3 years after his band White Eskimo split, Music Production student Marcus Chetwood returned to the stage for the reunion of all reunions: playing as the house band for Peter Crouch's live podcast at the Wembley Arena.
Opening the show and performing throughout, Marcus and White Eskimo entertained the masses with famous covers and crowd pleasers before the headliners Kasabian made their appearance. We spoke to him about the band's journey to this point, his decision to study at Leeds Conservatoire and what's next on the horizon...
Marcus Chetwood (left) with White Eskimo and actress, Jorgie Porter.
Can you tell us about the journey of White Eskimo. When did the band first form, and how did you come to be involved?
The band first formed some time before 2010, originating as a high school band at Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School with original frontman Harry Styles. After Harry’s depart for The X Factor in 2010, drummer Will Sweeny took over as lead singer and his friend Alex Lewis filled in on drums. The band then changed up guitar and bass players many times before settling with myself on guitar and my friend Rob McIntosh on bass. We were the final incarnation of the band and the longest standing version of White Eskimo.
How would you describe your sound?
The sound of the band is best described as if Guns N’ Roses and Oasis had a baby. We're a straight-forward Rock N’ Roll band, but this is not represented by our music online. You have to see us live to witness this. This is a flaw in the band as a brand, not the fault of the band. Due to the band’s connection to Harry Styles, a lot of band managers and producers tried to push us down the pop route.
Since the band’s conceptualisation, how have you evolved as musicians?
We've gotten invaluable, real-life experience being in a band and performing live; experience we simply wouldn’t have gotten anywhere else. We all learnt what it means to understand the other players in the room and how to put on a good show for an audience.
We reached a point in the band where it was impossible for us to have a bad show, and technical difficulties were dealt with as if they were a part of the performance. We didn’t let that get to our heads though. We treated rehearsal like training and rehearsed 4 hours a day, 4 days a week, for 4 years straight. We were a tight unit. A gang. A band of brothers. The band was never something that we did, we lived it.
What has been the most interesting performance opportunity for the band to date?
We’ve done many shows as a band on all different levels, and I think every member has their own idea of what was interesting for them. For me, I think performing at Bedform Proms in the Park as support for Jess Glynne was the performance of a lifetime.
How did the opportunity to support Peter Crouch’s podcast festival come about and what was it like to perform for such a large crowd at Wembley?
We'd previously performed at the first CrouchFest three years ago at the O2 in London. BBC’s Chris Stark who runs the show loved it, describing our performance as a “beautiful chaos”. Chris Stark and Peter Crouch simply had to have us back for CrouchFest round 2 at Wembley.
To play to a sold-out Wembley was a dream come true, and we had a very lively crowd that night. Seeing 12,000 torches shining in the crowd is an indescribable atmosphere that hits you right in the chest. To be reunited was something that needed to happen and was a healing process for members of the band. It was important on many levels and amazing to find that spark in the rehearsal room again. It was a crazy way for it to happen at Wembley and so was something that we had to do.
What made you decide to return to study and why Leeds Conservatoire?
After the band's split, I felt that studying Music Production would be a good progression from the band. I chose Leeds Conservatoire because out of all 5 places I applied to, the Conservatoire forced me to go through the most learning in the application process, so I believed I'd get the most out of their music production course.
What are you most enjoying about the music production course?
I’m most enjoying the studio work. Getting to grips with ProTools, the mixing consoles and the different microphones is the most rewarding part of the degree for me.
What excites you most about the future of White Eskimo?
I’m excited for the re-brand and to do more arena shows at CrouchFest. Just to play with the guys again. We played together for 4 years and all have similar tastes so this chemistry is irreplaceable.
