What do you say when you’re asked to join one of your favourite bands?
I’ve been gigging my solo set for about four years now. When I started gigging in my hometown of Lincoln, I knew all about Dancing Lotus. They were (and still are) the heavyweights on Lincoln music scene. I remember the first time I was asked to support them and how crazy it felt to be on the same bill as them. We gigged together many times and became close friends and at the end of last year we decided it was finally time to write a track together. Spend Some Time was born. A feel good, folky pop song that mixes the mellower side of Lotus with my sort of acoustic stuff. The track went to number 1 on the iTunes singer/songwriter charts and a follow up collaboration went to number 18. We decided that it was something we’d definitely do again.
In the summer, I filled in as electric guitarist for the guys, as they were looking for someone. I didn’t want to ask if they wanted me full time as I didn’t really know the situation. So I just kept quiet and did my job. My first gig with them was opening Summer Sundae main stage. Deep end? It was amazing. I was so comfortable playing with them.
We started writing a third collaboration, with me playing tappy stuff on electric and booked some studio time to work on it with aim to release it in the new year. Then, at the end of September, the band approached me asking if I’d become a full time band member.
It was an opportunity too good to be true. To play in a band who’s music you already know and love? To write with some of the most talented musicians you know on a regular basis? It was also a very easy decision to make.
The collaboration studio time was moved to coincide with album studio time and we decided that we’d still release ‘Kings of Men’ as a collaboration track, to signify me joining the band full time. I have now recorded all my guitar parts (electric guitar shock horror!) for the album, along with the collab and cannot wait to get out there playing live with the guys in 2012.
Elliott
Tags: dancing lotus elliott morris summer sundae bbc introducing members