Richard Manwaring and 3 Mile Shout Talk New Album, Recording Sessions And More

3 Mile Shout are a new trio to JLTT and they have a new album called ‘Low Battery. Richard Manwaring and his bandmates chatted to us all about the record:

Who is in 3 Mile Shout and what do they play?

Richard Woodfin; Guitar; Fender Stratocaster. Richard Manwaring; Drums, percussion. Richard Hewlett: Fender Jazz bass.

Where and when did you all meet?

Around 2019 Richard Manwaring and Richard Hewlett met at a west London rehearsal studio and later hooked up with Richard Woodfin by responding to his musician profile on Bandmix – speed dating for musicians.

Do you have any favoured stage instruments, effects, pedals etc?

RW: I like my HX Stomp Box at the moment – lots in one little box.

Where is your hometown and could you please describe it in five words?

RM: Portsmouth – First drumkit from Bennets Drums.

RH: London – Almost everything on your doorstep.

RW: Liverpool – Much better than it was.

Your debut album ‘Low Battery’ will be released very soon. How did you want to approach the making of this record?

By writing songs that encompassed all of our musical tastes and influences. We wanted the tracks to have a good groove and incorporate interesting stories or feelings. All the writing is done collaboratively between the three of us, ideas flow this way and that and then seem to get filtered until we are left with the strongest ideas that in turn get worked and refined. Atmosphere is key and I think we achieved that throughout the album.

 Where did you record the album and who produced it?

We wrote first of all at Bell Studios in Acton and after they closed down due to the pandemic, we moved to Bush Studios in Shepherds Bush. Recording all the songs took the same form of tracking at The Grange in Norfolk, engineered by Dave Williams. Then overdubs and mixing at The Last Post in Ealing. Mastered by Jerry Stevenson. Production was by all of us. Recording allows you to look at everything in minute detail and It was the first time we had worked together in such a precise manner. So it took a little bit of adjusting for everyone to feel comfortable with presenting ideas.

Do you have any interesting, funny or memorable stories from the recording sessions?

There have been occasions when a band member’s name has been forgotten despite us all being called Richard, this has been put down to over concentration on the music. Whilst recording at The Grange we couldn’t trace the source of a constant ’ticking’ on Richard’s bass channel. Until we found the pre-Flintstone mobile phone in his shirt pocket!

Who do you have playing and guesting on the album?

Richard Woodfin played guitar, Richard Hewlett played fretless bass and sang most of the vocals and I played drums.

Whenever we felt that a song required a different or better musician we asked friends and friends of friends to sing and play – even members of the family! I’ve known Roger Askew for years and he contributed some wonderful vocals On City Night and When The Tide Comes In as well as some sensitive keyboard work. Basia Bartz played an extremely emotional violin solo on When The Tide Comes In along with Gaby Szabo’s vocals. Pete Dugdale, another great friend played keys and sang backing vocals. He lives in Sydney, Australia so I sent him the stems and he sent back his parts. I’ve known Trevor Vallis since working at Mayfair Studios in the 80’s and he did a great job singing Drivin’ and Fast Train. Holly Harrigan was a dream to work with when recording her ‘angel’ vocals on The Ballad of Wild Billy Drew. She got the idea straight away and was so flexible in her approach. Unfortunately for us, she has decided to now concentrate on other musical aspects. I met sax player James Knight through working with Kirsty MacColl and his contributions on Feeling Good, Don’t Tell Me and the instrumental Low Battery just blew us all away. Wily Bo Walker was very generous with his time and gave Cold To The Bone a real character with his vocals. Saxophonist Roger Philips and guitarist Frank Dunsmuir really lifted Fast Train. Guitarist Paulie Raymond helped write and played guitar on both Don’t Tell Me and Fast Train.

Do you have any plans for live shows in Europe/UK in 2024?

There are no current plans for live shows in Europe as we’re working on the next CD. However, we are very keen on playing live, but as you can hear, the practicalities of presenting a representation of the album are quite significant. Nevertheless, if Neil Young insists on us as a support, we will definitely rise to the challenge!

 How do you look after your voices?

The occasional lozenge and by trying not to talk to any other band members.

 Who are some of your musical influences? Do you have any recommendations?

RM: John Hiatt, Buddy Miller, Lee Roy Parnell, Americana in general, Don Was, Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne

RH: Marcus Miller

RW: Too many – Larry Carlton / Kenny Burrell / Eric Johnson / George Benson / SRV / lots of others

Was it a difficult album to write?

The three of us all have initial ideas that seem to flow at a good rate. So when an idea or theme is put forward our combined creative juices turn the conception into a cohesive song. Sometimes the lyrics will prompt the music and track style, the music will inspire the words. It’s this creativity that makes the whole process so enjoyable.

The ideas flowed very organically and the collective filtering worked well. However, it was a long time between the writing and the final masters. There were some practical aspects which held up the process such as the pandemic, but we definitely wrestled over a few songs. Cold To The Bone was a completely different piece until the rehearsal before recording when we felt it needed a fresh arrangement.

One track on the album is called ‘The Ballad Of Wild Billy Drew’? What was the inspiration/story behind the track?

RH always says that “The inspiration for The Ballad Of Wild Billy Drew came from dreaming of a western movie watched the evening before featuring a belligerent ageing cowboy, my own mortality and possibly eating too much cheese while watching the film before going to bed.”

What makes Richard Manwaring happy and what makes you unhappy?

Apart from the wonderful times with family and friends over a shared meal, I’m usually happiest when I’m in any studio recording, listening to or making music with sympathetic musicians – it goes without saying especially with the other two Richards!

Happy – people listening to our music, creating the best music we can, experiencing the magic that sometimes happens when two ideas collide.

Unhappy – Road works, London traffic, lack of investment in music and arts education, running out of skimmed milk first thing in the morning.

Photo Credit: Supplied By Artist

3 Mile Shout’s new album ‘Low Battery’ will be released in 2024 on Who Said That Records. For more information visit their official website: https://3mileshout.com/