North Wales duo Alffa are back with a vengeance, dropping their electrifying new single 'Dance Again'. This track marks the third release from their highly anticipated sophomore album, 'O'r Lludw / From Ashes', set to hit the airwaves on November 29th.
'Dance Again' sees Alffa stripping their sound down to its raw essence. Shedding the skin of their signature punk-infused hard rock, the duo unleashes a pure, unadulterated punk storm that evokes the ferocity of genre titans like IDLES or SOFT PLAY. But don't be fooled by its sonic assault – beneath the thunderous exterior, 'Dance Again' beats with a resilient heart, echoing the album's overarching theme of rising from adversity.
With the release of ‘O'r Lludw / From Ashes' on the horizon, we sat down with Alffa to find out more about their inspirations, their backgrounds and the album that promises to be as much a rebirth as it is a sophomore effort.
Congratulations on the release of 'Dance Again'! It's quite a banger. What was the spark that ignited this track?
Dancing in the rain is important in life—it’s about embracing the moment no matter what. The rhythm of the guitar riff with the drums just felt so good, it sparked the whole vibe of 'Dance Again’
I couldn't help but notice 'Dance Again' has a bit of a different vibe from your usual stuff. What made you want to dive into this more raw, punk sound?
We've been listening to more punk bands lately, and that raw energy really inspired us. It’s more of the vibe we’re going for with the new album
You've mentioned that the song is about "dancing in the rain" as a metaphor for overcoming challenges. How does this idea connect to the bigger picture of your upcoming album?
That’s basically the theme for the whole album—overcoming challenges and finding hope. We think it’s an important message to give the listener.
Speaking of which, your new album "O'r Lludw / From Ashes" is dropping on November 29th. What can your fans look forward to? Any surprises in store?
It’s a 12-track album full of raw, energetic songs—no messing around, pretty brutal stuff! We’re really happy as a band with how the sound has developed.
You’ve been working with producer Gethin Pearson on this one. How has teaming up with him shaped your sound and the way you approach making music?
Gethin's been great—really accommodating to our heavy sound and pushing us to explore different places creatively.
Let's throw it back for a second - your debut single "Gwenwyn" was the first Welsh-language track to hit a million streams on Spotify. That's huge! How does it feel to be breaking down language barriers with your music?
It’s great, such a privilege. There’s so much amazing music coming out of Wales—we were just in the right place at the right time. Taking the language to places like Italy and Canada this year has been so much fun!
The title of your new album, "O'r Lludw / From Ashes", sounds like it's got a story behind it. What made you choose this name?
That's correct! We have a story to tell, and the album really showcases that. I’d like listeners to take that journey without explaining too much, haha!
If you could put together your dream festival lineup, who are the five artists you'd want to share the stage with?
It would have to be a mix of different acts—Queens of the Stone Age, Kendrick Lamar, Deftones, Cate Le Bon, Viagra Boys, and so many more!
If "Dance Again" was playing in a movie, what do you think would be happening on screen?
It would work perfectly in a cool driving scene or maybe an action sequence with someone running through the woods or something, haha!
Quick one - what's the weirdest place you've ever played a gig?
Definitely in a slate quarry in Blaenau Ffestiniog—underground, too!
If you could collaborate with any artist, alive or dead, who would it be and why?
If we could collaborate with any artist, Sion would pick John Bonham, and Dion would choose Jimi Hendrix
Let's get creative - imagine you're writing a cookbook. What would you call Alffa's signature dish?
If we were writing a cookbook, Alffa's signature dish would definitely be a big burger—just like the ones we had while we were in Canada.
Last question to wrap things up: If your music was a colour, what would it be and why?
If our music was a color, it would be red to match our fierce energy!
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Alffa’s New Single ‘Dance Again’ is available across all streaming platforms now. Don’t miss the release of ‘O'r Lludw / From Ashes' on November 29th!