- Congratulations on signing with Big Condo Records! How did the deal come about, and what made you choose this label over others?
Adam: The label approached us initially and asked us to play a gig with them. We were also involved in radio interviews and podcasts with them and shortly after we got signed.
Izzy: We felt like signing to the Big Condo Records would help us grow and develop as a band, as we didn’t have much knowledge about promotion and things like that.
- Your sound blends post-punk with gothic rock. How do you describe your music, and what influences shaped this unique style?
Bea: As far as influences go, I’d say that mine include more of the modern post-punk bands, in the way that I write my music. Bloc Party are a big influence of mine, as well as bands like Molchat Doma and Bauhaus. I’d describe our music as sort of like the love child between dark post-punk and the happy, up-beat punk rock that plays in my head 24/7.
Izzy: Yeah I agree with that, a lot of our songs sort of blend together post-punk and punk influences, as we’re willing to get more political with our lyrics but our instrumentation is very post-punk. I’d say lyrically and vocally, my influences are Destroy Boys, Stevie Nicks and Siouxsie Sioux. I’d definitely say we all have different musical ideas and influences which we bring together in our writing.
Adam: Our music is primarily bass-driven, more punchy post-punk. However, our repertoire also includes the slower, more atmospheric side of goth music. As for my personal inspirations, when it comes to composition, aesthetics and lyrics, I’m really influenced by bands such as The Cure and Joy Division. In terms of my guitar playing, I’m inspired heavily by classic rock and blues.
- Can you tell us a bit about how The Nocturnal Band came together? Was there a specific moment or event that sparked the formation?
Bea: For me, The Nocturnal was really born when I was in Burger King Wrexham, and Adam asked me to play the bass for his college post-punk project.
Izzy: He asked me to sing for it; we did not plan on this band going any further than our college classroom walls at first. But after our project was complete we decided to continue.
- Whats the story behind the bands name? Why The Nocturnal Band?
Adam: Originally we were named The Entombed, but we had to change it as we realised it was already taken.
Izzy: We had a Google doc full of potential names including Obelisk and Seventh Layer, but we eventually landed on The Nocturnal.
- You’ve just finished recording your debut single. Can you give us a sneak peek into the themes or concepts the album explores?
Izzy: Our single, Girlblend, explores the issue of harassment, particularly from a woman’s perspective. A lot of the lyrics I wrote were based on either my own experiences or the experiences of other people in my life. The chorus is really a cry for change, so that younger generations of girls won’t have to deal with the same problems. I really wanted the lyrics to capture the emotions that myself and others have been made to feel.
Bea: For Girlblend, I wanted to ensure that the instrumentation for the song was dark and dingy, and we tried to make it as depressing yet angry as possible, to convey the message and the emotion of the song.
- Post-punk and goth rock are genres with rich histories. Are there any bands or artists from those eras who influenced your sound or approach to music?
Izzy: For me, my thoughts instantly go to Siouxsie Sioux.
Adam: For me, our biggest influences are The Cure and Joy Division.
Izzy: I definitely think we all have our individual influences and we bring them together.
Adam: Personally, my approach to music is influenced heavily by Jimi Hendrix. I really admire his creativity and his mindset towards creating music. I especially appreciate how he treated it like art as opposed to a product.
Izzy: My approach to writing lyrics is immensely influenced by all the riot grrrl/feminist punk bands I’ve listened to, but I also find myself admiring the poetic lyrics and phrasing that you find in Cure songs.
- How has the transition from being an independent band to signing with a label impacted your creative process?
Izzy: I think it’s made us take it a lot more seriously because now we have more expected of us. But I’m glad for that, because I want to work hard and become a really good band.
Adam: I agree, I think signing with Big Condo Records has definitely changed our outlook on the band, especially with how we rehearse. However, I feel as though our creative process and how we write has changed very little.
Izzy: Yeah, our writing process has always been very collaborative and natural.
