july 2020 - to be or not to be re-release
prime - q&a
Would you please introduce yourself and explain your role in the band?
My name is Lee Heir, the lead singer of Prime (UK Band). Although I have decided we won’t play live again, I am finalising our last ever recordings with Chris D. Bramley who is on lead guitar and backing vocals.
Where did you guys meet and how did you form PRIME?
I originally formed the group as a studio project in 2014, and in 2015 we began doing more live gigs, playing pretty much continuously for the first few years, until late 2019 when I wrapped up the band and decided no more shows.
I formed Prime originally in 2014 as a studio project, and in 2015 we began doing more live shows, playing pretty much continuously for a few years until I wrapped things up on the band just over a year ago and decided we wouldn't play live again. In terms of the current lineup, I saw Chris D Bramley playing solo acoustic and we decided to do a handful of gigs together before embarking on an acoustic tour of Germany and Holland in 2019, which was back to basics for me and lots of fun. He then bought Jon Carter into the group. I bought Stuart Boles along after he replied to an online advert, and we had a great time supporting Chris Helme of Seahorses in our first gig together and I was stupidly drunk onstage and after!
What kind of music do you make or would like to make in the future?
We make rock music with blues, indie and punk influences. Now that the group is over, I want to compose more music for soundtracks and add electronic influences, but still keep the bluesy guitars in there, maybe like Ry Cooder meets Vangelis, who knows!
What do you enjoy the most about the process of making music together?
It’s always satisfying when a germ of an idea becomes a fully formed song, whether it starts off with just vocal and acoustic guitar or a guitar riff and drums. It gives you the same level of satisfaction if it turns out to be a quality song, it doesn’t matter how you get there.
How would you describe your music making process?
in the early days of the band our songs came from jams and me singing nonsense lyrics over the top. it didn't matter to me what the lyrics were to begin with as long as the melodies were strong. I would then develop the lyrics at home, but they didn't usually change too much as I like to keep the stream of consciousness vibe. Fast-forward a few years and when collaborating with our lead guitarist Kieran Hill, we tended to write in a more traditional style, just acoustic guitar with me overdubbing both lyrics and backing vocals and then taking the songs to the band to finish off. I think now it seems to be a mixture of both styles in the last days of Prime (UK Band).
What are some of your favourite themes to explore through your music?
I think realism is key. Be it realistic themes, events or even observations from afar from the outside looking in. On lyrics that come straight from my heart from personal experience I would never sing words that I wouldn’t sing in real life. I would also say that my music has become more autobiographical the older that I get. Maybe that will change in time, who knows.
Who are some artists that you love or who you'd say has had a huge influence on your work?
I love people who put their emotions out there, so Lou Reed, David Bowie and Iggy Pop are huge influences, as are sixties bands like The Kinks, the edgier or more sarcastic tracks of the Stones, and The Byrds.
Where can someone looking for Prime’s music find it?
Look on google or any social media and you’ll find us as ‘PrimeUKBand’, apart from facebook which is @ukprime.
What's your favourite part about touring / doing live performances?
I started to enjoy it less and less over the last few years, which is why I decided to make my future projects purely studio based. That hasn’t always been the case though… Playing live used to be everything, the buzz of playing to a new audience or venue that I’d never been to before.
What kind of message would you like to give your fans, through your music?
There’s no real message, I just hope you enjoy the honesty in the music, the hooks within the songs, and some pretty creative rock music. You’ll enjoy it better if you play it loud!
Where do you guys see yourselves in the future, or what are you future plans for Prime (UK Band)?
My guitarist Chris D Bramley is a fantastic songwriter and I’m sure he will continue to create some very heartfelt music. His ballads especially have lots of passion to them. I don’t see any future for Prime though, this part of my life with my first real band is over, and all that’s left is some decent music. That’s enough for me and will do nicely.
My name is Lee Heir, the lead singer of Prime (UK Band). Although I have decided we won’t play live again, I am finalising our last ever recordings with Chris D. Bramley who is on lead guitar and backing vocals.
Where did you guys meet and how did you form PRIME?
I originally formed the group as a studio project in 2014, and in 2015 we began doing more live gigs, playing pretty much continuously for the first few years, until late 2019 when I wrapped up the band and decided no more shows.
I formed Prime originally in 2014 as a studio project, and in 2015 we began doing more live shows, playing pretty much continuously for a few years until I wrapped things up on the band just over a year ago and decided we wouldn't play live again. In terms of the current lineup, I saw Chris D Bramley playing solo acoustic and we decided to do a handful of gigs together before embarking on an acoustic tour of Germany and Holland in 2019, which was back to basics for me and lots of fun. He then bought Jon Carter into the group. I bought Stuart Boles along after he replied to an online advert, and we had a great time supporting Chris Helme of Seahorses in our first gig together and I was stupidly drunk onstage and after!
