Interview with Ratoon: ‘It’s a fun take on a pretty bad situation you find yourself in romantically’

South Wales-based rock band Ratoon are gearing up to release their next two singles ‘Boys’ and ‘Out on my Feet’.

The band, which formed during the pandemic over social media, comprises Jack Garrett (lead vocals and rhythm guitar), Sam Davies (lead guitar), Matti Huxtable (bass) and Eifion Davies (drums). ‘We were confused for a long time and didn’t know what to call us,’ Huxtable said. ‘We liked ‘ratoon’, it was a ‘word of the day’ meaning ‘stem’, we thought it was a good word!’

Last month (May), they released their infectious, pop punk crowd pleaser, ‘Someone Else’, which grabs you from the hooky chord progression at the start of D, Bm, E and A and rousing, singalong chorus, with Davies’ drumming sweeping you up in it. It’s about suspicion, attachment and miscommunication within a relationship, with the jangly guitar tones and tortured vocals screaming desperation: ‘It’s a fun take on a pretty bad situation you find yourself in romantically,’ Huxtable said. Davies nods: ‘It came together bit by bit, we got some chord structures down, jammed it, and then wrote the lyrics. That’s how we often write our songs.’ Huxtable is laughing: ‘Jack’s not too keen on swearing, if we use a naughty word, he’ll try and change it!’

As the track kicks off: “I wait for a text. To see you next. To smell the perfume on your neck. But all I get is a lame rain check. Am I a regret? You ain’t finished yet.”

On 18 June, they will release a new version of ‘Someone Else’ in Welsh, featuring Davies on lead vocals: ‘It’s got different lyrics,’ he said. ‘There are more syllables in Welsh (laughs), that was a fun few days! It’s the first time I’m singing on one! It’s called ‘Rhywun Arall’, that’s ‘Someone Else’ in Welsh.’

‘The song is our upbeat way of looking at a not nice situation’

For me, ‘My Money’ (2022) is easily one of their best tracks, underpinned by a ska backbone, massively infectious chorus and fantastic vocals from Garrett, punctuated by brilliant trumpet fills from their friend Morgan Rees. ‘He came in and played on it, he also played it at our first live gig,’ Huxtable said. ‘The song is our upbeat way of looking at a not nice situation. Everything is so expensive. We’re the two students in the band trying to keep ourselves afloat. Our managers Ryan and Alex used to be in a ska band, one of them is always saying: “We need trumpets/sax/strings” (laughs), so we try and it and see where it goes, don’t we? We were always set on having the trumpet in there and there’s a bit of sax in ‘Not So Pretty’.’ Davies nods: ‘It’s quite a fave,’ he said. ‘It’s hard getting the right set list, we’re always worrying about it.’ Huxtable agrees: ‘It depends on how melodic we want it to be. At the beginning, the set list was all over the place (laughs). Now, it depends on the venue and how much time we have but we normally leave ‘My Money’ for towards the end.’

Interestingly, Huxtable’s first instrument was the ukulele: ‘I was about 13, it was after getting overly obsessed with Twenty One Pilots! I gradually moved onto guitar and then bass when I realised all the local bands had no bass player. I’d say I’ve been playing bass now for four-ish years.’ Davies got an early introduction to music: ‘I started playing when I was 7 after getting a drum kit for Christmas and seeing ‘We Will Rock You in the West End!’

‘Boys’ is actually one of their oldest songs with a slight Britpop vibe but they want to revamp it: ‘We want to re-record the vocals, Jack had only been with us a week when we recorded it,’ Davies said. Huxtable nods: ‘We’re different as a collective now. ‘Boys’ and ‘Last On The Beef Chain’ feel like a pair. Songs like ‘Not So Pretty Anymore’ and ‘My Money’ are as well, they’re more melodic.’ ‘Not So Pretty Anymore’ marks a change of direction for them, with layers of jangly guitars and reflective lyrics: ‘It’s really about being in love in the past and seeing them again after not having any contact and wondering why were you so hooked on them,’ Huxtable said. Davies agrees: ‘It’s a reflection on what it used to be. It’s our slower song, it’s more chilled.’

Key highlights of 2022 include radio play on BBC Radio Wales and Talk Sport and international internet radio play and prestigious support slots as well as multiple headline shows. Comparisons have been drawn to The Black Keys, The Clash, Suede and Green Day. ‘Alfie Templeman at the Tramshed was our fave to support,’ Davies said. ‘Matti is a mega fan of his and to open for him in such a great venue in Cardiff was such a huge honour. He’s a really nice guy.’

‘I was in the car with him the other day, there were some screamish songs!’

Between them, they bring very different influences to the band: ‘Jack’s into old 60’s stuff,’ Huxtable said. Davies agrees: ‘I’m more into indie rock, Sam likes heavier rock.’ Huxtable laughs: ‘I was in the car with him the other day, there were some screamish songs! We like our emo as well, I don’t know if that comes across in the songs. We are massively into The 1975 and Catfish and the Bottlemen, we’re going to see them in Cardiff. It’ll be my ninth time, that’s commitment! In Cardiff, we really like Papa Jupe’s Taurus Club. They’re post-punky, really cool. We’re Sŵnami fans, they’re Welsh speaking, a bit like Two Door Cinema Club, they’re summery. The Stray Pursuit from Swansea are good.’ Davies nods: ‘And Pentire, we supported them in Cardiff.’

They’ve had some entertaining moments, too: ‘Definitely when we were driving back from our first show in Macclesfield the night after Eifion’s birthday,’ Huxtable said. ‘He struggled in the van all the way home after a pretty rough night from him!’ Davies loves being in the studio: ‘We have our fun when recording, whether it be in the live room or the social side of things. It can be a long process so we make the most out of it!’

Their dream line up would be brilliant: ‘Queen, the original line up, ‘Huxtable said. ‘And The 1975. Billy Joel, I absolutely adore that man.’ Davies adds Foo Fighters: ‘It’ll be interesting with Josh Freese on drums, it’s nice to see them making music again.’ Huxtable interjects: ‘He’s played with some big bands, I think he played Coachella with 100 Gecs!’

If they could got for a pint with anyone, Davies picks Taylor Hawkins: ‘He’s such a big idol for me, he got me into drumming.’ Huxtable picks The 1975 frontman Matt Healey: ‘We’re big fans. He’s apparently going out with Taylor Swift, my girlfriend is such a fan of both of theirs, it’s all she’s talking about (laughs).’ I say they probably won’t last the month and he laughs: ‘Maybe we’ll get some good songs out of it!’

(Photo from left to right: Jack, Sam, Matti and Eifion. Photo credit: Ryan Nicholas.)