Cinematic pop-purveyors AMBER RUN are to tour their sophomore album For A Moment, I Was Lost in early February 2017. We caught up with lead singer Joe Keogh from the band to chat about the recording process, festivals and most importantly, who would be the last man standing in an Amber Run 'Death-match', here's how we got on....

 

Firstly, Happy New Year, I feel that as it's 17th Jan, wishing you a Merry Christmas is a little late, how was the festive season for you? Any nice gifts? 

Yeah was nice to see everyone.  I'm a lucky boy and got a record player. 

 

You release your 2nd album For A Moment, I Was Lost on Feb 10th, how many of the new tracks will make the set-list for the accompanying tour?

6 or 7 I'd think. We'll be playing a variety from the old and new record.

 

Loving the artwork on the new album, who did it?

A friend of ours called Casey Roarty, an amazing artist who is also an amazing musician. He played in loads of bands we loved when we were growing up.  

 

I just watched the new video for 'Stranger', where did the idea for it come from and who directed it? Great track BTW!

We wanted to make something underwater, there is something really claustrophobic about it. Luckily a beautiful bloke called Will Jones (not our guitarist) shared our vision. I think we were able to make something awesome together. Some really eerie shots. 

 

 

Do you guys have a tried and tested method for writing new material? 

No tried or tested method, that would make it boring. The experimentation and the different ways music is formed is half the fun of the writing process! 

 

You say that the new album contains songs written about recent experiences, can you share any of these with us?

A few of us struggled with anxiety and depression through the moments we were writing the record. And I think that has touched a few of the tracks but in a good and honest way I hope. 

 

You recorded your debut album 5am in 2015, did you approach the recording process differently for the new album? 

We live tracked a lot of this new album to get a grittier flavour. We've always felt that we're a great live band but that there was something missing from our recorded work. So we tried to add a little bit of the intensity we get from playing live to the material that we were recording. 

 

Your February tour takes you all over the place, are there any dates or venues that you're really excited about?

Nottingham is always a big show for us, really excited to get up there. The shows at Manchester, Bristol and Birmingham are the biggest we've played there so far which is very exciting. London is a huge one at the end of course. Our biggest headline date ever!

 

Will you have a support band with you on the road or are you using local support acts at each venue?

We are taking a wicked band called ISLAND and the beautiful duo of MEADOWLARK. Both are great bands that people should know about. 

 

Please would you describe a typical Amber Run live show....

Intense. 

 

I see you play Nottingham on the day of the album release, are you expecting a raucous show with all your friends and family?

I hope so. We'll give the show everything we've got so hopefully everyone there will do the same. 

 

What do you like and hate about being on the road?

Difficult being away from home sometimes but playing live is one of the main reasons we started this band. It was our dream to tour the world. So nothing really to complain about.

 

Do you see a different audience reaction depending on where you play?

It's not quite as obvious as where you play but you can often tell if it's a Friday or a Saturday night...

 

Have you played overseas before? if so, how is your music received there?

We've played in Holland and it was great. Seems we have a really international fan base - we will definitely be seeing more of them this year. 

 

If you were all forced to fight to the death, which band member would be the last one standing?

Tom probably. He'd do what he'd need to be done. 

 

What is the music scene like in Nottingham? Are there many independent live venues?

The music scene there is great. Really strong community of musicians that know that if they work hard and write well that they can get where they want to be. 

The DHP Group that own Bodega, Rescue Rooms and Rock City is an amazing company that have built an amazing touring circuit in the city. 

 

The madness that is festival season will soon be upon us, which muddy fields/swamps can we expect to bump into you this year?

All of them.

 

Please name three bands or acts that we should check out....

Island, Meadowlark, The Amazons, NGOD

 

We'd like to thank Joe for sparing his time to chat to us, we wish the band every success with the new album For A Moment, I Was Lost which lands on February 10th. If you want to learn more about them. you can catch them on tour on the following dates.

February 2017

8th– Waterfront Studio, Norwich

10th – Rock City, Nottingham

11th – The Institute, Birmingham

13th – Phoenix, Exeter

14th – Engine Rooms, Southampton

16th – O2 Academy, Newcastle

17th – QMU, Glasgow

18th – Plug, Sheffield

19th – Welly, Hull

22nd – Stylus, Leeds

23rd – Academy 2, Manchester

24th – SWX, Bristol

25th – Forum, London