Welcome to an introduction to Luna Blue. The Brighton-based four-piece are making serious headway with their blend of tropical infused indie-alt pop, so we’ve caught up with guitarist Ryan Wellman following the release of their new track ‘Away With You’.
With the release, the outfit have been busy keeping fans entertained by any means necessary from covers to podcasts and raising money for the #SaveOurVenues campaign with ICM has also been supporting. On a personal level, Ryan has been sticking to a routine whilst staying connected with his fellow band members Tom, Seb and Nick.
He said: “I’ve found lockdown easier to deal with the longer it’s been going on – keeping a routine every day has been really important. All of us are isolating in different locations which is of course an unusual situation (as we’re used to being together a lot of the time).
“Despite the challenges of writing/recording from different locations using the internet, we’re working hard to keep our fans engaged and entertained, releasing weekly covers and podcasts which have been going really well! We’re all frequently connecting with fans through our social media platforms too, and it’s great to get their feedback and comments.”
Luna Blue’s drummer Seb Bowen has completed a 24-hour non-stop drumathon in aid of the Music Venue Trust’s #SaveOurVenues campaign to help protect the 556 grassroots venues across the country. Whilst “hammering out Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’ album around 30 times,” the YouTube livestream raised over £1,200.
“On 30 May we played a virtual mini-gig as part of TogetherFest in support of a local Brighton charity TogetherCo (who combat loneliness – an even bigger problem during lockdown),” added Ryan. “We’re also proud to be one of the first bands to take part in Sucker Management’s Quarantine Fest series too which grew to include an incredible roster of 118 different acts over nine weeks, with over 90,000 people streaming the various shows which also featured on BBC Radio 6.”
On the music front, the new single ‘Away With You’ is the band’s fourth since their first in 2019 features some groovy and rhythmic tropical-pop riffs and a solid drum beat; it’s a track that can easily get stuck in your head for hours.
Luna Blue (Ryan, Seb, Tom, Nick) // Press Photo
On recording the single, Ryan explained: “The recording process for ‘Away With You’ was actually fine and enjoyable, as it happened pre-lockdown when we completed a batch of recordings with our producer Matt Parisi last year.
“We all have input into the writing and recording process and are used to working with Matt, so it was literally a matter of going into the studio, nailing the various parts down tight and moving on – which always results in good vibes as we all ‘gel’ really well!”
Written by vocalist Tom High, it’s about fending off nagging doubts and fears of being unsuccessful whilst navigating new phases of adult life, transporting the listener with upbeat summer dreams of “sailing away into a tequila sunrise…”
“I prefer to allow the listener to decide what our songs mean to them,” adds Ryan. “Personally; for me, the track is hinting at the need for an escape…very relevant during lockdown! The video for ‘Away With You is out now, and we can’t wait for fans to see it, it’s VERY entertaining!”
‘Nick [Davie] recently qualified as a Scuba diver – we’re a pretty diverse bunch!’ – Ryan Wellman
Their previous number ‘Look At Me’ has reached over 44,000 streams on Spotify so far and nearing a total of 80,000 for all tracks, the streaming platform his giving smaller artists a wider reach which has seen their plays come from major American cities including Los Angeles, New York and Chicago.
Ryan said: “Firstly, I’ve got to say we’re all very proud of our recent tracks getting that many streams, and we really want to say a massive thank you to our fans all around the world! It’s clear that Spotify is crucial to success for any band; like it or not, the platform has become the main way to distribute your music to a wider audience and musicians really have to take that into account.
“Playlists and radio recommendations are a great way to get new fans to discover your music, and as a band we’re very conscious of ensuring we pay attention to Spotify – but also to all the other various routes in which music is coming to the attention of fans and the industry. That aspect is pretty much as demanding as writing and recording nowadays!”
Being inspired by indie pop bands like Two Door Cinema Club, The 1975, Foals and anything alt and indie which taken a liking to American indie pop listeners appears to be working wonders for them and long may that continue. But when Luna Blue aren’t doing anything music related, what do they do to chillax?
As Ryan explains, the choice of recreational activities is quite mixed. “I’m a big gamer myself, I can sink hours and hours into it! Otherwise, going on big hikes in the countryside is always relaxing, and especially soothing during the current pandemic (socially distanced, of course!). Seb is also a big gamer when he’s not with mates, Tom’s got an obsession with fitness and healthy eating, and Nick can usually be found watching Star Wars and Marvel films, and recently qualified as a Scuba diver – we’re a pretty diverse bunch!”
Looking out towards the future Luna Blue have some “massive” plans ahead. They’ve been writing songs in lockdown as well as “more ridiculous music videos guaranteed” Ryan chuckles. Some previous tour dates have been rescheduled and currently have gigs in St Albans and Bournemouth planned in August. Keep an eye out on their social media pages for more info on what’s next.
An introduction to… is a new interview series which puts the undiscovered centre stage. If you would like to be featured email getintouch [at] indiecentralmusic.com with ‘An introduction to’ and the name of your band in the subject headline to be considered for a feature.
