Interview: The Loners (Written)

Games, Brrraaains & A Head-Banging Life bring you a written interview with alternative rock and grunge band, The Loners.

1. Hello! Thank you for taking the time to chat to us. First things first, tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got started.

The Loners originally started as a two-piece acoustic/bass indie/pop band. This consisted of Nath and Ross. Ross decided to call it a day after around 2 years, just as our current drummer, James joined the band. James had recently met Nath in the pub, while watching a football game. Through a mutual friend, they spoke about their love for playing live and being in a band.

Nath and Mark were at university together and always touched on the idea of playing in a band, but with life taking over and following different directions, it wasn’t until 12 years later that Mark decided to join the new “The Loners” line-up.

This was the start of the new “sound” The Loners were about to develop. What once was an indie band, has now developed into an alternative rock, band.

2. Someone comes to you and asks you to sum up what kind of music you play – what do you tell them?

We fall into the alternative rock, genre now. We have some blues, rock, grunge and even a little 90s guitar-dance music!

3. What’s currently going on in your camp? New releases? Tours? Etc.

We played at Party at the Palace, alongside The Happy Mondays and Shed Seven. That was awesome! We are going back to the studio at the end of the month to record a new single.

4. What has been the most positive experience of making music to date for you?

Playing live, playing festivals and traveling to different parts of the country, playing different venues.

5. Likewise, what has been some of the more challenging aspects and how have you overcome them?

Lockdown, due to Covid was the worst. Not getting to rehearse with the band weekly or play live shows for a couple of years was awful. We just had to wait it out.

6. How do you handle the modern expectations of being in a band? Always online, having to put out content constantly, your success measured in likes and follows?

I (Nath) personally hate it. I just want people to come to our shows and they will like our music. But people are only interested if you have a massive following, already, which is sad as we are already better than a lot of mainstream bands.

7. What’s something that really ‘grinds your gears’ about the industry/business these days and what would you propose is done to combat it?

There are enough people in the world to listen to every artist…but it is a very cut-throat industry and unless you have a following, no one really wants to give you the time of day. I would change this, go back to the 90s and hope A&R reps would just go around the country looking for acts (like us!)

8. Speaking directly to listeners – what would you ask they do to help support your music?

Have a listen, share our songs with your friends and come see us play live. We’ll even buy the drinks!

9. Outside of the music, what’s do you do to relax?

We all have kids and families and work full time, so other than hobbies, we rehearse weekly.

10. Where can people find you?

Everywhere – we are on all major social platforms:

Facebook |  Instagram | Spotify | Amazon Music and even Threads.