A Q&A with Luna Kiss

Swagger, grit and heartache, from Coventry – here’s Wil from Luna Kiss…

What’s the title of your latest release, and what does it mean to you?
‘All On Me’ is our brand new single. This song was the first single we finished for this cycle and the really helped us identify the sound and message of the new ear of Luna Kiss. ‘All On Me’ is a song about finding that inner confidence to stand up for yourself and not be blamed for the demise of a nasty breakup. It’s also about not apologising for the person that you are now. As we progress through life our journey shouldn’t be dictated by people around us. We should be able to have the confidence to find our own path. So it’s a message to anyone struggling to find that courage to pick themselves up!

What was the hardest part about putting this release together, and why?
The pandemic didn’t help… But actually our release schedule for this year is intense. We’re dropping a track every eight weeks. To get all the music videos shot and edited within that time frame is crazy. But we love it.

Who produced the release – what did they bring to it?
Because of the pandemic it was a weird one. Matt Hyde (Slipknot, Funeral For A Friend), produced us from afar. We did all the pre-production over email and Skype, the guitars, and vocals were recorded in our studio, and the drums were recorded at a studio in London over a day. It was a real learning experience for us recording a lot of the record and pushed us as both musicians, and friends, haha.

What do you want the listener to take away from listening to your music?
Our new songs might be focused on heartache, betrayal, relationships and pain BUT, the route of the message is all about learning to move forward from the darkness. It’s a message to anyone struggling to find that courage to pick themselves up from the dirt and move forward.

How does a track normally come together? Can you tell us something about the process?
Usually Chris (guitarist) or myself will have a riff bouncing about. I’ll then figure out if it sits as a verse, chorus or hook. I’ll try and put a few lyrics and a narrative together, we will jam it as a band and that helps us find the song’s identity. After that, we work together to finish the lyrics, build the song up either in a live situation or on the computer.

What band/artists have influenced you the most since you started this project, and why?
We’re really inspired by artists who stick to their guns, and don’t get warped by the machine. So anyone from Pink Floyd and Nick Cave, to Slipknot… Musically though there are bits of loads of bands and arts threading themselves throughout the tracks. Our latest track ‘All On Me’ starts off very ambient and soft, but hits into a Queens Of The Stone Age vibe.

What countries would you like to tour? Are there any standout venues you’d like to play in?
We’ve done Netherlands and Germany a few times. It will be great to return. The roads are fantastic for driving, haha. Spain, Italy and France in the summer months too! And like many bands, the US because it’s so vast and full of different scenery. We would love a crack at Reading and Leeds festival too.

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?
‘Lust For Blood’ best represents the band as we are now. It’s full of swag and grit, it’s upbeat, intense in places but also quite cheeky.

What ambitions do you have for the band/your career?
We’ve always said that if we can create a band that is sustainable and lets us live as musicians full time then we’re happy. We just want to make music, tour, meet new and old fans and friends, and discover new places and experiences.

Finally, as you leave the stage, what are your parting words?
Firstly, since returning post pandemic it’s fantastic to connect with the music community again, be it yourselves, your readers or the audience at our shows. So if you’re reading this, keep supporting the scene because there is good vibes for everyone. And like always, self plug. We worked our socks off on these new tunes and we’ve got more to come this year, SO… Check us out on Spotify or Apple and visit our store if you’re a merch fiend!

For more info visit: facebook.com/LunaKissbandUK