The One is one of the many musical projects of Mr Joe Ryan, who also plays in Fair Ohs and High Hopes. I have known Joe for quite some time now and not only he’s an excellent drummer and musician, but also an awesome guy. His knowledge of the English slang is quite extraordinary as well.
The One have just released a new EP via 24th Century Records (listen HERE!) and will be playing for us next Monday 18th June at The Old Blue Last (supporting the one and only Javiera Mena!) so we thought we’d send Joe some silly questions so that everyone gets to know them a bit better.
Who are you and what do you do?
We are The One. We make electronic soul music heavily inspired by all the great soul artists of the 80s like Alexander O’Neal, Paul Laurence, SOS Band, Kashif, Kleer, the System etc I am Joe and I write the music and Emeson sings. My brother Sam plays guitar for us live when he’s not playing for Tom Vek or doing his own stuff. He is very good. We have very similar musical tastes.
What is your favourite song right now?
Precious Box by George Michael. I think the last 2 albums he did are his best (Older and Patience). He’s got a lot of soul and darkness in him that he manages to sneak into the mainstream. The lyrics are so good in this track. It’s just full of lines that pop out and intrigue. My favorite being “you look so fine in your Gucci suit and you’re making more money than your daddy could have imagined. But people can go out of fashion. Any time”. Ouch! I think he’s had a lot of negative press about things that are nothing to do with his music and none of our business.I wish that he’d put out some music and put people to shame. Show us how it’s done again. I’d love to make some music with him. Also, as this song is about 8 years old and I’m sounding like someone on a nostalgia trip, I am listening to Neptune by Lemonade a lot. That song was released this year.
What’s your favourite make out song?
Gonna need more than one song for that sort of thing. But I would kick it off with The Morning After by Alexander O’Neal. It’s pure ear candy and I like the sentiment. About knowing you’ve woken up with right person.
What was the last movie you cried to?
I don’t cry at films for some reason. However, Barney’s Version made me feel a certain way and Despicable Me had me crying with laughter.
If you could be a character from a book, who would you be?
James Brown in the Biography of James Brown. Although he had a lot of hardships, he turned it around. I like his work ethic. Even when he was on the road he’d find time to get into the studio with the band and bosh out some belters. I wouldn’t really want to be anyone in the fiction I read. All the characters in those books are a in a bit of a pickle really. I’m sick of pickles!
If you could chose anyone in the world to join your band, who would that be?
Jam and Lewis ofcourse. They are one mind living in two bodies.
If you had all the money in the world, what would you do/buy?
Make David Cameron f*ck a pig!
