Jess Allanic from Calva Louise virtually sits down with me as their eagerly awaited new EP ‘POPURRI’ is released this month to discuss it in detail and how the bad have shaped themselves to where they are today.
The new three-track EP will feature singles ‘Camino’ and ‘POP(urri)’ and the as yet unheard ‘I Wish’ and is set to sound completely different from their debut album Rhinoceros last year.
Recording parts with former Spring King frontman Tarek Musa to lay out the foundations, and then to Strange Bones’ frontman Bobby Bentham. Those two guys seem like the right choices as they know how to create anthemic and high-octane punk and rock tunes – it’s in their blood.
Jess adds: “Since we live together we could record as much as we wanted! Then Bobby did an amazing job on production!”
POPURRI is the opportunity to assert “who we are and what we want to do” Jess tells me as experimentation and feeling comfortable with the music they produce comes first. Despite being told to stick to what they were supposed to be and “stifle the evolution,” Jess Allanic and her companions Alizon Taho (bass, backing vox) and Ben Parker (drums, backing vox) are pleasing themselves – not the establishment – on what direction they see themselves taking.
‘This EP is the opportunity to assert who we are and what we want to do. We have been told that we need to stick what we are supposed to be and stifle the evolution we wanted to take’ – Jess Allanic
Going to their punk roots, released single ‘Camino’ is an electrifying and kaleidoscope banger; it has great hooks and beautiful lyrics talking about always carrying on, even if it seems impossible to reach your dreams.
On single ‘POP(urrí)’, Jess explains it’s “more about the challenge of explaining WHO WE ARE as human beings, about feeling free to choose a path with heart and following our intuitive will, without fear”. It’s taking the alt rock blueprint to the next level, with new electronic elements Calva Lousie are composing experimentation; adding a new dimension to their soundscape in the process.
Speaking about new track ‘I Wish,’ Jess said: “We do feel that being authentic is kind of the only way to reach our dreams. That’s what ‘I Wish’ is about, a continuous way of letting go of the pressure and riding your own wave.
“‘I Wish’ is definitely our favourite track because it’s the first track that Bobby [Benthamas] completely recorded, produced and mixed himself. I made the music video and Alizon and Ben are taking care of the digital distribution. It feels to us kind of as if we are indeed finally being ourselves without anybody pushing us to do what we don’t want to do.”
Whilst creating their own yellow brick road, Calva Louise are using Jess’ own cultural heritage of Venezuela in their songs to not only expand their own creativity and songwriting capabilities but to bring British music and Latin America together. Although ‘Belicoso’ was the first track to be recognised more for including Spanish lyrics, it was actually ‘No Hay’ from Rhinoceros where it all started.
Jess said: “The Spanish bits are not there just because it’s my native language, but because it allows us to explore and express new ideas and sounds that can reach people who love British music, for example in Latin America. We feel that we are a generation living in a world as a cultural POPURRI!”
Featured images by Chris Driver
When we first discovered the trio, it was a hot summer day at an all-new London festival called Shindignation. They played in a pub to no more than 20 people in 2017 and since then, have gone on to perform across the world and receive recognition from BBC Radio 1 and Radio X, alongside high profile fans such as Albert Hammond Jr of The Strokes.
Talking about how their music careers have planned out, Jess graciously said: “We always try to live in the present and to not think too much about the steps, we’re always focused on moving forward even if it feels very slow, but with solid foundations! Saying that, we are very happy and very grateful!
“We want to stay true to ourselves, and as many things are changing in our lives, there are some stylistic changes too. Our next EP WILL be very different from our previous songs but always staying authentic, following a path that has a heart!”
Calva Louise’s mission statement has always been to keep fans on their toes whilst staying true to their identity and POPURRI sets out to do just that.
Aiming to release as much music as possible in the coming months, Calva Lousie also have some rescheduled dates on their support tour with Highly Suspect. Further dates rescheduled for August.
w/ Highly Suspect
27 Aug – Birmingham O2 Institute (UK)
28 Aug – Manchester Academy 2 (UK)
31 Aug – London Electric Ballroom (UK)
w/ Strange Bones
2 Nov – Manchester Deaf Institute (UK)
11 Nov – Bordeaux L’Astrodome (FR)
