What do we do when we
aren't designing? 

Have you heard that here at iDEA we have our very own in-house band? If you haven’t, today is your lucky day - you are about to learn all about them.

The band was originally formed during an office lunch in 2012. The story goes that our MD William, looked around the table and said ‘you play guitar, you sing, you play bass… surely there’s a band in that?!’ The rest, as they say, is history. Chris then roped-in his friend, Brian, from a previous ‘crap’ band (who's claim to fame is playing table tennis with Status Quo in-between rehearsals - actually pretty impressive) - and so, the band was born.

Now the band couldn’t be complete without our infamous band manager Nathan Morris, who’s most impressive moment involved him ringing up the bride and groom of a wedding he wasn't technically invited to (the band was playing at the wedding) and getting himself on the guest-list. The man really is the master of persuasion - he even negotiated a 'free'* bar tab for the band.

(*to this day we don't know if it was)

One of the most amazing things about the band is how much money they have raised for Cancer Research over the past 5 years by performing at 'Under The Bridge' at Chelsea Football Club - they are at the current whopping total of £35,000!

If you haven’t seen already, take a look at their instagram @Harryandtheramsdens 

Q&A

How do you choose which songs to cover?

Chris: We all recognise they should be floor filling songs that are fun to dance to and not too difficult to play. The set being really good is the secret with a good mix of songs.

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Who are your musical influences?

Harry: I have a very broad music taste, not a fan of country and western but everything else is up for grabs. Soul mostly.

Chris: Sunshine of your love by Clapton is the first song I learned to to play and I know Harry doesn’t like it so I would say that. My biggest influences in the 80’s were Level 42, I was a massive Mark King fan.

Dave: Rob Dunsford…

Rob: Johnny Marr from The Smiths is my hero in terms of clean guitar sounds which is what I try to bring to the band.

Adrian: Graham Coxon, Noel Gallagher. At the moment I listen to many things, I’m also a big fan of Queen.

What are your future plans?

Harry: We never think too far into the future, it’s more of a friendship thing rather than a job.

Chris: We just do it for the love of doing it. We do it because we all love music, we love the camaraderie of playing in a room together and not taking ourselves too seriously.

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