Sheffield trio Awooga recently released their debut full-length, Conduit. A culmination of a year’s work resulting in a deep, heavy, tranquil and visceral record, Conduit is set to establish Awooga as one of the UK’s most exciting and unique acts in 2018.
Following on from 2016’s debut Alpha EP, Awooga have further explored the boundaries of dismal sludge and euphoric space to create something that that is very much their own. Alpha is a vast soundscape that fills nearly every wave-length, touches on every emotion. It flows, it confuses, it’s conflicted and it’s beautiful. It is Awooga.
Inspired Frank Zappa, Alice in Chains and Tool are immediately apparent, Awooga also give a nod to Miles Davis, who was a champion of musical diversity and some of the world’s greatest artists.
Transition, change and progression are all fundamental themes of Conduit, and the recording process was very much a direct expression via the individual members’ performances.
Awooga have performed at festivals such as Crooked Ways, Tramlines festival supporting Anathema and KAYA festival with Asian Dub Foundation, an impressive feat for a band with only one EP released.
Check out Temporal from the album below!
We managed to catch up with drummer Taren Ali before the band released the album as he talked about Conduit and more!
So how pumped are you for the release of Conduit?
Beyond pumped! It’s been in the works for so long now, and had so much input from the band, the producers, the label that having it out there will be the highlight of our musical careers thus far. Being our first album too it’s good to get something meaty out there.
What is your favourite track from the album?
For me it’s changes constantly but at the moment it’s “Blue Rose”. It’s really melodic and serene yet at the same time brutally heavy, playing it live also kicks ass as you can really have some fun with the big droned out riffs, at some of the shows you can see it in peoples faces that they can “feel” the riffs.
Can you tell us something about the release that no one else knows?
On the song “Temporal” that opens the album, there’s a guest vocal from a local Galician bass vocalist called Cervi Theramin. Where we recorded in Vigo, Spain, everyone is super friendly and people would just walk in the studio when we were recording just to watch and have a chat. One of the first people to do this was Cervi but he would only appear when you said his name, like the CandyMan. This happened several times as well when we were out in city having a beer! James was talking about him and BOOM! He appeared right in front of us from round the corner. After the 10th time of this happening we just believed he was a spectoral entity with special powers.
How has Waterhole gone down with fans so far?
The reception of the single “Waterhole” so far has been very positive, people singing it back to us whilst we play it on tour is amazing, so hopefully we can carry on giving people some more great music with phat riffs. Also having people come up to you after the show to tell you that the love the track is a pretty special.
How have the guys at Rockosmos helped you become the band you are today?
Right from day 1 they’ve been amazing. When you’re in a band you think that you’re the best band of all time but there’s ALWAYS room for improvement. Rockosmos helped us take that step to being a band that isn’t just good but is PRO. We reworked songs, brought back old ones, created things from out of the blue, whilst all the time knowing there was a big end goal with us doing something bigger and better that we have before. Having someone there who believes in what you do is incredible, they get you and support you. It feels special.
If you could work with any band on a new track, who would it be and why?
clown core. They’ve been around a while now but have just released a session of them both playing in a Portaloo and it’s unreal. Sounds strange and it is. I think if AWOOGA and clown core teamed up it could bring two worlds colliding into each other at such force that it would break somebody’s mind. Their humour is totally ours as well.
How has your tour gone with Amplifier?
Great! We’ve played to our fans and now some new fans too. The gigs have had a great party feel to them too, especially the gig we played in Brighton at Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar! We’ve been hit with a few cancellations due to the insane weather and illness but that’s been unavoidable. Both bands and their respective crew are all good mates as well so it’s great us hitting the road and doing what we love.
What do you get up to in your spare time when not working on music?
I love wine and beer so I spend quite a lot of time researching (yes it’s research!) and sampling different varieties. I find the stories behind wine fascinating, how in the same region one slope’s wine tastes totally different because it faces in the opposite direction to another that’s right next to it. I’m also really into Ontology and find anything to do with that incredible. I’ve spent many a day watching countless YouTube videos on the subject.
What was the first gig you ever attended?
It was at the Boardwalk in Sheffield 2001, I can’t remember the name of the bands I saw but it’s was at the height of Skater Punk and some of the bands were in that genre. The main thing about that show was the lasting impression it left on me, I’d just started learning Bass and I saw what it could lead to. Everyone in the room was having such a great time and it felt like another world I’d never experienced before. I knew it was a world that I wanted to enter. Plus I was able to sneak a few beers whilst being out of my parents house!