Hailing from England, Ireland and Canada another of Glasgow’s adopted bands look set to hit it big.
Look up in the sky! Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No it’s Zoey Van Goey! The Glasgow based folk rocking sensation that’s taking the music scene by a storm. Like Clark Kent and Peter Parker, Kim, Matt and Michael John of Zoey Van Goey also have their secret identities. Donning their instruments at night Zoey Van Goey turns from average Joe day job to Superheroes on stage.
The folk rocking trio consists of Kim on viola and vocals, Matt on drums and vocals and Michael John on guitar and backing vocals though the setup is never really the same, with a great amount of skill the trio switch instruments regularly on stage to accompany their quirky style of music. Zoey Van Goey formed in 2006 when Michael John met Matt randomly in the street on St Patricks Day, and Michael John happened to mention that he was in need of a drummer for the project he and Kim –whom he met at Glasgow University in 2004-, were starting. Next day Matt turned up for a rehearsal and Zoey Van Goey were off on the start of a whirlwind adventure.
Not much has changed since Zoey Van Goey first formed; the line up is still very much the same, with the same three founding members. Yet the writing process has changed slightly: in the beginning each member would write an individual song then the others would learn it. Now song writing is a combined effort with each of the Zoey’s influence being added to each song; which gives Zoey Van Goey their unique style which is quickly becoming known throughout the UK.
Kim, Matt and Michael John have also kept some semblances of a normal life. Each of them has kept their daily jobs and routines, Kim works for BAFTA Scotland as an administrator, Matt is a full time researcher working on a project studying the history of live music in Scotland and Michael John is a freelance musician, who is involved in making music for theatres and working with young people. Though it must be difficult to try to break through and be successful in the music business while still having to go about your everyday lives Zoey Van Goey seem to have managed it, although humility wins through when they are asked about how they have managed: “Successful is a relative term!” says Michael John “While we’ve been able to break even playing gigs over the past year none of us actually earn an income from the band. But the more we play the more time the band demands so striking a balance between being in Zoey Van Goey and paying the rent can be difficult!”
Zoey Van Goey are involved a lot with bands and young musicians. Over the past year Michael John has been involved in an experimental after school project in Govan High School. For one night after school each week Michael John worked with a group of young musicians and helped them with song writing and arrangement of songs to encourage them to form a band. This project was successful and a five piece band, Badly Put Together was formed out of Govan High School. With the help of Michael John and Zoey Van Goey, Badly Put Together have played gigs in Glasgow venues including Stereo and had their first ever gig supporting Zoey Van Goey themselves. Michael John has applied for more funding to start up these after school schemes in more schools across Glasgow. Zoey Van Goey also regularly try to arrange Over 14’s gigs in Glasgow to encourage younger people to come and listen to the music, and they also try to use young local bands to support their gigs to get them started out on the music scene and get them recognised. When asked if they would continue their work with youths if they became more successful Michael John replied, “Definitely! Working with young people has been one of the most rewarding aspects of being a “full-time” musician over the past year.”
Since forming in 2006 Zoey Van Goey have become increasingly more successful. Recently being signed by local record label Say Dirty Records (UK). Their debut single “Foxtrot Vandals” which was launched on 13th October 2008 was produced by Stuart Murdoch of Belle and Sebastian. The debut album –The Cage Was Unlocked All Along- was released in May 2009 and was produced by Zoey Van Goey’s own label. Zoey Van Goey are still rather awed by their own success “The past year, in terms of playing all the festivals and recording an album in Chem 19, has exceeded any expectations we might have had starting off the in the band in 2006.”
After playing alongside the likes of R.E.M, Sigur Ross, Frightened Rabbit and We Were Promised Jetpacks in a plethora of summer festivals, as well as making their first music video for the amazing single “Sweethearts in Disguise” starring Bob the Skeleton as well as the awesome debut album many people may be wondering what’s next for Zoey Van Goey. More songs, CD’s, gigs…? Michael John answered the question that’s been on all of our lips with a succinct, “Write the next one!” So for now it seems like there’s no stopping the Zoey Van Goey freight train, and I for one am not complaining.
The rise and rise of the working heroes Zoey Van Goey proves to your everyday people that you don’t have to have superpowers to be superheroes on stage. Kim, Matt and Michael John aren’t the man of steel nor do they have spidey senses but that’s what makes them special, they inspire ordinary people to go out and do what they’ve always wanted to.
Hear more from Zoey Van Goey on their Myspace http://www.myspace.com/zoeyvangoey
