Afraid, Knock down, Blind, Singing, Let me down, Leeches, Walking on Steel.
Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?
Martha: Singing and Not afraid are always fun to play. Plus a few covers every now and then.
What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?
Martha: It was been a mixture in how we write, many songs have come from jamming together, forming a song then Sam writing the lyrics after. Some have been put together by each of us at home, jammed and then lyrics added after. There’s no set way and everyone has been given freedom to come up with songs and ideas
What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?
Samara: Enjoy yourself, have fun, don’t be afraid, keep going, be yourself, believe in yourself, stay away from what drags or make you down.
Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?
Martha: We are pretty chilled and don’t argue. We meet to get away from life and be creative together.
Samara: We are very grown up and un-ego oriented and that is why we lasted together and that is why it is fun. I have been in bands before where it wasn’t like that and wasn’t fun to be in. That kills your drive. We never argue, we sometimes disagree and we make sure we try to please and respect each other.
What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?
Yes, there is a big surprise coming your way that involves gigs and a tour. Subscribe to our Facebook, Instagram, YouTube to catch the news. In the meantime, watch our new video for our single Once on YouTube and let us know what you think of it