With a sound that has been described as a cross between The Jesus and Mary Chain, Nirvana and Stereophonics, Wrexham-based outfit Alien Feelings now return with their latest soaring belter 'Scream'.
Taking cues from the anthemic side of the alt-rock world, 'Scream' makes for a bold and captivating return for the group. Filled with enormous riffs, thunderous production, and some seriously catchy singalong vocals, make sure you play this one very loud!
So with the new single available now, we sat down with lead singer and guitarist Josh Evans to talk about his background and what has inspired him most over the years.
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What were the first instrument you fell in love with?
The first instrument I fell in love with was the guitar. Because I can just remember thinking it was cool when I was a kid. You know what little kids are like, they all think they can skateboard and they all think they can play guitar. I can distinctly remember when I was in year five in school a couple of lads in the class formed a “band.” None of them could play, and I can remember one of the lads shunning me for not being able to play and not allowing me in. I took that with me and about ten years later I learned just to spite the little prick. I never did pursue skateboarding though thank fuck, cause I’d have probably broken my neck by now. I’m a naturally clumsy person and I’m not very skilled in the art of balance.
What has been the most prominent inspiration behind your music so far?
I’d say it’s an inner conflict between my two selves. The fantasy and the reality, I use them both just to kind of put across to myself how I’m feeling at that time. I think about what’s happening, what I’d like to happen and what I wouldn’t like to happen. Sometimes after finishing a song, I’ve looked back through the lyrics and thought fucking hell, did I really write this? Am I really feeling like this? And to be honest, I’m not too sure. Perhaps it’s more of a subconscious thing, who knows. Writings madness anyway, you expose yourself privately on a page knowing full well that the intention is for other people to ultimately hear it and then suddenly it’s not yours anymore, it belongs to whoever. The only thing you can hope for is that you find a glint of truth somewhere in what you’re saying and hopefully somebody else feels it too and it helps them with their lives for a couple of minutes. But I’m constantly seeking inspiration, I’m a junkie.
What kind of music did you love as teenagers?
It was predominantly indie, rock and alternative. There was a great period for guitar music in the mid 2000s which really had an impact on me. Suddenly, I was wearing fedora hats and blazers, smoking fags and going to house parties. It’s like I was introduced to this kind of teenage religion and music was bang in the centre of it. I was lucky enough to have an older sister with a boyfriend who had a decent CD collection, so I’d copy them onto my Xbox 360 and I’d just lie on the floor in my bedroom listening and absorbing as much music as I could.
What inspires you to make music?
It’s just something I’ve always done. I want to be able to look back one day and think I did that, that’s my work. Whether people acknowledge it or not, it’s for me. It’s my time on Earth. I do it for the love of the work, it’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
At the moment I’m loving Fur, Sports Team, Twin Peaks and Slowdive. I’m always listening to new music though, always looking for something that excites me.
How many of your songs have you written about people in your life?
I have written a lot of songs, about a lot of people, about a lot of people in my life. I’ve not written many whilst thinking about just one person though, it’s normally just my mind making connections between people I know. So there’s little bits of everybody in them, like a stew.
What has been the funniest moment in your career so far?
There’s a lot, we always try and have a laugh. We don’t take ourselves too seriously. But it’s hard to decide on just one. I think the best time we’ve had as a band was when we were staying in this bedsit in London while we were recording the EP, it was hard at times cause we were skint but we found this cheap little pub and just got pissed every night and then went back to our room and started filming our own episodes of Eastenders. Just check out the London highlight on our Instagram and you’ll see what I mean.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Paul McCartney, I love him.
If you weren’t musicians, what other path do you think you might have taken?
I’d love to work with animals. We don’t deserve them and fuck knows what they did to deserve us. I’m a cat person, so I’d probably be running a cat sanctuary or something like that. Or who knows, I could have been a drug dealer or something.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as musicians?
I’m not too sure, but if I was to give advice to musicians it would be to leave your ego at the door. Nobody likes a bellend, be sound and stay humble. I’ve had a few run ins with arrogant musicians who seem to think that they’re the reincarnation of Mozart and Shakespeare combined. You can always tell when they’re around because you can smell the bullshit every time they open their mouths.
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Alien Feelings' new single 'Scream' is available to stream and download now. Have a listen to it in the player below.