- In the age of streaming and social media, how do you feel about the way music is consumed today? Do you think its changed how people experience your genre?
Izzy: People definitely experience the genre differently today because nowadays it’s not as mainstream. Saying that, there is a large alternative/goth community who we can reach online. So I suppose I am in some ways glad that social media plays such a huge part in modern music, as using social media has allowed us to reach our intended audience a lot quicker.
- What do you want people to take away from your music once they hear it for the first time?
Adam: What I love about post-punk is atmosphere. I feel like post-punk stands out because it captures a very unique feeling. Some songs encapsulate melancholy and desperation, whereas others can be more bittersweet. I want people not necessarily to experience but to understand these feelings with our music.
Izzy: I want people who listen to our music to really listen to the lyrics, but I’m obviously very biased because I’m the singer. Especially with our first single this is important to me though, because there’s a message within them. Overall I just want people listening to really listen intently and hear all of the details and the work that we’ve put into our music.
- With the darker, atmospheric tones of your music, your live shows must be quite an experience. How do you approach your live performances, and what can fans expect at a Nocturnal Band gig?
Izzy: We approach our live shows with the desire to put on the best show we can. For me, I really love to properly get into each song, portraying the meaning of them as much as a I can with how I sing and act on stage. I feel like it’s important that we put all the energy that we can into every performance, and make it as memorable as we can.
Adam:For me it goes back to atmosphere, we’re not the most energetic, jumpy performers, and I feel like our music reflects that. However, we do have songs that bring up the energy.
- Many bands who get signed to labels face pressure to conform to mainstream expectations. How do you plan to stay true to your artistic vision while navigating the commercial side of things?
Adam: I personally don’t feel any need to conform, not that I would want to. Our music is marketed to quite a niche subculture, though that’s not to say that people outside of it can’t also enjoy our music.
Izzy: As well as that, not to sound totally naïve, I would say that music has always been our passion. We would rather make no money creating music we are proud of, than be rich off music that we hate.
- The Nocturnal Band has a very distinct aesthetic. Can you describe the role that visuals and fashion play in your overall image?
Izzy: Fashion and aesthetics play a massive part in how our band is marketed and promoted. Such a big part of who we are is the goth culture, and we love embracing that, particularly during our live performances. That’s not to say that I’m only dressing goth on stage of course. Every day is a day closer to perfecting my eyeliner.
Adam: For me there’s no difference between how I dress and act on stage and how I am off stage, of course the visual elements play a huge part in the band but to me it’s my everyday, too.
13. Your music often blends melancholy with energy. How do you manage the balance between the emotional and the upbeat sides of your sound?
Izzy: I think each song addresses a different side.
Adam:Yeah, I’d say that we have a mix of slower songs and more upbeat stuff. However there are some that blend the two, such as ‘Girlblend’. In songs like these we tend to start slower and build up. But that’s not to say a sad song can’t be energetic.
Izzy: I agree, although I’d say it’s quite a somber song overall.
- The goth scene can sometimes be seen as a tight-knit community. How do you engage with your fans, and do you feel a strong connection with the goth subculture?
Adam: Absolutely. I find that the goth scene is very easy to engage with, as we tend to be open to any new music that associates with the subculture. I’ve found that promoting on the streets is quite easy as we’re usually able to tell who will be into our music.
Izzy: I agree, but would add that social media has been very helpful in allowing us to engage more with the goth scene. Without our Instagram, there’s a lot of goths who would not know we exist. The goth subculture is very welcoming.
15. What’s next for The Nocturnal Band? Any plans for touring, collaborations, or something else fans can look forward to?
Izzy: Ideally world domination, top of all the charts, release a full EP, world tour. But more realistically, I want us to continue to grow and develop and release more music and connect with more people.
Adam: We have a single launching in spring, and you can keep up to date with our upcoming gigs and any news by following our Instagram (@Nocturnal.band) and our new TikTok.
Thank you for having us.
