Reasons to be Cheerful in 2021: Document, The Palpitations

By Jon Milton

In the latest in our series of interviews with new and emerging artists about their plans for 2021, I talk to two bands who released their debut EP’s last year.

Document’s first single ‘Pity’ was released just under a year ago and was one of our top 5 tracks of the year. The similarly impressive ‘A Camera Wanders All Night’ EP followed in March, before the pandemic and lockdown abruptly halted their progress.  

The Palpitations released their debut EP ‘Feed the Poor, Eat the Rich’ in June 2020. Given that the band work as Doctors, it will come as no big surprise that their music largely had to take a back seat last year, as they concentrated on saving lives. Not only saving the lives of their patients either – bassist Nishant (who I interviewed below for the band) and his wife also launched a successful crowdfunded campaign to get the government to take accountability and protect NHS workers which resulted in them revoking the Acute Shortages Guidance which previously meant that healthcare workers were encouraged to reuse PPE, thereby significantly increasing the risk of transmission.

Document
    
What were your highlight(s) of 2020?

The biggest highlight for me was finally releasing the EP after what seemed like an eternity of having those songs written and ready to go. In terms of the gigging front, we managed to get in our first show down in London just before this all kicked off, which happened to be a great show. Other than that, I think I speak on behalf of the world when I can say that it was a bleak and restless year that needs to be quickly forgotten about. 

Photo by Phoebe Fox

When can we expect to hear new music from you in 2021, in digital and physical formats?

I would be lying if I said an exact date but we are definitely planning to release more on a regular basis. We have wanted to get in a studio early this year but so far it seems defined by the uncertainty of the times unfortunately.

Pandemic permitting, what gigs have you got lined up?

We have a socially distanced show organised for our debut in Blackpool on the 20th March and the ever changing date of our Manchester Headline. It's now at Night and Day Cafe on the 8th August, fingers crossed everything may have a touch more normality.

Any festival appearances planned?

We currently have nothing planned in terms of festivals but I can safely say we would love to be playing all we can. Nothing screams more of a laugh than getting drunk in a field playing and watching bands.

What are your hopes for the band in 2021?

World domination is always a hope I keep in the back of my mind. Honestly, just to be able to tour around the UK and although increasingly less possible, the EU. I think as a band we want to release more and explore a rather different musical path to bring us away from the old sound and make something completely new. Tragically, at the end of 2020, our drummer Will's dad Rob sadly lost his battle to VEXAS syndrome, a newly discovered disease. There is currently no cure and very little research into the illness, which means many others are suffering in silence. In honour of Rob, who was one of Documents’ number 1 fans from the start, we have decided to release a limited edition t-shirt, which features the lyrics to Rob’s favourite Document song, ‘Pity’. All proceedings will be going straight to Ward 19 at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, who are currently fronting vital research into the VEXAS syndrome.

Link below:

https://everpress.com/document-for-vexas-charity

The Palpitations

What were your highlight(s) of 2020? 

My first child, the cutest baby girl called Radhika, was born in July 2020. She's kept me great company throughout, she's been our beacon of hope. Radhika (meaning: 'seeker of justice') is developing into a really fun and playful human being, after having been pretty boring for the first three months or so (apols if you're reading this in 2049, Radhika, but by your own admission you will admit that between nappy-changing and crying, you weren't great banter).

I have high hopes that her first word will be a swear word. It would be a rare action that makes her mum indescribably angry, while providing me with a laugh that will surely see me through the pandemic. I'm watching plenty of The Thick Of It. Helps broaden her vocabulary...

Also, forcing Matt Hancock to improve PPE for NHS staff was a nice win. I think we saved the lives of NHS staff as a result. 

When can we expect to hear new music from you in 2021, in digital and physical formats? 

We are nearly done recording our next batch of singles - we're ridiculously excited about them. We've been working on these songs for a very, very long time and they are a logical progression of our debut EP, "FEED THE POOR! EAT THE RICH!"

I won't put a timeframe on it, because every time we've made plans in the last twelve months, it's kinda, y'know, well...yeah. My baby's the only thing that actually happened on time for us last year!  

More than just the music, we want to make another batch of The Palpitations' own brand Old Fashioned Hot Sauce'. It was the best thing we did in 2020 (no offence, Radhika).

Pandemic permitting, what gigs have you got lined up?   

As soon as it's safe, we're going to play every single gig. I'm not lying, I mean, every single gig.

Monday night in Basingstoke? Gig Tuesday night in Ware? Gig. Wednesday night in Glasgow? Ok, maybe we'll need to sort logistics out and get a luxury van, ideally with plenty of room for a baby...but we'll make it work.

Any festival appearances planned?

Outdoor gigs have to be the way forward - ventilation is key to reducing transmission, and so I hope there will be a load of open air festivals. Still waiting to hear back from Glastonbury on whether they'll put us on a covid-secure stage - that's a deal-breaker...
 
What are your hopes for the band in 2021? 

My hopes for 2020 were that we would tour Europe. My hopes for 2021 are that we will all soon get vaccinated. I won't be coy about it, I also hope we get more recognition for our hard work - when interviewers like NMS take time to 'get' us, appreciate our blood, sweat and tears, it really gives us a boost. I hope our fans love our new songs. I hope our music reaches more people who love rock music. The more I listen to our demos, one of our next songs is called "Death To Light" and I think it will be a brilliant anthem for when lockdown ends!