interview Magic of The Marketplace
Magic of the Marketplace is more of a punk project, these songs are packed with great riffs and melodic energy that will make you reach for the play button again and again.
This collaboration is with the participation of current and former members of Erase Today, Sonic Boom Six, Litterbug, Sick56, and One Way System. Officially released their first mini CD on January 24, 2025, via JSNTGM and Engineer Records.
Alan – Hello punks. Do you consider yourself a band or a project?
Andy Higgins – At the moment it’s probably a bit of both. The main focus at the moment is to get the songs recorded and out there – I’ve got a big backlog of tracks that I have written over the past few years so I’d better get them down before I forget them. So most of the time is in and around the studio rather than gigging.
Alan – When were you formed? And who came up with the idea of putting this formation together?
Andy – I’ve been messing around with a lot of these songs from when I played in Erase Today many years ago. Since then I’ve released a few as Higgins ++ and some with SICK56 and Litterbug. I decided to dedicate some time and focus on getting Magic of the Marketplace together in late 2024 as a vehicle to play and record all these songs I have running around in my head. The formation is coming together through the recording with Nige from SICK56 and the lads from Sonic Boom Six who are all great and far better musicians that I will ever be.
Alan – You currently have a miniCD Jealous Moon out. Are there any more songs in the works? Playing concerts with 4 songs is quite a bit.
Andy – That’s the first release. I think the next release will be called ‘When The Story Ends’ which will include that track and another three or four which I am hoping to get finished off in May .. so if everything goes ok maybe get them released in June / July 2025 ? Don’t worry I have many, many songs so plenty to gig with when the time is right.
Alan – If we were to take the songs separately, how would you describe each one? Musically and lyrically.
Jealous Moon : It’s about the shock of the return of traditional warfare to Europe. The economic and political order had been stable for many years so to an extent it was unexpected … so hope for the best but prepare for the worst.
Smile and Wave : A bit of lightness and darkness in this song. ‘Smile and Wave’ is a catch phrase from the children’s film Madagascar … no matter what’s happening always be polite and engaging to avoid arousing any suspicion and avoid getting into any trouble. It’s also about public shame and not being able to face up to the truth referencing a horrific murder by John List … a banker who lost his job, couldn’t find another one so murdered his family and disappeared – his justification was that without financial support his family would turn away from God and miss heaven – so he was deludedly saving their souls.
Walls : This is about institutions that have an impact on us as young people. Schools, hospitals, offices that evoke memories as though the walls are whispering.
False Relationships : Questioning how strong relationships can ever be and how they break down. If someone chooses not to believe you especially when you are being sincere …. it is not something that can be proven.
Alan – Who is the band? And where did they play before Magic of The Marketplace?
Andy - On this recording there’s Nige from SICK56, One Way System. James and Luke from Sonic Boom Six and me. I play / played in Erase Today, Litterbug and SICK 56.
Alan – I assume you won’t stay with this mini album for long, and you’ll go for a full-length album. How did you get together with David from Engineer Records? And with the other labels? Will you not do an mLP as well? Or will you leave the LP until the next full-length album?
Andy – We would like to release it on vinyl at some stage but ideally as a comparison with a few labels. David and I have been in touch for a couple of years now, I can’t remember exactly how we got in touch … actually it might have been that we were both involved with the Tired Radio album Patterns. I sent a few tracks across I had been working o n and it developed from there. I’m really appreciative he was up for working on me with this release – and hopefully more in the future.
Alan – Don’t you have a video clip in the works? And any funny experiences from filming? Or from touring?
Andy – One of my mate’s (Glenn) has put together a video for Jealous Moon which is on YouTube with the lyrics. I’ve been compiling footage for some of the other songs and trying to get some software so I can compile something. We’ve no footage of the band … we are not that good looking and wouldn’t like to spoil the listening experience.
Alan – You’ve been around for a short time. Where have you already performed your music? Europe – overseas?
Andy – In Germany mainly with Litterbug – Berlin, Hamburg, Munich. In the Czech Republic with SICK56. Luke and James have played all over the place with Sonic Boom Six.
Alan – What else do you have planned for this year? A tour of Europe? A full-length album? Video clips?
Andy - Hopefully all of the above but not sure on the timescales through.
Alan – How are things going with the band at the moment? Is there interest in you for concerts? The mini album was a great success from my point of view.
Andy – Yes the reaction to the album has been positive and there have a been some good reviews. There is some interest in the band playing so hopefully we might get out there later this year. I’m pleased you like it 😊
Alan – Our zine is mainly read by fans/people from the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Do you know these two countries? Do you know any bands from these countries?
Andy – Yes, I played at festival over there with SICK56 quite a few years ago. It was great.
Alan – What would you say is the best that has happened so far, what have you achieved?
Andy - Not a great deal so far – the current EP is all we have to our name so far.
Alan – You have a lot of contacts from previous bands. A world tour in the future?
Andy – Yes, that’s true, it’s a by-product of getting old 😊. A world tour sometime in the future would be great but a lot of things would need to fall into place for that to happen.
Alan – Thanks for the interview, and hopefully we will meet at a festival or concert in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, or Germany. Poland is quite far away from me.
Andy – Yep I do hope so, thanks for the interview and for your interest and good luck with the fanzine.
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