What kind of music do you make or would like to make in the future?
We make rock music with blues, indie and punk influences. Now that the group is over, I want to compose more music for soundtracks and add electronic influences, but still keep the bluesy guitars in there, maybe like Ry Cooder meets Vangelis, who knows!
What do you enjoy the most about the process of making music together?
It’s always satisfying when a germ of an idea becomes a fully formed song, whether it starts off with just vocal and acoustic guitar or a guitar riff and drums. It gives you the same level of satisfaction if it turns out to be a quality song, it doesn’t matter how you get there.
How would you describe your music making process?
in the early days of the band our songs came from jams and me singing nonsense lyrics over the top. it didn't matter to me what the lyrics were to begin with as long as the melodies were strong. I would then develop the lyrics at home, but they didn't usually change too much as I like to keep the stream of consciousness vibe. Fast-forward a few years and when collaborating with our lead guitarist Kieran Hill, we tended to write in a more traditional style, just acoustic guitar with me overdubbing both lyrics and backing vocals and then taking the songs to the band to finish off. I think now it seems to be a mixture of both styles in the last days of Prime (UK Band).
What are some of your favourite themes to explore through your music?
I think realism is key. Be it realistic themes, events or even observations from afar from the outside looking in. On lyrics that come straight from my heart from personal experience I would never sing words that I wouldn’t sing in real life. I would also say that my music has become more autobiographical the older that I get. Maybe that will change in time, who knows.
Who are some artists that you love or who you'd say has had a huge influence on your work?
I love people who put their emotions out there, so Lou Reed, David Bowie and Iggy Pop are huge influences, as are sixties bands like The Kinks, the edgier or more sarcastic tracks of the Stones, and The Byrds.
Where can someone looking for Prime’s music find it?
Look on google or any social media and you’ll find us as ‘PrimeUKBand’, apart from facebook which is @ukprime.
What's your favourite part about touring / doing live performances?
I started to enjoy it less and less over the last few years, which is why I decided to make my future projects purely studio based. That hasn’t always been the case though… Playing live used to be everything, the buzz of playing to a new audience or venue that I’d never been to before.
What kind of message would you like to give your fans, through your music?
There’s no real message, I just hope you enjoy the honesty in the music, the hooks within the songs, and some pretty creative rock music. You’ll enjoy it better if you play it loud!
Where do you guys see yourselves in the future, or what are you future plans for Prime (UK Band)?
My guitarist Chris D Bramley is a fantastic songwriter and I’m sure he will continue to create some very heartfelt music. His ballads especially have lots of passion to them. I don’t see any future for Prime though, this part of my life with my first real band is over, and all that’s left is some decent music. That’s enough for me and will do nicely.
music Videos featured in 'art/facts'
IN SUMMER TRACK 1
BYE BYE track 2
BYE BYE (DADD Remix) tRACK 13
I.O.U. tRACK 4 (from i.o.u. ep)
teen TV tRACK 15 (live at o2 leicester)
art/facts Short press release may 2020:
Prime are an explosive band from the east midlands, uk.
DESCRIBED BY THE NUSIC WEBSITE AS "ONE OF THE BEST LIVE BANDS" IN THE AREA AND BY NOTTS TV’S MARK DEL AS “A BAND YOU MUST SEE LIVE IF LIFE OFFERS YOU THE CHANCE… LEAD SINGER LEE IS AS COMPELLING A FRONT MAN AS YOU WILL SEE”, they supported Electric Six at the o2 Academy in Sheffield, and Britpop classics Space and Dodgy, and Their debut single ‘To Be Or Not To Be’ was featured on Christian Carlisle’s BBC Sheffield radio programme, described by the host as “a great track.” Prime are a band that were rebellious and entertaining in equal measures.
singer and founder member lee heir decided to break up the band on the eve of 2020. their final show was in front of 700 people at the winding wheel, a listed hall in chesterfield, derbyshire. they are currently finishing final recordings at ratcat studios, nottingham, before embarking on new projects.
Press / Radio Quotes About Prime:
"Can I just say, wow...
(a) kick up the arse... kicking off strong with some loud guitar and vocals, you’re hooked from the first chord... the song is raw and exciting." - David Crouch, Reyt Good Music Sheffield ON 'BYE BYE'
"Their sound is a tantalising concoction of heavy riffs, powerful drums and socially acute if not slightly anarchic lyrics. Brash and bold, a great energy live." - Anna Butler, NUSIC
"The Notts rockers (use) a melting pot of influences from a cross section of Brit pioneers (AND) the indistinguishable flamboyance of front man Lee Heir with his infectious vocals" - Jack Garofalo, Wordplay / Left Lion
External Links / Photos 2018:
Prime Facebook
Full band live
Lead vocalist Lee Heir live
Prime Logo
Longer more detailed history/press release (click here).