Milestones – The Highwire Daze Legacy Interviews

Milestones – The Highwire Daze Legacy Interviews

Joining The Milestones Movement

Originally Posted: April 18, 2015

From their original press release: Averaging an age of just 18 (17 when they wrote and recorded Equal Measures in 2014, with former Bring Me The Horizon / now All Time Low sound guy Phil Gornell), Milestones – comprised of vocalist Matt Clarke,  guitarist Andy Procter, bassist Mark Threlfall and drummer Andy Makin – have meticulously constructed five songs that positively belie their young age and relative inexperience; Equal Measures is the glorious, compelling sound of raw, natural talent put to the test, tracks such as the title track and anthemic single ‘Nothing Left’ offering up simple but soaring melodies that tingle the nape of your neck and leave you totally hooked.

Introduce yourself, tell me what you do in Milestones and how long the band has been together.
My name is Mark, and I play bass in Milestones. We’ve been together as a band since roughly June of 2014 (hidden away writing material), and we’ve been out in the open since December 2014.

Where is the band based out of and what is your local music scene like there?
We’re based out of Manchester UK, and the local music scene is going strong. It’s becoming a lot more of a regular thing to attend a local show and to see a room looking packed as opposed to seeing it completely empty, which is always good. Then you have the likes of Pinky Swear Records Festival which is allowing smaller UK bands like ourselves, and our mates in Waster etc, to have the chance of playing with some of the biggest names in the pop punk scene.

Is there any story or concept behind the EP title Equal Measures?
Equal Measures is about trying to find that balance in your life. At 17 years old, so many things are changing and to get the correct balance, the equal measures that keep you stable it’s so hard. Equal Measures is a thing that all teenagers want to achieve, stability, but all the things going on at that period of your life make you unstable and thus unhappy, lost and feeling alone at the same time – the themes of the EP.

Select two songs from title Equal Measures and what inspired lyrics
A: Sleepless Nights Are Put To Bed:
This song was intentionally put at the end of the record as it allowed a conclusion to the major theme of the EP; losing love. As shown in the title, this comes from a final “goodbye” to the heartache I felt and the closing of the doors to potential grief caused by that one person. It was closure with a massive 2 fingers in the air. Of course, I’m not bitter anymore haha!

Counterweight:
Counterweight is probably the most relatable for most people of teenage years. It follows the concept of trying to find your way home, but not quite knowing what or where home is. Counterweight allows for a belief that you will always come back again, no matter how unstable you become. There will always be something counter weighting your failures which allows you to come home again.

Who did the cover art for Equal Measures and how much input did you have on it
As you can probably see by some of these answers, we had all input on what the EP would come out as. All aspects are represented to losing your home and your security. It’s about being lost and about no longer holding onto the things you thought yesterday promised. This is why the artwork shows a guy leaving home and entering the woods. Not knowing where he’s going but knowing he can’t stay anymore.

What was it like working with Phil Gornell (former Bring Me The Horizon / now All Time Low sound guy) and what did he contribute overall to the band?
Working with Phil was amazing and we’re very privileged to have worked with him. He contributed to the band and this record in so many ways, I personally feel like he brought the best out of us in the recording process and has got the EP sounding the best that it can, we’re all extremely happy with what he has done with it!

What could one expect from a live Milestones show in 2015?
Loads of spins, jumps, and fun. We try our best to make sure that everybody in the room watching us has the best time possible, come see us live and find out what we’re all about!

If you could open up for any band or artist either now or from the past, who would it be?
For me personally, I’d go with somebody like You Me At Six, A Day To Remember etc. They’re absolute giants in the scene and they’re the bands who we take a lot of influence from, but that’s just me!

The Queen Of England invites Milestones to play one song for her at a Royal Command Performance? What song would you play her Majesty and guests and why?
It’s got to be the Cha-Cha Slide because all our songs are terrible in comparison.

Any chance Milestones will head over to the States for a few shows or a tour?
There’s always a possibility in the future! We’d absolutely love to come over and play some shows in the States!

Whats up next for Milestones?
We’ll be playing Pinky Swear Records Festival (Manchester) and Fury Festival (Liverpool) in May alongside Man Overboard, Moose Blood, Boston Manor, ROAM, Trash Boat, Waster etc and we’ll also be appearing at Empire Fest (Sheffield) with ROAM, Trash Boat, Six Time Champion and many more! Keep updated via our Facebook/Twitter so you know what’s up next for us!

Any final words of wisdom?
#Milestonesmovement.

Editor’s Note:  Milestones would soon sign to Fearless Records and re-release Equal Measures there.

Milestones on Facebook