If there is one unsigned band who belongs at Reading and Leed's this year, it is this band.
Earlier
this month I caught up with the band to talk about influences,
favourite tracks and what's next for this breaking-out arena-ready
band.
The pop-punk-alt-rock scene in the UK is reviving itself. Although over the last few years we have lost Blitz Kids, Canterbury and just last month we lost Funeral For A Friend. We have gained bands such as Creeper, Nothing But Thieves, Neck Deep, Don Brocco and Mallory Knox who are touring with and taking on the UK scene giants, such as You Me At Six, Young Guns and Bring Me The Horizon.
Adding to this wave of new pop-punk-alt-rock music is Alicewell. Made up of Jonatan, Robert, Lukas and Kim, Alicewell formed in 2013 and are on track to conquering the world.
SBLM
– Bands like yourselves really interest me because your at the
point in your career where you don't know what will come next. Your
before the point where your on constant arena tours but your past the
time where you have three people turning up to live shows. With any
band I ever talk to I always, always ask the same two questions
because no one will ever answer with the same response, which is part
of the beauty of being individual people. So, Alicewell, why did you
decide to start making music together and what does your band name
mean (if anything).
"When we started this band and
thought about band names, Jonatan had the name All Is Well as an
idea. The influence behind it is a painting Jonatan's tattoo artist
made at that time. However, Robert and Lukas liked the name but
didn't really get the feeling from it. So it became Alicewell, still
with the same meaning behind it.
I
think we all have that dream to stand in front of thousands of
people, and to get the chance to do something we really love. Music
is a big part of all of us so we wouldn’t let it go for anything.
It's something that has been close to our hearts since we were
teens.”
SBLM
– Who inspires you as a band, from your teenage years till now, and
do you think it shows in your music ?
“The
bands that really were an inspiration to us were Paramore, Deaf
Havana and You Me At Six. I think it shows in our music, but as every
band you evolve your music and walk your own path, and I think we've
done that in our latest release, the Young Hearts EP.”
SBLM – The EP brings your released songs total to 14 which really seem to define your sound as your own and different from other bands who at first glance seem quiet similar. Where other bands stick to one specific sound, you seem to dive into every sound there is and you make it work so well. It has its uplifting choruses in tracks like Somewhere to Belong and intros which build up to the anticlimactic calm in Wounds. Already its anthemic and like I said earlier, it belongs in festivals such as Reading and Leeds. How would you yourselves describe Alicewell' sound ?
"We've
tried to put a finger to it, and I think the best way to describe our
sound would be to call it arena rock.”
SBLM
– First time anyone has ever said 'arena rock' as an answer. What
do you think you will prefer to play, the huge festival stages or the
smaller intimate shows ?
"Probably
both? If we become a big band we'd definitely like to have smaller
shows as well to get close to our fans. However, Warped Tour is a
dream because it's probably the most ultimate tour there is.”
SBLM
- I think everyone wants to play Warped Tour but I don't blame you.
Warped always looks incredible and the line up is unbelievable year
upon year. You say playing Warped Tour is a dream, so what would be
your ideal live show ?
"Perhaps
a big festival where we play along with You me at six, Deaf Havana,
Paramore, Bring me the horizon, Lower than Atlantis, All time low,
Billy talent, Don Broco - you get it. The list can be even longer.
Would be so awesome to play with those bands because they have such
great live shows.”
SBLM
– So far, what has been the best thing to happen to you at a gig
and what has been your favourite live date so far ?
"It
was at a gig in Haarlem, Holland. A band called 'Lights Out' whom we
played with gave us a gift basket with all different kinda stuff from
Holland. They gave so much love and appreciation to us for coming
there, so we definitely have to go back there sometime.
The
best show must have been in Camden, London. It was the first show on
our UK tour and the people there where so awesome and we got the best
response at that show.”
SBLM
- What can we expect from Alicewell this year ?
"We
are planning a new album along with tours. We're in the making of
writing music right now so no dates are set yet but a lot of stuff
will pop in the summer/fall.”
SBLM – Hopefully it'll include tour which visits Glasgow this year ? For those lucky enough to see you in the coming future, what can they expect ?
"They
can expect a good live performance, energetic and powerful. We really
appreciate that people take their time to come see us so the least we
can to is to leave a mark in peoples memory."
SBLM
– Hopefully there’s new music on the way from yourselves which
will become peoples favourites. At the moment, what are your
favourite albums ?
“Wow,
so many. At the moment, though, we'd probably have to say That's The
Spirit by Bring Me The Horizon, or Lower Than Atlantis's self-titled
album. But me myself (Jonatan) also like the heavier stuff and have
been listening to Dear Youth by The Ghost Inside a lot too.”
SBLM
– Are there any bands which you have met through touring or social
media who you think are going to be big ?
“Alive
Again are our Dutch pals who we met through touring who are going
places. Extremely humble and nice guys, who do some great music as
well.”
SBLM - What are five words to describe Alicewell off the top of your head ?
“Tough, funny - All Is Well.”
SBLM
– Last but not least, if you could only listen to three songs for
the rest of your life what would they be ?
Kim -
Stevie
Wonder - Superstitions
Lower
Than Atlantis – Criminal
Bring
me the horizon - Happy Song
Jonatan
-
Francesqa
- All I Had
Jimmy Eat World - 23
Jimmy Eat World - 23
Lower Than Atlantis - English Kids In America
Lukas -
John Mayer - Belief
Adele - Set Fire To The Rain
Bruno Mars - Treasure
Robert -
Don Broco - You Wanna Know
Futures - Karma Satellite
Blitz
Kids – Perfect