Landfill – The ‘Solid Gold’ Interview

“Don’t watch the news, stay off your phone and come to a Landfill gig!”

August 2021 saw the release of Landfill’s debut single ‘Mutiny’, a sparky indie-punk anthem for the COVID age, and this Friday the Medway gents are venturing out again with follow-up banger ‘Solid Gold’. Given the opportunity to find a bit more out about the band, Edge of Arcady fired over some interview questions to frontman Aaron Dollimore and he was good enough to bash back some answers. Enjoy!

Hello Landfill, how do we find you today and who exactly are we speaking to?
Hi Edge of Arcady, it’s Aaron from the band. I’m well thank you. It’s 5.30 on a Saturday morning and I’m making the most of my early start.

Your debut single Mutiny was a take down of Brexit and the current government. What do you make of them at the moment?
Mutiny was more a tongue in cheek poke at our current government and its leader, written in the first lockdown two years ago. It wasn’t really a take down of Brexit, just an observation of the absolute shit show they put on for us with the handling of the whole COVID situation. Every time I think the song loses relevance, Boris and Co step up and bring new meaning to the song.

On the topic of current affairs, have you got any views on the current state of the world – Russia, Putin etc etc?
The situation in Ukraine is horrific and unimaginable. Putin is a tyrant, evil personified. What else is there to say? It’s heartbreaking.

What can you tell us about the other tracks on the Mutiny single – Where You Belong and Memory Lane?
Where You Belong is the second song I wrote for Landfill and (like some other landfill songs) is a follow up to a song I wrote as a teenager.
Memory Lane is loosely about an old friend who I hadn’t seen for a while. It didn’t take long to write and I didn’t think it was that good when I finished it.

Your new single, Solid Gold, is a total belter and due for release next Friday, 11th March. Can you tell us a bit more about it?
Solid Gold is another “sequel”. I wrote a not so complimentary song about our band manager and friend, Dean Fragile, when I was 19. Fast forward a few years and Dean is now managing us again. It was only right that we record a follow up. An apology if you like.

Landfill are largely comprised of ex-members of 00s Medway legends Underground Heroes, I believe. What happened with Underground Heroes and how did Landfill form?
Underground Heroes had a great run and accomplished more than we ever set out to, but ran its course. We didn’t want to keep flogging a dead horse and decided to call it a day.
Landfill came about after I played an acoustic gig at the Albion Rooms. I met Jev (bass player) there and his attitude and energy was brilliant. Joe (drummer), George (guitar) and I have played together since UH and regularly meet up and play music. I text Jev to see if he fancied coming along to a Jam and here we are now…. Landfill.

It’s still early days but what are the band’s top moments so far?
We’ve done a few recording sessions at the Albion Rooms in Margate which was great. Such a cool vibe down there and the studio is fucking awesome. As was the food and hospitality. Great place.
Top moment really though was playing our first gig. We’d rehearsed the songs for over a year, but obviously with COVID, was unable to get out and play. We finally played our first gig in Oct last year and was so much better than we imagined. A lively crowd, awesome venue and even had some people singing the words back. That was definitely a highlight.

What are Landfill inspired by? Artists, bands, or anything else?
Anything really. The everyday, real life and current affairs inspire our music I guess. We want to bring back some energy to guitar music again. The world is lacking some new, ballsy guitar bands – can I say ballsy? Maybe gritty. Music wise, we listen to a broad spectrum of artists; Deftones, Jimmy Eat World, The Clash, The Specials, Dave, JME, The Jam, Arctic Monkeys, QOTSA.

What is happening on the Medway music scene at the moment? Are there any new artists from Medway that we should be getting into?
There’s a young blues band called the Zach Schulze Gang that play in Medway a lot. I saw them a few weeks ago and they were incredible. Really talented lads

What plans and goals are in the near and slightly more distant future for the band?
Play more gigs, release more music. That’s about it really.

And finally, have you got an uplifting and motivating message for the world, or at least the Edge of Arcady readership, in these uncertain times?
Don’t watch the news, stay off your phone and come to a Landfill gig!

Landfill’s new single ‘Solid Gold’ is out on Friday 11th March 2022 and we’ll have a review for you ready and raring to go on release day.

If you’re eager to take Aaron’s advice and get yourself down to see the lads at a gig, they’re back playing live. You can see them at the following:

With Kvyle and Eyeful – New Cross Inn, London, on 10th March 2022.
With Tailblock and The Interests – The Ship Inn, Gillingham on Wednesday 16th March 2022 – Free entry.
Supporting Hull legends The Paddingtons on Friday 29th April 2022 at KU Stockton, Stockton-on-Tees. Get your tickets now!