Original copy for double page spread planning

Double page spread- In 2011 after winning 2 Grammy’s and being voted the UK’s best rock band, Lost At Sea announced that they were taking a break however after two and a half years singer and lead guitarist Matt Harlow tweeted that he would be making his own solo album. And now after half a year the twelve track album is about to be released. We’ve interviewed Matt after a photo-shoot about the album and whether the band will continuing and what his views and experiences were with making the album.

So Matt, what was it like playing live without the band?
Well obviously at first it was strange... I’m usually always relying on James, our drummer to count us in so it was awkward, I suppose without him. Although it just meant I had to really practice hard. I always make sure I put on a really good show, that’s the most important thing to me, making sure the fans have a really good time.

Yeah, of course. So why did you decide to make a solo album without the rest of the band?
Well, it was never my idea to take a break. I always love producing music and playing in front of big crowds and I’d already done nothing for 2 years and even in that time I was still always coming up with ideas so I thought I couldn’t stay at home doing nothing any longer so I just going to the studio and recording.

Ok, that’s very interesting. So how do you think this album compares to the rest of your music with the band?
Well the band always had a certain style and we changed it a bit but we usually ended up producing the same kind of sounds, but I mean without the boys I thought it would be more appropriate if I made something completely different and I’ve always been a fan of old jazz music so as I’m sure you can hear I combined some of that with the traditional rock which I would create with the band and I think it created something really good and also really original.

Great, so what should the fans expect from this new album?
Well they should prepare for something really new, and really different to anything else out there. Overall I’m fairly certain this would get a positive response. I can’t really compare it to the previous songs I made with lost at sea but I personally prefer this style and it really is purely me and my ideas without the influence of the others.

Well I’ve listened to the single and I thought it was great! But is this the only solo album you’ll be making or can we expect more on the way?
  Well although I really am very proud of what I was able to produce by myself and how different I could sound without the others my place really lies with rest of the band you know and I think now we’ve had a long enough break away from each other and I’m sure within the next year or so we’ll come back together and just start making music and playing gigs.

 Oh, so have you arranged to meet up with them again and start writing?
 It’s not like we’ve set a date on it although we all go out together and spend a lot of time with each other. Some of the guys have families to commit to especially Daniel who recently became a father so we have other stuff to be doing but we’re all fairly sure that soon we’ll be back on the road.

Yes, it’s good to know we have there is a future for Lost At Sea. Now tell us a bit about you tour and what we can expect. 
As I’m sure you know the one thing I love to use in a show is a lot of fire and as many stunts to get the crowd as excited and jumpy as I can. I just really want the fans to have an amazing night so obviously that’s something to expect. I also will be coving a couple songs, I won’t reveal which ones yet but we’ve practiced them, I’ve put my own spin on them and I think they sound great and I think in the future I will be hoping to make a studio recording of them and as well as that if it wasn’t enough I will also be performing every song from the album so the fans should expect a really long exciting show with lots of fire and explosions.

Sounds like it going to be great! Is there anywhere you’re specifically looking forward to playing at?
Yes! I’m going to be playing at Wembley stadium! Playing in front of a large crowd really gives you an amazing buzz and it will be the biggest show on the tour. I’m obviously sure the seats won’t sell out but I’m hoping and praying they do because this will be a show I think a lot of people will be talking about for a long time.

Well I already have tickets so I look forward to seeing you there.
Oh really, that’s great I look forward to seeing you too aha, are you on the seated rows or on the ground?

Oh I’m standing on the ground of course, I have to get as close to the action as I can you know. So was this album hard to produce without the others help?
Well I wouldn’t say it was hard but it certainly took longer. Usually we would all come together and Daniel would come up with a riff on guitar or a few chords and then we’d all add things around it and then a tune and lyrics. So I wouldn’t say it was hard like I didn’t get any writers block or I wasn’t ever stuck for ideas but it certainly took longer to create without their input but I am more proud of this than I have been of any other album I’ve created.

 That’s good to hear, well that sums up everything, it was a pleasure meeting you Matt, I look forward to seeing you on the 12th of May at Wembley. 
Thank you, I look forward to seeing you at the show as well.

To book tickets to see Matt Harlow’s live tour go to the website at www.DistortionMagazine/MattHarlowLive.co.uk or to win tickets or for the chance of winning tickets to see the Wembley performance go to our Facebook or Twitter page, fill out the form and you could be seeing Matt perform his new album seated at Wembley. Also to hear about more upcoming events go to our website or subscribe to our magazine.

Plan Sketches For Front Cover and Double Page Spread

 This is my front cover design, I have decided to use one main image of a band member and I put the title of the band in the large name of the band. at the top of the page I have a masthead at the top of the page and a smaller picture in the bottom of the page. The page follows conventions of a magazine with the main image which stands out and then has the adverts and title.

.


 For the double page spread I put one main image of the whole band and then I used boxes for text around the main image. On one hand i think this is a good layout because it includes a large picture surrounded by text which is typical of a magazine although the layout has problems as the picture goes over the line between the two pages. I think i will make a new draft which includes a different layout with the text on one page and then a main image on the other page.