Although ska plays a big part in Random Hand’s music, the British band’s successful blend of punk, metal, and occasionally hiphop, gives it an edge that defies straightforward categorisation.

This probably suits the band only too well as, over the space of 10 or so years, they’ve attracted a sizeable international following, thanks largely to their full-on live performances all over the UK as well as mainland Europe and the US.

A regular presence at various top-flight festivals, Random Hand’s popularity is further supported by a string of acclaimed releases, among them 2009’s much-lauded (and Kerrang- endorsed) Inhale/Exhale and last year’s Seething is Believing albums.

Apart from various headlining tours, the band has also toured with a number of established acts, among them Reel Big Fish, Propagandhi and Voodoo Glow Skulls. Bass player Joe Tilston spoke to us ahead of the band’s performance in Malta on Saturday as part of the Alternative Obsessions official launch event (see article on page 45).

While your sound has a predominant ska element, there’s an interesting mixture of other genres too. Was this eclectic mixture there from the get-go and what inspired you to embrace such a variety of influences?

There was always a varied mix of heavy and light styles; that was the result of putting four individuals all wanting different things from the music we wrote and played. The coherence and dynamics in the mix of those styles is something that very much evolved.

There’s been talk on the internet about the possibility of a fourth wave of ska. First of all, do you see yourselves as part of the third wave of ska and do you think a fourth wave, perhaps even more evolved and embracing more genres is approaching or…

I can safely say that the waves of ska and our place within them isn’t something we’ve really discussed or considered.

The concept and labelling of awave is more a vehicle used by people analysing and explaining a ‘scene’ or musical movement.

Music constantly evolves and there have always been bands pushing to mix things; each generation doing it more than the one before it.

There are already bands that push the envelope in ways we never have or will, but by that same token there are always bands that are going to strive to emulate and preserve what has been done before.

So I think both of the scenarios will play a huge part on whatever happens to ska music.

Lyrically, your songs have a defined political and social angle. How important do you feel has this been to Random Hand’s popularity and what sparked off your inclination to embrace such topics in your music?

The subject matter has always come from things that directly affect us on a regular basis, and we come from a town with a long list of social issues and problems.

Where it could be said we’re political, it was never really the intention and we don’t get on stage to change people’s way of thinking. People have always been given the freedom to look into our messages in their own time.

However, we respect other bands’ intent to influence opinion and beliefs. That was

just never something we felt comfortable trying to do so, although it was an element of our writing and people do embrace the politics of our music, I’m unsure of the effect it has on our popularity.

You’ve clocked up an impressive list of festival appearances alongside some significant names. Did you think the band would get this far when you first started out 10 years ago, and what has the whole experience been like so far?

When we sat down as a group of mates hanging out and decided to start Random Hand, we always said this was the band we got out and did it with. No more just playing to mates at the local, week in week out. We would say yes to everything and play anywhere, and we did. That has been the ethos and approach since day one.

There was always hope of great achievement and we’ve ticked everything we set out to do on the list. The experience has been amazing; we’ve met the greatest people and taken our music to some of the most amazing places to find people who already knew it, which is every band’s dream.

Having served much time on the road over the years, both as headliners as well as supporting established bands, how important has touring been to your career?

Touring has been our career. If we hadn’t played gigs and got on the road we simply wouldn’t be known by anyone. Obviously internet, advertising and shops do help in the spread of music and they have played a huge part in our music getting about, but the act of playing face to face to people is the root of all that the band is.

It’s defined our sound and ability. We were never the types to practise every night of the week or sit at home and play till our fingers bled to get better at what we do. We gained our ability playing in people’s faces.

Three albums and countless live concerts down the line, your absolute favourite Random Hand song and moment are…

Ooh, that is a hard one. The favourite song is always changing; some days you feel you’ve played a song so much that you couldn’t bear to hear it again, and a week later you can’t wait to play it again. At the moment I adore playing Tales of Intervention. It’s got a serious kick and lyrically embodies who we are.

As for the favourite moment, I think it has to be the two times before we played the Reading and Leeds stage. Having grown up seeing our favourite bands play on that stage, to be play-ing on that same stage to more people than some of your idols have is one hell of an experience.

The five minutes before playing were some of the most humbling and nervous moments of my life; seeing a huge crowd waiting and being with three of your best mates, all with the same look in their eyes – a mixture of pure terror and excitement – that feeling will be with me forever.

www.myspace.com/randomhand