An Interview With The Wounded Lovers
A new album from The Wounded Lovers manages to break free of normal boundaries by creating a rock record that branches out in different directions while still staying consistent, has it hits everything from garage rock to indie, a little alternative, and plenty of classic rock influences, the album comes through with loads of character, which is probably one of the most important and addictive aspects of the entire thing.
West End Intoxica runs the gamut of rock-infused soundscapes and does so with this sort of raw and vivacious energy that's completely unstoppable.
They're also a little experimental and have a gritty sort of effect on different instruments, from the guitars to the vocals at times, which also gives the record an added punch and overall edginess, even on the songs that feel a little theatrical.
"Pretty Face" serves as a pretty good example of that, as it comes through with this heavy-handed piano that serves as the base instrument, while guitars and vocals have this sort of distortion element on them that gives it some overdrive. It makes the song both catchy and gives it this great pop overtone, but also gives it a little bit of punch and attitude.
I love a band that's able to contribute effects in order to sharpen the soundscape of a song so it's got a bit more of that cutting feel and still holds tightly onto their pop sensibilities.
Meanwhile, songs like "A Bar Called Paradise" start with an almost jazz-like feel, once again piano-based and with a smooth flow, especially coming from the amazing drummer who does such an outstanding job of not just sitting in the pocket, but rather giving songs a liveliness.
The cool aspect about songs like this is that it explodes into this sort of gigantic and sonically driving soundscape where everything just becomes full throttle all of a sudden. I love how the vocals end up just belting out, everything is at its highest point of energy, and the guitar tones are sort of fierce while the piano still drives the song forward.
This song also is semi theatrical but also a bit filmic, to me.
I think the more important part is that this is a band that knows how to arrange their music so that it grows. Whether it's a slow burn or it explodes with a punch, their songs never really sit in one spot, but rather start in one place and end in another.
This just showcases a band that knows how to write and, once again, still has melodies and drive that make songs extremely catchy along the way.
The song ends up being breezy, tropical, and just really well put together as it continuously sort of changes shape.
It's really hard to even understand how a band is able to create a song that changes shape the way this one does, but it sure sounds awesome.
Now, these guys are not afraid to be ambient either.
"Monica Entoxica" puts forth a set of vintage tones coming from those guitars. The flows that this song gives off are sort of graceful and widespread, while everything feels like it's drenched in a reverb effect so that you have that very spacious and vast tonality.
This is one of the songs that I'm talking about when I say filmic. It's a very cinematic vibe, and a lot of the songs, this one included, feel almost like they're alive and breathing.
Once again, never sitting in just one spot but rather flowing and continually evolving into different things while still staying confluent.
This is some really intelligent songwriting, but it just feels natural the way these guys do it.
"Blink of an Eye" gives you that more garage rock sensation. It has such a raw guitar tone; everything is sort of filtered into this punchy, almost punk-like aesthetic, and it hits pretty hard. I wouldn't say it thrashes out per se, but it definitely has an edginess to it that brings more drive than some of the other songs do.
They can bring all of these different approaches to rock songwriting and roll them into one record, and because of that, you have such a set of surprises throughout the album.
By the time you get halfway through it, you really don't know what to expect Next.
I found this to be pretty refreshing, honestly.
The band puts out a bit of a live performance vibe. It feels like some of the songs were recorded live, all at once in a room, with everyone just feeding off of each other the entire time.
The band has a heavy synergy happening on a lot of the songs.
Even if I'm wrong about how they recorded it, after all, I wasn't there, listening to a record like this makes you want to go see them perform live, simply because if you can capture this kind of aesthetic and energy on record so well, then seeing them live must be awesome.
This is also an album I would suggest listening to all the way through from start to finish.
As I mentioned earlier, there are loads of surprises around its Corners, but it's also a great experience if listened to in full.
The record closes with the track called "Beautiful Star", which is definitely a warm single, with great reverb effects that give you a sense of depth, and it also brings in some more classic rock style.
I really think this was a great way to close the record and leave on such an honest, inviting note.
This album is for lovers of all kinds of rock music that has depth, honesty, warmth, a little experimentation, and hints of vintage tones that feel good to listen to.
It's also for those who like edgy rock songs that have something to say.
So, dive into this one as soon as you can and see what it does for you.
Hello guys and thanks so much for taking some time with us! Let's get right into the West End Intoxica record!
Where did the record come from and what is it about?
The record is a collection of songs old and new that were initially pieced together as a set that that fit well as a listening experience. It was designed and sequenced as 2 sides of vinyl so a very old school approach with no thought to modern strategies such as front loading the album with the so called “Bangers”!
Whilst recording the album it seemed that a lot of the songs were about growing up in West London. Songs touched on people who are no longer part of my life and there are tales of the excitement that the City held when I was growing up, also the darker side of the city such as lost loved, betrayal, gangs and football violence.
How did this all start for you guys as a band?
The Wounded Lovers are a hybrid of a previous band called The Moriartys and younger musicians who have joined since 2010 when I brought back The Moriartys to play some charity gigs (Roosterville). So I had a song called Wounded Lovers and decided that the group really needed a new name.
I am hearing several approaches! Who would you say are your biggest musical influences?
It’s an interesting mix of musicians. Paul Miles is a drummer who has been influenced by (amongst others) Keith Moon, John Bonham and Stuart Copeland. That means he can be prone to not playing the same parts twice. It’s unpredictable but exciting too! Rick Jassi (Bass guitar) has less old school Rock influences but would site Radiohead as one of his true musical loves.
My influences are mostly songwriters. So that might be Lee Mavers of the LA’s, Pete Doherty and Carl Barat from The Libertines or Ray Davies of the Kinks. The Who, Bowie, The Beatles and the Stones were important acts growing up as my uncles introduced them to me when I was a kid. I also love the guitar sounds of American bands such as Pavement and Wilco.
Are you guys performing live right now?
We have recently played Twickenham’s High Tide Festival and are playing twice in Twickenham on September 13th and 25th.
Was this recorded at a big studio, or a home DAW setup?
A small independent Garden studio called Left Bank Studios in Twickenham.
Was the record self-produced?
I produced it alongside the studio owner and great keyboard player Rob Millis. It was mixed by brilliant solo artist Amit Rae Sharma.
What would you say people can expect from this release?
An indie rock album that dips into various genres. There are significant contributions from some very cool musical friends like Lucca Mae, Laurie Wright, Amit Sharma, and Claire Ten Grotenhuis, Andy Bones and Eddie Philps
So you will hear all out Indie Rock but also more elaborate songs that have been described as “Jazz tinged existential indie Rock dread!”
What's next for you now that this is out there?
We have moved on and are currently playing sets that are a 50/50 mixture between album songs and new songs. The next step is playing more gigs but also recording a follow up album. That album already has a title, and it’s called “ Emotional Tattoo”
Do you write songs together, or is there one main songwriter that writes for the band?
I am, so far the sole songwriter for the band. Songwriting is like an addiction that keeps me awake at night and the other members prefer to tackle their lives well rested!
Before we go, what would you like to express to fans of the music?
We have been surprised by how many people have listened to “ West End Intoxica” and the reviews have been really positive. So I just want to say a big thanks to everyone who has given this album even a fleeting moment of their time. As Joe Strummer said “Without people you’re nothing” and we really appreciate the people who have stood by and kept showing up over the years, and through the Roosterville gigs it now feels like a cool community of people of all ages.
I am determined we release more music as good or better in 2027, and then more after that!
