Dunes are set to release their debut self-titled EP on 4th August. The band were invented in the warmer periods of 2016 by several earth dwellers poorly masquerading as human beings in the city of Newcastle. They play dessert-riff-blues-tinted-disco-tinged-rock, which draws on influences such as Queens of the Stone Age, Black Keys, Death From Above 1979 and Talking Heads.
DUNES recorded their debut EP during May 2017 at The Sand Castle in Newcastle with Graham Thompson, who has previously worked with Frankie and the Heartstrings, Jimmy Floyd Hasslebaind, Kubicheck and Jinn.
Since the band started playing live in late 2016 racking up a fair number of gigs in their native Newcastle and further afield. To date they have shared the stage with the bands including Idles, Waheela, Tragedy, TCHOTCHKE, Servers and Cocaine Piss. May 2017 saw the band get their biggest support slot to date when they had the privilege of supporting American Stoner Rock legends Monster Magnet at The Riverside in Newcastle.
Dunes have been booked to play at Tramlines Festival in Sheffield and Solfest in Cumbria during the summer and are due to embark on a mini tour late September/early October with Servers, Barrabus and Awooga. Chec out Riverside Bruise from the upcoming EP below!
We managed to catch up with the band as they talk about the upcoming EP and more!
So how pumped are you for your self titled release out next month?
(Nikky – Drums) Totally stoked dude, it’s radical.
(Ade – Bass) Really excited, our first demo songs were out in January and got a really good reaction so it’s great to finally have a more finished product for people to listen to. Although product is a really awful word.
(John – Guitar/Vocals) More pumped than a late 80’s Arnie wearing Reebox Pumps
Can you tell us anything about this that no one knows?
(Nikky) I always fuck up “Love From Below”.
(Ade) I struggled to sing the word ‘what’s’ without sounding really camp for some reason.
What’s your favourite song from the EP?
(Nikky) Probably ‘Middleman’, who doesn’t love cowbell?
(John) ‘Riverside Bruise’ because it’s a bit of a curveball compared to the other tracks. I wasn’t sure how it would sit with the other songs but it’s turned out great and seems to be some people’s favourite tune.
(Ade) It changes every listen (not that I listen to my own band all the time of course), but the previously mentioned do stick out for me as well.
If you could work with any band on a new song, who would it be and why?
(John) Death from Above 1979. We’ve been trying to rip them off for ages and failing miserably so if they could come into the studio and show us how to write a songs which sounds like them, that would be great
(Nikky) Def leppard… Their drummer looks like he could do with a hand sometimes.
(Ade) Bjork, I’d love to see how her ideas form as she would appear to be out of space. Or maybe Chas and Dave because they’ve played with so many of the greatest musicians ever and are so far away from what we do.
What’s the alternative music scene like in Newcastle?
(Nikky) I think the music scene is on the up, there are a lot of really good bands appearing lately.
(Ade) I think there’s some great bands, I think there’s a bit of inconsistency within venues, there’s not enough regular gig nights at set venues, that’s something we’ve noticed from playing in other cities, I think Newcastle could benefit from that.
(John) It’s getting much better but still could learn a thing or two from Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, Glasgow and Leeds.
How was it supporting Monster Magnet?
(Ade) I was a great experience, we were a 4 piece until around 2 weeks before the gig as well so we didn’t have long to re-work parts of the songs and get to grips playing as 3 but we nailed it which I’m really proud of.
(Nikky) It was brilliant, probably one of my all time favourite gigs.
(John) It was great. Nice bunch of guys, good venue and something to tick off the bucket list
Will you be on tour at all this year?
(John) Not a tour as such but we will be out and about playing with some bands we like in cities and towns we enjoy.
(Ade) Yeah, a bunch of out of town gigs are planned, a few dates in Sheffield, Barnsley, Liverpool and Manchester and hopefully some other cities will get Duned by the end of the year.
What do you guys get up to while not writing music?
(Nikky) Normal human stuff like searching for the loch ness monster and discussing cheese.
(John) Walking the dog, writing things, cooking and drinking cans
(Ade) Well obviously I’m totally hardcore so when I’m not gigging or practicing I’m hanging out with my daughter, who’s nearly 1, so kids parties and baby singing groups, it’s all very rock n roll. That and cans of course.