Croydon based post rock/post folk/post punk/post everything band, With Stones In His Pockets broke up in 2006, but founding member Rob Tamplin continued writing and singing songs under the same name.

His current set consists of mournful, ironic and complex pop/folk songs augmented with sampled acoustic guitar, ambient sounds and occasional processed beat.

Rob has just completed recording his first E.P., produced by rising singer songwriter Amit Chadda, which he hopes to release online in mid 2008, with a physical release later in the year.

In no more than 25 words, explain what makes you different to what’s out there already…

“I paint pictures using chords, textures and sounds; and try not to be constricted by the limitations of guitar playing or songwriting.”

It’s a wet and windy Tuesday evening in February and you’re on tour. Why should people venture out to come see you?

“They'll get a punchy, exciting and interesting show, full of intelligent music, nice sounds and humorous banter.”

Are you currently holding down other jobs? If so, what are they, and would you recommend them to other aspiring artists in need of cash?

“At the moment I'm not under the thumb of the man, but unfortunately a job is necessary for survival so I'll have to start looking around to keep me in sandwiches and plectrums. I suggest that the ideal POA for any aspiring musician is to get a job in a music shop... then you get a wealth of information, contacts, experience and most importantly, discounted prices.”

You’re on top of a soapbox, telling everyone where you aspire to be in five years time. Where do you aim to be, and what’s your mission statement?

“I predict that in 5 years time first contact will be made with an aggressive race of war-like aliens whose planet has run out of water. Having singled out the Earth as the nearest and best supply of water, they will enslave the human race and put most of us in specially constructed 'water farms'.

“I, and a handful of others, will have escaped this enslavement and formed a travelling 300-piece punk band. Our inspirational music will give the human race a sense of unity and strength, enabling them to rise up against their captors and drive them off of the earth.

“Thankfully, the modifications the alien race will have made to our planet will enable us to pilot it around the cosmos, meeting new species and having laughs, each member of the human race a part of the crew of the good ship mother earth.”

For a bonus point – tell us a joke! You don’t have to, but if you feel the urge…
“Why does Karl Marx only drink herbal tea?
Because proper tea is theft!
Boom boom!”