A Q&A with Lullaby Riot

Fast & gritty punk energy…

What’s the title of your latest release, and what does it mean to you?
The new EP is called ‘Social Grievances’. The main vibe behind the songs is highlighting the current state of things and trying to send a message of pushing back and breaking through your barriers.

What was the hardest part about putting this release together, and why?
The band already has an established catalogue of songs to pull from, so choosing some of our favourite tracks to immortalise wasn’t a difficulty. We had a blast in the studio, and now we can focus on getting the EP promoted.

Who produced the release – what did they bring to it? If you produced it yourselves what do you enjoy most about producing your own material?
We got to work with Rich of London Road Studios. He’s a lovely chap with a lot of experience that he brought to the session, pushed us through some hectic moments and gave us the insight we need for future releases.

What do you want the listener to take away from listening to your music?
I think they should take away their own lessons from the songs and resonate with the things going on in their lives. What is it in your life that makes you angry? What are you going to do about it? Get your emotions out!

How does a track normally come together? Can you tell us something about the process?
Usually, we have a backbone of a song laid out, often around a cool intro or breakdown piece. We get that tabbed up, and then come back to it with new ideas when we rehearse together.

What band/artists have influenced you the most since you started this project, and why?
The band has a lot of different genres to take inspiration from, and we enjoy pushing the boundaries of the genre to see where we can take it. Bands like Grade 2 and The Clash have laid the foundation, while personal punk influences include Dead Kennedys and modern bands like Alkaline Trio. We have other external influences like ska and a little metal thrown in for good measure.

What countries would you like to tour? Are there any standout venues you’d like to play in?
There are no current plans to tour internationally, however, it would be cool to play some of the venues in the New York punk scene, and maybe hit up the underground scene in Amsterdam.

If you could pick one track for our readers to listen to in order to get a taste of your music, what would you pick, and why?
It’s got to be ‘Ugly State’ – hard hitting vocals, a killer opening riff and a verse you can bang your head to.

What ambitions do you have for the band/your career?
We want to keep evolving the style of the band and see where its identity goes. And we want to push for bigger shows, bigger crowds and watch where the music takes us.

Finally, as you leave the stage, what are your parting words?
Goodnight, thanks for having us!

Find out more about Lullaby Riot at facebook.com/lullabyriotband