Musician across the world have been embracing this opportunity to get as much done as possible and Liverpool quartet LONA have done just that. With the release of new single ‘Wonderland’ last month, frontman John to Clancy discuss the track, celebrity fans and much more.
Known for their dark, moody pop-rock anthems, LONA are becoming a band to keep an eye on as they’ve made serious strides since their debut single ‘She’s With Me’ just last year. ‘Wonderland’ has an anthemic, soaring chorus and all the telltale signs we have a future anthem on our hands.
On the new track, John said: “‘Wonderland’ has gone down so well. It’s such a weird time for everyone, so we thought we’d release something uplifting. Everyone seems to be loving it and we’ve had so many messages from fans saying how much they absolutely love it. We just can’t wait to play it live.”
Recorded at Abbey Road, the four-piece have managed to get the best out of every second of the three-minute 52-second track. Especially when you’re in a building that is so iconic, you would want to strive to make the most of the opportunity.
“It was such a mental experience, to be somewhere so iconic,” expressed John. “Especially being from Liverpool and sharing the same studio as The Beatles is actually mind-blowing. The place just oozes history and it really helps creatively being somewhere so special. Everyone there looked after us so well we felt so at home there.”
Discussing the meaning behind the song, he added: “The song meaning is fundamentally simple. Keeping in touch with the amazing things in life and appreciating how special humanity can be. These times are so confusing, lonely and scary. It’s hard not to get down in these surreal times. It feels like we are stuck in a real-life movie. We lose sight of the bigger picture, how amazing us humans can be.
“There are people on the front line, risking their lives to save others, people singing in the streets to make sure nobody feels isolated or forgotten. Amongst the chaos, there are beautiful moments. The world is full of unconditional love and hope, and we’re here to share this message to every last person. The lost, the lonely and the loved.”
We’ve had a few famous faces at our gigs and it’s f*cking bizarre sometimes.
The music video for the track highlights how far LONA have come in 18 months with the huge venues they’ve played in such as Rock City, KOKO and O2 Academies. The Coronavirus has hit grassroots venues the hardest (as if they weren’t already under enough pressure) and 556 are at risk of closure. Without them, bands like LONA would almost never exist as John explains.
“These grassroots venues are vital for survival of great emerging artists simply put; we need grassroots venues to live our dream. It’s heartbreaking to see so many venues either close down or being on the cusp of doing so. The Lexington, KOKO, The Monarch to name just a few. We have played almost every small venue in the country and created so many unforgettable memories for ourselves and others. We HAVE to fight to keep these venues not only open, but thrive.”
When you have some famous fans like Peter Crouch and some well-known musicians (as John ill reveal) coming to your shows since their JUDAS days, it’s hard to ignore their talent and potential.
“Unreal,” laughs John. “We’ve had a few famous faces at our gigs and it’s f*cking bizarre sometimes. Dynamo came to one once, and Joe Allen, and shout out to the boys from The Hunna and You Me At Six who never fail to make an appearance. It’s honestly f*cking mental to think these huge acts dig what you’re doing.”
However, at a time where plans have turned upside down and no one can enjoy the aroma of a well-used music venue, what can we expect to see in the coming months? Well, despite missing out on a show in Amsterdam, there’s quite a lot.
John said: “We’ve used this time to really lock ourselves in the studio and create some really organic, original and dare I say it, groundbreaking music. We are hoping to drop an EP this summer, then the sky’s the limit. We just hope we can get back on the road very soon to see all of our beautiful fans.”
Watch the music video for ‘Wonderland’ now.
