dna: artist interview -
the beautiful sinners
Words: The Beautiful Sinners, Cal Risin
Photography: Samuel Edwards, Sam Marvell
We sat down with the beautiful sinners as they reflect on their debut headline, the manchester scene + more.
Following up from their recent headline show in collaboration with PLUSMINUSEQUALS, the Manchester based band continue to make a mark on the underground music scene with their latest single “Goddamn” available on all streaming platforms. We sat down with The Beautiful Sinners to talk about their journey so far and what it means to be an emerging Manchester artist approaching 2023.
Wearing BURBERRY, GIVENCHY, PRADA, BALENCIAGA
Tell us about your first headline show, has this impacted the group in any way?
Cal Risin: Most definitely, in conjunction with the PLUSMINUSEQUALS platform we worked so hard to make the show happen. Working with such tight budgets but trying to ensure the best possible experience is a challenge we enjoyed facing and has proven to everyone (but more importantly to ourselves) that anything is possible if you really believe and put your heart and soul into something.
Retsu: I think that was one of the best days of my life, and our lives. All of us put our heads together to create such a great show. We exceeded our expectations and although it was a long journey, it made us believe anything is possible. If you dream it, you can believe it and make it possible. So my answer to that is we now believe.
Being a fresh, emerging band in such a competitive industry - what would you say is the biggest challenge you have faced so far?
Cal Risin: We have to expect to face challenges everyday, some more substantial than others. I think the biggest one for us so far is maintaining a level of logistics within the group - whatever the scenario we need to improve, we have managed to address the problems that arise and create solutions. I feel this will be an ongoing process as we develop as artist’s and we’re fortunate that we can express this and tackle the situations in a productive way as a band.
Retsu: I think the biggest challenge is getting the music out there to the right audience. We are doing our best to make it happen and I’m sure with the plans we have in place we will conquer that. At the moment we just need to push and keep doing what we do best and I guess the music will do rest with some additional marketing, obviously.. haha.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE AN EMERGING MANCHESTER BAND IN 2022?
Joel: A lot of trials and tribulations; “Ars longa, vita brevis” as Hippocrates said. It’s an interesting time to be an artist I feel, in an age where censors are trying to limit freedom of thought and expression. I think what this often means, is that the only chance people have nowadays to truly subvert this kind of war on their consciousness, is through the expression of their creative skill and imagination. The city carries with it a great musical legacy and a rich cultural heritage; one that I hope The Beautiful Sinners will be assimilated into over time. Manchester has done me proud in so many ways, so I hope to do it proud with the music that we produce.
Victor: It's both a great feeling and a daunting one, great because we live in a city that has a rich musical history and to be a part of this is a source of great pride. Because, anyone who knows anything about setting out to achieve something different knows of the endless obstacles that comes with trying to emerge in a heavily saturated industry. The modest recognition that has come so far has been a welcoming addition but by no means a sign to stop where we are.
IF PEOPLE LISTEN TO YOUR MUSIC AND CAN TAKE AWAY ONE THING, WHAT WOULD YOU HOPE THAT WOULD BE?
Joel: Power lies within you; we are too conditioned and programmed into living someone else’s dream, that we fail to realise anything is possible.
Retsu: They can take away love. The main message we preach is about being your perfect imperfect self. Not caring what people say but you. Love yourself, Love others. Also there are no rules to making good music. Do what make what makes you happy. After all, it’s art and art is subjective, so I hope they learn both of those and finally be inspired - as Joel said, anything is possible.
Victor: I want whoever our music graces to appreciate the chemistry within the band. Our uniqueness comes from mixing our different experiences and sources of inspiration. This creates a unique and individual musical tone, something we pride ourselves on maintaining.
if being in a band has taught you anything, what is the most valuable lesson so far?
Honeyincoffee: The most valuable lesson I think I have learned being in a band so far is just persistence, pure persistence. People nowadays want fame so fast that they don’t realise great things take time, and with great patience, dedication and persistence we can exceed our own expectations exponentially and be the greatest band that we can be.
Retsu: Love man, love each other. Fight for one another and be your brothers keeper, that’s what it has taught me. I’m fighting a war with 5 other dreamers like me and it’s so inspiring and crazy at the same time. Six different entities coming together to become one organism. That’s beautiful, hence the name. There will be highs and for sure there will be lows but as long as we are together, we are unstoppable.
what can the beautiful sinners fans expect to see in the new year?
Honeyincoffee: They can expect a lot. The efforts we have put in over this year have been an amazing precursor of the many more musical endeavours that we hope to conquer within the coming years.
Cal Risin: Next year will be the building on the foundations we have created throughout the past year. This will include more visuals, bigger shows, more music and hopefully some interesting collaborative projects. The future looks bright.