Band –
Sian Greenaway – Vocals (SG)
Matt Noble – Guitar (MN)
Dan Burchmore – Bass (DB)
Jake Mason – Drums (JM)
I first saw Alunah years ago when they supported someone I can’t remember. I do know that it was at The Black Heart in Camden, which is about the size of a decent living room and they had a different singer. I honestly thought they were a totally different band after catching their set earlier in the day. The band were gracious enough to allow me some time, so I thank them for that.
First, I wanted a brief history of the band.
JM – We go back to 2006 something like that but this line up with Sian has been for the last five or six years and it’s really taken off. I’ve been in the band the longest although to be fair Dan’s been part of the furniture and Matt’s now been in the band for four years.
I pointed out that the band is different form the time I saw them in Camden.
MN – I played my first gig with Alunah at The Black Heart.
SG – It was just after the restrictions were lifted during COVID. Everyone was sat down, they had tables set out. There were forty people, and it was sold out! We had to change because I don’t play guitar on stage whereas the previous singer did. I would have had to have stand there for a minute and a half – what do I do with my hands? We wanted to be more energetic and have more fun on stage.
DB – It was due to change anyway. We had three albums worth of similar material – you have to progress and bringing Sian really opened things up for us.
Who writes the songs.
SG – Everybody or it’s a combination.
MN – Its very collaborative. Me and Dan will have a riff and Jake will put his spin on it with his rhythms.
DB – Sian does her stuff at home then she brings it in recorded rather than play it in front of us.
SG – The guys will jam and get something going whereas I will do a demo at home.
I wanted to know what their backgrounds are.
JM – Alunah is my first and only band. This will sound awful, but I’ve got no interest in playing with any other band. I’ve doing this for so long and it’s all I want to do. I don’t consider myself a ‘muso’ or ‘a percussionist’ – I play drums in Alunah and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
MN – I have been in other bands, and I was in another band longer than I’ve been in Alunah, then they poached me and now I’m here. I was in a band called Slump who were sludgier and grittier than Alunah so I had to choose which riffs fit which band.
DB – I was in a few bands mainly rock stuff but what I wanted was to play with committed people. I live thirty minutes outside of Birmingham so if I travel to rehearsal, I want everyone else there.
SG – Alunah is my first proper band. I did make a demo with another band which was awful. I sent it to Alunah when they were looking for a new singer and it got me the job. Before I had never really listened to doom. I love bands like Down and Goatsnake but I’d never really got into the UK underground bands. I really like 70’s rock and I can see an easy crossover into stoner. Now I write the lyrics although Matt did write one song, I’ll give him credit for that…’
MN – It’s your domain, so it makes sense because you have to sing the songs.
SG – … These guys haven’t got a clue what I’m singing about until we record. I could be singing about anything. I’ve never taken any singing lessons it’s just my natural thing. One day I thought I’d give it a go and six years later I’m still here.
The album was released last year but what’s the reaction been like.
SG – I think it’s the best one especially where it’s taken us now.
JM – The other records laid the foundation, but this was a definite step up and now we’re building on it.
So, what’s next for Alunah.
SG – We’ve been asked by the record company – Heavy Psych Sounds – to record another record. We’ve started writing and we we’ve got shows coming up. A festival in Croatia in July so after that we’re going to get our heads down and start writing stuff. It’s gonna be tough because the next one has to be better than the last one and that was sooo good! We’re not here to make hits we just do what we do and if anyone wants to come along for the ride then that’s awesome. This will be our third record for Heavy Psych Sounds and they’re like our little family now. I think we’ve found our home so for them to actually ask us for another one is fantastic. They support us but I think it helped that Alunah were an established band. If we hadn’t had been then I think it would have been a lot harder.
I wanted to know how Sian and Matt felt coming into an existing band.
MN – I first met the band after I interviewed them. We stayed in touch then six months later we went into lockdown. I literally had nothing to do but play my guitar – everyday. I learnt the solo from Pantera’s ‘Walk’ and Sian saw it. She asked me to audition for the band so, I sent over some songs within the day. I did three from ‘Violet Hour’ and the rest is history. It’s actually been my very first band touring experience.
SG – I don’t sing the old songs. I have no interest in them. It’s a new band essentially.
DB – We did at the start but that was just to get Sian out there.
JM – We had a tour to finish.
DB – It was really important that we wrote new music with Sian. She was here for six months, and we put out an EP of original material.
JM – We were adamant that were weren’t going to be a cover band by playing the old stuff.
SG – My range is a lot different to the old singer. It felt different because the previous stuff is so doomy.
DB – What’s the point in having Sian’s talent in the band if she’s not actually going to use her voice fully.
The band then gave me their influences.
SG – We all have very different influences, but we don’t copy anything. Matt likes really heavy metal, Jake is a big doom fan and surprisingly loves Michael Bolton.
JM – Michael Bolton to Cannibal Corpse, I’m easily pleased.
I wanted to know if they found writing songs easy.
SG – The last album was so easy. Everything just flowed but I’m struggling to find the sound I really connect to, so I think it’s going to take a bit of time and a bit of working out for me this time. The guys are easy, they love playing together. I’m the difficult one.
JM – As long as we cover ‘How Can We Be Lovers’ I don’t care.
SG – I have all the confidence in us that what we’re going to write will be brilliant.
Are they all professional musicians.
JM – No we all have jobs. I’m an auditor for an advertising company – very boring.
