“The first time we drove into New York we were all crammed in a tiny rental car. We came out of the Lincoln Tunnel and ‘You Will Leave a Mark’ was playing on the radio,” A Silent Film vocalist/pianist Robert Stevenson says, recalling hearing his group’s career-opening single scoring a powerful moment of its inaugural 2010 U.S. tour. The Oxford quartet had just released its debut of epic and ambiently anthemic indie rock, The City That Sleeps, on Bieler Bros. Records, a Florida-based indie with an incongruously niche heavy rock profile. Despite the curious association, A Silent Film had an impressive American welcome. The group became the longest charting band on Sirius XM’s Alt 18 Countdown, shifted 200K downloads as iTunes’ Discovery Download, and sold 75K digital singles.
We caught up with A Silent Film before their show TONIGHT at Vinyl!
What is the strangest thing a fan has done for you? or at your show?
We once had an 11 year old fan do interpretive dance right in front of the stage for an entire hour long set. Haunting, compelling and utterly brilliant.
What is the funniest moment you have had as an artist/band so far?
Impossible to answer. Every day on tour has so many bizarre little events that it is too hard to pick one out!
Do you have any pre-show rituals?
Always change your socks
If you could describe your music in one word, what would it be?
Confident
How do you connect with a crowd?
Look them in the eyes and make them feel like this is the best show you’ve ever done
How did you come up with your band name and what does it mean?
We liked the idea that in the absence of words, music can tell the story just like the music would in a Silent Film
What is the best way to write music?
With a truly open mind
Check out A Silent Film Tonight at Vinyl!
