We bumped into Bastila in Ventnor’s Volly a little while back, just after they’d finished their photoshoot with Island photographer, Julian Winslow.
They were sitting around having a pint with Julian Peck from their record label, Sunday Best, chatting about what the next stages were going to be.
Bastila: The Album
The big excitement was their newly-finished self-titled debut album that should be coming out toward the end of May.
Adam, Bastila’s guitarist, dropped a pre-release version of the album over to VB towers recently which has had us tapping our toes all afternoon.
The Bastila album still reflects their original style and is a leap forward for them. They’ve really benefited from have professional studio time and the guidance of a producer.
They told VB that the best part of last year was tied up with getting the album finished both in a rural studio in Oxford and at Mark Gardener’s home studio (their producer), mixing it.
Why did they make the decision to record it off the Island? As Adam said, “We wanted to get off the Island. Get away. Go somewhere we didn’t know and work hard,” with singer Chris adding, “It could have stunted our creativity if we’d have stayed on the Island, because we’re just so used to it.”
Those 12 hour days in a studio on a farm in Oxford certainly paid off.
If you can’t wait for the album, the first single, The Slacker — a new take on the version you might have heard them play out — is due at the start of April.
A bit of Bastila history
It’s great to see Island bands succeed. Bastila have come a long way since we first mentioned them back in April 2006.
A big step forward for the band was them winning the 2006 Bestival Band competition where they came to the attention of Rob Da Bank, founder of the Sunday Best label.
Playing Ryde Theatre On Saturday
Bastila will be joining other Sunday Best bands when they play the Fabulous Charity Fund Raiser at Ryde Theatre this Saturday.
If you can’t quite get enough of them, Bastila are also down to play Camp Bestival and Bestival this year.
Have a listen to the lads telling it in their own words … [audio:http://otw-audio.s3.amazonaws.com/Bastila-Volly-Interview-Feb-09.mp3]
Bastila band shot (by Julian Winslow)
From L to R – Chris Turvey – Vocals; Kevin Ledger – Trumpet; Patrick Dignan – Drums; Adam Clark – Guitars
