The Mocks have unleashed their debut full-length album onto the world, encapsulating the explosive essence of ’60s influence with their unique sound.

Despite their brief existence, the band has already triumphed on numerous stages across Spain, Germany, France, Belgium, and their native Netherlands, captivating audiences with their electrifying live performances. Producer Arjan Spies has skillfully captured their raw energy on tape in Studio Teepdek, resulting in ‘Do You Want Me Too?,’ a ten-track debut album that traverses stomping garage rhythms and fuzz-laden freakbeat melodies, echoing the influences of legendary Dutch beat bands while maintaining a harmonious vocal balance amidst the relentless guitar and drum onslaught.

“We aimed to create a record that captures that spontaneity and energy”

Could you share with us the story behind the formation of The Mocks? What brought the three of you together musically?

Rens: Tim (the guitarist) already knew Jimi (the drummer) because they lived in two villages close to each other (back then), so musicians knew each other there. But Tim met me in an Irish pub in Amsterdam, and he invited me to come jam. That’s what we did, and then we invited Jimi. Without much talk, we just jammed around and found out we had similar tastes, such as blues stuff like Muddy Waters, 60s blues-inspired stuff like The Stones, John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, Yardbirds, etc. This was just before COVID happened; Jimi was 19, Tim was 20, and I was 26 years old. There was chemistry from moment one, and all three of us are very ambitious people, so we decided to buy the best vintage gear and start a band straight away. From then on, we started discovering a lot of other music and began writing songs that have strong influences, mostly (but not exclusively), from sixties styles like beat, garage, and such.

<a href="https://wapshoowaprecords.bandcamp.com/album/do-you-want-me-too-album">Do You Want Me Too? (album) by The Mocks</a>

Your debut album, ‘Do You Want Me Too?,’ draws from the sound of legendary Dutch beat bands like The Motions and Q65. How did these bands influence your music, and what other artists have inspired your sound?

We were heavily influenced by the raw energy these bands brought, not only live but also in the studio. Their music is direct, in-your-face, and filled with attitude, without hiding behind excessive effects, overproduction, or auto-tune. We aimed to create a record that captures that spontaneity and energy while also incorporating some variety. Although we love writing heavy, fuzzy garage songs, we’re also inspired by elements like movie soundtracks (such as James Bond) and slower tunes with a bit of melodrama.

“The album sounds akin to an original 60s record”

Producer Arjan Spies, known for his work with bands like The Kik and Les Robots, played a significant role in shaping the recording process and the final sound of our album.

Arjan Spies records using an old Tascam cassette tape deck, which we loved for its analog nature and limited 8 tracks. This approach prevented us from getting too fancy in the studio, like using excessive microphones around the drum kit. Additionally, being a big fan of sixties garage music, we knew he would understand the sound we aimed for with our debut album. Consequently, the album sounds akin to an original 60s record; the only digital aspect is the listener’s Spotify app. That’s why we recommend listening to the vinyl record for the optimal experience—the louder, the better!

Can you describe the atmosphere in the studio while recording, and how did you maintain that live feel throughout the process?

It was all pretty low-key. We started every day with a big, strong coffee, took turns going to the toilet, and then just played a song we wanted to record. Sometimes we tried a second or third take, but most of the time we stuck with take one because it captured the energy and spontaneity more effectively. We recorded the drums, bass, and guitar all at the same time and then sang the vocals over the instrumental track afterward.

How do you typically approach writing songs, and what themes or ideas influenced the tracks on ‘Do You Want Me Too?’

Some songs I’ve written alone, then played in front of the band. Tim and Jimi added their parts, and together we made some adjustments, added elements, and so forth. There are also songs that originated from a jam session, which we later refined into structured pieces, with me adding lyrics afterwards.

While we could stick to simple three-chord songs that might still appeal to listeners, we’re always striving to make our music more intricate. We don’t want to rely solely on our energetic performances; instead, we prioritize the quality of songwriting and pay close attention to detail.

The Mocks are praised for their harmonious vocals despite the intense instrumentation. How do you balance vocal arrangements with the heavy, fuzz-filled music?

We didn’t always incorporate many vocal harmonies, but when I used to lead alone, the vocals often got drowned out by all the instrumental madness. Without much thought, we began adding vocal harmonies or singing together the same lead to ensure the vocals stood out more in the mix. It wasn’t a conscious decision; we simply did what sounded pleasing to our ears.

Looking ahead, what are your plans for touring and promoting the album? Are there any particular cities or venues you’re excited to perform in?

In April, we’ll be touring France and Spain for a series of shows. In March 7th, we performed at the legendary Paradiso in Amsterdam, which is always special to us. But touring in Spain is always a joy too; the audience there is less shy about dancing and getting crazy compared to the Dutch. Then during the summer months, we’ll be playing some exciting festival shows in the Netherlands, France, and possibly more.

Are any of you involved in any other bands, or do you have any active side-projects going on at this point?

It seems that everybody nowadays cannot keep their focus on one band, but all three of us are very committed to The Mocks, so we hardly have time for side projects.

Let’s end this interview with some of your favorite albums. Have you found something new lately you would like to recommend to our readers?

Rolling Stones’ ‘Let it Bleed,’ James Brown ‘Live at the Apollo,’ Yardbirds’ ‘Roger the Engineer,’ Aerosmith’s debut album, T. Rex ‘Electric Warrior,’ there are too many to list… I recently have been listening a lot to the debut album of Yes, truly a musical masterpiece.