“Gaining confidence in myself and dealing with anxiety have been some of my biggest struggles.”
Recalling the atmospheric dream pop of bands including DIIV and Craft Spells, Liverpool based Spinn formed in 2015. We caught up with the Jonny from the band to discuss anxiety, childhood memories and attempts to eat green stuff.
What are you working on at the moment?
At the minute we are doing a load of song writing and demoing, just refilling the old arsenal with new bangers for future reference, we have also got a few tracks ready to release in the next few months but that is all very hush hush haha.
What has been your biggest life challenge so far and what did you do to overcome it?
I think gaining confidence in myself and dealing with anxiety have been some of my biggest struggles.
It’s something I still struggle with. But I have found spending time finding people who you can be yourself around, and just relaxing with them, as well talking through your problems and how you’re feeling really helps me, sorry if that advice is super generic.
What would constitute a ‘perfect’ day for you?
It would have to be sunny, I would wake up at 9 o’clock, make a coffee, eat some peanut butter and banana on toast and listen to some music in the garden. I would probably just relax for a bit, maybe make a sandwich for lunch, then meet my mates in the park and drink a few cans and then go the pub, nail a chippy then if I am feeling it go clubbing. Or if not walk home and watch a film or some Seinfeld with my girlfriend, then sleep. It’s Just rock and roll.
What are you listening to, reading and watching at the moment?
If we’re talking literally I am watching Poland versus Senegal on ITV1 and listening to my mates Keelan and Kieran talk about how their university friends are in London according to Snap-Maps, and reading this interview haha. In general, recently I have been watching loads of cooking programmes, Gordon Ramsey mostly, listening to Pinkshinyultrablast and Fela Kuti. I have also been reading a bit of Bukowski because I’m edgy af.
For what in your life do you feel most grateful?
Without sounding contrived I would probably say my friends and family, or my music, or pasta.
Complete this sentence: “Ace mental health for me means…”
No anxiety, clear thoughts and happiness.
What do you eat to stay healthy?
When I’m on a health kick I cut out drinking alcohol and eating takeaways and try to eat as much green stuff and drink as much water as possible.
Do you have a daily routine of exercise or do you make it up as you go along?
I rely far too much on my metabolism and walking about to stay slim but when I do exercise I go through phases where I get obsessed with whatever it is I am doing that month, This year I’ve had a yoga phase, a running phase, and a circuit training phase. None of them have stuck but I enjoyed them non the less, endorphins, got to love them.
Here at The Mind Map we remember playing football and ‘tag’ – running around the playground everyday and loving it – can you share a similar memory?
Playing out on my street almost every single day as a kid with the squad, shout out Paddy and Molly, who I was always hanging out with.
We used to try and earn money by washing people’s cars, or selling them our sweets the week after Halloween even though it was to the same neighbours who gave us them whilst we were trick or treating.
We had this one guy who used to always give us tangerines instead of sweets, to this day I have no idea why. We used to play loads of football as well but I was always rubbish.
What three songs lift your spirits?
Call on Me – Eric Prydz
Rock DJ – Robbie Williams
Love Me – The 1975
What is your favourite self-help book, or motivational quote?
“There’s something pure and infinite in you, that wants to come out of you, and can come out of no other person on the planet. That’s what you’ve got to share, and that’s as real and important as the fact that you’re alive.
We were able… to somehow protect each other so we could feel that. The world at large, careerism, money, magazines, your parents, other kids, nothing is going to give you that message, necessarily. In fact, most things are going to lead you away from it, sadly, because humanity is really confused at the moment.
But you wouldn’t exist if the universe didn’t need you.
And any time I encounter something beautiful that came out of a human somewhere, that’s them, that’s their own soul. That’s just pure, whatever its physicality is, if the person can play piano, if they can’t play piano, if they’re tone deaf, whatever it is, if it’s pure, it hits you like a sledge-hammer.
It fills up your own soul, it makes you want to cry, it makes you glad you’re alive, it lets you come out of you. And that’s what we need: we desperately need you.”
– Julian Koster of Neutral Milk Hotel”
It is a bit of a lengthy one, but the first time I read it I cried, I think it is really beautiful. Julian is also a brilliant musician so that is pretty cool.
What advice do you offer to friends when they are feeling overwhelmed?
I ask them what they are feeling, then hear them out and then I go from there, I think it is important to know how somebody is feeling before giving advice.
Having been both the one giving advice, and the one feeling overwhelmed, when people are talking at you before you have had a chance to say what is wrong, I think it can make things worse, hopefully that helps.