I recently got the chance to review the recent release by Dog Explosion for Leftlion Magazine and thankfully the man behind the concept-Oliver Lovley, agreed to an interview for the music blog.
Thanks for taking part in the blog Oliver, can you tell us about your musical background, where we might have heard your work before and your music style?
We (Oliver and a stuffed Dog) have been playing at various venues in Nottingham and the Midlands for a while now! We began with the open mic at the sadly missed Maze on Mansfield Road in Nottingham with cover versions of Faith No More, Blancmange and Magazine songs. Then more open mics at The Golden Fleece and Filthy's. Then as a solo act at The Chameleon, JT Soar, The Shed and The Malt Cross. We've also played at Dot to Dot, Hockley Hustle and Lady Bay Festival. Possibly the best way to describe the music is 'electrovocal-industrial-rock' and/or 'post-punk'. We have been described as “Gary Numan meets John Shuttleworth”. We have also been described as “Bloody horrible eighties synth with Boris Johnson rapping over the top of it”. And as “The kinda sound Sleaford Mods would make if they were middle class executives living in 1984 and singing about ulcers caused by their stressful jobs in the city.” (I'm guilty of the last description and it was meant in a GOOOOD way!).
Has lockdown impacted you creatively at all, and how have you coped over the past 12 months?
Lockdown has impacted on us very much, but it was good for 'creativity'. As the lyrics are very important, the songs take a long time to muddle through, so in that respect it worked very well. The creeping desperation of the situation helped enormously because
this is very much appropriate subject matter, but it may not have felt like it at the time of writing! Online performances have helped enormously.
Your latest release album Livin' Life is one of my best listens so far this year, can you tell us the idea or theme behind the project and who's worked with you on it?
Thanks very much! Livin' Life contains older songs and newer songs. They are always a cryptic response to 'life's little situations', often beginning with one theme and finishing in another. We like to try and write lyrics that can be applied to multiple situations.
We're also very lucky on 'Livin' Life' to have been able to include a remix of Garden of Life by Nottingham's Gavino Morretti. This is a song from our debut album 'Dog Explosion' from 2018 on I Own You Records. Livin' Life has been a self-released album on Bandcamp.
Where can folks get to listen to your music?
Thanks for asking!
The website;
Also Dog Explosion Bandcamp:
For the Livin' Life' album and I Own You Records Bandcamp for the Dog
Explosion album;
What's next for you?
We'll be playing at Weird Garden at Bentley's Bar in Lincoln on Friday
23rd July 2021
Then at The Chameleon, Nottingham on August 20th 2021. We plan to be
using a hammer on a drum-pad at both occasions, as well as singing. We
are led to believe toilets will be available at both performances.
Anything else you'd like to add about the project, or a message for
the readers?
“Thank you to all current Dog Explosion fans and Stay lucky!”